The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-04

togra pied at Lees Summit. Feb. H. 1908: He
had Just been holding on his knees two of his
grandnieces-Nctte Donohue. aged Is. and Mel
pets of Uncle Cole,
lated by Cole Younger. Soon after his
recent arrival at his old home in Lee
Summit Mo-. he told many facts that are
unfamiliar, here. and not a few that are
unknown. With its interest an
autObiogra phical curio Younger's MARIA
tive joins instructive reflections of an
ethical nature as we'll as practical and
novel Instructions, by an unequalled cX-
pert, In the arts Of riding and Of shooting.
This Cole Younger, the last of the ia
nous Younger brothers-an 1S-year- old
captain in the Confederate service; an
outlaw of widespread notoriety from 1865
to 1876; a life prisoner from 1876 to 1901
at the saltwater penitentiary for
completely in the raid upon a bank at
Mortified and in the killing of the
banks cashier; then paroed prisoner;
and finally the recipient of a full-pardon-
is enjoying at Lees Summit the embraces
of a myriad neices and the. congratula-
lions of a state that has never doubted
his manhood and has always considered
him a victim of the "Bloody Kansas
feuds. He is equally respected by prom
1nent men of Minnesota for his sincere
efforts to retrieve the past
Nothing in Outlawry.
But Younger does not beguile himself
He does not pretend to be hero; he re-
pels all efforts Of the morbid minded to
exploit him in heroic guise. Although his
picturesque career has gilded outlawry with
an allurment unsurpassed since the days
of Robin Hood, Younger is DESTROYS that
his experience should teach no false les
sons to American youth. He is not at all
proud Of his wasted years. He declares,
instead, that 1.-The man who chooses the
career of an outlaw is either natural fool
or an innocent mailman. To me the
word outlaw is a, living coal Of fire. The
past is for me a tragedy, a tragedy where
III danger turks along every trail. MY
young friends if you endowed with
physical strength valor and a steady hand,
let me warn you to use them well, for the
God that gave them is the final victor"
Bearing this confession in mind, one
may view proftably the foundations of
4 character from which noble qualities
could never be eradicated by danger by
suffering. by imprisonment Wellnjgh hope
less. or by the license of outlawry. Such
scrutiny is now facilitated. For the first
time Cole Younger has consented to sketch
his life as it actually was. He cOrrects
numerous fabrications that have made
lurid pages in the old Sleuth'' branch of
literature. To the truth Of this state
ment he has formally certified.
Younger is now in mis- fifty eighth year.
He bears erect siX-foot portly frame;
clad carefully in black. Across his waist
coat bangles d pair Of gold-bowed eye
glasses. Bald, with rather small light
blue eyes, twinkling yet penetrating, a
heavy jaw, prominent chin, compressed
down drawn lips. full, ruddy, smooth
shaven face-he appears the midde-aged
prosperous doctor or lawyer Of excellent
Il. endowments, Of sedate life, of tranquil
domestic ties. His face reveals also I'M
common GOODNESS, courage, tenacity OF
purpose. r..."-
But no rnind-reader would surmise that
this plump, paternal- person had made
himself, as he says, almost a. man OF