Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-08-30

tilc, ana stepped from the boat
train to the waiting tender. But
the less well informed came on the
day Beforehand never, for the re-
mainder of their lives, forgot the
dizziness Of their last day in Eu-
rope. Then there were the nervous
ly anxious, their peace of mind al
ready. wrecked by the vagaries of
the European baggage system,
who dared not run the risk of ar
irving at the last moment. So
they, too, journeycd to Cherbourg
the day before the sailing date, in
order to have a clear "a hours in
which to search for the pieces
which We're certain to be missing.
That day at Cherbourg was al
ways an expensive one, for the ho-
tel keepers Of the place, having to
live for seven days on the proceeds
of two, arranged their rates ac-
cordingly.
At the edge of the narrow strip
OF rock streWn sand which consti-
tutes the beach at Cherbourg,
stands the Grand hotel-familiar
name to every traveller in Europe,
where even the smallest hamlet
has its "Grand. The one at
Cherbourg is a rambling, three
storied frame structure, with a
glass enclosed dining room over
looking the harbor, and here, at
40 o'clock on the morning Of
Wednesday, the 9th of Septem-
Der, In the year of our Lord, 1911,
Daniel Webster was disconsolately
eating that frugal meal which is
the French breakfast. Not the
great Daniel-all well informed
persons arc,.of course, aware that
he passed to his reward some 60
years ago-but a well built, fresh
faced, rather good looking young
fellow, still on the right side Of
80, who had most inadvisedly
chosen to appear in this world of
trouble on the Tooth anniversary
OF the birth of the great Daniel,
and who had forthwith been hand
icapped with his name.
John Webster, an honest farmer
OF the Connecticut valley, had al
ways been a worshiper at the
shrine OF the eloquent New Eng
lander, to whom he fancied him
self related, and when, having
taken to himself a wife, that wife
presented him with a son on the
ver,yAday when the centenary Of
his heros birth was being cele-
brated, the coincidence appeared
TO him too momentous to be disre-
garded, and the boy was christ
ened Daniel.
IT was a thing no thoughtful
father would have done, and as
Dan grew older, he resented his
name bitterly. 1t was the subject
OF brutal .jests from his p~lay1nates,
resulting in numberless pitched
battles. and Of still more brutal
hazing when he pursued his pre-
destined way through the portals
of the university at New Haven.
Here he was promptly rechrist-
ened Ichabod, and his real name
was acknowledgements
In the depths of his heart, John
Webster may perhaps have hoped
that this was to be q real reincar.
nation. II so, he was doomed to
disappointment, for the younge,
Daniel gave nc promise Of being
either 8 statesman or an orator
But he took to ink as a duck tc
water, was never so happy as wher
his pen was spelling good white
paper, was elected editor Of thu
News, and, commencement over
took the first train for New York
stormed the office of the Record
for which he had acted as college
correspondent, and demanded.
job.
He got It; and began anew til,
task Of living down his name. al
ways, when introduced or intro
ducing himself, he saw in the eye
Sopp0site His ownSthat maddeninl,
glimmer Of amusement. Then h,
g1Tiitted his teeth and waited fol
Tue Joke. There were IA possibl,