Gunnison news-champion., 1919-02-28
In arti-ni rpIriis.

We had near rs there Q little section
3f the old world which Was trying. In Q
half-heerted fashion. TO maintain IL
self In the midst OF a democracy. II
vas the manoriaI LIE Of the PATRONS
"a relic OF ancient feudalism which
had its beginning In lse3. when the
West Indies company issued its char
ter Of privileges and exemptions That
charter offered 10 any member OF the
company who should. within four
yenrs. bring fifty adults TO the New
Netherlands and establish them along
the Hudson. a liberal grant Of land. to
be called a manor. of which the owner
Or patrOon should be full proprietor
and chief magistrate The settlers
~ere TO be exempt from taxation for
ten years, but under bond TO stay In
one place and develop it. In the be
ginning the PATRON built houses and
tarns and furnished cattle. seed and
tools. The tenants for themselves and
their heirs agreed 90 pay him a fixed
rent forever In stock and produce and.
further. TO grind At the owners mill
and neither TO hunt nor fish.
Judge Westbrook. In whose Office I
worked. was counsel and collector for
the PATRONS. notably for the manors
Of Livingston and Van Rensselaer,
two little Kingdoms In the heart Of the
great republic.
Mr. Louis Latour OF Jefferson coun-
ty whom had met In the company OF
Sr. Dunkelbers. came during my last
year there TO study law In the Office of
the Judge, a privilege for which he was
Indebted to the influence of Senator
Wright, ] understood. He was a gay
Lothnrio. always bonsting OF his love
,fairs. and had little 10 do with him.
One day In May near the end of my
two years In CobleskIll Judge West
brook gave me two writs to serve on
settlers In the neighborhOod Of Bald
Win Heights for nonpayment OF rent.
He told me what l knew, that there
ans bitter feeling against the PATRONS
In that vicinity and that / might en-
counter opposition 10 the service OF
the writs. II so was not TO press the
matter. but bring them back and he
would give them to the sheriff
Il do not insist on your taking this
task upon you" he added. Il want n
man OF tact TO go and talk with these
people and get their point Of view. II
you don't care TO undertake II I'll send
another man"
Il think l would enjoy the task"
faid In ignorance OF that hornets nest
back In the hills.
Take PuryIs with you" he said
-lIc can take care Of the horses. and
as those back-country folk are little
iawless II will be just ns well to have
4 witness with you. They tell me thnt
furyls Is n man OF ncry. and vigor."
had drafted my letters for the day
snd was about to close my desk and
start on my journey when Louis La
tour cnme in and announced that he
had brought the writs from the judge
and was going with me.
II wouldn't miss II for n thousand
dollars" he remarked. by Jove! l
think wen have bully time"
II don't object TO your going but
you must remember that / am lr com
mand," said. little taken back, for
| had no good opinion either of his
prudence or his company.
"The judge told me that I could 20
but that ] should be under your or
iers," he answered. Tin not going TO
be fool. I'm trying to establish a
reputation for good sense myself"
We got our dinners and set out soon
after one o'clock. had read the
deeds OF the men We were to visit.
They were brothers and lived on nd.
Joining farms with leases which COW
cred three hundred and fifty acres Of
land Their great-grandfather had
sgreed to pay yearly rent forever of
sixty-two bushels of good. sweet, mer-
chantable, winter wheat. eight yearling
cattle and four sheep In good flesh and
sixteen fat hens, all to be delivered in
the city Of Albany on the first day of
January Of each year. So. feeling that
was engaged In q just cause, brave
ly determined to serve the writs II
possible.
rode In silence. thinking Of Sally
and Of those beautiful days now recsd-
Ing into the past and Of my aunt and
uncle. had written a letter to them
everJ week and one or the other had
answered II. Between the lines I had
detected the note Of lonelinesA They
had told me the small news Of the
| countryside. How narrow and mo-
notonous It all seemed TO me then!
Rodney Barnes had bought a new
eSrm; John Axtell had been hurt 10 Q
runaway: my wnss mare nao gos
| pavinl HA
sHello. misteff