The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-07-28

William Astor Chanler is q young
man of fortune and of leisure. For
tune and leisure are the twin civilizers
Of man. William Astor Chanler is
also an American whose education has
been uncontaminated by foreign travel.
The latter qualification is essential for
to say nowadays that a man had seen
Europe or had taken a degree at Har-
ward would be to imply that he was a
somewhat raw and athletic youth,
crammed with bookish learning and
out of touch with these Democratic
times. AS Edmund Burke used to say
that an acquittal at Old Bailey was no
recommendation to office, 80 the fact
Of man having diped with dukes or
having studied under an Eliot or a
Woolsey or Norton, or to say that
he was turned out by one Of our great
universities is too apt to convey the
impression with the mass of people
that he is one Of those enervated Amer
leans who love other countries better
than their own.
William Astor Chanler is not a man
of that stamp. He is an American
from the crown of his head to the soles
of his feet. He has a noble ambition.
and spinal column around which to
build a great American. He will be-
come one some day and Is starting in
the right direction. Mr.. Astor Chan
Ter has already attempted the raising
Of regiment and has offered 1t to the
Presiden to fight in Cuba. Owing
to the belief in Washington that this
nation is sufficiently indebted to its
rich men there seems no necessity for
individuals to raise levies OF armed
troops. Besides In Spain's case 1t re-
minds one too much of calling out the
artillery to shoot fly.
But nothing daunted this plucky
young man has done the next best
thing-he has gone himself to the front
and has offered himself to General
Gomez. This shows better than the
offer to raise regiment that Mr.. AS
tor Chanler is an exceptionally practi-
cal young man.
For after all IL Is not difficult for
any young man of means to collect q
regiment to fight any where just now.
ITO 60 where glory waits thee" Is not
so much Of patriotic as an opportune
inspiration, particularly when one feels
that the glory will be all his own, and
that If he is not placed at the head of
the regiment he himself raises and at
his own expense the Administration
will be at fault. This is the way peo-
pie think whatever they say. There
was too much of this tactful system OF
trade and barter in the Civil War and
the United States has grown too big
and dignified a nation to receive aid
from private individuals against Spain
except in the way Of ordinary enlist
ment.
Mr.. Astor Chanler undeterred by any
considerations nobly suspended regi-
ment raising and resolved to do or die
in propria persona. The country will
therefore watch this young gentleman's q
progress with renewed interest on the
staff of Gomez and with the army oi
liberation In Cuba.
Nor is this step the first that he has
taken which singles him out for pub
lie notice. On coming of age he cut
loose from the crowd of gilded youths
of the Tenderloin who speak a modu-
lated Cockney accent, and who after
their morning "bawth" devote the bal
ance of the day inditing billet doux
or in selecting the best matinees OF
tractive prima donnas. Mr.. Astol
then organized hunting trip In Africa
In 1892. He is the author of a highly
interesting work Through the jungle
and Desert" which sheds light on ths
dark continent, and which caused hin
to be elected member Of the Roya
Geographical Society. He knows how
to use rife effectively, and is an ex-
pert sharpshooter. He knows also
how to move caravan or to pick 6
| tiger or to spy a Don at three thou.
sand yards and send either to sleeI
with enough of lead In his brain te
steady a passage over the river Styx.
Mr.. Chanler has roughed life enough
in Africa to become an invaluable ait
in Cuba, while his superior intelligence
and his undoubted courage will max,
the young millionaire a favorite o.
| General Gomez and of the army. HI
has suffered the pangs of hunger on the
Tang river. He has had yellow fever
| in Daitcho Africa. He has been pre-
sented at Queen victoria's Court and
has danced cotillions with dusky mai
dens on the Jombine Range. He hal
dabbled with politics as a Parnellits
sympathizer in Dublin, and In a wore
he has seen life in many lands and un
der such varied vicissitudes Is to max,
him a general favorite and an all-rount
J interesting type of American youth, IL
! lustrating Pope's line; Worth make
! the man and want of It ths follow"