56
THE SUOT)AY. OltEGONIAN, PORTLAND, 'AUGUST 21, 1904.
He Discusses Modern Warfare, the Philippines and the
United States Army.
A Chat With General Frederick ID. Grant
CHICAGO, Aug. 16. (Special Corre
spondence of The Sunday Oregonlan.)
I met General Fred Grant this
morning In the Army headquarters In the
Pullman building. He Is In charge of thS
troops here, and wears, as the regulations
require, the uniform of his rank. As -we
talked other uniformed officers entered
from time to time for orders or to have
the General pass upon the military busi
ness which had been entrusted to them,
and our conversation took place during
the Intervals of this work.
General Grant has his mind well In
hand. He jumps from one thing to an
other without friction, and, returning,
takes up the first where he left off. I
remember a former Interview I had with
him under circumstances peculiarly try
ing. It was when he was one of the
New York Police Commissioners, and as
such -was acting as Judge In the famous
Sherry dinner scandal trial. At this din
ner a fair but frail actress had been
called In by some of the swells of the
fast set and In light attire had danced
amautch dance before them, to the hor
ror of Christian New York. "While the
testimony was being taken General Grant
talked with me about his father, giving
me graphic descriptions of his life at home
and on the battlefield, and at the same
time keeping the witnesses and crowd in
check. He carried on the two lines of
thought simultaneously; and his talk was
a most excellent one.
Fred Grant and His Father..
General Fred Grant grows . daily more
like his father. He has the same stocky
frame, the same plain, honest features
and the same blunt manner. He Is just
as unassuming as his father was, and
he has much the same quiet common
sense. He talks but little, but, once
started, his words are full of meat, and
his experiences have been such that he
views the world in the broad.
General Fred Grant is like his father
In his fondness for military life. His
lather was his hero, and it was at his
own request that General Grant took him
as a boy of 12 to the battlefield" and
later on sent him to West Point. Little
Fred was with his father during a great
part of the war. He took part in five
great battles, was twice shot and had
many narrow escapes. He was on the
flagship of Admiral Porter when the
boats ran the batteries at Vicksburg, and
he was wounded during the Vicksburg
campaign. His wound was in the leg.
It was only a flesh wound, but his leg is
still paralyzed where the bullet struck.
He told mo once how it felt when the ball
cut him, saying that the first sensation
was that of a great blow, following which
was a pain liko a bee sting. He thought
at first that ho was killed, and upon his
showing his wound to one of the officers
the officer told him to move his toes.
This he did. "Whereupon the officer 6aid
he was not badly hurt. Young Grant
thereupon wrapped a cloth about his leg
and remained In his saddle until the
battle was over.
Fred Grant In the Philippines. -
After his graduation at "West Point
General Grant was assigned to the
Fourth Cavalry and rose to be its Lieutenant-Colonel.
After. 10 years service
he resigned and afterward became Min
ister to Austria. He re-entered the
Army at the beginning of the
The Sunday Oregonian's Selected Fiction
Copyright by McClure, Phillips Xs Co.
PART L .
THE ship was one mass Of incon
gruities from stem to stern. To
begin with, she wore the red, white
and blue of Uncle Sam's Quartermaster's
Department on her two big buff funnels
and flew the British ensign.
The greatest incongruity of the whole
outfit was that of the ship's captain and
his first mate. The captain was an ex
Royal Navy officer of the frequent bluff,
beefy, seagoing type, with a voice like
a seallon and a hand like the fluke of
a whale.
The mate, on the other -hand, Impressed
me as being the mongrel strain of two
fine breeds. It was not easy to form
an idea of what nationality he belonged
to. One instinctively felt him to be a
type without being able to say what.
Some thought that he was an Egyptian,
others a Mongol, a few sized him up as
a "down East" Yankee. "Whatever he
might be, he certainly possessed all of
the earmarks of a gentleman both In
appearance and behavior. I never knew
of but one person tnat gauged him cor
rectly for what he was," and that was
myself.
To one who had made tho study of
anthropology that I had the man was
absorbingly Interesting both mentally
and physically. He stood about six feet
in height and might have weighed 175
pounds. I saw him several times early
In the morning taking a bath under the
deck hose, and noticed that, when
standings naturally, his arms hung well
clear of his hips, reminding one of the
figures of the men pictured In Egyptian
hieroglyphics.
