Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-15
A CLUSTER THAT INSPIRED
By Colonel ]. A. watrous

1T was an inspiration. a grower of
pride, a builder of confidence. and
ambition fedora genuine uplifter--
such an inspiration as wish might
cross the pathway of millions OF
young men, not to mention other null
titudes."
So said a friend, and | agreed with
him. 1t is well worth talking about,
for the story may prove an inspira-
ion to those who read it.
At one of the tables, and in its i'm
mediate vicinity, on the occasion OF
the twenty-fourth Wisconsin's recent
reunion and banquet, there was a clus-
ter of notable men-men who have
made a telling m, k in state and IA
tion.-all of whom have state vide
reputation, a number of then national
regulations, two of them regulations
that make them known in other coun-
tries, one of them a reputation that
extends to all lands where there is
civilization. All have valuable serv-
ice to state and nation to their credit.
One reason for writing this chapter
is found In the fact that fifty years
ago this cluster of men hadn't even
the sign of notable character in it.
On the contrary. its members we're as
unknown and obscure boys and young
men as we may find on farms and
with one exception.
In no country on earth, outside of
the American republic, could such a
story be written about a cluster of ODD
scure lads, for the reason that the
doors of opportunity in no other land
swing clear back and remain open, as
they do az this blessed country of
yours and mine.
Fifty years ago one of the inspiring
cluster was a 14-year-old school boy
in milwaukee, Today his name is
not a strange one in any civilized por-
ton of the world On his merits,
while yet under age, he rose from a
regiment. leading it in most of its bat
ties, and it was one of Wisconsin's
best regiments. On his merits-be-
cause he measured up to the demands,
and more, too,-he moved from the
lowest to the highest commission in
the American army, a rank held by
Washington, Grant, Sherman and six
others in the nations history, sol.
der of two wars and various Indian
campaigns, at one time the com
mander of an army of $4,000, and gov
ernor general over 5000 900 of people.
1t is an inspiration to write this para
graph about the former Milwaukee
school boy, now Lieutenant General
Arthur Macarthur, one of the BAN
quet and reunion cluster.
Fifty years ago farmer lad in
Sheboygan county was working from
daylight until dark nine months in or
der that he might spend three months
per year in small log schoolhouse
under the instruction of a $15-a-
month teacher AS he hoed corn in
June. 1860, he watched the clouds the
better to dodge coming showers, and
evenings he read of threatened war
clouds. When the war storm burst
and President Lincoln called for SOL
diers the farmer lad babe good bye to
the home folks, the farm, log school
house and the SIS educator and an
swered here" in the first Wiscon-
sin volunteers and with that COM
mand>~ fought as private in many
battles. Then he became lawyer
Seventeen years ago President Cleve-
land touched the boy from the log
schoolhouse, the meadow, cornfield-
the first Wisconsin private-on the
shoulder and gave him life commits
sion as United States district Judge.
A few years later President Roose-
welt called him to a still higher sta
ton, made him a United States cir.
cult judge-an exalted position. Dur
ing the past month the press of the
west has very generally and gener-
ously mentioned him for advancement
TO the supreme court of the United
States, the highest court in the world.
They used to call this member of my
cluster BILLY Seaman" and to many
he is still BILLY Seaman" but the
nation knows him as Judge w. II.
Seaman. The story of Private Billy
Seaman is good one to tell TO school
children-and others.
Fifty years ago printer in a coun-
try Office, with no better prospects
than any one of thousand other
printers in the state, was ambitious
TO become an editor, and the next
year he was an editor Like thous-
ands of printers, he was patriotic and
enlisted first as a private in the
Fourth Wisconsin and came home a
lieutenant with record for good
soldiership, and was back in a print
ing Office as soon as he could get
there Ripon, La Crosse, New York
and Milwaukee knew him as an edi-
tor. His Milwaukee paper went to all
parts of the world, and that, the half
dozen books he has turned out and a
thousand or more addresses, have
made millions laugh, not once, but
many times. That is large achieve
ment-just that. Nearly twenty years
ago Milwaukee elevated him to the of