The Holly chieftain., 1922-10-19

Once arrived safely In Washington, Rowan re-
ported to the Secretary Of War, Russell A. Alger,
and introduced his personiaed Information" to
the commanding general Of the army Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, This officer wrote to the secretary Of
war:
4 recommend that First Lieutenant Andrew s.
Rowan, Nineteenth infantry be made a lleuten-
ant colonel of one of the regiments of immunes.
Lieutenant Rowan made journey across Cuba,
was with the nsurgent army under Lieutenant
General Garcia and brought most important and
valuable information to the government. This
was a most perilOus undertaking. and in my judg-
nent Lieutenant Rowan performed an act of hero
ism and cool daring that has rarely been excelled
In the annals of warfare. Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES,
Major General u s. Army"
Lieutenant Rowan was made captain. sent to
the Philippines (where he won further cOmmenda-
tlon for bravery)-and then-forgotten.
Colonel Rowan's comment his belated award
is this
"Why, l never thought deserved any special
reward. 1t was only my duty. 1 did only what l
was commissioned to do-what was paid to do.
It's Just the same as If there Is squad Of men
in trench. The shell comes from the eneniy.
Someone dashes out picks 1t up casts 1t asidf
and saves the squad. That indlvldua. lG do.ls
only his duty"
Though the War Department may have forgot
ten the who carried the message through
Cuban swamps, fever and the Spanish lines and
returned with the information desired. the world
did not. For Elbert Hubbard made his name q
household word
Elbert Hubbard in 1899 was Conducting much
discussed periodical called the Philistne. 1t was
a lively sheet and Its readers were many. So he
proceeded to print an editorial in the Philistine
about q "fellow by the name Of Rowan" who
landed off the coast of Cuba from an open boat
and disappeared In the Jungle" He began his
editorial with the words: by the Eternal this Is
Hou kt,1n
This editorial by Elbert Hubbard has been re-
produced In most civilized languages. It was
estimated In 1913 that over 4OOO0,OO0 copies Of
the story had been circulated.
Looking 1t over, one is instantly struck with the
remarkable fact that Hubbards conclusion though
written in 1899. fits almost exactly the present
conditions. Indeed, 1t sounds as II 1t might have
teen written today, In keeping Is it with the
present hour. 1t reads:
"Have put the matter too strongly? Possibly
have; but when al the world has gone a-slum-
ming l wish to speak word Of sympathy for the
man who succeeds-the man who. against great
cdds, has directed the efforts of others, and hav-
ing succeeded, finds there's nothing in it-noth.
Ing but bare board and clothes
II have carried dinner pail and worked for
days wages, and have also been an employer
nf labor and know there is something to be
said on both sides. There Is excellence per Sc,
In poverty; rags are no recommendation; and all
employers are not rapacious and high-handed, any
more than all poor men virtuous.
MY heart goes ost to the man who does his
work when the boss is away, well when he
Is at home. And the man who, when given let
Ter for Garcia quietly takes the misslve, without
asking any idiotic questions, and with no lurking
Intention of chucking It into the nearest sewer,
or of doing aught else but deliver It. never gets
laid of, nor has to go on strike for higher wages
"Civization is one long, anxious search for
just such individuals. Anything such n man asks
shall be granted. He Is wanted In every city,
town and village-in every Office, shop. store and
factory The world cries out for SUCH he s
needed and needed badly-the man who can
Garry a Message to Garcia"