Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-12-21
Ehrntng Chat

FROM all accounts Governor Martin
v. bfumbaugh struck popular chord
when he wrote his statement regards
ing the national defense in which he
so strongly urged the DEVELOPMENT of
the National Guard rather than the
formation of The continental army.
since that statement was printed the
governor has had dozens of letters
some times couple of dozen a. dav.
commencing him for declaring q
! taVor OF the use of the guard as a
oasis Tor defense and they have come
from people in every walk of life.
Comparatively few have come from
suardsmen or alumni of the organ
lzed militia, but from businessmen
and residents of the State who observe
/ the trend of events ana the strong
local sentiment aroused 10y At military
company. The Governor issued his
statement after he had considered the
| matter Tor weeks. Ever since the
plan for the continental army was
Drought out he has been thinking it
| over and his statement was not only
| tne result OF mature reflection, but
OF that observation of conditions for
which the Governor is noted and
which he can make so keenly and use
SO well for deductions.
Dr. Russell II. Conwell, the PhiIa-
ueiphla clergyman and educator who
entertained a Harrisburg audience ON
saturday evening with his famous
acres OF Diamonds" lecture, gave
some very interesting "reminiscences
that were of great value from a his
i9Iicai ana biographical standpoint
ne loid oil the time he had gone as
a boy-captain of Yankee" com
pany to see President Lincoln on the
matter or saving one OF his company
from belng shot as a deserter. He
TOOK his place, he said, among the
Iohg Ine OF others waiting to see the
fresiuent and announced his business
TO the secretary. Soon he was uicked
out from among all the others and in
Vlted within. The secretary pointed
10 closed door and said The Presi-
oent Is in there" and then went out
and shut the door. Well, the poor
%ouhs larmer was never more scared
III MS lie. He wished he was in
Europe or anywhere except lust
where he was. He soon screwed up
courage to knock on the door and
was invited in. He was told to sit
down while "Old Abe concentrated
on Pile or papers that were on his
desk. Ihose finished, he turned his
attention to the young soldier, swung
his long, lanky legs over the table
: and ohatted sociably for a few
minutes. Needless to say the Young
: soldier who had deserted was par
doned, but what impressed Captain
Conwell most was the manner in
' which the President of the United
States put at his ease this awkward.
shy young backwoodsman, made him
feel as though he were right at home
and then when his time was up turn
( ed back to other work Abe Lincoln
, was an example of concentration such
as has seldom been seen IN the his
tory of this country was the gist OF
Russell Conwells formulated opinion
of the man.
do you know that have noticed
] a marked increase in the manner in
' which people are getting rid of in
: ftammable stuff about stores and other
places where there are apt to be
many passersby and danger of chance
accidents" said one of the older fire.
men of the city. For years 1t was
/ the custom to throw boxes and excel
Slor and other packing material right
| into the cellars Now the wise man
D gets 1t out of the way of any chance
2 accident and he does not lose any
, time about it. Incidentally a great
: deal of It is saved through care in
{ handling"
State Fire Marshal Joseph e. Bald
{ win, who retires on December 81 to
$ become assistant director of public
e works in Philadelphia, was formerly
{ assistant director of charities in that
city. He is said to be one of the best
/ posted men in Philadelphia on busi-
! ness methods in the city depart
ments.