The Portland daily press., 1898-09-08

shown himself match for the troubles
there that Gen. Wolseley actually had to
lend him 800 pounds to start with. Before
he reached the scene OF action, hal1 OF
that sum had gone to help u starving
comrade, and when he arrived OF caro-
his first act was to refuse 5000 pounds
out of the 10000 pounds allotted for his
salary as governor general of the Sou
dan. He declared he could not bear to
take money coming out OF the poverty
stricken natives. At Cairo he put oo"n
the rapacious extortions Of the ofhclais
and their cruel punishment OF tne
wretched Fellaheen. Without help rom
large forces, English or native, he hunted
down with ENapoIeonic genius and
celebrity, the savage Arabian dealers IN
human flesh. Once, in the Darfur dis
trict, hearing that the dealing tribes
were preparing a combined descent upon
him. he, being unprovided with suffic-
lent forces to meet them, resolved to trust
to the wonderful personal magnetism
that had SO often served him and lie
ed by one servant, whom he speedily dis
tanced, and burst into the midst of the
hostile camp. Taking possession of u
tent, he awaited his attendants arrival
and then sent the man round to the
chiefs, summoning them authoritatively
to conference. Utterly aghast at such
boldness, and believing Gordon must have
force concealed somewhere near. they
actually assembled peaceably and listened
to him. He informed them calmly that
he was aware of their hostile projects and
was prepared, at the first move, to ami
hilate them. He gave them two hours to
send in their submission, and everyone
of them gave in before the time had ex-
pired. His admirable biographer, Sir W.
Butler, says that his great, powerful,
luminous, blue eye, ablaze with love and
faith, was perfect talisman with men
who would have made short work with
any but him. How beautiful does this
great hero write to his sister: - had no
concealed forces but the Sheklnah, ana
somehow like best to trust to chat.
And you can't think what wonderful
effect it has in an interview with dan
gerous men to have prayed for them be-
forehand. tell you it see med as II some
one had been influencing them in my
behalf" He went, trusting to that
same help, single-handed, into the strong
holds of the savage SLAYER, King John OF
Abyssinia The escort sent to "at-
tend" him. really was a prisoners guard.
At the Kings court. stool was assigned
to Gordon, while the monarch assembled
gilded throne. Gordon promptly moved
his seat up beside the throne and, through
an interpreter, intimated to the King
that he came thither as his equal. King
John, amazed, stammered furiously:
"Gordon Pasha, are you aware l can
have you killed this minuteP" "Why Of
course" calmly replied Gordon. "If you
are SO unwise as to wish it, do it at once;
you will save me future troubles" so
my power has no terrors for your
Certainly not,' replied Gordon. The
King became at once tractable.
This was the man who in China, used
to lead the "furlorn hore" up the breach
Of a fortress, armed only with cane
(which they at last called his magic
wand of victory:'). and when the hail of
shot and she'll made his troops falter, he
would strike match, light his cigar and
shout merrily "Come on, boys" And
they could not help it. he returned to
England as quietly as he could; gave his
splendid gold medal 1.-THE present of the
| Chinese Emperor) to be sold for charity,
and finding he was going to be idolized,
| feted, Honized everywhere, and that 1t
only lay with him to become England s
leading man, he retired into obscurity,
surrsndering all his pay, except enough
| for barest necessities, to the poor. Dean
Swift says: eff a man knows what he
wants, he will get 1t. Gordon just
wanted Gods glory, mans good and his
own abasement and priyation. He got
them all and has taken them to heaven.
| Well may one say Of him: 'tLet me
die the death OF the righteous Let my
last end be like his. /"
| Very respectfully,
| q. b. E.
142 Pleasant street.
| Portland, September Z, 1898.