The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
TOWN HAD TO HAVE A HERO
SERGEANT SMITH GLADLY Obliged
THE AUTHORITIES or APPIN.

A Distressing1y Awkward Situation Aros
at Omaha when Regiment Came Hon
From Manila, and Smith Rose TO tn
Occasion-The Mayors Great Relief
The fact that war veterans are willing 10 d
what they can to be agreeable received an illu,
tration recently when transport from Manil
brought 10 San Francisco a regiment Of volun
teers that had been mustered out The new
Of their homecoming had beeu cabled 10 the paper
and several Of them are dsting ushod men who ha
performed deeds that deserved special mention
were especially described Among these was
| certain sergeant John Smith. who had save,
the life Of his Colonel in one OF the battles HI
was a real hero, and he gave his home address
the name Of town that for the purposes Of this
article shall DO called Appin, Neh The rcasor
| for conceallng the true name OF the town viii
| become evident latet
The Mayor and aldermen wished to run fol
Office again without having any charges OF mis-
| appropriation OF funds brought against them,
but the Mayor Of Appin, Ncb.. had two sorrows
| He bore UP under them with cheerful rcsigna-
ton. Indeed he was forced from their nature to
hide them from all the world and did not dare to
| seek sympathy even from his dearest friend, the
| Chairman Of the Finance Committee though no
| knew that the chairman was also suffering in
secret He spent many lonesome afternoon
in his Office meditating his troubles, but think
he might he could not devise a scheme that
would call for the appointment at that time
Of the honorod institution, "A committee headed
by his honor, the Mayor and comprising Alder
man So andso and So-and-so, etc, with power
10 add 10 their numbers, which shall visit New
York (QI Chicago or some equally attractive
city,, arid investigate the latest Improvements
in -" These iunketing trips are the delight
Of every well reg usted municipal body, but they
mi sf he In of by a nil uaib
Tho Mayors predecessors had not missed q
chanca and in consequence the town was already
in possession Of the ripest thought on asphalt
trolley systems water works electric lighting.
sewerage, and street cleaning The municipal
ownership Of all sorts OF attractive things had
been investg ated. and the whole gamut Of eX-
cuses had been run. No one but an alderman
or mayor can appreciate the pathoe Of such a
situation, and II bchooves the ord nary taxpayer
TO avoid harsh judgments, being wholly with
out knowledge.
The Mayors other cause OF SORROW was the lack
Of loyalty shown by the town during the Spanish
American war that was past and the one that is in
progress No company had been recruited in
Appin and there were no homecoming heroes TO DO
banqueted at the expense Of the town. Assured
ly his lines had fallen In prosaic places and dulness
was becoming burden.
One afternoon as he was trying for the fifteth
time to devise feasible excuse, the door OF his
Office opened unccremoniously and a news
paper reporter entered with democratic informality.
He dreamy young man who looked, how
ever. as il he might be full Of sleeping energy. His
mild brown eyes limited of poetic FIRE and his droop-
ing black moustache and rregularly curved lips
suggested a vein of humor with capacity for ex-
travagant but logical prevarcation
Any news today. Mr. Mayor" he enquired
La nj he
character OF his call.
Nary a new" said the Mayor. as he shifted his
feet TO more comfortable position on his desk
As il pleased with his own little Joke he stroked
his sandy moustache and smiled at his visitor
with good natured sparkle in his polite grey eye
What's going on in the world odAy?" he added
Nothing much" said the reporter. we arc
still expanding and expendhs in the Philippines
And, by the way, that reminds me- Do you know
an yone by the name Of John Smith"
Just a few" said the Mayor. where has tho
particular John Smith you are looking for got his
strawberry mark"
The John Smith am looking for Ia a soldier
He is coming home from Manila with an honorable
discharge and the report says that in one Of the
battes he saved the life of his Colonel His homo
address is given as Appin, Neh"
What's that?" said the Mayor with interest
He is returning 10 his birthplace, Appin Neb,
but no one here knows Of any John Smith that en-
Listed for the wal"
We'll, some one must know him. was lust
coming 70 the conclusion that this town hadn't
enough loyalty to keep II sweet, but If any John
Smith that born here or ever lived here has re-
Elected credit on the town, we must receive him as
becomes hero What's the matter with you in
terviewing me on the subject"
Interview you" asked the reporter who WIS
thinking hard
Certainly. Can't you see the possibilities OF
the case' Here is hero coming back 10 Appin
and you have chance TO come out with broad
side advocating that he be received in proper
style Every other town worth the name has
welcomed home some hero OF other and do you |
think shall be behind them? Interview all |
the Smiths in town. even though you have to put |
your whole staff on the job Why l know OF |
several Smiths that might be the man There |
was the widow Smiths Johnnie who LETT here Ave |
years ago after his mother died. Perhaps it's |
him Then Albert Perry Smith had a nephew |
that lived with him until he away seven years
ago and il am not mistaken about II his name was
John Don't tell me that you can't ind a John |
Smith II takes all kinds OF people TO make q |
world and most OF them are John Smiths Say,
III go down to see your editor about this" |
Hold on" said the reporter with kindling en- |
'''NN-''I
to run this thing myself Come on with your |
interview. What do you think should be done |
in this CASE" |
In grave and digniGcd language the Mayor |
told o the pride and qualification he ielt on find
ing that their heroic fellow townsman was about |
10 return 10 his early home. Or course II would |
be premature Tor him 10 suggest what should be |
lone in the way ol receiving brave Sergeant Smith
but he would lay the matter before the council at |
lis next meeting, on the following evening.
"Now d" your prrttiest 10 work up enthusiasm
and bring pressure 10 bear on the municipal author
ties Work in some sentiment and such stuff"
Don't You worry" said the reporter Il see
unlimited space in this story. There is nothing
going on today, and the editor will lust TALL all
over me tor bringing In such story and he will
kick himself ior not seeing tho possibilities OF |.
himself You should have bccn newspaper man"
\ few hours later the evening paper was out On
the street With sCsrchcads built as nearly as pos
ablc on the Architectural lines NJ those in the bin
yellow daili"S ltevcn had what purported to be a
pictur" Of Sergeant Smith surrounded by Ameri-
AN flags and all the unreasonable girls proceed