Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1899-03-11
. RESInENT LINCOLN had lnst


rity of true patriots. Some of the
States failed to furnish their full quota,
however. and Iowa was among the d.
induents. Then came the order for a
draft. and the name OF Hon. James
Fisk of D. headed the list of
he drafted This was no particular
credit to his fellow townSmen. for in
spite of his title (which. by the way,
was tribute'to wealth only. meaner,
more misery creature than James Fisk
uever lived upon this earth.
He was just in the prime of life, or
would have been had he been less self
'sh. but little by little certain obicc-
tionable traits of character had left
heir imprint upon his countenaace
until he appeared prenaturclN aged.
Hence The sobriquet of "Old Jim Fisk
which he was Familiarity called by
every man. woman and child-eXcept-
ne on rare occasions when discretion
was considered the better part of yalor.
The Hon. James Fisk was a banker.
railroad magnate, and a real eS-
tate man combined. la fact, he had
owned a large portion of the town in It's
early history, and he therefore conSid-
cred himself of no small Importance in
the financial world nj least. Ike many
another he loved his money first. him
self next aud his country last. as well
as least: though it is said that when
he ran for United States Senator during
the previous campaign. he made some
,hrllngly patriotic speeches, and APP
parently without the slightest com
junction In those days he was called
odd Sodom and Gomorrah." an appel
lati0u which he never quite outgrew.
James Fisk was not the type Of a
man who could conScientiouSly sing.
"America" or THE Star Spangled Ban
ner,' consequently he felt that per
sonal insult had been directed to him
when the President had the audacity 10
place his name with the rest of the
common herd. Nevertheless. it WAS
ease of compulsiou, and he knew that
he must either hire Il substitute or 20
into the army himself, The former
was not very easy to accomplish. as
the majority of the poor men had al
ready enlisted. and money, at such
time, was no inducement to the rich
men.
He was not in az especially amiable
mood, when at the close Of an unsuc-
cessful day spent in search Of a substi-
tute he entered his office to attend to
the afternoon mail. AS he read the
last letter a heavier scowl deepened
upon his forehead and he exclaimed
harshly:
The young iackanapes need not
think that he can fool with a hornet
and not get stung. Extend their time.
indeed, Why, the interest was due
month ago! III foreclose the mortgage
to morrow"
4 new thought seemed 10 occur TO
him, for the muscles of the stern mouth
relaxed; he smiled blanuIy, rubbed his
hands together caressingly, and said:
Mr.. Fisk, you're IA diplomats born
diplomat. You're an honor TO your
country, but more particularly to your
self. If you can only manage this thing
properly, you will be all right--yes, all
right
At the close of the foregoing soliloquy
he filled out Il telegraph blank as fol-
lows
Horace w. Packard Carson City.
Iowa-Have found way to help you
out. Come to D. on first train.
JAMES FISK"
The message was soon diSnatched
and reached its destination Just as Hor-
ace and his mother We're sitting down
to their evening meal.
old MOneybags is getting awfuly
considcrate, all of IA sudden: what do
you suppose is back OF ii, mother?'
asked the boy as he handed the tcle-
gram 70 her.
Mrs. Packard gave sigh which be-
lied her words, but she responded hope
trust that his heart has softened a little
toward the widow and the fatherless."
Don't you think you can go with me.
mother? | believe Jones will give us
passes, so you can offer no objection on
that score; anyway, you need change,
for you look pretty tired these days"
And thus 1t was settled that Mrs.
Packard was 10 spend the week with
an old school friend, while her son at
tended to business matters
Mr. Packard bad been one of the first
of Iowa's sons to lay down his life for
his country. From the hour that his |
father had marched away, Horace had
secretly cherished "A desire to join the
army, He knew that his years were
against him; then, too, his mothers
heart was so sore at the heavy blow
which had fallen on their home nest as |
the result OF the war. that he nayer !