Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-13

EDWARD EVERETT HALE.
the memory of mankind was
but a figure born of a writer's
imagination. Yet, the account
Of his passionate outburst and
of his dreadful expiation stirs
the dul1est soul, and will
awaken emotion In the minds
of readers Of generations yet
unborn.
The soul of America is
being tested. It is to express
itself in word and in deed.
Every citizen, whether of ma
tive or of alien blood, is to
prove the faith that is in him,
the meaning of his allegiance,
the sincerity of his devotion to
the ideals which give this re-
public its being. And there is
no more arresting lesson for
the disloyal or the needless, no
more inspiring appeal to the
spirit of true Americanism
than this memorable work of
literary art and high-sou1ed
patriotism.
- SUPPOSE that very few casual read
ers OF the New York Herald Of Au-
~ ner among the Deaths" the an
nouncement:
Nolan-Died. on board u S. Corvette
Levant. Lat g II s.. Long. 1871. W.. on
the 1lth Of May. Philip Nolan"
l happened to observe it, because 1 was
stranded at the old Mission House in
Mackinaw. waiting for a Lake Superior
steamer which did not choose to Come
and ! was devcuring to the very stumble
an the current literature / could get hold
OF. even down to the deaths and mar
riages in the Herald Ny memory for
names and people is good, and the reader
VIII see, as he goes on. that / had reason
enough to remember Philip Nolan. There
are hundreds Of readers who would have
seaused at that announcement. IL the Of
ncer OF the Leyant who reported it had
chosen to make 1t thus: "Died Nav II
the Man Without Country" For II was
as The Man Without a Country that
poor Philip Nolan had generally been
charge during some fifty years. as. Indeed
ny all men who sailed under them
care say there is many a man who has
taken wine with him once a fortnight. in
: S,s shr re, cruise. who never knew that
poor wretch had any name at all.
Inefe can be no possible harm In telling
ms Poof creature story. Reason enough
mere mas oeen I'LL now, ever since Madi-
som administration went out in 1877 for
very strict secrecy, the secrecy of honor
i'seii. among the gentlemen OF the navy
VINO have had Nolan in successive charge
ana certainly II speaks well for the esprit
ne corps OF the profession and the per-
sonal honor Of its members that IN re
press this mans story has been wholly
nnsnown-and. think to the country al
large aiso- ] Fave reason to think. from,
some investigations I made in the naval
archives when | was attached 10 the I'M
reau OF construction. that every Official
report relating to him was burned vixen
ls"sa burned the public buildings at Wash
jlstoh. one OF the fuckers o.. nossihIv
one Of the WatsoEs had Nolan IL, ch.ras
at the end OF the war: and when. on re-
turning from his cruise he renorted a,
washington TO one Of the COMMITMENTS
who WAS in t1e Navy Deuarfpnert ybar
ne came home-he found thar ,he az
Iartment ignored the whole busjnexs
whether they really knew nothing hon,
II or whether IL was Non mi recordo"
determined on as piece of policy Do
not know But this ] do know ~,
since 1877, and possible before. no ps val
oiflcer has mentioned Nolan in his report
OF cruise ~N''
But. as l say, there is no need for
longer Az
creature Is dead. it seems TO me worth
while to tell a little of his story nv
way OF showing young Americans Of
a Country.
Pnl!ip Nolan was as fine young Of
lieer as there was in the Legion OF tho
West as the western division OF our
army was then called. When Aaron
Burr made his first dashine expedition
down TO New Orleans in 1905. al Fort
Massac. or somewhere above ON the
river he met. as the devil would have
- TINS gay. dashine, bright young fell
row: al some dinner party, think. Burr
marked him talked to him, walked with
him. took him day or two's VOYAGE in
his hathoat. and in short, fascinated
MIN Fof the next year, barrack life
was very tame TO Door Nolan. He occa-
sionaily awaited himself OF the permis
sion the great man had given hfrn 70
write TO him Long, high-worded stIlted
letters the poor boy wrote and rewrote
ana COPIED. But never line did he
nave IN reply from the CAV deceIyer
The other boys in the garrison
sneered at him because he sacri
iced in this unrequited affection for A
politician the time which they devoted
70 Nor ongaheia. hazard and high-iow-
jack. Bourbon. euchre and poker wer.
sun unknown. But one day Nolan had
ms revenge This time Burr came down
the river not as an attorney seektn. a
place Tor his Office. but az disguised
cOnGupT0r def
how many district attorneys: he had
dtned at ] know not how many public
dinners: he had been heralded In 1 know
not how many Weekly Arguses and IT
was rumored that he had am army he
hind him and an empire before him. II
was great day--his arrival--to poor
Nolan. Burr had not been at the fort