The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-23
BKOrHER TRUrMAA,s C4&E.

Brother Trueman's case is becoming
interesting. In one of his lurid and pic
! turesque letters to this paper he alluded
to himself as "a red-headed cuss." We
should not have been so unparliamen-
tary as to call him that. but perhaps
Nc can. without being out Of order, call
attention 70 his own graphic description
Of himself, He is certainly pesky. He
is iuronvenient. He has 0Eiaions and
he has a tongue that isn't bridIed in
accordance with Scriptural advice. He
sloshes around among things that have
been regarded as sacred. He isn't rev.
crent Of dignity or dignitarles. He
doesn't allow to the tOwn-born their i'll
alienable rights. privileges and superb
, GRITTY. Even the mighty matter and
spirit of Yale don't cause him to fail
down and worship. Hence he is clearly
guilty Of lese-majesty, high treason and
q few other things.
What shall be done with him? He
can be ostracised, We to whose order
he is hostile can cut him. We needn't
speak to him or speak Of him, even when
he is interesting and amusing. 1t would
undoubtedly hurt his feelings much if
we shouldn't bow to him on the street,
if he shouldn't be "bidden' to any OF
e
he should be made to understand that
he is not a person who is pleasing to
us. But this punishment doesn't seem
to really fit his crime. We notice that
the Register has condemned him to pO
litical death, and perhaps that sentence
will be carried out But even that pun
ishment wouldn't be large and pcrva-
the thing to do with him is to burn him
at the stake on the historic Green, in
front of the City Hall which he has
marked for his own and in front of the
churches whose gospel he doesn't seem
to admire. What an improving and
admonitory spectacle the burning would
be to those of this generation who
might be present, and how many pa
pers could be written about it by and
by when both the burners and the
burned were all dead and turned to clay
Just imagine Brother Trueman tied to
the stake with the fagots heaped
around him. Near the stake a circle Of
naughty and triumphant town born
and other high ones whom he has
'sassed." All the rest of the Green
packed with humber lookers-on.
Brother Trueman looks appealingly
around for mercy, and for somebody to
step forth and defend his idea of free
thought and free speech. Nobody steps
forth. A bowling demand from the
toWn-horn and the persons for haste in
the burning rends the affrighted air.
In response the torch is applied
Brother Trueman realizes that the end
of reform so far as he is concerned is
at hand. The red flames burn fiercer
and fiercer, and as if in mockery
writhe and Wreathe themselves around
the red head which is conspicuous
among them. Then the redness of the
head becomes one with the redness of
the flames. The select and the persons
shrek with satisfaction. The obedient
flames continue to do their appointed
work. The end is at hand. 1t comes,
and the unconquerable spirit Of Brother
Trueman goes out in final cry for the
municipal ownership of public utilities
and the adoption Of the initiative and
referendum. All is over. A high
mucky-muck steps out from the charm
ed and charming circle nearest the
stake and solemnly proclaims, so per-
ish all the enemies of the town born
and our gospel" And just above the
scene the mighty, mysterious and I'M
taxed Yale spirit hovers
That would settle Brother Trueman's
hash and bring peace to troubled
town.