Evening journal., 1902-08-19
WHAT BROUGHT HIM
FAME AND FORTUNE

uOeS not, WOulu De SIedlly dSIOulSQeQ
to know how little is seen by those who
are nearsiehted 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 are indecipherable 30 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 a cab can
be definitely distinguished.
"Of course a nearsighted person can
see as well 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
what is going on, to say nothing of be-
ing an open invitation to accident.
Yet, oddly enough, know of a case in
which it actually saved a mans life
and laid the foundation Of a fortune.
"The hero Of the episode was a law
yer in a city in Ohio where l spent my
boyhood. He was beyond middle age
at the time, but was straight as an ar
row and a 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 n secret. The consequence of
this folly was n wide reputation for
haughtiness, as he rarely recognized
anybody on the street, and it undoubt-
edly damaged him in his practice. At
any rate, he had never made anything
more than a very modest living VIXEN
the curious incident 1 have in mind oc-
CURED.
"The city government had been for a
long time under ring rule" continued
the story teller, "and it finally became
so bad that the decent people revolted
and organized a 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 in
dictments against n number Of gam
bling house keepers.
n
| typical bully and ward politician nam
ed Harding, who was financially inter-
ested in several Of the games and nat
urally 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 influence. After the gambling
indictments were found he proceeded
to use his pull to have them pigeon
holed, and, learning what was going
on, Colonel Jones was rash enough to
write a newspaper card in which he
scored the authorities for allowing such
a ruflian to defeat the ends of justice.
"The colonel looked like a soldier, but
he was really a very bland and peace
|
that his little effusion would get him
into personal difficulty. On the morn
ing 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
eled a six shooter at his head. At that
distance all oOons looked alike to the
nearslghted lawyer, and, turning in thu
direction of the voice, he made out the
vague figure of n man with Outstretch
ed arm apparently beckoning him tC
come over.
"a little surprised, but still perfectly
placid, he started to cross the street
Harding glared at him in amazemenf
and once or twice was on the point OF
pulling the trigger, but the spectacle
Of that serene and dignified figure
calmly advancing straight on the muz
zle of the gun was too much for his
nerves, and before the colonel travers
ed half the distance he dropped the
weapon and ANONYMOUSLY fed.
Needless to say, the episode made ;
tremendous sensation, and Jones, wh'
had sense enough TO hold his tongue
was he popular hero of the hour
Harding, on the contrary. was ruined
E for his prestige had disappeared like ;
flash of lightning, and, unable to stan,
the disgrace of the affair, he quietl.
sold out his belongings and left tn
7 city. That broke the back of the ring
the reformers went into control, ant
the colonel was elected mayor by n tire
mendous majority. He served tw
terms, built up one Of the biggest Law
practices in that part Of the state ant
died worth nearly a quarter Of a mil
lion dollars.
= I'm explanation Of my inside know
, edge Of the case l don't mind sayin
that he was a distant relative Of mine
/ and In the family circle, where hi
/