Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-16

anu ms aged mother begged on her knees to be
allowed to refund the money.
"Uncle Dick" Tackles the French Classics.
Eugene Field in the Chicago News.
Uncle Dick Oglesby is now devoting his time
and attention to improving his mind; that il to
say, he is engaged in o course of reading which
is at once instructive and delightful. 1t seems
that during his last gubernatorial term Uncle
Dick made up his mind that as soon as he 20,
out Of politics he would apply himself to q
study OF literature; his life had always been 60
active and SO practical that he had perforce ne
giected those tanner yet more satisfactory avo-
cations (hec studia) of which Tully hath said:
Upon our way throughout the day
HOW cheeringiy they've sped with us,
And, when night came, meath candle-light,
How snugly shared our bed with us;
When one has brains in fair amount,
Books, always books, are paramount.
80. therefore, no sooner had Uncle Dick
Oglesby relinquished his Office than he applied
himself to the reading Of books. His wife is a
lady Of education and culture. She has always
been diligent and discreet reader, surround
ing herself with judiciously selected library
and acquainting herself thoroughly with its
delectable stores To his wife did Uncle Dick
appeal for advice as to how he would better
begin, and in answer 10 that estimable lady 9
close questioning he admitted that he had
always had q desire to read Bacon's essays. He
had heard tell of them, but had never read
them. SO Mrs. Oglesby counseled the perusal
OF Bacon's essays and from a convenient shelf
she produced the coveted volume. Uncle Dick
buckled down to the task with vast enthusiasm
and his enthusiasm increased as he proceeded.
81 can't tell how much have enjoyed those
essays" said the old gentleman, subsequently.
Most men read them in their younger days,
but never clapped eyes on them until had
nearly reached the limit Of three score years
and ten An entirely new field opened up be-
delightful read those essays over and over
again-yes, l spent six months with Bacon,
nnding constantly aecruing pleasure and profit
take care of ITSELF When the hired men came
to me with one complaint or another. I simply
humphed and sent them away. Then I'd take
up my Bacon, settle down in an easy chair on
the front porch and hitch around with the sun
all day. Oh, it was fun, I tell you-a heap
more fun than being governor!
II saw that Bacon was a great admirer Of
Montague, continued Uncle Dick, ''and be-
gan to wonder who the - Montague was.
Never had heard of him before. Didn't know
any more about him than l did about Adams
OF OK. Made up my mind I'd ask my wife.
Shed know all about him. What she doesn't
know about books and such like isn't worth
knowing. So one evening while she was read
ing Humphrey Ward by Mrs. Elsmere and 1
was reading the essay, says l: Julia, says I,
".
for didn't know then how it was pronounced.
Well, never saw more surprised woman In
all my life. She just dropped her book, held
up her hands and looked at me in horror, pious
horror.
:" Can it be possible, gov nor says she-she
always calls me gov'nor for short; can it be
possible that You have been gov'nor of Illinois
three times and yet don't know who Montague
WASP
THAT sort Of riled me; it wounded my pride.
oh, well, if it comes to that, says 1, "a
man don't have to know much to be governor
Of nlinoy; if I'd known more I never would
have been governor
Montaigne.' says she, was the father OF
French literature
Have We got him on the farm? saysL
"'Of course we have says she; we've got
him in French and in English, too.
The English is good enough for me- saws
I, and she brought me the book, or, rather, the
books, for there were three Of them, with life
and copious notes and appendices and indexes.
$50 switched of into Montague and was
delighted with him. Was about half way
through him when got telegram from Long
Jones telling me that had been nominated by
the republicans for United States Senator and
must come to Springfield at once. didn't
want to go; hated to leave the quiet and peace
OF the farm and the companionship OF my
Bacon and Montague. Yet felt that ought
to do my duty. While in this wavering mood
opened my volume Of Montague quite casu-
ally and my eyes alighted upon this significant
passage: What duty soever one oweth unto
the state hath been shown in the example of
Cincinnatus, who, having his hand upon the
pillow, was hidden by his countrymen to hasten
to Rome and rehabilitate their affairs III.
thought he, 4 accept this prefer my crop Of
carrots shall surely come to grief, yet if do
not the enemy shall invade the land and every-
thing shall surely be desolated, including my
carrots and all else that l possess By these
reasonings he was presently minded to 20 to
Rome, which having done the enemy was baf-
fed and great honors secured unto Cincinnatus,
the foremost Of which meseemeth is that esteem
In which his example is holden even unto this
day by them that rightly have regard unto their
duty toward the commonwealth.
Il made up my mind" says Uncle Dick.
shat this was Q direct revelation. Firm in
this conviction, battery of Calling guns
couldn't have kept me out of Springfield.
hunted up my gripsack, packed two socks, one
collar and my set Of Montague and started for
the seat Of war. The day after got to Spring
field called on Gen. Palmer. We naturally
avoided political TOPICS for we were opposing
candidates. Palmer wanted to talk about swine-
breeding, but 1 switched him off upon the sub
ject of literature.
john, says i, are you acquainted with
MontaigneT
"gThe name sounds familiar says he. As I
recollect, he is president Of the F.M.B.A Club
down in Madison county
"'Oh, no. says l; 4 mean the Montaigne
who was the father of French literature
".Never met the old gentleman says John.
Il reckon 1t must be his son that know-tall
man with black whiskers wears top boots in
winter and goes barefoot in summer
Il was SO put out that I dropped the subject
and never preached it to John again. Long
Jones was just IS bad. Said got the name
wrong; wanted to bet me eco it was Montague
and would leave it to Hank Evans or Charlie
Fuller. Hank Evans allowed that Long Jones
was correct; the Montagues were thick as peas
in Kane county, and LATE Montague had the
biggest tobacco barn ESQ Andy Welsh said) in
the world. got so mad that rose up In the
caucus one evening and just made Rome howl
Not long after that Rome came to the conclu.
| sion that it didn't care about having Cincin.
natus, and was mighty glad to get back to my
carrots and leeks-I MEAN my Montaigne and
| Bacon.
"Met judge Snyder of Bellevire about q
month ago. Told him what was doing. We'll,
says he, If you've got interested in French Lit.
erature you must read old DIR. Rabelais book
and then, by and by, you ought 10 take ur
Balzac.' wrote those names down and wher
| got home says to my wife: Julia says L
have we got Rabelais and Balzac on the farm?
| "'Now, who's been telling you about Rabelaii
and BalzacT says she.
"'Or Judge Snyder Of Belleville,' saysL
| "'Well, you just tell Judge Snyder says she,
| that say that he might be in better business
than putting such notions into your headr
"'Sufferin' Moses! Julia, says !, 4 didn't sun.
| pose there was anything wrong in simply askin
whether there was o Rabelais and Balzac on
| the farm