Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-14
DAILY SHORT STORY
His Lack of Public Spirit
IoriginaI.I


something in his appearance that in
terested me. He seemed like man
who had history. Whether it was a
benevolent expression that ill accorded
with his rags or an air of prosperity
that had been stamped upon him in
other days and under other circum-
stances | could not tell. l followed him
from the room in time TO see him go out
into the cold. L asked the landlord
about him, and he told me the old
mans story:
SANDY O'NeilI, when young man,
was the pet of the village, or, rather,
the village was Sandy's pet. Some
used to call him maudlin over other
peoples troubles, but those to whom he
gave his sympathy were of no such
mind and loved him as he deserved to
be loved. Sandys only trouble was
that he had no means with which to
make people happy. He never met a
child that he didn't run through his
pockets TO find u cent for candy, and
when he failed to find one would often
lead his little protege to a shop and
provide the sweets on tick But
Sandy's great charm was a cheerful
ness that communicated itself to 9th
ers and was relish to those in dis
tress. Always darkest before day.
Every cloud has a silver lining It's
u long road that has no turn'-these
and many more such sayings he had
for Respondent friends and would de
liver them with such CHEEKY, winning
smiles that none could help being COM
forted.
SANDY had more in him than people
suspected. He never could become
prosperous by ordinary methods. for
he would give money faster than he
could possibly make it. His only chance
was to make it all at once. This he did.
A stranger came to town, took a fancy
to him and induced him to go with
him to the copper mines of Lake Su-'
perior. There Sandy became possessed
of an embyro mine, which proved of
great value, and he found himself
millionaire.
zone day ten years after Sandy had
left the town one of our morning pa
pers announced that Alexander
O'Neill the distinguished copper king,
i former resident of this city, arrived
yesterday on a visit to the place of his
birth 1t was more than a visit, for
Sandy had come to stay.
'In view of Sandy's past charitable
disposition, it was generally admitted
that he would do a great deal with his
wealth for the town. A public recep-
ton was accorded him, got up by the
first citizens. / noticed one mans name
on the reception committee whom 1
had heard speak of Sandy O'Neill as
'maudlin over other peoples troubles
The organizers of the testimonial were
all interested in property and enter
prises which they hoped would be bene-
flied by the copper king. The greeting
of those whom he had befriended was
different. They welcomed him with
smiles at his good fortune, with tears
at remembering his past kindnesses.
SANDY got through the reception as
best he could and put it behind him as
something with bad Odor. He went
about just as he used to, sympathizing
with his friends, only now when he left
them there was something substantial
in their hands to mark his visit. He
did nothing for the town, only for the
people. For one he put a new roof on
his house. for another paid off a mort
gage, for another bought a COW that
the children might have plenty of milk
Wherever he found a sick person he
sent the doctor and provided comforts
And everywhere that Sandy went he
gave as much comfort with his kindly
CHEEKY words as with his money.
But when those who had no need
for Sandy's small benefits found that
l., 4 Il.
when he had refused to take an inter-
est in a park which was intended to
bolster a real estate speculation. q rail
road that was to connect the place with
a neighboring city, a dam TO furnish
water power, they turned against him.
When he had first returned, he was
Alexander O'Neill, the distinguished
copper king He had not been in town
long before the first citizens spoke of
him as Sandy O'Neill, the man with
no public spirit whatever
"Well. for years Sandy pursued the
occupation he had chosen of giving
away his money. Then came great
commercial crisis. and the small bal
ance that was left to him disappeared.
Sandy was without a cent. By this
time he had dropped from among the
first citizens, and his loss made not
ripple in that part of the community.
1t was a long while before it was
known among those he had befriended
that he was in want, but when they
heard it they swarmed about him.
those who had savings offering to
share them with him and those who
had not saying through tears, God
bless you. Mr.. O'Neill, and give you
back your fortune
''Then some of the first citizens who
had been interested in getting up his
reception. when the fact that he was
penniless and had passed into old age
became notorious. offered to get up n
donation affair for him. l have always
believed they did it to humiliate him.
Sandy declined their offer. saying that
he had many friends who would not
see him suffer And he had and has
now. When he wants a meal. there are
n nd l.