His face was the most sinister that I
have seen on any man, savage or civil
Ized. The hair, straight, coarse and
black, typically Indian, was brushed
away from a brow broad and Intelligent
enough, but carved straight across with
out the slightest superciliary arch. Un
derneath a pair of heavy brows there
shone a pair of cold metallic eyes as
fierce and unblinking as an eagle's. His
nose was aquiline and keenly chiseled.
and his mouth, thin-lipped and com
pressed, was cut straight across his face
like a gash.
The man's actions were as striking as
his appearance. He seemed incapable
of slowness or deliberation. Once I saw
him reach for a loose Toll of marlln stuff
that was lying on the deck at the some
time that one of the sailors stooped to
pick it up. The rope was off tho deck.
thrown into the bosun's chest near by
and McKlm on his way aft before the
sailor had straightened his back again.
One could see at a glance that the
transport captain hated tho sight of the
mate, having, no doubt, the, usual Brit
ish navy suspicion and dislike of any
thing that acted Independently and of
its own volition. The captain was for
ever growling and faultfinding, and I
often wondered just what effect it had
upon the mate, for his face was as lmmo
.bllo as a mask, and he would simply
saluto and get to "work to remedy the
matter. Tho clash which I plainly saw
was imminent came at last, and In a
most remarkable manner.
The captain was just finishing his
morning Inspection of tho ship, made in
company with the quartermaster, cap
tain-doctor and aids. As they came
through the forward alleyway to reach
the deck he noticed a small puddle of
water formed by the condensation of the
moisture on a waterplpe overhead.
The mate was standing by the star
board bltts at the foot of the compan-
ionway leading to the deck above.
"Mr. McKim!" growled the captain.
The mate was at his sido in three quick
steps.
"Why don't you keep the water off the
deck? What d'ye think this is a fishln'
smack or a Sound coaster?"
"You don't want tho pipe parceled, so
it can't bo helped, sir," replied the mate.
Ho said "can't" with the broad Maine
accent. "The pipe's cold and the air's
liot so the water's bound to condense!'
"Eol very lnterestinT' sneered tho
war with Spain, served in Potto
Rico for a year and then went
to the Philippines. I met him when he
was leaving Porto Rico, and afterward
visited him at Angeles, in Luzon. He there
had a large military district under his
charge, and we traveled over It together,
visiting his several posts. Over mountain
and valley, with a band of scouts In front
of us to draw the fire from Filipinos in
ambush, we rode, passing through many
towns and villages, visiting camps in
the wilds of the mountains and fording
rivers. The ride was a hard one, for
much of it was through the beds of
streams so heavily wooded that we could,
scarcely see the sky ror tno Drancnes
overhead. At other times the grass was
higher than our heads as we rode through
it on our horses; I remember I had to
hold my hands in front of my face to
keep the grass blades from scratching it
The trip almost wore me out, but Gen
eral Fred Grant throve upon it and was
fresher at the end than at the beginning.
That was In 1899, when he was about 50
years of age. He Is now 55 and seems
to be younger than ever. He succeeded
well in the Philippines. He was engaged
In several battles and In the guerilla war
fare, which followed the active fighting.
He was the first to bring his district to
accept civil government. After I left hlni
he was sent to Northern Luzon, then to
Southern Luzon and later to Samar and
Leyte, where he received the surrender
of the last of the Insurgent forces. About
a year ago he returned to the United
States and took charge of the Depart
ment of Texas. Since then he has been
sent to Chicago.
Philippines as Fred Grant See3 Them.
I asked General Grant to give me his
opinion or the future of the Philippines
based upon his stay there. He replied:
"I think the Islands a valuable pos
session, and that they will eventually
be an Important self-sustaining colony
of the United States. They are of large
extent and their soil is very rich.
"So far the political conditions have
been such that there has been but lit
tle incentive to develop the island.
Under the Spanish rule both church
and state worked against rather than
for the good of the common people.
