The sun., 1892-01-03

you disappeared to all these years, and are
you from there now. or where are you from ?"
"Idon't quite think yon would ever guess.
Colonel Cherokee Strip
my land !"
"Suro as you live"
You can't mean 1t. Actually living out
there2"
We'll. yes; II body may call IL that;
though it's o pretty strong term for dobes
and jacknss rabbits, boiled beans and slap
jacks. depression. withered hopes. poverty in
all its varieties"
Louise out there2'
"les. and the children"
"Out there now"
YES. couldn't afford to bring them with
NO."
"Oh. see-you had TO come-claim against
the Government. Make yourself perfectly easy
IN take caro- Of Tint"
But It isn't claim against the Govern.
mcnt'
NO? Want to be postmaster2 That's all
right Leave 1t to me. I'll fix It,"
But it isn't Postmaster--your all astray."
"Well. good gracious. Washington. why don't
you como out aud toll mo what It is9 What do
you want to be 40 reserved and distrustful
with on old friend like me. for? Don't you
reckon I can keep se---"
There's no secret about t-'you merely
don't give me a chance to-"
Now. look hero. old friend. know the
human race: and know that when man
comes to Washington. don't caro- il it's from
heaven. let alone Cherokee Strip. its because
he wants something. And I know that rs n
rule he's not going to get it: that he'll stay
and try for another thing, and won't get that:
tho same luck with the next and tho next and
the next: and keeps on till he strikes bottom
and is too poor and ashamed to 60 back even
10 Cherokee Strip: and at last his heart
breaks. and they take up q collection and bury
him. There-.lon't interrupt me. l know
what I'm talking about. Happy and pros.
porous in the far West. wasn't 1? You know
that. Principal citizen Of Hawkeye. look
ed up to by everybody. kind OF an
autocrat. actually a kind OF an nutocrat.
Washington. Well. nothing would do but
must go as Minister to st James. the Gov
crnor and everybody insisting, you know. and
so at last consented-no getting ont OF 1t. had
to do it. so here came. day too late Wash
inGton. Think Of that-whut little things
change the worlds history-yes. sir. the place
Ind been filled. WE'LL there was. you see.
offered to compromise and go to Paris. The
President was very sorry and all that. but that
place. you see. didn't belong to tho West. so
there was again. There was no help for it.
SO had to stoop lttle-we all roach the day
some time or other when we've got to do that.
Washington. and it's not q bad thing for us
either. take it by and large all around-I had
to stoop little aud offer to take Constanti-
nopie. Washington; consider this-for it's per-
fectly true-withn a month asked for China;
within another month begged for Japan: one
year later was nway down. down. down. sup
plicatinG with tenrs and anguish for tho bot
tom office in the gift Of the Government OF the
United States-flint picker in the cellars OF
the War Department. And. by George. didn't
get It."
Flint pckery'
''ies. Office established in the time OF tho
Revolution. last century. The muskct flints
for the military posts were supplied from the
capital They do it yet: for although the flint
arm has gone out and the forts have tumbl
down. the decree hasn't been repealcd-been
overlooked and forgotten. you see-and 80 the
vacancies where old Ticonderoga and others
used to stand still get their six quarts OF gum
fnts year just the same"
Washington snid musingly after pause:
How strange It seems-to start for Minis
ter to England at twenty thousand a year and
fail for flint picker at -"
"Threo dollars q week. It's human life.
Washington Just an eritome of human ambi-
ton. and struggle. and tho outcome: you aim
lot tuC anu 6ct uONhcu ia llc SeWcI.
There was another meditative si!cnco. Then
Washington said. with earnest compassion in
his voice:
And so. after coming here. against your in.
clination. to satisfy your sense Of patriotic
duty and appease q selfish public clamor. you
get absolutely nothing for It,"
Nothing" The Colonel had to get up Ind
stand to get room for his amazement to cx-
pand Nothing. Washington9 ask you
this: To be perpetual member. and tho
only perpetual member. OF diplomatic
body accredited to tho greatest country on
earth-do you call that nothinG?'
1t was Washington's turn to lie amazed
He was stricken dumb: but the widc-eycd
wonder. the reverent admiration expressed
in his face were moro eloquent than any
words could have been. Tho Colonels
wounded spirit was healed and he resumed
his seat. pleased and content. He lenned
forward and said inlpressively:
What was due to a man who had become
forever conspicuous by an experience without
precedent in the history OF tho world Pa man
made permanently and automatically sacred.
so to speak. BY having been connected tenn
porarily. through solicitation. with every sin
gle diplomatic post in the roster OF this Gov
ernment, from Envoy Extraordinary and Min
all tho way down to Consul to n Guano rock in
the Straits OF Sunda-salary payable In gunno-
which disappeared by volcanic convusion the
day before we got down to my name in the
list Of applicants. Certainly omctlling a angust
enough to be nnswerable to the sizo OF this
unique and memorable experience was my
due. and l R9t it. BY tho common voice of
this community. by acclamation. OF the poo
pie. that mighty utteranco which brushes
aside laws and Legislation. and from whose
decrees there is no appeal. was named Per-
petnal Member Of tho Diplomatic Body repre-
sentinG the multifarious soyereignties and
civil lizatlons Of the globe near the republican
court of the United States OF America. And
cession."
ut is wonderful. Colonel. simply wonder
full
earth"
~ should think so-and the most command
You have named the word, Think of it. /
irown. and there Is war: smile and contend
ing nations lay down their arms"
1T Is awful. The responsibility. I mean
1t Is nothing. Responsibility is no burden
to me; am used to 1t: have always beon used
tott"
And tho work-.,the work! Do you llavo to
attend all the sittings!''
WHO. II Does the Emperor OF Russia at
tend the conclaves Of the Governors Of the
provinces lilo sits at home. and indicates his
Washington was silent a moment. then a