The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-15

of Georgia. marched through Alabama.
and got down into Mississippi There
the expedition got tangled up among
the payous and canebrakes and the
men demanded that Ii turn back Had
Mr. De Soto listened to them we should
never have had Mississippi river and
several hundred steamboat explosions
He gathered his men together, and IN
that suave and oily way of his gave.
them to understand that just ahead OF
them was a lake of wine and noun
tain of garlic. and, that they had only
to push on for a few days to come to-
a good thing. 1
The men pushed on. They were in
rags and tatters. but they pushed
They fiattened down canebrakes and
swan across baEouS, and one day as
they halted for dinner and rest De.
Soto climbed q hill for a look ahead.
What he saw made him gasp. For the
next half hour he couldn't be sure
whether he had discovered the Missis-s
sippi or the Mississippi had discovered
him. He whistled UP a few of his men,
and went ahead, and presently he stood
on the banks of the mighty and his
torics river and gazed across at the Ar
kansas shore, as you have seen him
pictured on the greenback, The proud
feeling of discovery was filling his.
bosom when he made out something
else-som ething not pictured on the
long green. His eyes fell upon signs.
Of 'Raly for Reform This Evening"
"Vcte for Blank. the Honest Mans
the Country Is Lost"
Mr.. De Soto turned his head and
wept.
He had come too late. The Bosses
were in control.
Sir Francis Drake was not a man to-
butt. into the conversation around the
stove in the grocery, but when ne got
an idea he hung on TO it until the
proper time to explode It with best.
effect He didn't believe there were
any more Americas to discover to the1
westward but he did believe there
were good pickings to be had in the
lands already known. Therefore he
went TO Queen Elizabeth one day and
proposed that ne take little run out
to the West indies and gobble a few.
islands from the Spanish explorers and
whack NJ with her on the profits.
The Queen had a head for business
and knew a dollar from a clamshell..
She therefore fitted him out an ex-
petition in public and babe him God
speed In private she ordered him to.
make straight for Cuba and wade into
the Spaniards and make the splinters
fly and raise the Tag for England As
d side issue he might turn pirate and
sack and burn and bring home all the
rhino he could
Sir Francis sailed away with all his
men singing hymns, but no sooner was
he out OF sight of land than he made
Il speech telling the crews what was
IN the wind, and promising that every
one OF them should come back with
money enough to start trust. They
didn't sing any hymns after that. They
sharpened up their knives and loaded
their musketoons instead.
For many long days the ships sailed
to the west. and then one morning a
great shout went up. Cuba and fat
picking were in sight The drums
beat to arms, the men cheered, and
Sir Francis ordered the ballast to be
thrown overheard to make room for
silver and gold. Straight did he sail
into the harbor of Havana, while his
eyes were peeled for sight OF Spanish
craft. He was still sailing and peeling
when a small boat left the shore and
approached his ship.
What want ye OF met imperiously
demanded the commander.
Art thou Sir Francis Drake?" was
asked.
Il art
Then I am told. TO hand you This.
It is Secretary Taft's proclamation ap-
pointing himself provisional governor
until the techy Cnbans get cooled on
again. Shear off, old man=shear off,
Copyright. 1906 by c. H. Sutclire.)
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