Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-15

ing his opponent generally and his father the
judge. His reputation in this line had pre-
ceded him at Fayette, and he had not been
in the college week before he was chosen
to lead discussion before one of the de-
batting societies. On his first appearance he
was interrupted by a senior who asked a
fippant question. Henderson stopped and
looked at the fellow, but soon resumed.
Three or four minutes later came another
interruption, much more Hippant in tone
insulting, even. Henderson turned again
and looked at the fellow. This time the
young man from Henderson's Prairie
spoke up.
''Mr. Chairman" quoth he, "if you cannot
preserve order in this room, l will"
Then he upset the sepior and piled him
up in the woodboX. There were no more in
terruptions at Upper Iowa university when
David b. Henderson was making remarks.
How He Went to War.
Though he enjoyed student life at Fay
cite immensely, he did not finish the course
OF study there. 1t was interrupted by the
| civil war. One of his best friends was a
student named w. W. Warner. In August
1861, while the war was still young Hen
derson and Warner spent a Sunday evening
with Warmers sister. Later in the night
! Henderson told Warner he was ashamed of
| himself because he had not enlisted as a
volunteer in the army of the north 1t
would be pity to leave school. he said
| but the country needed young men Just then.
! The friends talked long and earnestly over
| the situation and the result was plan the
! elimination of which occurred at Fayette
on September Is. Henderson was then 81
On the morning of that day, Just after
prayers, young Henderson, who with War
! ner and another student named Burr ha 4
| been working quietly among the students at
| their conspiracy" arose and asked per-
| mission to say few words ION a subject
Of vital interest to every one present" He
! had no complaint, no protest to make he
| said. but he wished earnestly to be heard.
! This was an entirely novel proposition, and
| the ia ulty hesitated, but permissi n wai
| finally given. Then the youngster stood
out upon the floor and made his first war
| speech" He dwelt upon the government
! need for the services of its strong young
sons, and declared it to be the duty of all
who could to rush to the front. His effort
| eliminated in a whrlwind of passion and
patriotism and when he had finished he read
a series Of resolutions setting forth the ST
| uatiCn in sober phrase and concluding with
! thil paragraph;
I'VE therefore drop our books to fight
our country's battles"
To this was appended a muster roll bear
ing the names OF twenty-five students, the
| flower OF the schools student body
Before he went to the front Henders "a
enlisted lOi more volunteers, and thus the
career of this typical American soldier, pro-
! fessional man and statesman was begun
His war record is known to all the world
Though offered a captains place, he sait
he was too young and so was made SECOND
lieutenant. TwIee he was wounded once
in the face when he was first under fire
and once below the knee. which made ampu
tation necessary. Nevertheless he returne
10 the front, though wearing a timber leg
aad when the war was over was a c-lone
at 25 After that he studied law, served al
internal revenue collector for the Dubuqu,
district, and seventeen years ago was elected
to congress.
Colonel Henderson is now only SO, Will
what may be the most brilliant part OF hi
career before him.