Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-01-06
An Exannle Of Moral Courage.

There are few of rs who IN youth escap-
ed being immensely bored by much praise
OF moral courage Commendatory lectures
on this subject. next 20 remarks applaud
ing truth, are, perhaps, the most disagree
able things that a small boy has TO face;
and when he grows up, he observes that q
man can get along very well in Congress
without either alleged desirable quality.
It used to be, If we mistake not, that
such Men a. Martin Luther were held up
as examples of moral heroism. Later re-
searches seem to confirm the view that
Luther did have a fair amount Of this com
mandatory virtue. He did very well for
his time. but he wouldn't have cut much
of a figure on this threshold of the twen-
tieth century, conviction regarding the
situation which becomes unavoidable since
accounts Uf Mr Howard Watson, OF Fox
Lake, Wisconsin, have begun to csme il
The people of Wisconsin propose to send
Mr.. Watson to the Worlds Fair, and have
him mounted in twin grandeur with the
largest monoiith ever quarried. But let
us come to the point without any further
throwing about Of idle words
We do not need to inform the intelligent
studout of the Badger State that the town
of Fox Lake. the home of Mr.. Watson, Is
near WaIpun. nor that at Waupun is stu
ated one Of the Stste-prisons. The uni
form worn in this institution is the usual
one Of the black and white endless stripe;
indeed, some close observers claim that
the Waupan uniform Is the stripedest IN
existence. though it is probably only the
standard thing At any rate, il is striped
enough, and a man conld not wear one and
mingle in general society much without
sooner or later attracting attention. Now
it eppears that last October man named
Conley. feeling that he was not treated
with thgt openness and confidence which
be liked in Waupum prison, broke out one
night and escaped. He made his way
under cover of the darkness To Fox Lake.
Here. az il began 10 grow light. the IN
harmoniousness Of bis costume with gcner-
al outside nature began to impress itself
upun him. and he looked about for a
change. In passing through the outskirts
of town he came to the dwelling of Mr.
Howard Watson. Observing an open
window, the migratory CODley crawled IN.
Mr. Watson slept the sleep OF the innocent.
As he thus slumbered, the unconventional
Waupun jsilbird exchanged clothes with
him. and winged his way thence with a
lighter heart. In the morning. when the
unsuspecting Watson arose and saw the
striped costume on the chair where he had
left his clothes the night before, he was at
first speeehles3. Then be took in the stu
alton. aud made some clear, ringing re-
marks, which we do not find it necessary
to set down here. He then started for the
closet 10 get his other suit. He paused
with his hand on the latch. Then he turn
ed, and said, in a loud voice: NO. I'll
not do it. I'll not be buncoed this way
m wear them clothes that the cutthroat
left if il kills mel" He bad nailed his
thesis on the church door. He put on the
striped suit, found it an excellent fit.
Mrs. Watson objected, foolishly, like a
woman-a woman has no moral bonrage
anyhow-but Mr.. Watson put on the suit
Mr. WatsOn's business is that of market
gardening This takes him much about
The streets of Fox Lake, as he drives from
house To house to dispose of his vegetables
On the eventful morning OF which we are
speaking. Mr. Watson started out with his
load of truck as usual. Before nine
o'clock he was heard tn remark to himse II,
as he made vicious cut at his horse with
the end of the lines. that he never knew
that dress so much difference before
They don't look at the man no more, be
said, as he threw potato at the patient
animal, "but at the clothes he wears.
But no thought of "a backward step crossed
the rigid mind of Howard Watson. lie
dealt out halfbushels of onions and small
measures of carrots with calm. unrufiied
brow. Small boys and personal frieuds
asked foolish questions and made super
hunuS comments, but he needed them not
Before noon he was arrested by searching
prison officials and taken over TO Waupun.
lie of couse established his innocence. and
got back to Fox Lake in time to finish his
vegetable route. His wife made further
weak aud femin inc remarks when he re-
turned home, but he remained unmoN ed.
From this exciting day to the present
time Mr. Watson has continued to wear
the highly accumulated prison garments.
Mr.. " atsOn reports gloomlly to the neigh
bors that there Is no prospect of their ever
wearing ont. There Is one thing, though,
that 1 will ever do" adds Mrs Watson,
firmly: Il will never cut them clothes
down for Willie Mr.. Watson has been
arrested and dragged to Waupun by eager
officers eight times He has been shot al
DS moro LcdlbuS bllICliIs NV tihto' O'Ss
two hundred times he has had 10 endure
the cheap wit Of friends who have asked
him why be doesn't get the ball and chain
which naturally go with the suit. But OF
none OF these things has the heroic Watson
complained. Daily be goes about hi'
work and does his duty as he see it. Some
people think that they detect him vince
a llttle al the stare Of the stranger in town,
especially W. en- he is exposed TO the some
what marked observation OF the British
tourist aho may happen TO be passing
through Fox Lake, but we cannot believe
this of bim; Howard Watson is not made
of tbs sort Of stuff; We would as quick be
lieve that man wearing single eye
glass and double end cap could have
looAed iuqulringly at Columbus on the
quay, and caused him To abandon his voy-
age and turn back and apply for position
on the Palos police force.
If our teachers want an example of moral
courage 10 hold up before the eyes ufyouth
let them take that of Howard Watson, o
Fox Lake, Wisconsin.-Hdrper'S WeeLiy