Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-10-19


strike back, quicker than lightning.
wouldn't wait for proof, or to get my
| weapons all polished and in order. I'd
| just simply give him the full benefit
of my bare fist. 1 would lick him, just
as am"
"Ah, pa" said Jimmie;;" I remember
one time of your pitching onto a man
just as you were, and he made you say
| enough"
Jimmie, you don't know what you
are talking about. l was discussing the
| affairs of nations. 1 tell you, it is un-
American-like, to let them Spaniards
| think us afraid of 'em."
"Pa," said Anna, eff you don't watch
yourself, you will be perpetual fault
| finder. 1 believe our government will
settle this difficulty all right. Any
way, they surely know more about IL
| than we do.''
"Never mind, my daughter; you'll get
| tired a-waitin' till Mckinley declares
| war against Spain. I don't believe he'll
ever do it. He don't care anything
| about the starving Cubans, or our na-
tional honor. He is there for the pur-
care how many helpless people starve."
'Well, Simon," said Cynthia, $50 far
he hasn't hurt US any. 1 never saw
times improve faster for the laborinE
classes. Wages are high; everybody
| has work, and prices for farmers prod
| ucts are getting better all the time"
Their conversation was here inter
rupted by Mary entering the room. She
had been to Boonsville and brought the
mail
"War is declared" she said.
''Is it possible?" said Simon in as
tonishment.
"Hurrah for McKinleyw Jimmie
shouted
Jimmie" said Simon, impatiently.
"Be quiet. Who told you, Mary, that
war is declared?"
"The newspaper says so," said Mary,
and so it proved to be. Simon was
fooled" again, as Cynthia expressed
it. for in big, black letters the paper
announced that war had been declared
against Spain, and the President had
called for $4,000 volunteers.
Boonsville was in a state Of excite
ACAt, huu youH5 ntu
talk of joining the army. People won
dered how long and disastrous the war
would be.
Political Simon said the war would
prove what kind Of stuff Mckinley was
made of. He said he had no confidence,
in him for managing war. There
never was but one Republican that he.
ever knew capable Of doing such a
thing. and that was Abraham Lincoln,
and If he was a-living to-day he would
not be Republican.
ALI eyes were now toward Mckinley.
A great responsibility rested upon his
shoulders. AS commander-in-chief Of
the army and navy he was at the head
and directed all.
About the first order he gave was to
the Asiatic squadron, and we all know
it's result.
Commodore Dewey, following the or
der of his COMMUNICATIVE sunk
the Spanish feet in Manila Bay. No
such battle had ever been known in tho
history Of the world, and Dewey be-
came a national hero.
In the meantime the Flying Squadron
search Of Spain's Atlantic fleet, sup
posed to be near the West Indies.
Young men were still hurrying to the
front, and among the volunteers was
Glen Harrington.
1t was hard for Winnie to bid him
good-by, but he said he felt it his duty
to go. Long were the farewell words.
and Vinnie's eyes followed him as he
walked away to board the train that
was to bear him to the coast. She was
proud of her lover, and she admired
him, more than ever, for wanting to
be soldier, yet the thought of his go
ing filled her with dread.
Many soldier boys would lay down
their lives. Would he be one of those
called to die for his country?
The thought filed her with dreads
and the true meaning of war came to
her.
Simon was very much surprised when
he heard that Glen Harrington had
enlisted.
Cynthia he said, Il am glad he'a
gone, and l hope he'll never return
why, Simon Grey, how dare you
talk so?"
Il didn't exactly mean that I wish
he'd get shot, but l wish he'd stay in
Cuba. 1t would make one less Repub-
lican vote in Boonsville, besides saving
us the unpleasantness of a Republican
son-in-law.''
We'll. Simon, we might get son-in-
law with a worse fault than votin' the
Republican ticket. Let's not ridicule
the Republicans now. They have done
all right so far. Wait till they do
wrong"
CTo be continuedD