The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-02-02
SPEARS OF STRAW

lie it&id itnSSG1 HE t4Act 1tH 2GdIS ia
prison without doing anything, settling
himself and fitting himself TO the hab-
its of the place.
Then, as there were yet twenty years
of prison life before him. lie said one
fine morning that it was shameful TO
lead so idle life and that he must
create for himself some occupation
worthy not of freeman. since he was
prisoner. but worthy simply of a man.
lie devoted year to reflection, to
weighing the different ideas which pre-
scented themselves, to seeking a definite
aim for his existence
Il must said he, find something af
the same time novel. useful ana defv-
ing. | must invent a task which shall
occupy my time, which shall be pro-
ductive of some good anu which shall
have the value Of protest.
Another year was employed in this
search. and at last success crowned
his efforts.
1t was a veritable dungeon, that in
which the prisoner lived. which the sun
entered but for one short half hour dali
ly, and then by a single ray, which was
a mere thread Of light.
The bed on which the unhappy man
stretched his aching limbs was a pile
of wet straw.
''The very thingr' he cried, with en-
ergy. "Now | shall defy my jailers and
cheat the courts
First he counted the separate straws
that made up his bundle. There were
1907 straws, q meager bundle,
Then he made an experiment to find
out how long it would take to dry a
single straw
Three-quarters of an hour.
1t would require for them all, for the
1907 straws, total of $50 hours and
| 10 minutes, with a half hour of sun
shine day, LOCI days.
Calculating that the sun would not
shine at least one day out Of three, tx
would require 16 years. / month /
week and days. He set to work at
once.
Every day that the sun shone the
prisoner carried a straw and put it in
the sunshine .busying himself thus
whenever there was sun. For the rest
of the time he kept warm under his
clothes the straws which he had been
able to dry.
nus ten years IfdSSeu. 1lie pilcOneE
slept on only third of the bundle Of
the damp straw. and he had stuffed in
the bosom of his blouse the other two
thirds which. one by one he had drie1.
Fifteen years passed. Happiness un-
speakable. Only 1876 damp straws re-
manned.
Eighty-four days more, and the pris-
oner could scarcely contain himself
Proud Of his work. victory over cir
cumstanees. he cried. with the voice
OF an avenger, with a hooking, re-
bellious laugh:
"Ah, ha, You condemned me to the
wet straw of a dungeon. Well weep
with rage! sleep on dry straw
Alas. \ cruel destiny was watching
for its prey.
One night. while the prisoner dream
ed of the happiness in store for him, in
his wild joy he threw out his hands in
speechless exultation, overset his water
jug. and the water ran trickling down
his breast.
All of the straws were wet.
What to do now-to begin again the
toll of Sisyphus, to pass fifteen years
more putting straws to dry in the slen-
der ray?
Oh the Encouragement of it,
But, you say. he had only one and
half years more in prison.
And do you count as nothing wound
ed pride, fallen hope? Think; this man
would have worked fifteen years to
sleep on bundle of dry straw. and
should he consent to quit his prison
with wet straws clinging to his hair?
Neverl
Eight days and nights he writhed in
agony.
He finished by acknowledging defeat
One evening he fell on his knees, de-
spairing. broken.
so Cod he cried in his tears. par
don me that l have lost courage today.
1 have suffered for thirty years.
ST have felt my limbs waste. my skin
mortify. my eyes grow dim and my
hair and teeth fail me- l have resisted
hunger. thirst. cold and solitude
had hope which sustained my efforts
l had an aim in my life.
''Now it is impossible to satisfy my
hope. Now the aim is gone forever
Pardon me that l desert my post; that
quit the field of battle; that | flee like
a coward. l can bear it no longer.
Then in sudden access of indignation
he cried:
mo, no; a thousand times no! 1t
shall not be said that | have lost my
life for nothing. l will not desert.
am not coward. No; | will not sleep
for a minute more on the damp straw
of the dungeon. No; they shall not de-
feat me-
And the prisoner died during the
night, conquered, like Brutus; grand,
like Cato.
He died of heroic indigestion. He
had eaten all his straw. = From the