The times., 1898-10-05
THINGS SEEN AND HEARD.

serving on the Alger Relief Commission.
is adding to his already we'll esta blfsh-
ed reputation as story teller. When
ever the investigation work lags which
has been pretty often up to date. owing
engagements of a private character of
Chairman Dodge and other members of
the board. Capt. Howell comes to the res
cue and relieves the monotony of the ses-
sion of the commission with story.
The following is the gist of a story told
by Howell to former Gov. Woodbury., of
Vermont. Woodbury. and Howell have be-
come fast friends since they met together
on common grounds in relief work
Woodbury. was a Union soldier and left
an arm somewhere in the South. Howell
served throughout the war in the Con-
federate ranks:
There used to be time" Capt. Howell
went on to say. addressing his remarks
for the most part to his friend Wood
bury, when 1 labored under the impress
sion that one well equipped Southern
man could whip half a dozen Yankees
with one of his hands tied behind him
without half trying. That was just be-
fore the war. and don't you know it was
the general impression that existed
throughout the South at that time? II
our people had only known the truth
perhaps things might have been differ
ent; our men would not have been so
eager for a scrap. But / am not going
to moralize, but relate 10 you a little
experience that came under my personal
observation. Il short time before Sumter
was fired upon, a strong lunged man ap-
peared in our locality. no one knew from
just where. and no one stopped To in
quire, so far as l know. who would be
designated today as a professional agita-
tor.walking delegate or something OF that
kind. He let himself loose every night in
the court house square 20 an enthusias-
tic crowd of men and boys. The burden
OF his talk was that the Southern people
were the bravest and very best people
upon the face OF the earth. Every moth
er's son OF US knew how to ride and
shoot. and there was not the slightest
doubt about 1t, one Southern man could
put a whole regiment of Yankees to
flight. They were towards by nature and
did not know one end OF a gun from
dHOlHeT, anu DtSlutS, Lney were 50 wrap
ped up in making money that they would
not fight anyhow. Well. Sumter was
fired on in a few days after that. and
most Of US young fellows. burning with
desire to whip a whole regiment OF
Yankees. made haste to enlist. Our only
fear was that the Yankees would sur
render before we had a chance to get
at them and win any glory.
"a few months later went into my first
engagement Somehow the Yankees did
not retreat very fast. In fact, they stood
their ground and shot back at US.
81 turned to Bill. my chum: Say Bill.
there must be some mistake. Our COM
nander must have attacked some of our
fellows for those d-d Yankees
q Looks like it, certain, said Bill. The
next moment Bill got ball in the leg
and l dragged him back behind a tree.
The tree was fully foot thick but it
seemed TO me to be the smallest tree that
had ever seen II didn't begin to be bag
enough for the occasion. The firing in
front grew very hot, and presently our
entire line began to fall back.
What's the matterT inquired Bill
from his position the ground
Looks like our fellers were retreat
ing says /.
Say. BiII.' says /, do you remember
that fellow who came down to our town
just before the war started and told US
as how the Yankees were all blank cow
ards and that one of US could knock out
a regiment OF them2'
"'You bet I do said Bill. and just
wish We had him here now
Photography has apparently become
quite an adjunct 10 all impor-
tant events and, in fact, 1t would seem
10 have grown 10 be almost a part Of our
daily life The great metropolitan pa
pers. for instance. publish from day TO
day pictures of the most insignificant
happenings. If some poor unfortunate de-
cides TO end her existence. and slip out of
the world as quietly and decently as pos
sible, the New York papers refuse 10
grant her that slight boon; they print lU-
rid pictures of the terrible tragedy,
giving details of just how it took place,
drawn by their own special artists on
the spot" The fact that the sad event
may not be discovered until several hours
or days after it occurred does not make
any difference; the pictures appear just
the same. All of this may be part of the
development which is to prepare us for
the ushering in of the twentieth century.
Who knows? The workings of Divine
Providence are indeed mysterious.
The picture craze has invaded the pub
lie service in all of its branches No
Government official thinks of starting out
TO do anything without first sitting for
his portrait to distribute among his
friends. 1t is said that Gen. Miles has
had at least four thousand separate sit
tings before a camera during the last
six months. But that is another story
and should be treated by itself. IL IS re-
| lated of Gen. Shafter that his first in
| quiry after he set foot on Cuban soil was
not about the landing of food. medicines,
ammunition, arms, the welfare of his
troops. and the hundred and one other
| things that would naturally suggest
themselves TO ones mind, but Are the
cameras safe?'' That apparently was his
greatest concern. Tons upon tons OF
commissary supplies and medicines. alb
| soluteIy essential for preserving the
| health of the army, were left on board
| ship; all of the siege guns intended for
| the reduction of the works around San
| tiago were either not unloaded or were
| abandoned in the mud close TO the place
| of landing. But we know that Gen
| Shafter did nor r,arrnit any of the hun