The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-07-31
80 :. ; : : : J ; : : : ) !, g IS ) ;
ArkaflsaW
He Was a Gentleman
of the Southwest.
BY I. A. Mitchell


When boys summer. camps were first
established In the United States, at one
of them, located in northern New Eng
land, were two boys who were chums.
They were the very antipodes of each
other. Both were Of the older boys at
the camp, being between seventeen and
eighteen. Frank vinton hailed from
Connecticut. He was intellectual and
spiritual. Those who knew him best
predicted for him marked career In
some intellectual pursuit, probably the
church. Edward Davis was from Ar
kansas and a typical southerner. He
was long OF limb, large boned and mus
cular. He was two years behind his
chum in fitting for college,
Each was in his way leader OF
other boys. Frank Vinton was usually
intrusted with the management OF the
entertainments got up at the camp ard
was recorder. His camp journal was
beautifully written. Davis, who was
universally. called Arkansaw, led the
hikes, the canoeing, the swimming-in
fact, all the sports. Naturally the
boys, who placed strength and daring
above intellect, admired him more than
vinton. But Arkansaw ranked him
self far below his chum. What we
possess we do not value; what we lack
we coyet Arkansaw saw no merit IN
his diving from q platform elevated
forty feet above the surface Of the wa
ter or being able to. throw any boy IN
the camp. He would have given his
strength and daring for the ability to
learn Latin grammar, which was be
yond his intellectual endowment. For
this reason, perhaps. he was pleased
at his intimacy with the intellectual
Vinton. .@55 .a,. ~ a u, \
When the season was ended and the
campers went home the chums regret
ted that they could not enter college
in the same class. sVinton had passed
his entrance examination but Davis
had still a long period Of study before
him. When Vinton became a Junior
Davis became a freshman or course
he entered the same college as Yinton.
Notwithstanding that they were. two
years apart in the college curriculum
they were still chums. Naturally their
associates wondered what was, the tie
that bound the brawny ,south westerner
and the polished New Highlander. The
truth is, persons don't usually make
friends with their counterparts. They
generally seek what they are not them
selves. H ,ss, sss I.
yinton graduated with high honors.
and while his chnm was struggling
through the last, two years In college
he was studying for the ministry. The
Arkansan was wanted on the varsity
crew, on the varsity football and base.
ball teams, but he could not be in
duced to train with any Of them. He
had as profound a contempt for mus
crlar as he had reverence for intel.
lectual strength. R
Davis pulled through college. being
graduated among the "dregs," as he
called them, Of his class. Vinton
studied theology at his alma mater
SO that their Intimacy was not inter
rupted. When Davis finished his AGA
demical course yinton was admitted
to orders, having taken a three years
course in two. They said goodby tc
each other, Davis with more regret
| than his friend, who by this time was
beginning to feel the difference be
tween them, for the clergyman be
longed, to an aristocratic family and
was engaged to a society belle. She
4 had met Davis and wondered what
her lover could see in him to admire
Perhaps this is the main reason why
4 Vinton. parted with his chum without
the regret that was to have been ex
pected. ts8 ,g5 s, q
4 Davis inherited an estate that rem
dered him independent Of work, but Il
would have been impossible for him t
!, be idle. An Office in the gift Of the
people Of his state becoming vacant
and it being desirable that man moi
stained with political iniquity should
/ be elected, Davis was waited on by {
committee from both parties who ask
ed him to run for the Office, promising
him a sure election. He was too dunn
founded for awhile to reply, then said
that a better man than he was needed
for the duties involved. But the com
mittee would not accept his refusa
and left him assuring. him that hi
would be elected whether he ran Of
not.
This was the beginning OF a polihca
career that was thrust upon Davis, btlt
it lasted only a short time for he be
came disgusted with politics. and wher
his friends proposed to nominate hin
for an important state Office he fatty
refused.
One summer five or six years after
he had parted with Vinton he resolved
to go north for visit, taking in his
old chum by the way. The truth is he
had learned to Ave the north in sum
mer while at the boys camp and long
ed to get back into the northeastern
j territory where he could enjoy the
1 cool woods and waters. 3
One Saturday evening q lanky mar
with strong southern accent register
ed at a hotel in the city where Frank
Vinton was rector of the most fashion
| o1>1o ol,,,,o1, norte 1uoc th6