The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-07-17

its methods. The impression made up
on the camp by Billy Breen's death
was very remarkable, and l have new
er been quite able to account for II.
The mood of the community at the
time was peculiarly susceptible. Billy
was one Of the Oldest of the old tim
ers. His decline and fall had been a
long process. and his struggle for life
and manhood was striking enough to
arrest the attention and awaken the
sympathy Of the whole camp. We in.
stinctivcly side with Il man In his
struggle for freedom. for we feel that
freedom is native to him and to us.
The sudden collapse OF the struggle
stirred the men with a deep pity for
the beaten man and deep contempt
for those who had tricked him to his
doom; hut. though the pity and the
contempt remained, the gloom was re.
lievcd and the sense of defeat removed
from the mems minds by the trans
forming glory Of Billy's last hour. Mr..
Craig. reading of the tragedy of Billy's
death. trauStigured defeat into victory,
and this was gradually accepted by the
men as the true reading, though to
them il was full of mystery. But they
could al, understand and appreciate at
full value the spirit that breathed
throu-h the words of the dying man:
Don't lc ard ON 'cm. They didn't
mean no arm" And this was the new
spirit ot the league.
1t was this spirit that surprised Sla-
vim into sudden tears at the graves
side. lie had come hraccd for curses
and Vengeance for all knew it was he
who had doctorcd Billys lemonade,
and instead If vengeance the message
from the dead that echoed through the
voice Of tie living was one of pity and
forgiveness.
But the days of the leagues mega
tive. defensive warfare were over. The
fight was To the death, and now the
war was TO be carried into the enc
my's country. The league men pro-
posed 4 thoroughly equipped and well
conducted coffee room, reading room
and hall TO parallel the cnemy's lines
of operation and defeat them with
their own weapons upon their own
ground The main outlines OF the
scheme were clearly defined and We're
easily seen, but the perfecting Of the
details called for all Craig's tact and
good sense. When. for instance. Yer.
non WintOn. who had charge of tNr
entertainment department, came for
Craig's opinion as TO a minstrel ,ipUpe
and private theatricals, Craig was
prompt with his answer:
Anything clean goes"
a niger show" asked Wnton.
Depends upon The r,-"crs." replied
Craig. with gra r"'y comic look.
shrewdly adding, ASK Mrs. Mavor."
And so the League Minstrel and Ora
matte company became an established
fact and proved, as Craig afterward
told me. a great means Of grace to the
camp
Shaw had charge of the social de-
partIucut. whose special care it was to
see that the men We're made welcome
10 tie c,Zy, cheerful reading room,
where hey might chat, smoke. read.
write or play games, according to
fancy.
But Craig fc't that the success or
failure of tie scheme would largely
depend upon Ii" character Of the resi-
dent manager, who. while caring for
reading room and hall. would control
and operate the important department
represented by the coffee room.
At this point the whole business
may come to grief" he said TO Mrs
Nayor, without whose counsel nothing
was done.
"WAy come TO grief she asked
brightly
''Bey.a.y II we don't get the right
man iaat.s what VII happen be re-
piled .1 "a tone that spoke OF anxious
worry.
"Eu; We sAall get The right man, ney-
er fear" Her serene courage never
fa'ter T. He VIII come to us
Cra = turned ana -azed at her in
frauG admiration and said:
II only had your courage