Evening journal., 1905-02-23

ing matter.
one little dart let ny by Cupid has
pierced him through and Through. For
the first time in his youthful but stren-
nous career he has yielded to the en-
emy. Cupid now marks time" for him,
and he marches willingly under the new
banner. for the rosy god, mindful of
Captain "Smed's" patriotic services,
has added stars and stripes to his use
full device.
The Quaker City OF Philadelphia es-
pecialy rejoices, for It was there that
the fatal dart was sped, on behalf Of
Miss Ethel Conway Peters, there that
both the gallant young captain and his
bride-to-be live, when at home, and
are best known.
But the wedding. which IS to occur
about Easter, win be quite q rational
affair, as is natural, considering that
President Roosevelt is one of the young
war herO's most ardent admirers.
Congressman Thomas S. Butler OF
Pennsylvania, father OF the young cap
tain, will be the last TO deny that ln
this instance, Cupid has covered him
self with glory. 1t is an old Quaker
family to.whom the paths of peace are
dear. The recruiting officers OF the
Pennsylvania National Guard knew
this, and when the Spanish-American
war became a certainty. and Smedley
Darlington Butler, barely more than
sixteen years old. applied for enlist
ment on his way home from school they
promptly rejected him.
Too Much For His Quaker Sire.
Young Butler took his rejection very
much to heart, but he was not alto
gether discouraged. He saw i'm a news
paper several days later that there
would be a competitive examination at
Washington for lieutenants in the ma
rine service. He announced to his
father that he would enter this COM
petition.
Congressman Butler gazed severely at
his slXteen-year-old son and attempted
to demonstrate with him. Finally. af-
ter every argument had failed, he said.
well, Smedley. df thee insists upon
taking the examination. shall use my
influence TO have thee turned down."
IF thee should attempt to do any
thing like that" replied the boy, his
eyes flashing. II serve notice on thee
that I shall run away and join the reg
ular army"
That ended the pateimal objection
Smedley went to Washington, took the
examination. and in a class of more
than two hundred passed second. He
received a second lieutenants commits
sion and was assigned to duty on Adj
miral SIMPSONS flagship, the New
York At Guantanamo he was one Of the
gallant band Of marines that fought so
bravely against the Spanish sharp
shooters, and he was on the New York
when Cervcra's fleet was destroyed.
This was the sort of stuff-even at the
age Of sixteon--that Cupid was "up
against"
But the foundations were laid long
before that The Quaker strain SEEM
ed TO have skipped little smedley alto
gether
When not more than four years old
the baby had been transformed into a
boy with a passionate love for tin SOL
diers and toy cannon. Toys he had Of
ahl descriptions, but those suggesting
war were the favorites. He was a
manly little fellow At six he took n
long Western trip with his grandfather,
and came back more wide-awake than
ever. He developed eager interest I'm
all papers, periodicals and books which
contained pictures Of battle. He bought
toy pistols and read Of war.
4 Baseball Hero Too.
He had a fine opinion Of his muscles.
and loved TO exercise them. Before he
was eight years old he organized a
baseball club. with the back yard OF
his home for a field. Mrs. Butler pre-
ferred TO keep her boy with her and
so permitted his friends to take pos
session of the house. When the little
fellows wearied of baseball they had
prize fights In the back yard. always
with Smediey as the leader-for he new
er fa5led TO demonstrate his right to
that position.
His first soldering was In the Firs
Presbyterian ~Aurch as a member o
the Boys Brigade. He enjoyed the
drill, but was as yet silent about his
ambition to become a real soldier. II
was understood that he would real
law with his father.
He ATTENDED the Friends School anS
was captain Of the ball team OF tbs
school. They had a high sounding naml
and so one day a club of WesttoNl
farmers challenged thcm TO play. The.
wen to Westtown. and the farmers saw
to their surprise that the club was com
posed Of yo-ngsters. nine aud ten year
old. They were disgusted. and at frs
declined TO play Unfortunately 70
them, they finally consented, adj un
aware that smedley as pitcher, was
curve BAN" artist. Afterwards he de
clared the farmers were so tal tina
he could not throw a ball over thei
heads; the farmers. on the other hand
found 1t impossible to hit the ball. a
thrown by the juvenile pitcher. Rattle
than be beaten by children. the
chased the boys off the field after los
ing three innings. and the little fellow
did not wait for a train home, bu
walked the four miles.
At Haverford Smodley was captain O
both the baseball and the footba
teams, and played halfback He wa
selected to play halfbaclS on the inter
academic team. In one of these game
there occurred an injury which result
ed in remarkable proof OF the boy
pluck. He broke the muscles OF hi
elbow IN a scrimmage. They set owe
the Joint and held the arm IN a Y
shape. The doctor said he would ad
minister chloroform and operate.
Heroically His Own Surgeon.
The boy decided ne knew a bett,
way AS the train came into Have