The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-05-11
CHAPTER TX.
Whittier Now7

England was In q state OF unrest.
She had, as yet, been none too sue
cessful in the war with France. From
the kings castle to the poorest slum
I'm Seven Dials there was a temper
bordering on despair. Ministries came
and went; statesmen rose and fell.
The army was indifferently recruited
and badly paid. England's battles
were fought by men of whom many
were only ~mercenaries, with no stake
I'm England's rise or fall.
The admiralty pursued Its course Of
Selling men of the mercantile marine,
taking them aboard ships, keeping
them away for months from the har-
bors of the kingdom. and then, when
their ships returned, denying them the
right Of visiting their homes. The
press-gangs did not confine their &c
tivities to the men Of the mercantile
marine. From the streets after dusk
they caught and brought In, often af-
ter ill-treatment, torn from their wives
and sweethearts. knocked on the head
for resisting, tradesmen with bust
nesses, young men studying for pro-
LESSONS, idlers, debtors, out-of-work
men. The marvel Is that the British
fleets fought as well as they did.
Poverty and sorrow, loss and be-
,reavement, were in every street,
peeped mournfully out Of every win
dow, lurked at street corners From
all parts Of the world adventures
came to renew their fortunes In the
turmoil of London, and every street
was a kaleidoscope Of faces and
clothes and colors, not British, not
patriot, not national.
Among these outlanders were Dyck
Calhoun and Michael Clones. They
had left Ireland together In the late
autumn, leaving behind them the stir
rings Of the coming revolution and
,plunging into another revolt which
was to prove the test and trial Of
English character.
Dyck had left Ireland with ninety
pounds In his pocket and many tons
weight Of misery in his heart. In his
bones he felt tragedies on foot In
Ireland which concession and good
government could not prevent. He
had fed from 1t all. When he set his
face to Holyhead, he felt that he would
never live in Ireland again. Yet his
courage was firm as he made his way
to London, with Michael Clones
faithful, devoted, a friend and yet q
icovvont traotoI ltEn N cavnrodn unt
always with a little dominance.
The Journey to London had been
without event, yet as the coach rolled
through country where frost silvered
the trees; where, In the early morn
Ing, the grass was shining with dew;
where the everlasting green hedges and
the red roofs Of villages made a pic
ture which pleased the eye and stirred
the soul, Dyck Calhoun kept wonder
ing what would be his future. He
had no profession, no trade, no skill
except with his sword; and as he
neared London t~own-when they left
Hendon-he saw the smoke rising In
the early winter morning and the busi-
ness Of life spread out before him,
brave and bu0yant.
] As from the heights Of Hampstead
he looked down on the m~ultitudinous
area called London, something
throbbed at his heart which seemed
like hope; for what he saw was In
deed inspiring. When, at last, In the
Edgware road, he drew near to living
London, he turned to Michael Clones
and said:
sMichael, my lad. ! think perhaps
wen find q footing bere"
So they reached London and quar-.
tered themselves there In simple lods'
ings IN Soho. Dyck walked the streets,
and now and then he paid q visit TO
the barracks where soldiers were. 70