Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-16
AN AWFUL
TEST OF
GRATITUDE
BY JobD n. Rafferty,

A&&&&S<&%&&@%%& @@Nt
The friendship between Senator Har-
bine and old Newt Stuart was for TWEEN
and one of the few edifying conditions
that distinguished the social life of the
capital. Newton Stuart was n news
paper correspondent-nobo knew how
old, but the dean of the press gallery.
beloved and undisputed. Senator Har-
bine held a similar position in that ex-
elusive, clubIike 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
go there was no apparent reason for
their unfaltering affection for each 9TH
err. 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 julcp. Outside of Washington
such paltry matters will probably never
be regarded as adequate motives for n
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 a generation. Harbine's mint
juleps were the wonder and envy of all
corners. Bartenders made their repu-
tations by advertising 'the Harbinc
julep," and restaurants, cafes and no.
tells won patronage by announcing ter
rapin Ia Newt Stuart"
But when ii came to fishing neither
the senator nor the reporter would
yinld the palm. For a dozen years they
had gone fishing together. AS many
times bad they come home i'm raging
debate as TO which had caught the
creates weight of fish. which had cast
fly or bait the farthest or which was
most dcXterous 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 in a
circle of most potent. grave and wor-
thy lawmakers at the Shorchan, chal-
lenged one another to n final test of
their prowess s bait casters. The idea
tickled the audience, though ii was
midwintCr. Cases of wine and boxes
of cigars were freely wagcrcd. andN
finally each contestant went for rod
and tackle. and the whole party trudS-
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 a walkover for tire 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 il was the reel that |
beat him.
81 bet fifty I can beat you right now |
with that there gosh burned Meek reel |
D yourn!' sputtered Newt.
But the senator said ii was time for |
a julep. wagged his head in triumph |
and led the party back to the hotel.
81 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-
n, breathin', conscious piece o. witch
,raftv'
1t was about two months after this
hat Newt intrenched himself forever
n old Senator Harbine's loving heart.
The latter's son was the scourge of his
ife. He had been expelled from West
Point, discharged from half a dozen
government positions and arrested a
lozen times. Finally a letter from Mrs.
darbine came from Cincinnati an.
that Dick had broke loose
here on a wild debauch that threat
med to end disastrousIy for the young
nan himself and for the fair name of
lis fathers family.
Senator Harbine handed the letter to
Id Newt.
"Newt, you like my boy, know" he
,rowled. HE thinks more o. you than
lie does o. his own father. If you'll run
Town to Cincinnati and stop him, I'll
i've or get you anything in reason.
IN rich, and I'm strong with the adj
Honest, now, Newt, /
,now you never cared for money, and
'ou have no family, but If you'll stop
his Cincinnati jag o. Dicks I'll give
'ou a house and lot or-or-anything
-ou want"
Newt started for Cincinnati that
light Nobody ever knew just what he