The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-10
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
NATHAN HALE AND
ALICE RIPLEY
BY Albert Poyson Terhune
Copyright. by tie AuL6~r,l

There ia . statue at the western
edge of City Hall park, New York. II
represents a slender, handsome lad,
Nathan Hale, standing bound. yet un-
conquered: overpowered. yet un-
afraid; awaiting death at the hang
mans hands. The pedestal's letter
ing records his last defiance to
harsh fate; his regret at having but
one life to give to his country. OF
the countless thousands who hourly
hurry past that statue, comparative
ly few pause, nowadays, to look at 1t
or to note the faded wreaths that oc-
casionally adorn its base. Still fewer
know of the sad. sweet love- story
which alternately frightened and
darkened Hale's short life and urged
him to deeds of reckless daring. Here
is the story:
Hale was q Connecticut boy. His
His father, Deacon Richard Hale. then
married a widow who had one daugh-
ter, Alice, a pretty and talented girl,
who was about Nathan's own age. The
two young people
ooS ".o were brought up
Love AHa'r. In the same house.
1t was but natural that they should
fall in love with each other. 1t was
equally natural that parental opposi-
ton should strengthen their love. Dea-
con Hale had great ambitions for Ma
than The lad was tall. handsome and
unusually clever in study and debate.
T. hof he shn,rIH
pare for the ministry. After he left
Yale he taught school at East Had
dam, Conn, in order to raise funds for
his course in the theological sem
mary.
His father was resolved that so
promising a career should not be in
iured by early marriage to penniless
girl, even when that girl happened
to be the deacon's own lovable step
daughter, Alice. So the old gentle
man set about his self-appointed, dis
agreeable task Of making such a mar
riage impossible. In East Haddam
dwelt an elderly merchant, Elijah Rip
ley. who also wished to marry Alice.
Deacon Hale commanded his step
daughter to accept Ripley's proposal.
Girls in those days obeyed their par
ents. To a pair of dutiful, obedient
children like Nathan and Alice, the
deacons word was law. So Alice.
though she loved Nathan devotedly,
married Ripley and made the old man
a good wife, even though her heart
was with the gallant youth she had
been forced to give up. Nathan, in
despair, threw aside his plans Of be-
coming a clergyman and sought for
getfulness by throwing in his for
tunes with the revolution. The bat
tie of Concord and Lexington had just
been fought april, 1879, and the
American colonies were rushing to
arms against their British oppressors.
Hale joined the army as lieutenant
The almost foolhardy courage with
which he r1sked his life and the skill
he showed as an officer led to his
quick promotion to captaincy. Life
held no hope for him now that he had
lost Alice, and he delighted in TAX
ing risks that would have appalled, a
less unhappy man.
Then came a turn in his fortunes.
Alice Ripley's husband died. There
was no longer barrier between the
lovers. For Alice was a widow and
Independent. Nathan himself was 81
Both had thus passed beyond the
bounds Of Deacon Hale's authority.
The path to their happiness was at
last clear. They became engaged
The date for their marriage is said
to have been set. Yet, to win honor
in his sweetheart's eyes. Nathan
sought to accomplish still Drawer deeds
than before. Soon the coveted chance
for distinction came.
The American army had been forced
to abandon New York. The city was
in British hands. 1t was important
for Washington to learn the plans, for
tifications, numbers, etc, Of the Eng
lish forces garrisoned there. So he
asked for a volunteer to go to New
York in disguise and gain this in
formation for him. Nathan Hale eager
ly offered his services for the danger
.. Gus mission and
GO. entered New York
dressed as sim.
pie Dutch schoolmaster. He we'll knew
Tue peril uc 1dCSu. U culST Tue ell
emy's lines as spy, disguised, is pun
ishable by instant death upon detec-
ton. The fate of spy is thus es-
tablished by all laws of warfare Yet
Hale was not dismayed. He went to
New York. gathered the information
Washington wanted, and was about
to depart in safety when he was rec
ognized. He was arrested and con-
demned to be hanged on the following
day. The night before his execution
he was imprisoned In a greenhouse at
Fifty-first street and First avenue
There he asked for a Bible The re-
quest was refused. Then he wrote
long letter Of farewell to Alice. The
letter was torn up before his eyes by
the brL al jailer. At dawn on Septem-
Der %, 1875, he was led forth to an
orchard at East Broadway and Mar
ket street and there was hanged. He
was only 81, and stood on the very
threshold Of all that makes life beau
tiful. His fate. by the rules Of the
iron game of war. was just
Alice Ripley never married again.
She lived to be an old woman. but her