Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-16

CHAPTER I. &c.,.
Matthew Broughton lost his father
in 1899; and less than two years later,
his mother, worn out by privatton,
poverty and the bitter struggle to keep
roof over her boys head and her
own, was laid beside her husband In
the Manaswan cemetery. Matt, as he
was called, was then fifteen years old,
as tall as man, and pale with the all
day confinement in lawyers office
where he was employed as clerk. TO
his uncle, who had come to his
nephew's assistance none too willing
ly, he appeared an awkward, countri-
fled youth, with neither manners nor
looks to recommend him; and Ad-
miral Beatty, whose benevolence was
prompted by remorse at having done
so little for his sister in her lifetime,
was at small pains to hide his disap-
pointment in her son.
This old gentleman had little else
than his retired pay to live on, and
an expensive family to take care OF.
To him the red-eyed, shabbily dressed
youngster appeared as the emblem Of
drastic economies to Gomez and as the
equivalent of good cigars, cosy club
dinners, and thoroughbred Kentucky
mare, he certainly came high; and the
admiral's face, usually SO genial, grew
very overcast at the prospect.
But he took Matt back to Washing
ton with him; tried in his stiff way to
be kind; and after some reflection as
to what was to be done, secured for
the boy an appointment to the Naval
academy at Annapolis. Mats educa-
ton, as far as it had gone, was of
the ordinary, Intellectual character-a
smattering Of everything under the
sun, from physiology to Greek art
an imposing curriculum that none the
less left him unable to spell, or even
write, two coherent lines of good
English. It took eight months coach
ing to prepare him for the entrance
examinations, which he not only
passed successfully, but had the keen
delight Of seeing his name third on
the list. . %a
Annapolis did wonders for Matt. In
two years he was one of the smartest,
best set-up, Misunderstanding fellows
in the academy. His half-starved
frame filled out; his face grew rudy
with health; erect and graceful, his
black head, fine complexion, and dark
flashing eyes attracted admiration
everywhere. He led in everything.
whether in play or studies: the tradi-
tions Of the place became his religions:
ardent. clever and high spirited. his
whole nature responded to one OF the
hest devised systems ever invented
for the making of men. a.
It was about this time. that a Balti-
more negro named Raphael Stokes
was admitted to the academy. to the
unbounded resentment of everyone
within it's walls He was not the first
cclored brother to take advantage OF
his constitutional rights in this
respect: but more stubborn than his
predecessors, and to do him Justice,
an able and ambitious young man. he
defied the enormous pressure brought
against him, and what was almost
harder to bear-the heart-breaking
isolation in which he was doomed to
live. In after years, with broadened
humanity and a greater sympathy and
understanding, Matt was bitterly
ashamed of his own part in the perse-
cution Of Raphael Stokes But at the
period 1t seemed righteous task;
the honor Of the navy appeared to be
at stake; by hook or crook, by Fair
means or foul, the service had to be
saved from the disgrace Of negro
officer.
Matt was no worse than the rest OF
the academy> In fact in one way he
was better, for with characteristic
directness he once sought an inter-
view with Stokes, and explained the
whole matter with boyish candor.
1--WE have nothing against you per-
sonally," he said. you're pretty
good sort, Stokes. and it is no pleas
ure to us to try to make you uncom-
Portable here. But you are an in
truder, and we can't let you stay I'm
not saying that such prejudice is right
but we've been brought up to it; It's
in our blood; even If you stick it out
and graduate. you will simply pass
from one hell to another"
THANK you, Broughton, but intend
to stay" returned Stokes, setting
jaw he had inherited from Presby-
terrain grandfather.
Months later, when the negro broke
down in class, hysterical and over
wrought by the strain of that unequal
cOnIllcL, ne was Oruereu 10 inc SUPER
intendent's office and searching IN
quiry was instituted. Matt was less
guilty, than twenty others, yet he
found himself among the four who
were placed under arrest Justice in
such cases is always somewhat capri
cious; too often 1t is the truthful and
straightforward who suffer, while the
meaner escape. Summary dismissal
followed and Matt turned his back on
the academy forever.
Admiral Beatty gave Matt furious
reception. He told the boy that he had
thrown away all his chances in life;
that he was irretrievably disgraced;
and read aloud, with fiery emphasis.
q scathing editorial on the affair In