The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
BY JOHN $. HARDWOOD.

BY JOHN :. HARDWOOD.
Chance. which. according 10 Shakes
peare turns the current OF human life
either TO success or failure has indeed
diverted the careers OF many men now
welI known 20 the American public out
OF the dark eddies OF obScurity. Yet
chance by no means was The only factor
IN their rise 10 fame or fortune. In every
instance II vas the opening OF the door
Hard work, perseverance. ability. either
natural OF developed, were the motive
forces which eventually carried these men
on to the goal of attainment
Probably no one viii gainsay the state
ment that the coUntry's most notable Nv
ing example is Theodore Roosevelt. soon
10 become the nations only living ex-
President, Twice opportunity has come
70 him as 10 few men in the history OF
our country once through war and
once through death. When the first op-
portuEity came, he saw It clearly, and
seized IL Mrs Roosevelt urged him not
TO go 10 the front against Spain. II
must" he replied; 1T IS the chance OF
a Efetime." And Il was. making Theo-
dore Roosevelt a national character for
the first tine in his career. OF course,
Mr. Roosevelts second opportunity came
Ike a thunderboIt out Of a clear sky
when President Mckinley was shot down
IN Buffalo
Saved by Medical Knowledge.
As picturesque a career as was ever
due 70 the whim OF the god OF chance is
that Of Horace Newton Allen, the Yam
kee diplomatic representative at the court
OF Korea until Japan swallowed up the
sad little hermit kingdom. It was an
attempted assassination that gave Minis
ter Allen the cue TO fame and high po-
Iitical preference. Yet had Il not been
for his knowledge Of surgery and medi-
cine, which he had first obtained as
a student al Miami Medical College. he
would have proved failure when the
emergency came.
Allen first went 10 China as = medical
missionary. After a year there he de-
cided that Korea offered better opportu-
mites and, accordingly, at his own ex-
pense, he visited Korea AID wrote home
fun account OF his journeys in the
Kingdom OF the Morning Calm" The
reply came back from the missionary
board, Korea" Brief though the cable
was, Allen knew its meaning, and went
as a medical missionary TO Seoul, the
Korean capital
Because Of the political ferment in KO-
rea and the strong anti-foreign feeling
prevalent therein. the young American
sought safety under an appointment by
Minister FOOte as physician TO the United
States Legation A few months after his
arrival an attack by japanese upon IA
tives precipitated a revolutionary riot. An
OF The foreigners IN Seoul except AIr. Al
len and his wife fed TO China. Soon
efterward the japanese attacked the car
riage in which Prince Miu Yong X
nephew 10 the King, was riding, and al
most killed him.
Made Prince Comfortable.
As the thirteen wise men OF the king
dom. who had been summoned to save
the princes life, we're about to pour not
black wax into the gaping wounds, some
one thought OF the iight-haired young
American doctor, who lived alone with
his wife IN the legation. and persuaded
the Emperor to send for h;ra- Allen ar
rived just as the wax was melting.
ThuTSting the wise men aside, he deity
sewed UP the princely wounds and made
his royal patient as comfortable as pos
sible- The prince recovered promptly.
There were no bounds OF the gratitude
Of the palace household in consequence
Of the remarkable achievement OF the
American stranger. As the news spread
over the country the ignorant country
folk hailed him forthwith as a veritable
magician. Allen was made court physi-
clan; and. what was more. he was con-
suited on all matters OF state
Three times he was decorated with al
the pOmp and ceremony OF which the
Asiatic is so fond. Among the many
honors conferred upon him. by far the
most practical, was the establishment of a
royal hospital Of which "the American
Wizard" was placed in charge. IN the