The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-22
BY CHARLEs L: SHELLEY.


These undying words were utter.
ed on the beautiful Sabbath
morning of September %, 1776,
by Captain Nathan Hale, a youth
of twenty one years, as he was
about to be launched into eterni
ty for serving his country in the
capacity of spy.
A writer has said; Gould the
epitOme of true patriotism be
summed up in a grander sense!
As he stood, brave and firm with
the moose about his neck which
would send him into eternity,
these words were spoken by one
of the most courageous men who
helped to build or uphold this
glorious nation = Nathan Hale.
"Captured within the enemy's
lines, betrayed by a Tory rela.
tive, he was about to be executed
as a SPY. And when the fatal
word was given and the rope was
stretched, no truer heart ever
ceased to beat
So very brief and quiet was the
life of young Hale that this great
and tragic event of his life stands
out with double prominence.
Born at Coventry, Conn. about
twenty miles from Hartford, on
June 8, 1855, he was the son of
Richard Hale aud Eliz b e t h
Strong.
He was the sixth of twelve
children. So feeble was he at
his birth that it was not believed
that he could survive his infancy,
but the loving and tender care
which his mother bestowed upon
him made him by tue time he was
three years of age a robust child.
both i'll mind and body.
He grew up into manhood
sweet tempered youth, endowed
with all the qualities which con
tribute to make a man deserving
of the name. Young Hale was
very fond of study and he ad-
vanced rapidly. His father who
was a strict Puritan, designed
him for the ministry, and he was
sent to Yale. Here he advanced
rapidly, graduating when only Is
He had great taste for the sci.
ences and art, and as an artist
had remarkable talent. Having
no inclination to become a cler-
gyman, upon leaving college he
became a school teacher at East
Haddam.
The following year, 1774, he
was made a perceptOr in the
Union Grammar School in New
London, one of the highest pre-
paratory schools in the country
of that period. He was its first
preceptor and the appointment
redounded to his honor.
But the quiet and useful life
which the young teacher saw
opening up before him, was des-
tined to rude and sudden end.
On April 81, 1875, a mounted
messenger galloped through the
streets of New London, spread
ing the news of the fight at Con-
cord and Lexington, producing
great excitement in that usually
quiet town.
at night a mass meeting was
called at the town hall, and
among the speakers was Nathan
Hale, who electrified his hearers
in the following words which
have since become historic: "Let
us march immediately" he cried,
"and never lay down our arms
until we have obtained our indie.
pendence."
1t was the first public demand
for independence and the com
mencement of the great struggle.
ENTERS THE ARMY A BRIL-
Thus ended Nathan Hale's ca.
reer as peaceful school teacher.
A company was enrolled and
marched to Cambridge, but seeing
no prospect for immediate action,
Hale returned to New London,
where he remained until late in
September. He again enlisted,
this time as a Lieutenant, and
with his regiment marched to
Cambridge, taking part in the
siege of Boston. Early in Janu-
airy. 1776, he was promoted to a
Captain.
After the English had evacu.
ated the New Eng land City in
the larger part of the
American Army marched to New
York, aud with them was Captain
Hale. He was quartered in that
city but short time when he per-