Evening star., 1928-06-02

eEdward Everett Hale. 1sc2-1909. Amer.
With this tale Of a youthful indiscretion
which caused lifetime OF peuance.l
It was when the United States OF
America was young; when Thomas
Jefferson was President, and some years
before the War upon the Seas that
happened IN 1912. His name was Philip
Nolan; he was a fine young ofncer In
the Army. But he became an admirer
of Aaron Burr, and was led astray and
tried for treason against his country:
Full of Youthful energy, and irritated
by his trial. he was perhaps not re-
sponsible for what he said. But ne
paid for 1t with a punishment such as
no man ever had before or since.
Nolan was found guilty, but when
the president of the court asked him
at the close whether he wished to say
ANYTHING to show that he had always
been faithful to the United States, he
cried out, In a fit Of frenzy:
"D-n the United States! wish
may never hear of the United states
again!"
He did not know how the words
shocked old Col. Morgan, who was hold
ing the court. Half the officers who
sat in it had served through the Revo-
luton, and their lives, not TO say their
heads, had been risked for the very
idea which Nolan so cavalierly cursed
in his madness, and Of which he wished
he might never hear the name again.
He never did hear the name but once
again. From that moment, September
23, 1907, till the day he died, May IL,
1868. he never heard the name OF the
United States again. For that half
century and more he was man with
out a country.
Col. Morgan called the court into his
private room. and returned in Is min
utes, with face like sheet, to say:
Prisoner. hear the sentence OF the
court. The court decided. subject 10
the approval of the President. that you.
may never hear the name of the United
States again"
Nolan laughed. But nobody else
laughed. Old Morgan was too solemn,
and the whole room was hushed dead
as night for a minute. Even Nolan
lost his swagger In moment.
The prisoner was taken aboard
vessel OF war, and from that time he
lived on the sea unless his vessel was
In a foreign port or on shore where
he would not see or hear the name OF
the United States. He was transferred
from ship to ship, and never again did
he set foot on soil of the United States.
The instructions we're: This per-
son on his trial by court-martial ex-
pressed with an oath the wish that he
might never hear of the United States
again. The court sentenced him to
have his wish fulfilled. You will take
the prisoner on board your ship. and
keep him there with such precautions
as shall prevent his escape. You will
provide him with such rations and
clothing as would be proper for an Of
ficer of his late rank II he were pas
senger on your vessel on the business
Of his Government. The gentlemen on
agreeable to themselves regarding his
society. He Is to be exposed to no in
dignities of any kind. nor is he ever
unnecessarily to be reminded that he
Is a prisoner.
But under no circumstances Is he
ever to hear of his country or To see
anv information regarding 1t: and you
will especially caution all the officers
under your command 10 take care that,
In the various indulgences which may
be granted, this rule. In which his
punishment is involved, shall not be
broken. 1t is the intention of the Gov
ernment that he shall never again see
the country which he has diSowned."
The rule adopted aboard the ships on
which the Man without a Country
was quartered was transmitted from
the beginning. RIO mess liked to have
him permanently, because his presence
cut of all talk of home. But 1t was
always thought too hard that he should
never meet the rest. except to touch
hats. and so there finally developed
new system IIe was not permitted
to talk with the men unless an officer
was bv With the officers he had un~
restrained intercourse, as far as they
and he chose But he grew shy, though
he had favorites, Then the captain al
ways asked him to dinner on Monday,
Every mess In succession took up the
invitation IN its turn.
His breakfast he ate I'm his own
statero0m-~~he always had n state |
room which was whera q sentinel or
somebody on the watch. could see the
door And whatever else he ate or
drank he ate OF drank alone. Some |
times. when the sailors had any spe- |
ciai celebration, they were permitted |
to invite Plain Buttons. as they called |
him. Then Nolan was sent with some !
officer. and the men were forbidden |
to speak OF home while he was there. |
| believe the theory was that the sight !
Of his punishHaent did them good
They called him Plain Buttons be.