El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-23

Condensation by Hon. samuel W. Nc
Call. Ex-Governor Of Massachusetts.
JOHNSTON was a small village upon
y shelf on a mountain side. COM
handing one Of the gorgeous views
characteristic Of a little common
wealth which has many a larger sis
ter state, but none worthier.
The politics Of the place was under
control Of the ehureh party. which
something more than tnreeq uaruers of
a century ago held sway over many
Of the towns Of New England. But
the career Of "Oid Hickory was Civ
ing a new impulse TO democracy and
uortended little good 10 any ruling
class, Whatever its virtues. All that
was needed was q leader, and one was
found in young man named Jethro
Bass, who was the son of a well 10 do
tanner. Jethro inherited from his
father 8 snug little fortune, but his
education had been almost wholly
neglected He skufuIly made use Of
the rising disconent by appeals to
ambition and personal interest. It
became clear that the ruling party
was TO be challenged at the coming
town meeting and so presumptuous
thing stirred society 10 Its depths.
The spiritual leader Of the Church
party was the clergyman His lovely
daughter Cynthia, filled a large place
in the eyes Of Jethro, and she was
drawn TO him by the unmistakable
awkward exterior. They used some
times to meet by chance, and, unlike
as they were in point OF cultivation,
they were really very much in love
with each other, circumstance that
had rather to be inferred because
Jethro was little likely TO exercise the
Initiative and say anything about it
Once when in Boston he bought a
beautiful locket and had engraved
upon II Cynthia from Jethro," but he
never mustered up the courage TO
present it When the political tempest
was rising Cynthia, who sympathiZed
strongly with her fathers party. de-
cided TO 90 to Jethro and plead with
him to stop the fight. Before he
knew her purpose he broke his 81
lence and declared his love. Perhaps
If he had been given q chance for re-
Election and had not been so upset
by his own confession he would have
granted her request, but that did not
seem possible at the moment. Gym
thia took his refusal as a decree Of
separation; and she left him never
10 see him again and he set out upon
the career which ended in his becom-
Ing the uncrowned king Of his state. !
The town meeting fight went on !
and JethrO was chosen first select l
man. the only office he ever held and I
in which he continued for SIS years I
. D.
became teacher in a high school. and 1
in the course Of time married William /
the clerk who had sold j
JethrO the lOcket- The first learned ]
about the loclzet from her husband /
and confessed TO him her love for I
Jethro- After a few years she died, 4
leaving a little girl who bore her
name. Wetherill moved to Coniston.
taking young Cynthia with him. and
went to keeping the village store
In the years that had gone by Jethro
had found Coniston too small and was
engaged in carrying on the govern
menr OF the state He had his lieu
tenants in every county and possessed I
such an organization that he was able
to select most Of the men who held ]
the important offices and to control ]
their actions afterTards. In brief,
he became Boss OF the state. and /
people who desired legislation or Of /
fees found It necessary to visit him.
Avarice did not seem to be the motive j
which controlled him Railroads we're
being built manufa curing developed. !
and he took pride in making himself