Bisbee daily review., 1908-01-23
A Medal of Honor.
tor,ginai.l

saving decoration called tne VIC
toria cross. The badge Is an unpreten-
tious affair made of gun metal but 1t
Il the most coveted Of any British
, army honor. In America we have no
| such decoration, and when a man
i braveiy rescues q comrade he must b
content with the thanks Of the man
he has saved.
During the Mexican war a general
of brigade was one day accommodating
with an aid-de-camp when he ran fuii
upon q nest Of Mexicans. who spat are
like SO many ratsiesnskess The aid
| threw himself before his general and
covered his retreat. receiving wound
| In the arm and one In the leg. The
general escaped unhurt When the at
| fair was over and the two dismounted
before the generals tent he said to his
aid:
What's that on your belt ciaspp
The aid looked down and pulled
away a bullet that had been fiattened
against the brass clasp. Had 1t not
been stopped on its way it would have
penetrated the youngsters stomach,
/ and that at that time meant death.
The general pressed the young mans
| hand silently. Words would not ex-
press what he owed his subordinate.
| When Lieutenant Passmore went
home after the war he took the fiat
tened bullet with him. He used to
call it his medal A man who is espe-
cially adapted for fighting is often use
less for anything else, and Passmore
failed completely in a business life
which he took up on leaving the army.
Perhaps the disposition he had shown
to bear another's burdens was not In
accord with eommercialism, where the
\ object often is to outwit those with
whom one does business.
The poor fellow at 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 it caused him to
limp. He pawned his belongings one
after another. His watch and chain
he held as long as possible, because
they had been given him by his moth
er. When his watch went, in order to
keep up Appearances with his chain
he took his f1attened bullet and wore
It where the watch should be.
Meanwhile the general whose life
Passmore had saved had prospered.
We viii call him Wingate. He had
made money, and the prominence aris-
ing from his wealth and his service In
war had placed him in high position
In politics. He became governor Of his
state. Since he lived in the eastern
1t 10 IN
the west the two were apart. Pass
more after hearing that Wingate had
attained so high a position spent six
months trying to make up his mind to
apply to him for some subordinate Of
fee whereby he could make a living.
Finally he overcame his retiring dis
position, succeeded in borrowing
enough money to pay his fare and
went to see the governor.
He arrived on the day Of a great
parade of the state militia. The gov.
ernor was to review the procession.
Passmore took, a position near the
stand and saw his former general en-
ter with his suit. He tried to reach
point on the street in front of and
below the governors seat, but police
man stopped him.
"Let me go on" said Passmore. Il
know the governor personally"
The policeman looked suspicious, but
passed him. Passmore stood directly
beneath his old chief, with his hat
pulled down over his eyes. The pa
rade 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 his hat.
The governor glanced down ITO see
who spoke.
you moved on time, governor"
Passmore continued.
''Ah, yes, my good man. They'll be
here directly. They're only ten min
utes late"
Half an hour
my watch says 1910" rejoined the
governor. '9The head of the column
was to have passed here at H."
''Your watch is wrong, governor
twenty minutes wrong"
What time have you, my friend p
asked the governor
Passmore pulled out the fattened
bullet
A change came over the governors
face His eyes were glued to the crude
medal. 1t brought a far distant-mem-
CRY Then he leaned over the rai that
divided him from the street, grasped
PASSWORDS hat and pulled it of
Great heavensI Are you Tommy
PassmoreY'
That am, general"
The governor was a large, powerful
man He took Passmore by the collar.
lifted him clean over the rail and set
him down In a seat beside him. Just
then there was a hurrah down the
street, strains of martial music, and
governor and staff assumed that posi-
ton Of attention and dignity expected
OF a reviewing party. Then the process
81 m passed, many wonsering who was
the shabby man beside the governor.
The world Is fun Of ingratitude, but
the army doesn't foster it. Soldiers
rarely forget that other life when their
standards were different. The govern
/ or gave Passmore a lucrative Office.
and when the former went to the sen
; ate PassInore went to Washingtou
with him.
And Passmore hung on to his fatten-
ed bullet Senator Wingate borrowed
, It, and when he returned 1t the soft
metal was fncased and on the case was
an inscription stating how the deco
4 ration" was won.
MERRICK AUGUR.