The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-12-27

life to John Mason's wife and six chill
dren, while the head of the family was
confined to the house for months with
broken leg. No, they did not learn
of this saint-like side of his nature.
They did not even know that the
chickens he stole were stolen for the
purpose of making little broth for a
penniless and forsaken old woman
whose life was fast ebbing away in
hopeless fight against poverty and sick
ness.
Sheer at Jules Strong, ye sons of
noble sires; but l say that that man
was hero, descendant of that galaxy
of Christian martyrs who so bravely
barred their person to the lions teeth in
the arena, or faced torture on the rack
or at the stake, or were beheaded be-
fore denouncing the teachings of the
carpenter of Nazareth. @
When his term of Imprisonment ex-
pired, Strong again returned to Bar
vile, the scene of his early youth, his
humiliation and degradation. From
early morn until late at night he per-
sistently sought employment; but all
shook their heads, or else shrugged
their shoulders in silent wrath at the
mans impertinence. He could not
even get an occasional odd job, such as
saving wood, mending furniture, etc.
His hardest trial and severest tor
mentors, however, were the sworn min
ions of the law; the outward bulwarks
of society; the upholders of peace and
the dignity of the law, and the crush
ing of vice in all its hydra-headed
forms. Time and again did these
"honest" dignitaries of society arrest
Jules Strong upon the charge of vag-
rancy and confined him in Jail for va
rious periods. Vagrancy, like the
"spoils system" in politics, covers a
multitude of sins; and Strong made an
admirable cats paw for these gentle
men in pulling golden eagles out of the
county funds in the shape of fees.
The last time he was arrested there
was great hue and cry raised against
him because of the larceny of bread
from bakery which he honestly con.
fessed to committing. The bedlam
which broke loose was started at the in
stigation of the police, and emanateC
from an apology for newspaper thai
t was printed in the town. This one
> horse sheet was extremely virulent il
r attacking the character of Strong. Il
called him desperate, burglar, foot
r pad, three-card monte shark CRATER
D highwayman and low-down villain VIII,
should forever be put beyond the pail
: of the law. 1t also warmly congratu
b lated the chief on making the impor
: tant capture of so desperate character
single handed and at the point of
J. six shooter after a violent struggle
s Many of the citizens who had read tn
J. glowing accounts of the chiefs "here
J. ism" in the next mornings edition Q
d the Apology, dropped in by twos an
q threes and also showered an avalanch
l. of bouquets at the rotund figure of tina
o dignitary.
g 1t was great day for the chief 9
d police; but what of Jules Strong? A
l. he was being locked up in the Jail, h
family asked the jailor for docto
y The jailor jeered at him and slamme
70 the door to with a bang that disturbe
s all the vermin in that dank, ill-sme
If ling building.
lg Christmas morning, as the soprar
if in the choir in the fashionable churc
r. near by was repeating in dulcet tom
s. "Peace on earth; peace on earth," JUL
lg Strong lay cold in death in his ce
is He died unattended, and victim
I'd the deep-seated prejudice of almost Il
ed entire community.
d, Yes, he was victim of prejudice
e. that prejudice which deals out its m
w lignant hatred in cool, refined al
of methodical manner. Many men wi