Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-08
A Medal of Honor.
torisiuaLi

dicrS whn show great bravery In lif.
{, saving q decoration called HE Vie.
ioria cross. The badge Is an unpreten-
iious affair madc of gun metal. hut II
Is tile most coveted OF any British
1 btmy honor. In America we have no
such decoration. und when man
bravely iescueS II cotnrnde he must he
content with the thanks OF the man
he has saved
During the Mexican war q general
of brigade was one day accommodating
! with an aid de-camp when he run full
! upon nest OF MeIlcans, who spat Dire
Ike SO many mathematics. The nil
threw himself before his general and
covered his retreat. receiving wound
In tue arm and one iii the leg. The
general escaped unhurt. When the ar
fair was over and the two dismouniet.
before the generals tent he said 10 his
f, aid:
What's that on your belt clasp;"
| Tho aid looked down and pulled
away Il bullet that had been iaitened
! against The brass clasp. Had II not
/ been stopped on It's way IL would have
3 penetrated the youngsters stomach.
and tliat at thu, time meant death.
The general pressed the young mau's
hand silently. Words would moi ex.
press what he owed his subordinate
When Lieutenant Passmora went
home after the war he took the fiat
tened bullet with him. lie used 10
! call IL his modal. y man who Is espe-
, clally adapted FOR fighting IS often use
less for anything else. aud Passmore
failed completely In Il business life
which he took UP on leaving the army.
Perhaps the disposition lie had shown
To bear annthrr's burdens was not in
accord with commerclnlism, where the
object often In TO uutwlt those with
whom one does business.
The poor fclow ut last got ragged.
His appearance was all the more
slouchy from the wound he had re-
ceived In The leg in saving his com
mander's life. since Ii caused him io
limp. lie pawned his belongings one
after another. His watch and chain
lie held ns long us possible, because
they had been given him 10y his moth.
er. When his watch went, In order TO
keep up appearances with his chain
he took his ilattencd bullet aud wore
ii where the watch should be-
Meanwhile the general whose life
Pnssmorc hnd saved had prospercd.
We will call him Wingate. He had
made money, and the prominence arls-
Ing from his wealth and his service in
war had placed him In Il high position
inpolitics. He became governor of his
state. since lie lived In the eastern
stdtes and his former aid.de-camp In
the west tie two We're apart Pass.
more after hearing that Winga,e had
attained SO high II position spent six
months trying to make up Ills mind 10
apply 10 him FOR some subordinate Of
fee whereby he could make living
Finally he ovcrcamc his retiring dis
position. succeeded In borrowing
enough money 10 pay his fare and
wen, Ia zee the governor.
lie arrived on the day OF great
parade OF the state militia. The gov
ernor was 80 review the PROCESSION.
Pnssmore took II position near the
stand AMI saw his former general en-
tor, with his suit He tried TO, reach
appoint OH The street In front OF aad
below the governors seat, but police
maE stopped him
! w.etA NE 40 on said Passlnore. II
know the governor personally"
The policeman looked suspicious. bnt
passed him. Rssmore stood directly
beneath his old chief, with his hat
pulled Down oyer his eyes. THE pa
reie was late IN moving and had not
arrived. The governor took out his
watch impatiently
| This Isn't the way you moved on
the Mexicans. governor" said Pass.
more. looking up from under bis hat
The governor glanced down to see
who spoke.
"you moved on time, governor"
Paesniore continued.
"Ah yes. my good man. THEY'LL lie
here directly. They're only ten min
utes late"
"IIalf an hoar"
MY watch says l2:l0." rejoined the
governor. "The head OF the column
was 10 have passed here at IT,
Your watch Is wrong. governor
twenty minutes wrong'
What time have YOU my friendf"
asked the governor.
rassmore pulled out the fattencd
4 bullet.
! a change came over the governors
face. Ills eyes were glued To the crude
medal. 1t brought II far distant mem
DRY. Then he leaned over the rail- that
divided him from the street graspcd
Passmore's hat and pulled ii OH.
Great heavens. Are yom Tommy
rassmorc:''
/ That am. general"
The governor was n large, powerful
man. He took Passmore by the collar