Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-05-23
CHANDLER WROTE IT
THE OLD DOCTOR WANTED AN OR
DER RELEASING HIS SON.


Want to Be Bothered. but Changed Their
Minds When They Heard the Argument.
In the southern part Of Orleans coun-
ty lives doctor who is known far and
wide among the country folk, and whose
fame extends likewise into cities far
from his home
The doctor is gentleman of the old
school, courteous, with a southern ac-
cent when he becomes excited, for he
was born i'll Virginia. The worst thing
that can be said about this doctor is that
he is an extremely hard swearer He
swears a little when he is calm, but
when he is excited his vocabulary of in
vectives is almost without rival Many
stories are told about this famous old
doctor, and this is one of them:
The doctor had a son, and all his af-
fections 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, he didn't wish to study
medicine. He said he had no taste that
way No plane Of life seemed to fit his
ideals exactly. He tried this, and he
tried that, and nothing satisfied him.
At last he decided he would 20 to
West Point The doctor yielded, and
the son tried the preliminary examina-
tions, passed them and was appointed a
cadet. He tried the entrance examina-
tions, passed them and at last became
real cadet at West Point Even the
old doctor was proud and happy now.
But the son did not do as well as be
had expected at West Point He found
that things military in reality were not
as things military in ideallty. 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 be
made as large fool Of himself as be
could and enlisted in the 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 a few necessities into his grip
and that very night started for Brook
lyn. 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 hope? 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 at least it might be
tried The old doctor clutched 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,
and, as every one knows, William E
Chandler was secretary of the navy.
Arthur and Chandler were sportsmen,
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 iaunts 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 the
president were just starting for a fish
ing trip and could not be seen.
''But l must see him, suhl 1t is very
important, suhl' exclaimed the doctor.
He was using his soft southern accent
now, for he was very excited.
DR. -rv
ant
II can, sub, and | will, suhP' and
with no more words he pushed the as
tonished servant out of his way and
strobe through the hall "Where is the
secretary Of the navy, suh?' he asked
the first person be met
''In that room, sir. said the man,
pointing
The doctor raped and walked in.
There stood the president and the secre-
tary, getting their things together.
81 am DR.. -, and I've come to get
my son back, suhl" said the doctor, and
then he told the story Of his sons mis-
take The secretary looked at him and
then at the president. I'm sorry, sir,
he said, "but you have come at the
wrong time. We ecan't bother with such
things now We are going on trip,
President Arthur and l, and we do not
like to be interrupted " 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 in voice Of passion:
do you think that am going to let
my son stay in that ship, sub, to give
you the chance to kill few measly no
account fish? Do you think am going
to break my heart so that you can have
yoh pleasure? Look at me, suhl have
not eaten a thing since last night, suhl
See the dust Of travel upon my clo'sl
Do you think that have travelled night
and day, and now | am going to be put
off because you are going fishing? Who
are you, sub? You are my servant, suhl
Who pays yoh salarys | do, suhi Who
pays yoh rent? do, suhl Who owns the
boat you 60 off fishing in? do, and
now, when come to ask you to get my
son out of my navy, you have not time
because you are going fishing By
sub, if you don't get my son off that
ship, old as / am, I'll thrash yoh -
haid right off yoh bodyp'
The old doctor stopped, breathless-
His two hearers looked at him aghast-
For minute no word was spoken At
last President Arthur said, Chandler,
| guess you'd better write that order. .
Chandler wrote it, and little later
three men might have been seen engaged
in discussing three bottles Of claret
They were all smiling, but one of them
had look Of great happiness on his
grand old face. Itwa the old doctor. -
Rochester Post Express.