Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-16
A Landlubber's Opinion.


It's strange that opportunity, when wandering
all about,
Distributing her favors, finds SO many people
out.
Another thing about her which think is very
hard
She knocks but once upon your door-and never
leaves her card!
Maybe. yer nelghbor, Jest next door. with
nothin' else to do
Has stayed at home and gets the call intended
thus for you;
An you never hear about 1t ner think Of 1t
yerself
Till you see yer nelghbor walkin' up the road to
fame or wealth.
Then you'll begin to storm around an rail- at yer
sad fate,
An git mighty hustle on, not KNOWN its too
late,
An git out the old spy-glass an dust 1t on an
say:
"I,l bet that will see her next time she comes
this way!"
Er, maybe you'll take after her In hopes to
bring her back,
An with grim determination follow close upon
her track;
But she's sure to double on you, an you'll never
see her more;
Fer while you're out huntin' her she'll pass
ervsry door!
Fer sometime I've been puzzlin' DER the
schley and Sampson feud;
A thing fear us landlubbers have not rightly
understood;
OF course Schley did most all the work an we
think 1t hardly fair
To let Sampson claim the victory-because he
was not there!
We reckonit' another case Of greedy man
appalled,
AT being too far "out of range" when opportun.
ity called;
And shafter was the Delilah we hear these
warriors say,
For calling strong man Sampson from his duties
that-a-way!
He said to schley jest fore he went: snow you
Jest watch and walt;
Efthe Spaniard comes galuphing out wen ketch
him sure as fate!"
An then he jerked his anchor up an proudly
steamed away,
Little dreamin' of the victory he was to win that
day!
/
He'd jest got down the bay apiece-'bout thirty
miles er more,
When opportunity then began a thumpin' on
Schley's door!
Schley made "the loup" In first-class style, with
nerves both strong and steady,
'"backed the Brooklyn out" he said. to get
better ready!
Then fell rain of shot and shell upon the
Spanish fleet;
Twas victory you read about, an very hard to
beat,
All honor to the fighting men in Santiago bay
An'to victorious Sampson-'bout fourteen miles
away!
OF course, when he first heard the guns. he
came calahootin' back.
Maxim the waters fairly bile along the New
York's track:
he fred all his long range guns with no damage
worth mention
Bnt Nc pintsa at the spanish eeet--wh,cll
showed his good intention!
he didn't arrive In time to see the Spanish
snflors fryin'
Ner hear command: "Don't cheer, boys-the
poor devils are dyin'l"
Nor there's glory enough fer ali Of us!" by the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SCLieys
But Jest in time to catch his breath an present
ayictory!"
Ef sampson gifts the honorsi 1t Will put at once to
rest
question which has nestled for years within
my breast;
Bill Smith and mo were in the woods one day
huntin' round,
An we started up rabbit an run 1t In the
ground.
Says L: "Now you Jest watch this hole an
mind what you're about,
An I'll so git chunk of fire. an we'll smoke
the critter out!"
But when come back out of breath with fire In
my hand,
He held the kickin' rabbit up-an' Laughed to
beat the band'
OF course took 1t from him; for what right had
the wretch
To the very rabbit had placed him at that hole
to catch?
So, eff Sampson gifts the honors. will no longer
search
Fer an easment of my conscience -sence 1 have
jined the church.
-Tacitus Hussey, in Des Moines Leadar.