"Wages were low and the opportuni
ties of the poor so few that there was
but little Incentive to work and prac
tically no hope of a poor man becom
ing rich by his labor. This is' now
changing. The projects under way to
build railroads will result in cheap
transportation and there will be a re
arrangement of values all around.'
"Will the people ever make good
American citizens?"
"I think they will, although it will
be a long time before they will be able
to govern themselves. If their govern
ment was left to them as they now
are, revolutions would be of frequent
occurrence, and I doubt if the people
would not soon be as badly off as they
were in the days of the Spaniards.
They need education, and this we are
giving them. We are protecting their
interests in every possible way, and
I think they begin to realize it,"
The Riches of Luzon.
"Do you think the islands are natur
ally rich?"
"Yes. Nearly all have excellent soil
and there is much magnificent timber.
Luzon has valleys which will raise
sugar and rice, and these crops might
be greatly increased by scientific cul-
captain. "Well, mister mate, I want to
tell ye that it will bo helped, by , or
the deck '11 be gettln as rotten as tho
crewf Get out the way!"
He stepped across the puddle, and tho
mate leaned back against the bulkhead
to give him room to pass. Whether It
was by accident or design 1 do not know, j
although I suspect the latter, but the
burly brute of a skipper, although the
ship was steady and there was plenty of
room, deliberately planted his great
heavy-soled boot on the mate s Instep,
at the same time brushing him roughly
with his elbow. .
I heard a low, soft gurgle the sound
of a cat when stroked and saw the
mate's hands flash up to the captain's
waist, just above the belt It simply
looked as though he had grasped him
instinctively to take the weight from off
his foot, but the next instant there -was
a bellow of pain and fright that fairly
shook the deck, and tho captain came
lurching through tho door and reeled
over against the rail. The high color had
left his face, and It was drawn and
tense.
"My God!" he gasped; "my God!"
I turned to him Instantly, and noticed
that his shirt on both sides of his body
was blood-soaked. I glanced for a mo
ment toward the mate; AIb hands were
hanging empty at his sides, and hl3 face
was expressionless, but just for an in
stant I caught the flat red gleam in
both eyes. The captain was getting
paler, and the perspiration stood out
on his face In beads. I pulled up
his shirt, and to my astonishment found
not the cut that I expected, but a great
semi-circular tear through skin and adi
pose. The mate had torn the flesh apart
with his hands!'
No one seemed to know just what
course to take In the matter. The ac
tion was so grotesquely Inhuman that It
didn't seem to fall under any definite
jurisdiction so the captain-quartermaster
decided to let the matter drop until we
reached Manila and then ship a mate
more canny In his actions.
The next day I was leaning on the rail
watching the little flying fish spattering
out under the bows, when I was con
scious of a light tread behind me. I
looked over my shoulder and saw Mc
Kim. "Good morning," I remarked casually.
I was Intensely Interested in the man,
but felt instinctively that, to betray it
would be to fog the plate.
"Good mornrlng, Dr. Boles," he an
swered. He paused. a moment, then re
marked suddenly1, "You saw me lose my
temper with the captain yesterday?"
"Yes," I sold; "you havo a strong grip,
McKim. I've seen some queer wounds
in my time, but never one made in that
way."
"What do you think they'll do about
it?" ho asked.
"I think you'll los your billet;" I an
swered.
"I don't care for that," said he. "All I
wanted was to get out here.
"What are you going to do?" I asked,
carelessly.
"Get a little vessel and trade around
the Islands. Ican buy a 50-ton brig out
here for five thousand." He regarded me
silently for a few minutes.
"Doctor," he said, I don't know why a
man of your age, and an Englishman at
that, should want to come out to this God
forsaken place as an acting assistant sur
goon In the army. There's no money in It
and not much glory.' There was a bit of
a sneer on his face as he said this.
"Now, I've got a proposition to make. I
want another man to go in with me on
this trading scheme. There is no end of
money In it. I've made two trips out here
before, and know what I'm talking about.
Do you know anything about a snip?"
"A little," I said.
"Whon will your time bo up?" he
asked.
"It's up now, as far as that's concerned.
My contract was only made for a month."
"Have you ever been in the East be
fore?" ho asked.
"Yes." I answered. "I once wont out to
China as a medical missionary. Now I
want to see the Filipinos. You ought to
be interested in them yourself," I re
marked', turning to him suddenly.
