The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-12-23
A Message
To Garcia
Which Has Been Printe d Many
Millions of Times a nd is
Worth Reading Often.
PRINTED BY REQUEST.

PRINTED BY REQUEST.
In all this Cuban business there is
one man who stands out on the horizon
of my memory like Mars at perihelion.
When war broke out between Spain and
the United States, it was very necessary
t" communicate quickly with the lead
er of the Insurgents. Garcia was some
where in the mountain Businesses of
Cuba-nO one knew where. No mail
nor telegraph message could reach him.
The President must secure his cooper
alton, and quickly.
What to do!
Some one said to the Presi d Q n t,
"There's u fellow by the name of Rowan
will find Garcia for you, if any body
can"
Rowan was sent for and given a let
ter to be delivered to Garcia.
How"the fellow by the name of Row.
an" took the letter, sealed it up in an
oiIskin pouch, strapped it over his heart,
in four DAYS landed by night on the
coast of Cuba from an open boat, dis
appeared into the jungle, and in three
weeks came out OIL the other side of the
Island, having traversed ahostile coun-
try on foot, and delivered his letter to
Garcia, are things l have no special
desire now to tell in detail. The point
[ wish to make is this: Mckinley gave
Rowan a letter to be delivered to Gar
cia; Rowan took the letter and did not
ask, ''where is he att"
By the Eternal! there is man whose
form should be cast in deathless bronze
and the statue placed in every college
of the land. 1t is not booklearnine
young men need, nor instruction about
this and that, but stiffening of the
vertebra which will cause them to be
loyal to a trust, to act promptly, con
centrate their energies; do the thing
"Carry message to Garcia"
General Garcia is dead now, but ther,
are other Garcias. No man ever en-
deavored to carry Ou t an enterprls'
where many hands were needed, bu
has been well-nigh appalled, at times b,
the imbecility of the average man-th
inability or unwillingness to concen
tIa'e on thing and do it.
Slipshop assistance, foolish inatten
tion, dowdy indiffel ence, and halfhear'
ed work seem the rule; and no ma
succeeds, unless by hook or crook, Q
threat, he forces or bribes other men t
assist him; or mayhap, God in his gooc
ness performs miracle for an assis
ant.
You, reader, put this matter to tes
You are sitting now In your office-si
clerks are within call. Summon an
one and make this request: "Plea'
look in the encyclopedia and make
brief memorandum for me concernir
the life of COrreggiO."
Will the clerk say, "yes, sir" and G
to the task?
On your life he will not. He W
look at you out of fishy eye and al
one or more of the following question
"Who was he?
"Which encyclopedia?
"Was hired for that?
"Don't you mean Bismarck?
"What's the matter with Charlie d
ing it?
"Is he dead?
s'Is there any hurry?
"Shan't [ bring you the book and
you look it up yourself?
"What do you want to know for p
And will lay you ten to one tn
after you have answered the question
and explained how to find the inform
tion, and why you want it, the Gle
will 60 off and get one of the otf
clerks to help him try to find Garcis
and then come back and tell you th'
is no such man. OF course may L
my bet, but according to the Law
Average will not.