The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-24

But they did share IN the glory Of wayne's
victory over the Indians at the Battle OF Fallen
Tlmbers a victory which smashed the power OF
Little Turtle. the Miami leader. and bis allies
which led 20 the Treaty OF Greenvllie and
brought peace. for a time at least. 20 the har
rled Ohio border. After that the two friends
separated aEaln-Lewls. now a lieutenant. re-
turning to Charlottesville on furIough and Clark
damning army life and It's hardshlps. resignlng
bis commission and going back 20 the Kentucky
blue grass 20 be a couutrx gentleman.
Al Charlottesville Lewis found that his mother
had married again. 20 a certain John Marks. 90
be abandoned his plan 10 resign from the army
and take over the management OF her planta.
tion again In May. 1871. he was promoted 70
captain and ordered 20 Fort Adams on the east
bank OF the Mississippi near the present site
OF Saiehez. there 10 exercise joint command
with a Captain Pierce. After a short stay there.
he was ordered back TO Fort Washington. made
reglmental paymaster and for the next two
years was busy riding through a iawless from
tier country with his sadde-baFs hlled with
gold 10 pay of the troops at various posts Ia
the Middle West.
Then Thomas Jefferson became President and
there came the turning poln; In Meriwether
Lewis career. jefferson offered him the position
OF secretary and Lewis lost no time In resgnlug
from the army and accepting the offer. Among
the National Capital. both In an Official and IN
a social way. was the vice president Aaron Burr.
And Aaron Burr had beautiful daughter. Theo-
dosia. who had married a South carolInlan
named Aston. s.--~--
Soon the Presidents secretary and the vice
presidents daughter were seen much together.
They danced together. they rode horseback to-
Eether almost every day and before long Lewis
was deeply In love with the beautiful Theo-
dosia. II was his first experience with this emo
ton. True. there had been the beginnings OF a
youthful romance between him and a cousin.
Maria Wood Ca river In Montana bears her
name. given to II by Lewis during the famous
exploring expedltionl but nothing had ever
come OF that And nothing came OF his love for
TheodosiA. The petty Fates must have taken
rather satanic delight In making Theodosla Burr
Aston. twenty-three and well married. the prin-
clpal of the first and only great passion OF Meri
wether Lewis life. When Merne Lewis
sought 10 give words 10 his sentiments. Theo-
dosa was pleasantly frank. she had q
reputation and n husband 10 keep Therefore
the captain could remain a friend OF the fam
ily's That ended H."
But II he couldn't have the woman he loved
there another great experience awaiting
him. Thomas Jefferson had been eyeing the vast
country beyond the Mississippi for a number OF
bility OF bringing II under the flag of the United
States. he was planning an exploring expedition
into this wilderness OF plains and mountains.
The leader would have to be daring man. a
resourceful man, one who l.new life In the will
derness. Such a man was his young secretary.
which is one OF the reasons why Meriwether
Lewis became his secretarE
Then came the opportunity TO buy this vast
territory from Napoleon. and Jefferson, stretch
ing his powers under the Constitution until they
cracked" bought II for s15.oO0.O00 The next
thing TO do was TO find out what he had bought
So the longdreamed-of exploring expedition was
planned. Meriwether Lewis was placed In COM
mand and OF course the first man he turned 10
TO accompany him was William Clark
The story OF the Lewis and Clark expedition
Is too well known 10 need more than passing
mention here even though II was the high-water
mark In the career OF Meriwether Lewis That
being the case II seems strange to read one
entry In his journal. that for August IS 1905,
when the two explorers were nearing their goal.
II said This day / completed my thirty-frst
year and conceived that had In all human prob
ability now existed about half the period which
am 10 remain. . :. had as yet done little
10 further the happiness OF the human race, or
10 advance the Information OF the succeeding
generation. l resolved, in future 10 redouble
nv exertions and at least endeavor to promote
those two primary objects of human existence,
by giving them the aid or that portion of talents
which nature and fortune have bestowed upon
me: or In future, to live for mankind, as
have heretofore lived for myself"
He could not foresee, OF course how the ma
ton was to acclaim him and his friend. Clark,
| wheu they returned 10 St Louis the next year