New Britain herald., 1926-09-22
NATHAN HALE X HERO
 150 YEARS AGO

service to his country and em- braced it with zeal and determina- ton. The opportunity was one of extreme danger. but he did not finch.
 This young man was Nathan Hale, Revolutionary patriot, whose name has since become the most revered in Connecticuts early his tory.
 The youth Of fine build and noble characteristics, was 22 years of age when he became national hero. He had been born in Coven- try, Conn.,, and, was graduated from Yale in 1773. He taught school in East Haddam and New London, and from the latter city enlisted in the army Of Washington.
 Came a day, on September 22, 1776, when 1t was considered es- sential to obtain accurate informa- tion of the British position on Long Island. Someone was expect ed to volunteer for the perilous ef- fort to obtain such information by surreptitiously crossing the Sound, entering the occupied territory, and returning.
 Nathan Hale offered himself as the messenger. A comrade, Captain William Hull of Derby, advised him against the attempt. but Hale was obdurate and could not be dis suaded
 Garbing himself In his civilian clothes, Hale left South Norwalk by boat and landed on Long Island. From here on the record is not en- tirely clear. But one commonly &C., cepted story has it that he pene- trated the British lines, obtained all necessary information. and was nearly ready to again take boat for the return trip when he was accosted by British sentries; and even then, it is said, he probably would have been able to satisfy their questionings, so suave was his demeanor and intelligent his methods, had 1t not been for the treacherous declaration of a rela- tive who happened along at that moment and told the sentries who he was and where he lived. He was taken 10 British head quarters In New York City and ten days after he had set out from South Norwalk was executed.
 His last words have never been surpassed in their calm appraisal of duty and love of country;
 T am so satisfied with the cause in which I have engaged that I only regret that I have but one life to lose in it's service Perhaps the noble words have not been handed down to posterity correctly. but the sense of his statement so appealed to his hear CTS that they took care to remem- Der it and take if to heart. From | that time on many of them per haps realized that such spirit among the colonies could never be downed and that their ultimate victory was certain.
 Today, upon the sesquicentennlal of this young mans exploit, the mind of the nation ia turned to 1 the page upon which his sacrifice is written. And it is held rightly | that if the ride Of Paul Revere and the ride of Dawes are to be held up as the Quintessence of patriotic cndeavor. the trip Of Nathan Hale into the jaws of death is no less worthy of com memoration. All things considered, the trip of the Connecticut patriot was infinitely the most dangerous. Here in Connecticut every school | child today was reminded of the historic sacrifice of Nathan Hale. and the noble grandeur Of his last words. By his unselfsh and un- ninching patriotism he wrote his name into the grateful memory of a nation born of the spirit of which he was such an illustrious eXam- pie. and held to its destiny by the greatness he so gloriously personi- fled.
 The name and deed of Nathan Hale cxompliGes the very soul ot the nation; it's determination against whatever odds, its pride in honorable achievement, and its greatness built upon the founda- ton laid by men who were sorry indeed when they had but one life to give for their country.