The morning call., 1892-11-20

than that of novelty: everything l saw was
new-bogs, rocks and stumps, mosquitoes
and bullfrogs Thousands of captains and
colonies without soldiers and of squires
without stockings or shoes. In England
never thought of approaching squire with
out most respectful bow; but IN this new
world, though was but corporal, l often
ordered squire to bring me glass OF Rrog,
and even take care Of my Knapsack." From
Nova Scotia the regiment proceeded to st.
Johns, New Brunswick. and there CObbett
fell 10 love with the woman who made him
happy throughout life. She was the
daughter of anon-commissioned officer in
the artillery, a bright, genial, honest per-
son, and when Goblet saw her scrubbing
tub outside the door he said. That's the
woman for me-" And she was. for never
were man and wife happier than this pair
became.
Cobbett remained in the army eight years
and was honorably discharged at his own
request. lie was a non-commissioned Of
ficer nearly seven years, and during five he
was sergeant-major of his regiment. The
real work of his active life now commenced
charges against some of the officers of his
regiment, but he avoided consequences by
fleeing to France in 1892. Perturbed France
was not TO his liking. however, and
ne came to the United States. For time
he taught English at Wilmington and had
for pupil no less distinguished a man
than Talleyrand. who is accused by
Goblet of having harbored desire
to steal his pen. just as soon as his foot
was ON American soil Cobbett launched out
In controversy. 1t was his true vocation.
lie began to write vigorously under the title
of Peter Porcupine." In terseness and
perspcaclty he was match for any op-
ponent. When he quarreled with his pub
Usher. in 1896, he started business in Phil
adelphia as publisher and bookseller
on his own account. In a Quixotic spirit
he filled his windows with prints of
French reyolutionaries and American
statesmen placed In juxtaposition with
portraits of George III and his Ministers.
dearly loved fighting. He soon had his fill
of it, The Spanish Minister prosecuted him
for libel On Spain. He was also arrested
for libel on American statesmen and was
bound oyer in $4,000 recognizances. Then
Doctor Rush. who was fond of bleeding pa
tients, prosecuted Cobbett because be said
the doctor killed nearly all the patients he
attended. fine of 5000 was imposed. To
revenge himself on Rush he published
spicy paper called the Rushlignt for some
time.
OFF Goblet set for England in 1900 He
was there received by the Ministers of the
day. Pitt and Windham, as the champion
OF law and order and monarchy. He was
offered share In the True Brton. but de-
cllDed Ii. He opened shop in Pail Mall
and started the Porcupine Gazette and then
his weekly Political Register. which he
continued In stress and storm until the
day of his death in 1885. redhot
publication this Political Register was.
peace of Amiens. Over that peace
he would not illuminate his windows like
other loyal citizens and so his windows
were smashed by the mob and his door
broken in. He preferred that to any i'm
parchment of his conscience. Then he
81 of Trala nd
unfortunate class. He spoke of Lord Hard
wick's appointment as resembling the SET
ting Of surgeons apprentice to bleed pau
pers. A fine of $500 followed this express
sion of his opinion and similar fine fol-
lowed on suit by an irish solicitor-general.
Cobbett became a trifle radical as he went
on in English politics. He soon had n
friend in Sir +. Burdett In 1909 he raised
an awful row by his denunciatiOns of the
logging of English soldiers by Germans.
The English bulldog was very wrathy over
that humiliation. He was fined $1,000 and
sent TO jail for two years. But Goblet was
not disturbed. He took his martyrdom
complacently. His Political Register came
out in damp sheets from the press all the
same and Cobbett in Jail was well outside
it. He had visits from his wife and
children, and the produce of his
farm al Botley. in Hampshire, arrived
each week to cheer him. A dinner was
given 10 him upon his release. Stormy life
a
account of e34. 600. he was much addicted
to the use of accommodation paper, al
though he loved not paper currency In any
shape. Fleeing to the United States, Cob
bett settled down to farming on Long
Island, but he did not neglect controversy.
he kept up his Political Register and sent it
by racket as so much infiammatory matter
to England, and on Long Island. amid
much care in farming, he wrote his Eaglish
grammar. and saw it jump into sale of
10000 copies within a month.
Upon returning TO England Goblet car
RED With him the bones of Thomas Paine,
whom he had abused in his pampble teeTing
but whom he now respected. The excita-
ton TO adm! ration came from Q pronounce
ment OF Paine's on the currently. Cobbett |
came back with Paine'S bones, and tried |
hard TO give them the reputation OF sanity |
relics. The man who, Quaker as he was,
had served under Washington and had
penned that noble watchword utterance.
These are times that try mems souls"
was worthy of such compliment as rests in
monument, but somehow Cobbett's en-
thusiasm went fat. The people who adored
Paine's politics did not worship his theism.
So Goblet had the bones of Tom Paine
under his bed for many day and could not
dispose of them. Where the bones now are
nobody knows This is the admission OF
Moncure Conway. the latest writer on Tom
Paine.
Cobbett did get into the House of Com
mons and made his mark, too. He both |
amused aud edited. But it was late In life. |
aud it is pleasant TO think that he left the |
hurry burly of politics for farm life. and in |
farm life died in the middle OF June. 1886. |
The writings of this man form library. |
He had not lazy bone nor vicious muscle |
IN his body. He was a combination OF work |
and play in right mixture. His Political |
Register was carried on down to the day of |
his death. but besides that lie wrote |
an immense number of works on q
great range of subjects. His "Rural Rides"
for instance, well match any page by |
Richard Jeffries. Cobbetrs good in this |
world Will not be filtered into nothingness.
lie fought, he hit hard, and about all bis
deeds there is an honest ring OF a manly |
nature scorning deceit and pugnaeious about |
principle. A better example of the self
made man never has been seen than Goblet
is in character and progress.