Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-02-27

v |
ATAMOUS UHYSKY RLASE
At private hosse some men vers
chatting about tho vicissitudes OF Presi-
dential elections and the part played
by luck in every persons life. An in
cident trivial as shower Of rain has
turned many avicto1y into Waterloo.
A fool utters IN allitcrative sentence
and the destiny of q nation is perhaps
changed, and history hangs upon silly
phrase. Cleveland's alleged luck was
particularly touched upon, and while it
was under discussion the host said:
"By the way, I sometimes flattcr my
self that made Grant President. The
year that the var broke out was Q
drummer for the old grocery house OF
Smith q Williams, on Lake Street. I
frequently -isited Nation, Illinois. and
the last time did so was during that
eventful year. I knew the firm OF
Monroe Brothers. at NATION, consist
ing Of Trsnk james and Bird Monroe.
This time went to the store as usual.
and asked Frank whore Lis brothers
we're. iyou want to see them,' was
|, the reply, you mus: so out to tho camp.
They have joined tho army As I was
about to start some one in the grocery
store SAID tha: ::!.e ..,oy' would sppre-
ciatea little I'd whisk ), ,as they couldn't.
get any thing Of that sort in camp. ]
walked ovor to Grifin's bar and got
two fiat quart TASKS OF his best liquor.
putting ono in each pocket. Imade my
way to the camp all right, and soon ran
across my two friends, While we wers
chatting z told them what Ihad in my
pockets, and asked where I should un-
load. Come to the Colonel's tent.
said ono Of them; he is an old officer,
end he appreciates drop of something
~ we'll as anything.
1--WE went to the Colonel's tent and
I was introduced to red-faccd, sturdy.
looking man who struck me as typical
soldier. He was man of irascible
temper, as aiterward learned,
but he had done good service
in the field, having. served with
distinction in tho Mexican war.
Well, we all sat down and began drink.
ing. The time quickly slipped away,
and one quart flask was empty. We
began on the other. I soon felt that ]
had taken enough. and that the best
thing could do was to get out OF camrr
and attend to my business. So said
eood-by to the boys, and left them.
"Early The next morning I wa' on my
way to Chicago. On the train bought
copies of the Chicago papers, and was
surprised to see, figuring in black
headlines, the name of my Colonel. ]
I read beneath dispatch dated the
night before from Nation, Illinois. Civ
ing an account Of serious trouble in tha
camp that l had visited. It seems that
the Colonel became violently drunk,
engaged in On alteration with one OF
his officers. and, drawing his sword,
severely wounded the latter. Such an
occurrence. OF course, made o terrible
scandal, and the Colonel was perempt
orily discharged from the army.
"At l.. ue U. S. Grant had his
hands in . pockets waiting for job
He hsd Ai.h recommendations to tho
Governor, and was promised the first
vacancy that would occur. The Col.
onel's discharge made a vacancy for
him in the regiment at Notion. He
took the place. and from that day he
followed fortune from one victory to an
other, until he entered the White House
as President of the Nation.
II met the Monroe boys afterwards in
Kentucky during the war. I1emember
one OF them SAID to me then: That
whisky OF yours decided the conduct OF
this war; So it did. and. perhaps. the
destiny of the Republic.
"True.' said member Of the party.
getting at the pith Of the story more
quickly, "your bottle of whisky sent
one man to the White House and the
other to adrunkard' Is grave. "-CAicago
Tribune.