The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-05-05
ACT THAT MADE A HERO
WHAT SIGHTEDNESS DID
FOR A LAWYER.

Walked Calmly Up to the MuzzIe of a
Rowdy's PlstoI -Didn,t See 1t
Act That Brought Fame and For-
tune.
"a person who enjoys good eyesight,"
said a man who most decidedly does
not, would be greatly astonished to
know how little is seen by those who
are near sighted, even in a moderate
degree. The average shirt sighted man,
Of whom there are hundreds in every
large city, sees nothing distinctly more
than foot away from his nose. Be-
yond that distance the outline of objects
becomes hazy and indistinct, growing
more and more so until everything is
finally merged into one general blur.
The faces of people across the street are
mere pink blotches, their figures are
destitute of detail, signs are indecipher-
able thirty feet away, and the whole
movement of traffic and passing show
of the thoroughfare is misty pan
Drama in which nothing much smaller
than cab can be definitely distinguish
ed
"Of course the near sighted person
can see as we'll as anybody through
properly fitted glasses, but great many
folks regard them as such a disfigure-
ment that they prefer to do without
their aid That kind of pride is certain
1y very foolish because it causes one to
miss at least nine-tenths of what is go
ing on, to say nothing of being an open
Invitation of accident, yet oddly enough
know of case in which it actually
saved a mans life and laid the founda-
ton Of fortune.
1.-THE hero of the episode was a lawyer
in city In Ohio where spent my boy
hood. He was beyond middle age at the
time, but was straight as an arrow and
q decidedly handsome soldierly-lool1ing
parsonage. These good looks of his were
his weak point, and although he was
extremely nearsighted he was vain
enough to deny himself glasses ad kept
the fact of his infirmity secret The
consequence of this folly was a wide
reputation for haughtiness, as he rarely
Recognized anybody on the street and it
undoubtedly damag him in his prac-
tice At any rate, he never made any
thing more than a modest living when
the curious incident l have in mind &C.
Cured.
1.-THE city government had been for a
long time under ring rule" continued
the story teller, land it finally became
SO bad that the decent people revolted
and organized reform movement. The
good looking lawyer-call him Colonel
Jones for convenience--was one of the
reformers, and among other things he
made himself active in securing indict-
ments against number of gambling
house keepers.
"The boss ringster of the place was a
typical bully and ward politician named
Harding, who was financially interested
in several of the games and naturally
furious at any interference. He was a
giant physically, he would fight at the
drop of hat, and the personal fear he
Inspired was really the secret of his in
1uence After the gambling indictments
were found he proceeded to use his pull
to have them pigeon holed, and, learn
ing what was going on, Conel Jones
was rash enough to write a. newspaper
card in which he scored the authorities
for allowing a ruffian to defeat the ends
of Justice
1.-THE colonel looked like soldier, but
he was really a very bland and peace
able gentleman, and he never dreamed
that his little effusion would get him
into personal difficulty. On the morning
the card appeared he was walking
calmly to his office when Harding rush
ed out Of bar across the street, called
him by name and at the same time lev
,t,I 81 CHI OF hnnd
distance all coons looked alike to the
near sighted lawyer, and, turning in the
direction of the voice, he made out the
figure of a man with outstretched arm
reckoning him to come over.
"a little surprised, but still perfectly
placid he started to cross the str ct
Hsr ing elarad al him in amazeme
and once or twice he was on the point
OF pulling the trigger, but the spectacle
of the serene and dignified figure calmly
straight on the muzz'e of the |
gun was too much for his nerves, and |
before the colonel traversed half the |
distance he dropped the weapon and ig- |
fled.
NEEDLESS to say, the episode made a |
tremendous sensation and Jones' who |
had sense enough to hold his tongue, |
was the popular hero of the hour Hard !
Ing, on the contrary, was ruined, for his, |
prestige had disappeared like flash Of |
lightning, and unable to stand the dis |
grace of the aaffir he quietly sold his |
and left the city That broke |
the back Of the ring; the reformers |
went into control, and the colonel was
elected mayor by tremendous major
lty. He served two terms, built up one
Of the biggest law practices in that part
Of the state, and died worth nearly a
quater of million dollars.
TN explanation of my inside knowl
edge of the case I don't mind saving
that he was distant relative of mine.
and in the family circle, where his near
was well known. he owned
up to the facts as good joke He said |
ne had vague idea when he started |
across the street that Harding was a
former client who had promised to nav
him fee that morning. New Orleans
Times Democrat.