New-York tribune., 1905-04-09

The early Shonts read Il. ana also became con-
Nefted. Now this family romance Is the first
story that is told each succeeding generation OF
Shonts
fheodore's earliest heroine was this golden
haired maid. Later. according 20 his father. he
fell IN love with an 'old maid" why. she was
ten years older than ne was" declared Mrs.
Shonts
After that he taught country school where
the pupils were older and larger than he was.
"rheds got along ine though" said HE father.
He always did with anything he undertook.
When we sent him TO college he did not study
as hard as he should have. One OF our greatest
pleasures was when he used 10 come home and
read his Hebrew Testament He does not
read that Testament much now. though. He
was the only one in his class that did not drink
or smoke. He was too young for that. We sent
him a violin 20 keep him out OF mischief. He
was beautiful penman, and spent hours pTac-
tising the fourishes on his DIS and 'Ts. l
wish he could write that well now"
Young Shonts was a great horseman in his
days on the farm. riding bareback in the most
reckless fashion. one OF HIS greatest weak
nesses as a boy was for apple dumplings. II
his sisters would keep him supplied with these
he would write all their correspondence for
them.
I don't know how he began 20 get inter
ested in railroading." said his father. We
tried him on pigs first We told him TO stand
by the run on the farm and see that none Of the
pigs escaped. But he got tired and went home.
That ithn't my line OF bithnith, he explained.
You see. he could never pronounce his SIS until
he grew out OF his teens"
.'Theds's" sister. Miss Eva Shonts. does not
take a dismal view OF her big brothers big
place. As soon as she heard OF his acceptance
she wired him congratulations upon your pa
friotic mission" from Chicago 70 Washington
Neither does his two pretty daughters, Mar
guerite and Mary. who are attending one OK the
fashionable boarding schools IN washington.
They think that at Is 5ust splendid" and are
I.illst as proud OF papa as can be-" Tho young
women are enthusiastic automobIlists. ana may
be seen almost any fne day upon the boulevards
OF the capital each IN her own car, with little
party OF chums
AS many stories are toId of Arr. shonts's
gsnsrosity a. are reeounted Of his business push
ana executive ability. One OF them is familiar
20 every Washington newspaper man OF the "old
guard" ana shows 20 what extent he carries
his friendship. There was young man represent"
ang Kansas City paper who, IN the course et the
routine OF his work. both In the city by the ARw
ana az the capital. had had occasion TO mention
SSSts@-sO
time much attached 20 the writer and nnallS
one dav. told him that he had q "goOd thing"
which be wished 20 call 20 his attention. IN
brief. il was the establishment OF great buHi-
ness enterprise, requiring The expenditure at
the outset OF a great deal OF money.
7 want you to come IN on the ground noor.' =
said Mr.. ShOnts
How much money VIII need TO get inf's
queried the other.
About 100000" replied Mr.. shonts.
why. haven't much more than one hundred
thousand cents" exclaimed the newspaper
laborer.
Don't let that worry you IN the least, said
Mr shonts. "Tu advance you the money and
YOU can pay 1t back out Of the profits OF the
concern"
But supposing that there are no prohts?'
TN run that risk" said the Clover Leaf ofi-
cisl.
Much as he would have liked TO go in 'on the
ground hoor," the newspaper man declined 10
accept the favor. But he will carry warm
place in his heart for Mr.. Shonts as long as he
lives.
Before MIR. Shonts goes 10 Panama 10 wrestle
with the MOSQUITOES and fever germs" he in
tends to revisit the home OF his parents in
Beverly Hills. Al the time Of his homecoming
his father and mother VIII have completed sixty
years Of welded life. There viii be quite
family reunion then. for in addition 10 "Theds
there VIII be two other children Of the happy
old couple ''Thedss" sisters. seven grandchil-
dren and twelve great at-grandchIldren. 'Theds's'
mother viii he sure 10 tell them all how he
went 10 sleep in the pew one Sunday night, and
''Theds's" father viii not forget TO say some
thing about the fiddle which perhaps kept him
one year longer in college. And after il is all
over ana the children and grandchildren and
great grandchildren have left the little gray
story and a half cottage, the aged couple will
sit in the twilight and ask Providence TO protect
''Theds' from the mosquitoes and fever germs