The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-02
REVIVED A HERO.
Howard Kyle Has Done That
For Nathan Hale.
A Neglected but Noble Revo-
lutiOnary Character.
LIKES GEN. FUNSTON.
Mr.. Kyle Thinks True Ameri-
can Spirit Is in the West.
Says Kansas General VIII Sure
n
LIKES GEN. FUNSTON.
Says Kansas General VIII Sure
Iy Be Pat in a Play.


Nathan Hale in the romantic and
patriotic play by that name, is a great
admirer of General Funston.
I believe that the trueAmerican spirit
is to be found west of New York" said
Mr.. Kyle I'VE see that exemplified in
General Funston. Your intrepid Kansas
general viii undoubtedly be dramatized.
The fact is he is already dramatized and
he only needs adapting. 1t viii not be
more than two years before he is seen
as the heroic character in some drama.
He deserves all he has won, too. and you
Kansans have a right to be proud Of
him.
" Nathan Hale is one of those char
acters we know too little of. He is one
of those real. true characters that has
not been placed in the lime light and WAS
not found to be important until a long
time after his noble deeds were done.
We thought a great deal about Andre
but 1t was not until DIR. NIitchell's story
Of Hugh Wynne that we got good
description of his true character. 1t was
not till then that we knew that he was
given gold to seduce the American Off
GERS to the British cause. Nathan Hale
was a boy who went to Yale and was
not quite p years Of age when he was
executed. With all Of his youth he had
everything to live for and promise of a
brilliant career. He was good fellow,
athlete who won prizes at Yale and
until 70 years after his death He was
so nearly forgotten that no one knows
where he was buried. He took the posi-
ton that to be a spy was honorable as
long as his acts would gain honorable
ends There were u children in his fam
lily. His father was typical New Eng
land deacon and he did not believe in his
sons going to college Hale was always
deferentia1 to his father. His father
wanted him to be a minister and he COM
promised by being a school teacher.
kT-
pathized with him in his literary am
billions He was schoolmaster first at
East Haddam and then at New London
he had a grammar school there Wnen
the battle Of Lexington was fought. The
play begins with him at that school at
that time. He delivered a speech to some
elders that fired them all with the patri-
otto spirit and gave them the first idea
OF absolute independence.
All through his college days Nathan
Hale kept up his correspondence with
Alice Adams. When he was chosen for
his mission It was because he was cool
and tactful unfiinching and full of cour-
age. He went through the British lines
at New York and passed as a young
schoolmaster. He was not suspected for
five or six weeks on account Of his tact.
He wrote his notes about the fortif1ca-
tions in Latin and placed them in his
shoes When he was captured and Gen
eral Howe saw the Latin notes and OBJ
served the gentle manner of Hale he
knew that il would be an advantage to
rich offers to joint the British cause
No, I've done what I did for my
country said Hale
&" You did, said Howe
Yes
g Then you can die for your country
Hale was kept a prisoner by a brute
named Cunningham, who appears in the
play" continued Mr. Kyle. His impris-
onment and his execution were in and
near Rutgers orchard in New York.
That place IS now the city hall Site
Mr.. Kyle has studied deep into the life
and character Of Nathan Hale and were
he to write what he has at his tongues |
end about the hero 1t would fill a volume |
and be interesting. too. The late historic |
novels and plays have revived an in |
terest and study into the characters Of |
colonial heroes. AS Mr. Kyle remarked, !
I'VE know so much Of Andre and so /
little Of Nathan Hale" Not long ago l
the students Of a college at Madison. |
wis, were to debate upon Nathan Hale |
and the debaters wrote to Mr.. Kyle for /
their information. They got 1t. too, and /
It was clear and exhaustful- The ending 4
Of the play, with Nathan's execution, /
seems to some to be so sad. The women /
for the most part say it is too bad that /
Nathan and Alice Adams could not have /
married and been happy. So Mr.. Kyle in 1
a curtain speech not long ago anticipated /
the feeling by telling the story Of the L
death Of Alice Adams years after the i
execution Of Nathan and how her last I
words were write to Nathan" Mr.. /
Kyle says, rs il not beautiful to think /
Of Alice and Nathan together?"