Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-28
CHAPTER XIX.
Thumbs Up and Down.

The reunion of which Warfield spoke
was a Joint meeting of survivors of the
great civil war from both sides, northern
and southern. Their ranks had been
thinning woefuly of late. and. the fact
that they had been former enemies max
ing them better present friends. they had
decided to meet together at Louisville.
which was fifty chosen as a border city.
and the time was set for late September,
when the weather would be cool and brac-
ing.
I should never have dreamed OF refusing
to speak to these old men. after the Gus
tom of our country. 1t is true that some
of them may not have been heroes, and
even a few may have been impostors. but
l am not one Of those who take pleasure
in blackguarding the entire race Of late
great fashion OF attacking everything
had grown up among U.S. just as one
Englishman when he was bored would
saw to another: Lets go kill something: .
an American when he was bored Wouid
say to another: Lets go expose some.
thing" 1t was exposure exposure. untii
my ears grew weary and did not peileVe
the tenth part OF 1t.
l repeat that I was tired OF exposure
or alleged exposure. or exposure Tor a
profit. and 1 prepared my speech with no
desire to lecture these old soldiers ana 10
tell them that they had fought in a bad
cause, whichever side they were on. and
that they had given further proofs OF
natural and inherent badness by hving SO
long afterward. The personal and SYM
pathetic side appealed to me and as
worked over my address / forgot my per-
sonal affairs for the time being. l ceased
also to give the newspapers more than a
cursory glance. and many OF the attacks
upon me made no wound. because l did
not see them or know of them.
The appointed time came. Jimmy war
field ran down to Frankfort as commit
tee of one to escort me to Louisville, and
we took the short ride on pleasantly
cool afternoon. Warfield was rather
silent and seemed more than usually
thoughtful. but I was glad of his presence
and personal support 1t had been some
time now since / had faced great audi
ence. and I felt that l should encounter
hostile looks il not worse.
1t was almost dusk when we came into
the station. and the usual crowd was
about to see governor arrive. When
alighted from the train l heard a cheer
and then the moment after it died the
soft sibilant sound Of hiss. the most
bitter Of all sounds. the sound that the
rattlesnake makes as he shoots his
poison. Jimmy Warfield put his hand
upon my arm.
Don't mind 1t. Harry he said ''Its
some vicious scamp with nothing better
to do
uOn nina IL, l. Tcpleu
But 1 did mind It, 1t was the rattle
snakes poison in my veins
The hiss was not repeated and my
friends and a committee of the old
soldiers came forward to greet me. Here
was no lack of spontaneity or heartiness
and my hand was shaken with great en-
thusia SIN. first by the veterans. upon every
one of whom time had set a very deep
seal. 1t was an affecting thing to see
these white haired old men who had
- ~xl .It asyiY a
together for companionship and fol-
strength to resist the assault of years
After them came younger men. friends OF
my own age or near it. and among them
saw the handsome. priestly face OF
Guthrie the young member Of the lower
house of Congress from the Louisville
district and my exceedingly good friend
We shook hands warmly and then the
group moved on to the carriages.
AS we drove through the streets in the
raised, whether for myself or the veterans
did not know. but ! was greatly uplifted
and encouraged by the presence of my
| friends and the heartiness of their greet.
ing
At the hotel another committee received
me and there were many people. much
hustle. much shaking of hands and many
formal exchanges Of compliments. The
great lobby was crowded, but among the
faces soon saw that OF Harrison. though
mind so had he or else what was writ
large upon his countenance was written
in lying words. 1t was pale and weary
face. that of a man sick OF his life, and
felt certain pity for him. SO much In
fact that when he came forward and Of
fered his hand though considering my self
to have great cause to hate him. l took II
and shook it as If he had been a good
friend
There were those who said you would
no ha n
Why"
Because of the attacks. You would
not dare to face the multitude they
claimed. but 1 knew better"
He passed on, because the occasion al
lowed him only moment, and 1 noticed
on the outskirts of the crowd the mean
features of Conner, distorted now in a
malicious grin Of irony. 1 allowed my
glance to pass over his face without any
sign of recognition and he did not come
forward to speak.
l dined with Guthrie and Warfield and
a few other of my friends. and after din
ner Guthrie and Warfield came to my
room. We smoked a little while and I
something. Hesitation to speak implies
that the words to be spoken are disagree
able, and to help them l said:
You want to tell me about the meet
ing tomorrow. Any advice that you can
give me, old friends. shall be glad to
have"
Warfield glanced at Guthrie. and Guth-
rie glanced at Warfeld. but this time it
was Guthrie who spoke.
"You are to address the meeting tomor-
row afternoon. governor" said Guthrie:
your speech is down for 3 O'Clock, and
you are sure Of great reception, but-we
think we ought to tell yOu-there is a
cabal here against you've don't know
lust who Is leading it-but they are bent
on making trouble for you tomorrow. We
thought we ought to warn you In order
that you may be on your guard
felt my face flush and ! was sorry now
that / had shaken hands with Harrison.
| could not forget that was the governor
of the state and as such l was entitled to
respect.
Il am ready to face them whoever they
are" / said with confidence.
1--WE knew that" replied Guthrie warm
ly, "but We were not willing to let them
surprise you. This thing that they are
planning is an outrage"
was grateful to them for their friend
ship, as true friendship as man ever had,
and said SO, but they lightly turned my
words aside.
Your friends far outnumber your enc
mics. Harry" said Jimmy Warfield, land
they are going to be heard. .
When they left me, and when the late
ness of the hour told me that l should
have no more callers that evening.
drew my chair to the window and looked
out at the dim city. the dark mass of the
ling here and there through the dusk. The
words Of Guthrie and Warfield had sunk
deep, though perhaps not In the way they
tnfap5aI was indeed a nroffv ma If