Morris tribune., 1914-07-10
Why Carl Becker
Came to America
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

A stagecoach drove up to tavern in
a far western mining town. A young
man with flaxen hair and light blue
eyes jumped out nimbiy and, walking
as If stepping on springs entered the
bar and Office ROOMS and told the land
lord that he wished to stay with him
for 0 short time.
my name is Carl Becker. / bail
from Cologne, and I'm going to settle
down in this country"
essary for you to leaveT drawted the
landlord
What do? How you know 1 do
anythingY'
WAL, most OF 'em that comes here
have had 10 light out from whar they
come"
Il say noting about why come
from home, except that l must spend
year in fortress IL stay dare. Ny
vader he say: Carl, you spend year
In fortress, den you serve your time
in de army, and when you come out
you hat lost good deal Of time. Sup
pose you go to America. Lots Of PEG
pies go to America, and they all get
rich. Vot you say, Ell?
4 say: 'Vader, / go to America.
spend de time / spend here and in. de
army maxim money, and then come
back to de vaterland and take care Of
yO0 and mutter'" mrs a
"A good idee,' replied the landlord
What was they goin' TO put you in
the fortress for?'
"Vot for dey put me In de fortress7
Ach, think don't talk about dot!'
Il reckon it wouldn't make much DIFF
ference about here unless it was for
boss stealin'. That's about the only
thing they don't like in these parts.
You KIN shoot all you like and it's no
body's business bat yours, but you take
anybody"s boss and IL they ketch you
you'll have to dance wharf.-the grass is
too short"
TVot you mean, dance?"
"The hangman'S jig"
The landlord took young Becker To
( q 4OO44 dO0 w hCA hC ASL0IAC0 ECA4G1A n
ed to few persons who happened tC
be present:
That's the kind we waHt out here"
Carl Becker was among the higher
grade of emigrants and came not ovel
in the steerage; instead he came frs
class and when he reached Nevadi
had $1,000 IN his pocket. That was
in the day when silver mining wa!
new in this region, and new country
is proverbially rough country. Tht
evening of Mr. Becker's arrival b.
came downstairs with a singular look
ing cap ON his head. A number of th.
rougher element of the country wer,
standing at the bar drinking. A maj
with a red beard in sheepskin breeche
happened to turn as Becker entereG
the room and fixed his gaze on tn
cap
well, now" he remarked, that
the purtiest piece of headgear I eve
seen in these parts. If it had feathe
from peacock's tail stuck into it i
would be a dandy ornament for VIC
man."
Becker heard the criticism, and hi
lips broke into beautiful smile.
''Say, young man." pursued the ma
with the red beard, "whar did you 81
yer bonnet"
my bonnet-ha, ha! You call dot
bonnet?''
II axed you whar you got it"
, II got dat when l vas in de unfvel
sity."
"Phew, the university! You don
mean you've been to college!"
yah, Heidelberg"
''Well, we don't stand no SIGH rair
bow tops as that out we're" And tn
speaker, drawing knife about sixtee
inches long from between his shoulde
, blades and catching Mr.. Becker's ca
[ on its point, tossed it on to the floor.
A change came over Carl Becker. Il
stood looking at the man who had r
moved his cap with an expression {
serious dignity.