"They're distant blood relations of
yours."
i
"GROWS
tivation. At present the farming is
done In the rudest' way, some of the
sugar mills being operated by water
power or by water buffaloes. There is
also much undeveloped country, and
the mountains are said to contain vaT
uable minerals. The islands have
never been carefully prospecfed. As
to the best forests, they have never
been touched. The woods are of many
His eyes narrowed. "What do you'
mean?"
"Haven't you got some Indian blood?
North American, I mean;"
"What makes you think so?"
"Because I've studied racial peculiari
ty and see many points of similarity."
'You are right, doctor. My grand
mother was a Tuscarora woman."
"And your grandfather?"
"A Scotch Puritan," he answered, with
a slight smile. "Queer combination, wasn't
it? I was brought up among tho Indians
until I was 12 years old, and then I was
sent to my cousin's people In Maine."
"And went to sea with the fishing fleet
Summer on the banks and Winter on the
farm," I added.
"How do you know that?"
"Partly because every one there's a fish
erman, partly from the way you hold
your hands."
"Right again, doctor, but let me tell you
more about my trading scheme."
He explained the Idea with so much
clearness and certainty that I began to
get interested, and before he had finished
I was about as enthusiastic as a man can
be who has made a failure of everything
he had tried from boyhood to his fortieth
year. The outcome of it was that I de
cided to go into it with him, he to bo
master of tho vessel, with a three-quarter
interest and I as mate, with a quarter.
The proceeds would be shared on that
ratio.
When wo reached Manila McKim was
Informed that his services were no longer
required, as I had foreseen. I had rather
more difficulty than I expected in getting
mycontract annulled, and was, in fact,
subjected to considerable criticism for
leaving the service right upon arriving on
the scene of action. But I had gotten
past the age when sentiment counted for
much, and I was sick and tired of taking
orders from every one In sight, anyway;
so I simply demanded that my contract
be annulled, and In due time was success
ful. McKim came in to see me almost every
day. Most of his time was spent along
the paslg and paddling around Inside the
breakwater looking for a suitable vessel
at a reasonable price. Until my contract
was annulled I was occupied with my du
ties in the First Reserve Hospital, where
I had been temporarily assigned. One
day I met him on the Escolta talking to
a Spanish mestizo, who seemed greatly
excited.
"Good morning, doctor," he remarked in
Spanish. "Senor Valdez," turning to the
mestizo, "permit mo to Introduce my part
ner, Dr. Boles. Senor Valdez," he con
tinued to me, "owns a vessel that I think
might answer our purpose were It not for
tho sad fact that some of her frames and
port of her keel ore badly burned as the
result of a fire that broke out In her cargo
a few months ago."
Beforo we got through with him he was
overjoyed to let us havo her at our own
price, which was fair enough, and we
made him throw In on extra anchor and
200 fathoms of three-Inch coir hawser.
The following day McKim shipped a na
tive crew, three Tagals. and two Vlsay
ans. Hollo men, who afterward turned out
to be brave, devoted servants. Our Idea
was to run down among the southern
Islands of tho archipelago and try to pick
up a cargo of hemp and tobacco, espe
cially the former, as the war had put the
price 'way up. Many of tho ports were
still closed, but natives can be Induced
to run cargoes off at night and, besides,
there were the pearls and copra to con
sider. I was strongly in favor of a trip
to Sydney or Melbourne after a load of
trading junk, calico prints, condemned
cutlery and stuff of that sort, knowing"
how much the natives preferred these
things to money. But McKim seemed to
think there was more In getting our
hands on all of the loose hemp around
the Islands.
A week later we had got our craft In
pretty good seagoing shape. I had tho
cabin aft slightly remodeled and raado
very comfortable. Some Chlno carpenters
had been strengthening the burned por
tions, replacing some of the teak frames
and fishing others in weak spots. One,
aftornoon I was superintending the work,
as McKim was ashore haggling with "Val
dez about stores, . when I saw a banca
DAILY MORE LIKE HIS FATHER"
GENERAL FRED GRANT IN 1904 1
kinds, including some which will take
a polish like mahogany.
