Smyrna times., 1901-05-01
TT MADE HIM A HERO.
AN ACf THAT BROUGHT A LAWYER
FAME AND FORTUNE.

II Looked Like an Exhibition of
Pure Nerve and Daring, but In
Reality 1t Was simply an Outcome
of His Nearsightedness.
"A person who enjoys good eye
sight" said a man who most decidedly
does not, would be greatly astonished
to know how little is seen by those who
are nearsighted even in a moderate de
gree. The average shortsighted man,
of whom there are hundreds in every
large city, sees nothing distinctly more
than a foot away from his nose. Be
yond that distance the outline of oh
jects becomes hazy and indistinct,
growing rapidly more and more so un-
til everything is finally merged into
one general blur. The faces of people |
across the street are mere pink blotch-
es, their figures are destitute of de-
tail, signs ale indecipherable 80 feet |
away, and the whole movement of traf-
fic and passing show of the thorough
fare is a misty panorama, in which
nothing much smaller than cab can
be definitely distinguished.
"Of course a nearsighted person can
see as we'll as anybody through prop
erly fitted glasses, but a great many
folks regard them as such a disfgure-
ment that they prefer to do without
their aid. That kind of pride is GER
tainly very foolish because it causes
one to miss at least nine-tenths or
what is going on, TO say nothing of be-
ing an open invitation to accident.
Yet, oddly enough, l know of case in
which it actually saved a mans life
and laid the foundation of fortune.
"The hero of the episode was law
yer in a city in Ohio where | spent my
boyhood. He was beyond middle age
at the time, but was straight as an ar
row and decidedly handsome, soldier
ly looking parsonage. These good looks
of his were his weak point, and al
though he was extremely nearsighted
he was vain enough to deny himself
glasses and kept the fact of his in
trinity a secret. The consequence OF
this folly was a wide reputation for
haughtiness, as he rarely recognized
ANYBODY on the street, and it undOubt
edly damaged him in his practice. Al
duN IdlCs uc nCNCA lAtlhC NAAAh
more than a very modest living wheI
the curious incident have in mind oc
Cured.
THE city government had been for ;
long time under ring rule" continued
the story teller. land it finally became
so bad that the decent people revolIe'
and organized reform movement. Tn
good looking lawyer-call him COlOne
Jones fer cOnvenience-was one of tn
reformers. and. among other things. h
made himself active in securing in
dictments against a number of gan
bling house keepers.
THE boss ringster of the place was
typical bully and ward politician nan
ed Harding. who was financially int
a.. ested in several of the games and ma
i orally furious at any Interference. II
4 was a giant physically. he would figl
at the drop of a hat. and the persons
j fear he inspired was really the seer
of his influence. After the gambliI
q indictments were found he prOceed'
to use his pull to have them pigeo
1 holed, and. learning what was goil
on. Colonel Jones was rash enough
write a newspaper card in which
scored the authorities for allowing su
aruffian to defeat the ends of justice
"The colonel looked like a soldier, b
be was really very bland and pea
able gentleman. and he never dream
that his little effusion would get b
into personal difficulty. On the mo
ing the card appeared he was walk
calmly to his office when Harding ru
ed out of bar across the street. cal
him by name and at the same time
eled a six shooter at his head. AT Il
distance all coOns looked alike to
nearsighted lawyer. and, turning In
direction of the voice. he made out
vague figure of man with outstret
ed arm apparently beckoning him
come over.
"a little surprised. but still perfe'
placid. he started to cross the str
Harding glared at him In amazem
and once or twice was on the point
pulling the trigger. but the spect;
of that serene and dignified nc
calmly advancing straight on the n
zle of the gun was too much ior
nerves. and before the colonel trav
ed half the distance he dropped
weapon and ignominiOusly fed.
Needless to say. the episode MAJ
tremendous sensation, and Jones.
had sense enough to hold his ton
was the popular hero of the ,
Harding. on the contrary. was rul
for his prestige had disappeared II
fash Of lightning, and. unable TO S
the disgrace of the affair. he gu
sold out his belongings and left
city. That broke the back or the
the reformers went into control
the colonel was elected mayor by a
mendous majority. He served
terms, built up one Of the biggest
practices in that part of the state
died worth nearly a quarter OF a
lion dollars.
TN explanation of my inside ri
edge Of the case ! don't mind s;