The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-31

Henderson WAS sent 10 Rockford, 4,
Ill.,, where another surgeon could be
consulted.
David was able TO do no manual
labor for long time. and 1t was
while be was thus incspscltated that
serious thought was taken Of col
lege course Before he went 10 col
lego, however, he taught term Of
school IN his home district.
Gen. Henderson looks back upon
that summer as ore Of the most eG-
jOyable IN his whole career. Never
before had be been able to devote his
entire time to intellectual pursuits,
aud he read and studied with au
enthusiasm that helped him to make
wonderful progress.
HIS FIRST SPEECHMAKING.
That fall d. B. Henderson entered
the Upper Iowa University as fcesh
man. There be studied for three
years, working on the farm in sum
mers aud living with the greatest
frugslity in winters. He and chum
rented quarters and kept house for
themselves, cooking their own food,
sweeping their o~n floors and making
their own beds.
Young Henderson got special
standing among his fellow students
through an incident which had a
feature suggestive of the episode IN
which bis father and the Earl of
Buchan were principals. HIS skill
as debster was as great as his
superiority as wrestler. tie mad
begun when be WAS only eight years
old, his eldest brother George being
bis opponent generally and his father
the Judge. His reputation in this
lire had preceded him at Fsyette,
and he had not been in the college q
week before he was chosen to lead a
discussion before one Of the debating
societies. Ou his first appearance
be was interrupted by a senior who
asked nppant question. Hender-
son stopped and looked at the fellow,
bu, soon resumed. Three or four
minutes later came another interrup.
ton much more hippalt in tone
insulting even. Henderson turned
again and looked at the fellow. Tnis
time tho voarg sisB from bender
sons Prairie spoke up:
Mr.. Chairman" quoth he, " II
you cannot preserve order IN this
room, will"
Then he upset the senior and piled
b m up in the woodbox. There were
no more Interruptions at Upper Iowa
University wnen David BcemDer
Henderson was making remarks.
HOW HE WENT TO WAR
Though be enjoyed student life at
Fayette immensely, be did not hnish
the course of study there. 1t was
in corrupted by the civil war. OIe
of his best friends was q student
named w. w. Warner. Ia August,
1861, while the war was still young,
Henderson and Warner spent Sua'
day evening with Warmers sisters.
L4ter in the night Henderson told
Warner be was ashamed of himself
because he bad not enlisted as vol
uuteer in the army of the north. 1t
would be a pity to leave school, be
said. but the country needed young
men lust then. The friends talked
long and earnestly over the situation
aud the result was plan the culmi-
nation Of which occurred at Fsyette
on September 15 Henderson was
then twenty-one.
On the morning of that day, just
af er prayers, young Henderson,
who, with Warner aud another stud
ent named Burr, had been working
quietly among the students at their
" conspiracy" arose and asked per.
mission to say few words on 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 faculty hesltated, but per
mission was finally given. Then the
youngster stood upon the floor and
made his first war speech" DE
dwrlt upon the governments need
for the services of its strong young
sons. and declared it to be the duty
of ali who could to rush to the front.
His effort eliminated in a whirlwind
of passion and patriotism, and when
he had finished he read a series oi
resolutions setting forth the situation
in sober phrase, aud concluding with
this paragraph;
~We therefore drop our books tc
6oht our country's battles"
To this was appended a muster rolls
hearing tie names of twenty-five
students, the flower of the schools
student body.
B. fore he went to the front Hen
derson enlisted l04 more volunteers
and thus the career OF this typica
American soldier, professional mar
and stateman was begun. His wa
record is known to all the world
Though offered captains place, b,
said be was too young, and so wa
made second lieutenant. Twice b,
was wounded, once in the face, whel
he was first under 6re, and one,
below the knee, which made smpu
tatiou necessary. Nevertheless, b.
returned to the front, though wearing
a timber leg, and when then war wa
over was a colonel, at twenty I've
Arter that he studied law, served a
internal revenue collector for tn
Dubuque district, and seventeen
years ago was elected to Congress.
Gen. Henderson is now only fifty
nine with what may be the mos
brilliant part OF his career oefor'
I Edward Marshall.