The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SuN--.Sr: Tho letter
from Eva Petty Shearn In regard to Little Breeches
and lin Bludso" quotes from Laurence Huttons
Talks in Library" and intimates that Mr.. Hutton
cannot have made any mistakes and asks who
would dare contradict him. Mr. Huttonis quoted as
saying that Mr.. Hay told him that Little Brooches
was founded on q dull sermon which no heard.
and the lines came to him:
Saving little child and bringing him to his own
Is a derned sight better business than
Loanng around . throne"
read In rHE SUN some time after Mr.. Hays
death that Little Brooches was suggested by
the fact Of . little boy having been thrown into
Aock Of sheep by runaway team. and asking his
father. when found. for . -chsw OF terbacker."
shall have 10 contradict Mr. Hutton's state
hearing an impromptu prayer which suggested
the lines
.'Thst maybe In the end
Christ amt going TO be too hard
On man who died for men,
And on this pedestal was erected the statue
of the famous Jim Bludso Of the steamer Prairie
Belle. who save his life 70 save the lives OF tho
passengers entrusted 10 his care"
THE SUN a day or two After John Hays death
published an interview with Jim Biudso's son.
who Is a bartender In the West. In which It was
stated that UP 10 the time Of Jim Budso's death
(which occurred not at the burning Of the Prairie
Belle, but only about three months before Mr.
and often met. II was not true that Jim Bludso
gave his life TO saw others. He lived almost as
long a. Mr. Hay. have read THE SUN rclisiously
for twenty years and generally ind what says
70 be true.
In tho instances quoted assume THn SUN to DO
historically correct. ABINGDON II. CANAAN.
PArcHooun. July -.
WAS IT NECESSARY sBLy-aAcKIYIclf
To TIE Epyroa OF TIE SuN-sh: One OF your
letter writer's In yesterdays SUM- In an effort to
discredit the claim Of Western farmer TO be the
hero and inspiration" Of John Hays poem Little
Brooches. quotes the late Laurence Hutton In regard
70 the famous Jim Bludso. engineer Of the steamer
Prairie Belle, who gave his own life 10 save the
lives Of the passengers entrusted TO his care"
Passing over the question as 10 whether passen- :
gers on . steamer are entrusted TO this care OF
the engineer. I como 70 the object Of my lot,er
an explanation Of the necessity for the -heroic-
self sacrifice of one who oommends himself TO tho
Saviour as "a man who died for men,"
would not, even II could, detract In any meas.
ure from the High poetic value OF Mr. Hays stirring
verses, Of which. however, another recent CORE
spondent AYERS that the distinguished author was
somewhat ashamed.
OF the necessity for christs sAcrinciai death no
question should exist In tho minds of Christian
people. but have never been able TO underst and
why should have seemed necessary for that m I.
fsted engineer 70 remain In the engine room Of the
Prairie Belle In ordor to keep her nozzle sxin the
bank ttl the last galoot should get Ashore
II seems 70 me that the engine would havs nm .
tinued 10 perform that ofaoe just q well whether
the engineer was present or not. But perhan.
l am wrong. what has NJ. Samuel L. Clemens 10
say on the subject J.L,K.
PHBTH AADor. July u.