The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-06-20

himself, had the Central Pacific rail-
road come to completion. On pork,
beans, "licey," and pluck had it been
builded, teaching the world its great
est lesson in iron.
Surrounding similar obstacles the
Union Pacific had come westward to
meet it. And here, In the heart of
the continent, amidst cheers, speech
es, and the screaming of whistles, the
final blow was struck, the day made
historic.
EARLY in the morning magnificent
trains came from each way bearing
officials and dignitaries. Following
them thronged the sightseers.
Esther and Alfred were there,
standing near the Central Pacific Of
ficers, both radiant, unmasked of re-
serve, young, beautiful with happiness.
Close at hand were Uncle Billy, the
Ilarmons, and Amabel Hamilton, deli
cate, fiower-like, bravely carrying a
heartache that Alfred least of all sus-
i pected.
And Sally B.! No pen could paint
the vividness of her cardinal plush
gown, the sweep of the forty-dollar
plume above her red Gainsborough
hat, the CLEAN of her jewels, or the
pride in the uplift of her dark head.
Regal, brilliant, as glad of the great
triumph as If it were her own, she
drew every eye, dominated the scene,
clamo.ously red against the surround
ing gray.
Not the least striking among that re-
markable assemblage was George
Gregory. Erect as he had not been
for months, we'll groomed and hand
some in his faultless clothes, jubilant,
he wac yet restless from the very
lifting of his burden, and tackled from
shore to shore in the human sea, COM
ing to anchor at intervals beside his
wife.
But the eye of the vast throng, shift
ing from notable to notable, came
oftenest to rest upon the valiant
Four" a quartette of keen, compile.
menttng minds, the power that had
driven to completion the most difficult
enterprise Of the era
Mark Hopkins, the treasurer, looked
small beside the others; yet his body
was vigorous, his eye vigilant, his lip
firm. A fine. penetrating exactness
rigid carefulness, envelbped him as
garment. A stern man, Just, en-
ployees and foster.children yet testi
fed to his kindness his consideration
Bluff, hearty Charles Croker, the
superintendent, irascible, obstinate
yet reasonable. was also the daring
the generous, the pioneer!
Next stood Coils P. Huntington, the
vice president, tall, stately, elegant
the keen f1nancier, the, astute business
man. the subtle politician, the keeper
of secrets; a tireless worker a courtly
gentleman.
Leland Stanford, the president, ex
governor Of California, beloved by the
people, this man was the cynosure
imperial head powerfully set on mas
sive body; eyes of the seer, brows O
the conqueror; mind of steel and hear
of gold; brother Of men and respectel
Of man; orator. friend, patriot.
Talleyrand once declared to the EN-
peror Napoleon, The great republic
is giant without bones." These foul
men had put into the giant spine o
iron. q
Under the desert sky the spreading
multitude was called to order There
followed solemn prayer of thanks
giving. The laurel tie was placed
amidst ringing cheers. The COLDER
spike was set. The trans-Americar
telegraph wire was adjusted. Annie
breathless silence the silver hammer
was lifted, poised, dropped. giving thu
J gentle tap that licked the news to al
the world! Then, blow on blow. Gov
ernor Stanford sent the spike to place
A storm of wild huzzas burst forth
desert rock and sand, plain and noun
tain, echoed the conquest Of thei
terrors. The two engines moved up
touched noses" and each in turf
crossed the magic tie.
| America was belted! The grea
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