The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-27
CHANDLER WROTE TT
THE OLD DOCTOR WANTED AN Or
DER RELEASING HIS SON.

| hAih0s !" men Ihcy Heard tho Argument.
| In tho southern part of Orleans couu-
ty lives doctor who is known far and
wide among tho country folk, and whose
| fame extends likowiso into cities far
| from his homo
| The doctor is a gentleman Of tho old
| school. courteous. with q southern nc
| cent when he becomes excited, for no
was born in Virginia The worst thing
that can BIO said about this doctor is that
no Is an extremely hurd swearer He
Swears little whom no is calm, but
when no Is excited his vocabulary of in
vectives is almost without "A rival Many
stories are told about this famous old
doctor. and this is ono of them:
The doctor had son, and all his of.
rectlons seemed centered in him. He re-
solved that this son should become
doctor. and that the fathers mantle
should fall upon the sons shoulders
But the boy disappointed him When
he grew up, no didn't wish to study
medicine He said he had no taste that
way No plane of life seemed to fit his
ideals exactly. Ho tried this, and he
tried that. and nothing satisfied him.
AT last he decided no would 20 to
West Point The doctor yielded, and
tho son tried the preliminary examina-
lions, passed them and was appointed
cadet He tried tho entrance examina.
tlons, passed them and Mt last became
real cadet at West Point Even the
old doctor was proud and happy now.
But the son did not do rs we'll ms he
had expected at West Point He found
that things military In reality were not
as things military in ideality. He tried
the January examinations and failed.
His heart was broken. Like many an
other youth before him, he could never
bear the disgrace by going home So he
made rs large q fool Of himself as he
could and enlisted In tho navy, at the
Brooklyn navy yard. His father received
notice OF his sons rash act and said
nothing His heart was too full But
he threw few necessities into his grip
and that very night started for Brook
Ign. There he found the admiral He
told him the story. he begged him to
do something for him, but the admiral
could do nothing His heart seemed
broken Was there no hopel The admi-
raj told him he could go to the secretary
Of the navy, state his case, and perhaps
something might be done He could
promise nothing, but Mt least 1t might BIO
tried. The old doctor olutohed at this
slight hope, and without waiting to eat
anything he took the very first train for
Washington.
All these things happened during the
first year Of Arthur's administration,
Z
Chandler was secretary Of tho navy
Arthur and Chandler were sportsmep,
and whenever they had the chance they
would set out on little fishing excursions
of their own Now, it happened that
they were just ready to go forth upon
one of these little jaunts when the old
doctor arrived in Washington. He drove
straight to the home of the secretary of
the navy and found he was at the White
House, SO to the White House went the
doctor post haste He inquired for
Chandler and was told that he and tho
president were just starting for fish
ing trip and could not DO seen.
but | must see him, suhl 1t is very
important. suhl" exclaimed tho doctor
lie was using his soft southern accent
now, for he was very excited
But you can't. sir, ;" said the sorv.
ant
Il can. sub. and will, suhl" and
with no moro words he pushed tho as
tonished servant out of his way and
strobe through tho hall "Where is tho
secretary of the navy. subj" no asked
the first person he met
lin that room. Sir. % said the man,
pointing.
Tho doctor raped and walked in
There stood tho president and tho secro-
tary. getting their things together.
81 am DIR. -. and I've como to get
my son back. suh" said the doctor, and
then he told the story Of his sons mis-
take The secretary looked ut him and
then as tho president I'm sorry. sir. t"
he said. but you have como Mt the
wrong time We can't bother with such
things now Wo arc going on trip.
President Arthur and |. and we do not
like to be interrupted F." Here he bowed
and stopped.
The old doctor drew himself up. look
ed down at him. for Mr.. Chandler is
not large man. His old eyes fairly
blazed He seemed choking. Suddenly
he burst forth Ill q voice Of passion:
DO you think that | am going to let
my son stay III that ship, sub, to give
YOU the chance TO kill fcw measly no
account fishf DO you think | am going
10 break my heart SO that you can have
yoh pleasuret Look at me, suh | have
not eaten thing since last night. suhl
See the dust OF travel upon my clo'si
DO you think that have travelled night
nn1 day 4 "a, liz,