Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-02-06
sT0RIFs q Ma 81.
Green Mountain Goy ~ tle war and IN
A - : u.

( q reputation Tor utltlIJ16SA courage anu
undying love Of country in the wu Of
the Revolution That reputation her
people have ever maintained Can any
one recall any occasion during the war
of the rebellion when 10 company, regi-
mont or battery composed OF Vermont
troops showed the white feather or did
less than they were able to Go on the
field of battle2 It Is safe to say no. An
equally good record was made by the
troops OF other states, but it cannot be
said Of ala the troops of all the states
that there were not occasions when
some Of them failed TO meet expeeta.
ton. Generally, when there was a fail
ure it was attributable te failure on
the part of officers rather than the rank
and file
Now, let me tell Of a Vermont hero
in war.
A I7-year-o old Green mountain boy
left school to enlist His first great bat
tie was Gettysburg. lie was tall aud
awkward, but as bravo as a Maceo, and
he had acquitted himself so we'll that
the captain Of the company, within a
few months from ais enlistment, gave
him the position Of first sergeant The
regiment was under fine for an hour at
the time Of Picketts famous charge be-
fore it was ordered ia. There were pnle
faces and trembling limbs on every side,
but cur hero was az cool and collected
as il in classroom and had u smile and
a word Of cheer for his comrades. 20
one who seemed a little more frighten-
ed than his fellows he said: Cheer up,
Jim You have The chance OF your lifo
today
Yes, said Jim, and right smart
chance TO lose 1t toe "
The tide viii turn IN favor Of the
Union from this battle. Let us Gil do
our duty today, SO that III coming years
we may remember tha5 we had a part
ia the turning Of the tide. -
jim and all who heard the young
patriots outburst, as it mingled with
the screeehing and bursting Of shells
and the whirring Of solid shot, became
interested and to a degree oalmed down.
A little later came the order, Fall
in. The first man on his feet was the
young Vermonter, who, with smile
ca his lips and a CHEEKY voice, urged
promptness and an unbroken front In
that way he went into the battle He
fought like very tiger, at the Same
time doing the duty Of half q dozen
men as file closer When the great
charge was over, Pickett had been
driven back, and the 800 or 400 belch-
ing cannon had ceased their rear 1t
was found that the earth had drunk the
blood Of many OF that Vermont eompa-
ny.
Did we do as we'll as you expected.
captain?e asked Che orderly
Better, sergeant, better But look at
our thinned ranks. We no longer havo
a company. "
That is true captain but the tide
has turned We now know that we have
a country
The republic has produced many such
heroes, but did any state IN the Union,
in proportion to her population, produce
more than Vermont? This story, which
heard years ago, eamo back TO me last
evening as [ heard another In conneo-
ton with that same Vermonter
When the war ended, be completed
his education and entered tho ministry
About 20 years ago he was called to a
leading Congregational church ia Mil
wau1ee Of which he has been the pas
tor ever since-Rev. George FL Ide, ID
D. He is the same courageous, truthful,
earnest patriotic man that he was as a
soldier in battle.
This brave soldier, devoted minis
ter and superb citizen has recently had
occasion to manifest his courage under
more trying circumstances than any
which developed at the battle of Gettys-
burg Two years ago q growth on one
Of his lips rendered an operation neces-
sary 1t was thought that he had entire
ly escaped all danger, but short time
ago the growth reappeared ia his throat
and another operation was decided up
on. The chances were against him. All
Of his friends dreaded the result, yet
they knew that without an operation
death was not far away. If this man
was disturbed, he did not show it in his
face, in his speech. in his conduct. He
was the same genial, hearty, kindly
gentleman, meeting all with word
that told Of his good heart
When he went to Chicago to undergo
the operation, every member Of his Fam
lily accompanied him, together with
several officials of his church Il would
have been easy to think that Dr.. Ide
was taking a party TO Chicago to under
go serious operations but it would not
have been easy for a stranger to think
that DIR. Ide was to be operated upon
with only 1 chance in 90 for his life.
When the company reached the recep-
ton room, Mr.. Ide arose and said with
perfect calnness, 4 am ready, doctor =
Then he kissed each member of his fam
lily, said goodby and asked all in the
room to be standing and join him in re-
peating the Lords Prayer. His request
was complied with. AS he passed
through the door into the operating
room he saluted the distressed people
and threw kiss to the loving wife
fY CANNOT BE.
The dying lips of e dear friend
At DarAfusg smoke tn me-