Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-10-02
AN AWFUL
TEST OF
GRATITUDE
BY John n. Rafferty,.

W
bine and old Newt Stuart was for TWEEN
ty years one of the many anomalies
and one Of the few edifying conditions
that distinguished the social life of the
capital Newton Stuart was news
paper correspondent-nobo knew how
old, but the dean Of the press gallery,
beloved and undisputed. Senator Har-
bine held similar position in that ex-
elusive, clublike organization known as
the United States senate. Old Newt
hailed from Louisiana, and his senatori-
al friend was from Ohio so that as far
as an exchange of official favOrs might
60 there was no apparent reason for
their unfaltering affection for each 9TH
er. Newt couldn't ''boost" Harbine If
he wanted to and had never stopped to
accept patronage of any kind from the
Louisiana legislators who had come
and gone during his long career as
Washington correspondent.
So far as any outsider knew, there
were only three grounds for the mu-
tual admiration between Newt and the
old senator-viz, fishing, terrapin and
mint julep. Outside of Washington
such paltry matters will probably never
be regarded as adequate motives for
great and lasting friendship, but in
Washington the three delights named
are sometimes of vaster moment than
the making of treaties or the establish
ment of national policies. Newt was
the champion terrapin chef Of Wash
ington for generation. Harbine's mint
juleps were the wonder and envy of all
Corners. Bartenders made their repu-
tations by, advertising ''the Harbine
julep," and restaurants, cafes and ho-
tells won patronage by announcing 'ter-
rapin.a la Newt Stuart"
But when it came to fishing neither
the senator nor the reporter would
yield the palm. For dozen years they
had gone fishing together. AS many
times had they come home in raging
debate as to which had caught the
greatest weight of fish, which had cast
fly or bait the farthest or which was
most dexterous in playing line. Fish
ing was the one rock upon which they
split necessarily, and once the subject
came up between them they would
rail and boast at one another till blows
seemed the only argument left One
day Newt and the senator, sitting inca
circle of most potent, grave and wor-
thy lawmakers at the Shoreham, chal-
lenged one another to a final test of
their prowess as bait casters. The idea
tickled the audience, though 1t was
midwinter. Cases of wine and boxes
of cigars were freely wagered. and
finally each contestant went for rod
and tackle and the whole party trudg-
ed through the snow across to Lafa-
yette square for the duel.
The distances were measured off. "A
dangling pine cone was selected as the
object to cast at, and each contestant,
using his own rod and reel, was to
have five chances, the decision to go to
the caster who missed the least. 1t
was walkover for the senator, for he
whipped his fly across the cone five
times successfully, while poor old
Newt missed his second shot and cast
wide on the last. He paid the wager
and swore that it was the reel that
beat him.
II bet fifty can beat you right now
with that there gosh burned Meek reel
o. yournw sputtered Newt.
But the senator said 1t was time for
a julep. wagged his head in triumph
and led the party back to the hotel.
II can beat you at bait casting with
any kind of a reel" Newt used to boast
after that, 'but that there Meek sizzler
you've got amt reel at all; it's liv-
in, breathin'. conscious piece o. witch
craftv'
1t was about two months after this
that Newt intrenched himself forever
in old Senator Harbine's loving heart.
The latter's son was the scourge of his
life. He had been expelled from West
Point, discharged from half a dozen
government positions and arrested a
dozen times. Finally letter from Mrs.
Harbine came from Cincinnati an
nouncing that Dick had broke loose
there on a wild debauch that threat
ened to end disastrously for the young
man himself and for the fair name of
his fathers family.
Senator Harbine handed the letter to
old Newt.
Newt, you like my boy, know" he
growled. "He thinks more o. you than
he does o. his own father. III you'll run
down to Cincinnati and stop him, I'll
give or get you anything In reason.
I'm rich, and I'm strong with the adj
ministration. Honest. now, Newt,
know you never cared for money, and
you have no family, but II you'll stop
this Cincinnati Jag O. Dicks I'll give
you house and lot or-or-anything
you want"
Newt started for Cincinnati that
night. Nobody ever knew just what he
said or did to Dick Harblne. but in a
week they came back, Newt silent and