Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-10
BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER

liked the profession and because thought
could be OF service in it. My life In
prison had given me new thoughts and
had made me see new things. 1t seemed
to me that the rich in our country were
not doing their full duty. / am bitterly
against all privileged classes, but from
my reading. l have a certain respect foi
the better part of the aristocracy in Eng
land. which tries to make part payment
to the state and the nation in return
for it's privileges. There is something il
nobIesse oblige.
The regular elections We're held in No
vember, and l was present at my own
mere Formally though the latter was. as
Sumpter county is heavily democratic
Then | went back to Louisville and found
to my great surprise. that Harrison also
was to be a member of the next legis-
iature. The nominee in his district had
been suddenly stricken by fatal illness
His death occurred only two days before
the election. and there was great sour
rying about to find a man to take his
place. Some one jokinsly mentioned Har-
rson. and when the joke was passed or
to him ne amazed them all by accepting
Looking back now on what occurred
not so long ago, j think that Harrison s
acceptance of SO small post that would
take him, moreover. outside his habitual
circles was due to mixture of impulses
1t may be that he had become tired OF
all his Old pleasures and wished a new
far ahead and sought now Il leverage. and
it may be that he thought he was doing
something likely to further him In the
good opinion of Alicia. And / have a lit
tie belief away down at the bottom OF
my heart that I was partly the cause OF
it: he would match himself against me:
what l did he also would do. Perha ps
Harrison himself. acute as he was, did
not know just why he did it.
The autumn passed quickly. and win
clear
place. The mercury went down TO zero
and thick Ice formed on all the streams
All night wooden houses cracked like
pistol shots as they contracted but by
day there was a brilliant sun and skies
of cold cloudlcss blue The legislature
was to meet as usual on the last day OF
the year, and after the Christmas holt
days with Uncle Paul and Aunt Jane.
went down to Frankfort on the day be
fore the calling of the session.
The very first day of my arrival
walked to the penitentiary--the tempta-
ton was irresistible-and strolled beside
its somber gray walls 1t seemed incred-
ible now that three years OF my life had
been passed behind those stones. 1t was
another man who had been there, or al
least my old self had been recreated.
After my circuit of the walls I left the
place and passed into the purer regions
on the hills, where looked down at the
pretty town. the noble river and the coil
ing ridges beyond. 1t was wintry world
but pure and beautiful and as l walked
there on the heights / was joined by Judge
Wharton of the court of appeals. and
speak particularly OF him now, because
he was good influence in my life, a
friend to whom / owe much and who owes
little to me. ! had met. him once before
and as we strolled back and forth he gave
me out of the fund of a vast experience
much good advice. some of which l am
happy to say l took.
The formal opening Of the legislature
occurred the next day and the house was
called to order by Speaker Warfield. jim
my wore a rose in his buttonhole and his
black frock was buttoned tightly about
him. but his light manner was shed for
the time, and he was a dignified and inn
pressive figure. He made short speech
full of good sense, and then We devoted
most Of the brief session to getting ac-
quainted with each other.
l confess to feeling Of pride when
took the official chair that was 10 be mine
for the next four or five months. The
formal seal had been put upon my re-
Mobilization, and instead Of obeiing orders
u was now one to give them. My desx