The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-01-26

ed; banners had waved, drums
had beaten and the swarming masses
of humanity, gathered from all parts
OF the country, had shouted them
selves hoarse as the great general
had passed through the streets in his
handsome carriage, bowling to right
and left or chatting pleasantly with
the president of the United States,
who sat by his side. And now the
night was bringing more brilliant
repetition of the days festivities.
Best of all, no envious voice was
raised in all the multitude. For not
only had the great man saved the
honor of his country by his intrepidity
in moment of peril, but he fiattered
the national pride because he realized
in every way the highest and finest
type Of American manhood. Then.
too, he wore his laurels with a quiet
dignity and modesty that the people,
tired of blatant heroes, appreciated;
30, in return they loved him, and as
national love can only be expressed
by badges and parades and illumina-
tions, and much speech-making, all
these things had their places in the
swiftly-moving panorama of the day.
The finest feature of all, at least
in the eyes of the ragged street gam
ms, was to be the great dinner that
night, when under canopies Of rare
flowers and to the soft accompani-
lnent of beautiful music, the men of
highest position, and the fairest la
dies Of the land were to welcome their
returned hero.
In the meantime the object Of al
this adulation had been driven quick
ly to the hotel for an hours rest be-
fore the banquet, and after reaching
his apartments had thrown himself
into an easy chair in utter exhaus-
ton of mind and body.
: Don't call me until have barely
time to dress, Matthew'S" he said to
his valet. and the man, after careful-
ly attending to the few wants of his
master, left the room. Then the gem
eral, left to himself, walked slowly
to the window and looked down into
the street, where his name was stilI
being shouted, and where remarkable
presentments of himself in electric
lights had begun to fash across the
darkness of the sky.
Evening papers!" rang out the
shrill voices of the newsboys; "all
about the great gen'ral." etc.
Some one slipped copies of the late
editions under his door and he arose
and glanced at their glaring pages.
But he soon threw them from him
and sought the refuge of his chair.
Then he looked around him. The room
was radiant with flowers sent by
countless admirers, and the soft light
CLEANED upon pictures Of himself over
which the national colors were draped.
Highest pinnacle of fame! Every.
thing within his reach!" The absurd
headlines contained in the afternoon
papers rang persistently In his ears.
he shrugged his shoulders q little
YEARLY. Yes, people must think him
. happy man, he said to himself. He
could put himself in the attitude Of |
the toilers Of the work-a-day world.
to whom no prizes fall, and could re- |
alize that the heights to which he !
had climbed might seem to them the !
summit of all earth-born ambitions.
Well-fame, honor, wealth. all b.6
come to him at last. but, after AM |
was he the happy man which, accord.
ing to al known precedent, he should |
be?
Again he picked up newspaper. He
moved restlessly in his chair, glanc-
ing down its columns. Then he gave
; low exclamation and sat with star
ing eyes looking at the page before
him.
Two roughly. executed wood cuts
had caught his eye. taken from two
I'D photographs which some enter
pxising young reporter had unearthed |
lone of the general himself. in hie
Eoung manhood. and the other Of his