The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-26
The President Ride

'tCopyTight, 1908, by American Press Asso-
ciationl
was sitting in my quarters one
evening after retreat when my friend
Charlie st. Clair came IN with woe.
begone expression on his face and,
throwing himself into an easy chair,
heaved "a deep sigh Charlie was one
OF the handsomest men | ever knew
and withal the most lovable. He and
l had been classmates and chums at
West Point. had served together in the
Spanish sh-American war s'1 were now
stationed al the same post.
whats up Charlie?' | asked.
1--WE been ordered TO take the presi-
dents ride"
"Well," said sympathetieally don't
you think you'll be able to stand it,"
II know | won't"
Charlie was laZy-laZy on drlll. lazy
y In quarters, lazy in social life, lazy cv.
erywhere except IN battle. Ii required
a fight TO put energy into him. but It
did. His case always reminded me OF
a prominent Confederate general In
this-the general when an engagement
was coming on never could settle down
TO the work before him without riding
out to the firing line. Then he would
ride back ready TO listen to orders.
Charlie lost all his Incidence under the
rattle of rides and the boom of big
guns, besides becoming brave as a
lion.
II tell you what you do, Charlie"
suggested-"pu In all your time be-
tween now and the ride exercising
Get OF some of your surplus flesh and
harden your muscles"
"Oh. I'm too big"
That told the story exactly. He was
big man, ana the accumulation of
inertia had got ahead OF him. per
suaded him to let me train him, and |
worked with hin right up to the day
OF the ride. But It was no use.
never could get him up in the morn.
Ing He would eat anything he fancied.
In short, he wouldn't train. The con
sequence was that when he started
on the ride he was sure to fail My
heart sank when we left for the start.
ing point, but encouraged him so far
as possible was TO take the ride
myself and hoped to stimulate him.
/ told him ! might find n way to pull
him through. but he shook his head
despondently.
We hadn't gone ten miles before ]
saw the game was up for Charlie
From the very start he looked tired
and every mile we rode he lost breath
The sweat was rolling down his fat
cheeks. and he was the picture Of mel
ancholy. We had gone over about half
the distance when. making an effort
he spurred beside me, putting, reeling
blush white hue on his face, and
told me he was going to drop out We
were riding past country place al
the time, and saw him turn In at tho
gate. That was the last saw Of hin
on the ride.
On reaching my quarters the mex
day found an order TO go TO France
TO be present at the army maneuvers
] was gone six weeks and on my re
turn received note from Charlie say
ing that he had been unable TO leave
the house where he had taken refuge
and wished me 20 go TO him.
took a train and. getting on at the
nearest station, drove to the house
prepared for a sad sight Judging by
his appearance when ! had seen hin
last, he had probably strained some
vital part and | feared to find hin
forced to give up life as well as th'
army. On reaching the house ! sent Il
my card and was ushered into hi'
room.
There sat Charlie IA m easy chair
surrounded by every luxury, putting I