Arizona republican., 1898-04-16

about the 18th of February, no time was lost in delay. Charles Homer Winters. an enterprising young man of Tempe, who had before been ap- pointed, received his commission as city carrier and immediately went on duty. The south side representative purchased a new hat which he had picked out week previous, which hat was twice as large as the one which had done service in Tempe, the sledge- hammer statements already prepared were re-sandpapered, the orations re- touched, the priming of the convincing slogans was closely examined, a look of great resolve and stern severity be gan to grow athwart the broad, ex- pansive brow of the hero, who became almost awe-inspiring as his right cheek swelled to wonderful propor- tions. And well thesethings should
 be- for the Tempe ditch was the Rubi- con of his future; its crossing was to be the strategic effort of his life. He was firmly resolved to invade the lim- it's of this penury and poverty and
 storm and take this Gibraltar of de-
 pravity, which fable said had with stood tremendous assaults and dec, ared could never be taken; this hero would hold his triumph in Mesa or die in the attempt like a noble son of a noble sire. Accordingly he issued his edict in the south side columns of The Re publican that he would eat breakfast in Mesa on Thursday, the 10th of March.
 The Thursday morning arrived, The Republican special express silently 11cd nf Iad u-if pers. A bunch was left at the asylum crossing for little Benjamin Baum, who had been installed as carrier in school district IA; much larger bun dle was given to Mir Winters at Tempe thirty minutes later, and then amid the cheers of assembled friends the daring hero silently pulled up the grade around the forbidding butte. He was met with waving handkerchiefs at East Tempe and was followed around the curve at the creamery by a hearty shout, and then all was quiet except for the chirping of the birds, melody sent forth by a singing milk maid afar off, and the signing of the overhanging boughs of gigantic cotton woods. There was a perceptible grade which rose over two large streams close enough together to be one almost, the water in them dark and silent and slow. This double stream was the Tempe ditch, Beyond was desert. It seemed as though even the sensitive machine which carried the invader shuddered at the sombreness of the water below and the sudden change from a world of beauty and song behind, to the solemnity of the glistening waste ahead. The rider fancied he felt it tremble in hesitancy and his vivid imagination told him a quiver ran through its tensile parts and it seemed fearful over that Rubi- con of journalism of the great unnat- uralness it was about to penetrate. An instant only, and then it darted on up the grade carrying it's intrepid pro pelier headlong over the short desert and into a country whose air was laden with the far sweeter fragrance of unfolding orange buds, whose gentle zephyrs waited to his ears melo- dies just as sweet sung by distant milkmaids undoubtedly sweeter, and whose bewilderment of sunshine and shadow would inspire another priest to create newer architecture. The enchantment nearly won the conquer ing hero into a reverie and almost changed a man of action to a dreamer. But he remembered his great resolve and his many warnings. Had he not been told it was a strange country? So on he sped with increased speed until he reached Mesa City.
 He jerked his bicycle off the track and strengthened up to thunder his first indictment at the few people who were at the depot. It began with an explanation of the new machine, told of the greatness of the paper the ma chine was laden with and wound up with the statement that the paper would appear in Mesa early every morning ever after and would cost the same there as it did at the office in Phoenix
 He waited for the effect of his speech with a look calculated to meet slight ing remarks and skeptical opinions. He was completely disarmed with the answer he received. Well, may God bless you, young man. Why have you not done this before? We have waited most patiently for you. Put my name down, please, and may sue cess attend you'' The listener would not have believed had not the ringing silver accompanied the gentleman's order.
 In the business portion of town he was treated as a brother long mourned as dead. Subscriptions were not lit erally showered on him, but they were handed to him in a most grati- flying manner. Letters of congratula- ton, thanks, approval and satisfac- tion were received at The Republican office for weeks after, and the demon StratiOn of aDDrpciaticn in the way Of new subscriptions has not yet ceased But how about the conquering hero? His swollen cheek is shrunken, his god-like look is melted Into common place, his mighty nerve has lost it's strength, his hat is the same size be- cause of necessity, and he who thought ito gild a page of history and place his name in the galaxy of the great is still unknown to fame.
 As for the citadel of ignorance and the onghold of penury, it was a