The Washington herald., 1909-11-14

como as a surprise to many. no doubt, 70
learn that hve Of the children of that
Prophet Of Wrath-five men and women
full Of life and vigor. full Of intimate
memories OF the arbiter Of their earlier
destinies. survive him. writes Katherine
Mayo in the New York Post
OF these I'VE. the eldest is Jason. second
Of John Browns twenty children. Born
January 19. 1873. Jason Brown is now
nearing the end OF his eighty-seventh
year. and surely no human being ever
lived on whom age sat more lightly.
Whether Il be despite the rigors Of his
life, or, as he himself believes, because OF
them. this little. delicate-featured, bright
faced. lean old man rejoices in a degree Of
endurance, elasticity, and strength above
the average Of any period. 1t was only
a year ago last summer that. nOnchalant-
ly putting aside the bathing master who
would have dlssuaded one OF his venera-
able appearance from risking the shock
at ell, he plunged into the cold waters
OF an Ohio lake. and for three long hours
swan, dived. aud performed all sorts OF
feats of natation, emerging at last only
the HveIier for the exercise.
days begin, the passion for life in the
open comes upon him. and happy and
care free as a child, he sets forth on
series OF tramps which may mean some
and-thirty miles Of footing between
dawn and dark, and which carry him
hither and yon at long tangents over
the smiling Ohio country.
These uncharted rambles are the source
Of no small anxiety 20 Charles =. Brown,
Jasons only child. on whose prosperous
farm in a suburb OF Akron. Ohio. he has
his home But the old man loves his in
dependence: and II IS characteristic not
only that 10 arguments or pleas can deter
him from facing the risks of a pilgrim
life when the fever comes upon him. but
also that. during the season In which he
IS content to remain at home and be cared
for by his kindly, tactful son and daugh-
ter-in-law, he refuses TO occupy room
I'm the cheerful farmhouse, prefering a
little one-sJory cabin at some distance on
the grounds. Here. he says. he can work
over small things without fear Of dis
turbance.
AIrship Lover.
These "sman things" are. besides his
beloved flowers, plans, and models Of
parts or OF whole. Of the dream OF Jason's
life As a little lad nc pondercd flying
machines" AS he grew, the thought grew
with him. And wherever his wandering
habits have led. whatever his occupation,
the vision Of the airship has lain in the
heart thereof Many an incredible tramp
has he taken on his own patient feet, 10
reach the scene Of an ascension, thence
10 return 10 his plans and models with
increased hope and earnestness.
warm lover Of nature and OF all
life passionatelv sensitive TO the appeal
of weaker things. Jason has marvellous
gift in gaining the confidence Of animals,
and has tanned some Of the shyest Of wild
creatures through that wistful tender
ness that means understanding. The
same quality has made him ever the
ardent champion Of weaker humanity
whether IL were the abused Indian tribes
with whom he fraternized in his youth,
or the negroes. for whom his father died.
or any solitary stray from health or for
tune. The bloody scenes Of Kansas, in
secret murder or in open fight made a
terrible impression upon him.
John Brown, well aware OF his sons
aversion to the taking Of life. did not even
ask him 10 join the famous Pottawatomie
raid. in May. 1876, and when the grim
news thereof reached his ears, Jason, in
an exaltatiou Of horror and protest, went
out and delivered himself to the United
States troops. His consequent imprison-
ment, flled hourly with suffering and
with pe-ils. would in any case have kept
him from sharing his fathers warfare Of
the next few weeks. On his release. he
strayed about for a time, torn between,
on the one hand hlial allegiance. and the
natural desire 10 defend his faith and
his friends. and. on the other his innate
Whom and nn1V the
first considerations won. and he entered
the Battle OF OssawatOmie" by his faith
ers side, he fought hercely, and was OF
the last to leave the field. But dozen
times, both before and after. he displayed
a courage as great, in confronting, alone
and unarmed, proslavery men sworn TO
exterminate offenders OF his stripe, and
there declaring IN the most uncompro-
missing terms his Abolition principles
One OF his fancles has always been 20
brand himself a coward The truth is
that there was never cOwardly atom in
the man. and when. in the fateful year
OF 80, his father, then summOning all
forces for the eliminating effort, called
him 10 Join tho raid upon Harpers Ferry,
81 was pure blood-slckness that inspired
Jasons answer: Father. cannot 60.
have seen too much. have a horror
OF war"
Intensely poetic IN his love OF nature,
the happiest years of Jason's life. no
doubt, were those spent with his brother
owen in a cabin on the mountains near
Los Angeles. After Owens death, the
gentle old man found another lodge IN
the wilderness, on a glorious summit In
the glorious Santa Clara region. Alone
but for his beloved dog, living IN more
than Spartan austerity, he was here bliss
fully content. and It was not willingly
that no gave way to th9 pleas Of his
son TO leave that heavenly lookout and
come within the reach OF care and sue
cor But, wherever he Is found. the sun
shines its brightness in daily cheer and
hope and Joy and innocent friendiiness-
HIS Tenth Child.
Salmon Brown. John Browns tenth
child. and Jason's half brother. is COM
paratively young man, being but Just
seventy-three. Big. bluff. hearty. genial
ruddy-faced, and stalwart, like a type of
a fine old Viking. he looks a good ten
years less than his age. and would revel
in perfect health but for a most unfOrtu-
nate accident. Some years since he was
thrown from the saddle. sustaining lnja-
RES that produced partial paralysis, so
that now this naturally mercurial and
vigorous man is cut of from active en-
ploynent. while all motion causes him
great labor. IN earlier years, Salmon
Brown had a very considerable success
as a sheep-rancher IN Northern Califor-
MIA. but after this prosperous period
bad seasons and sheep epidemlcs brought
O. crushing disaster. from which. taken
with his physical disability, Mr.. Brown
could not recover.
But surely no man ever endured a final
rebuff OF fortune with a pluckier front
With the wife or his youth still youthful.
comely, and as kindly as himself, he