"One of the great values of the Isl
ands," continued General Grant, "Is In
their location. They lie right on the trade
routes to Australia, China, Japan and
India, and are thus a -good base for push
ing our trade In the Far East. I see no
reason why they should not grow more
and more valuable as time goes on."
"THE BACK TRACK"
the biggest fattest Chinaman I ever saw.
As he seemed to want to come aboard, I
called to one of tho crew to drop the
ladder for him. With amazing activity
for a man of his size he came up over the
sido and stood smiling at me placidly. It
was easy to see that he was a person of
some consequence, both from his brisket
for only a wealthy Chinaman grows really
fat, and from tho richness and care with
which he was dressed.
"Good afternoon," I remarked In Span
ish. He answered fluently In the same
tongue.
"Is this Mr. McKlm?" he added.
"No," said I; "he's ashore, but he'll be
back soon. Come under the awning and
sit down."
At first he started to numn me about
our plans, but I cut him short, gave him
a cigar and went on about my work. In
about an hour McKlm came aboard.
"Who's that chap?" he asked.
"Some Chinese compradore, I expect'
said I. "Seems to be quite a swell In his
way. Probably wants to sell us a few
extra kegs of nails. Looks as If we might
need 'em beforo we get back, too." I
pushed a sprung piece of deck planking
back Into place with my heel. McKlm
walked aft A few minutes later he called
to me.
"Come here, will you, doctor. This gen
tleman," said McKlm In Spanish, indi
cating me, "is my partner, and whatever
I do must bo; done with his consent Will
you please state the proposition to him?"
The big Chinaman looked at me with
twinkling eyes; one would havo sworn
that he was about to tell a funny story.
"I have just been telling Mr. McKim,"
he said in very good Spanish, "that I
wish to charter your vessel to carry a
cargo for me from Hal Chin."
"Where Is that?" I asked.
"Ten miles up the Hal Chin River."
"What Is the cargo?" said I, though
I know what was coming.
"Opium."
"And where is It to be landed?"
"Here; but I will attend to that my
self. You will run no risk whatever."
"And wo are to keep our mouths
shut" ,
"That is, of course, understood; your
own Interests would demand It"
I looked at tho old scoundrel in ad
miration. Ho was willing to trust
European honesty to bring a valuable
cargo across the China Sea, and was
consistent enough to see that it would
not do to try to persuado U3 to run it
for him. But our being silent accesso
ries of this act of smuggling did not
seem to occur to him as crooked. In
his Oriental code of ethics there could
be no dishonesty where there was no
risk of punishment. I looked at Mc
Klm. His face was ns expressionless
as the Chinaman's. Then I turned to
the latter.
"How largo a cargo?" I asked.
"Altogether, including a few bales of
silk, about what you could load Into
a casco."
"And tho compensation?" I
"Two thousand pesos." J
I shrugged my shoifldors disdain
fully. "I have lived In China for many
years," I said, "and I know the danger
of loading a cargo of opium; also of
getting it away from that part of the
coast "'The place you speak of being
shallow and dangerous and full of pi
rates we risk losing' our brig and, as
you know, our lives as well! I caught
McKlm s eye.
"What do you think of it?" he asked
in English. '
"It's worth while," I answered, ''and
he will give us ten thousand; let's do
It"
McKlms sinister faco almost beamed,
''Good," he said; "I thought you
wouldn't be foolish about It You see
we don't have anything to do with
landing the stuff. And It isn't smug
gling." "Yes It Is." said I, "and 1 don't give
a hang if it Is. If I can make a dollar
without breaking God's commandments
I'll do It The devil for those mado by
fool legislators!" I turned to the Chi
naman. "Wo won't take a peseta less than ten
thousand pesos," I said, "and if you
try to beat us down we'll raise our
nrlco."
I here turned the conversation to the
Russian-Japanese War, but this General
Grant refused to discuss, saying that he
was an officer of the United States Gov
eminent, which held on absolutely neutral
position, and it would, therefore, be im
proper for him to criticize either army or
to discuss the possibilities of Its success
or failure. Said he:
"We are friendly to both the Japanese
The Chinaman still smiled and his
eyes twinkled merrily.
It is a bargain," he said; "do you
want an agreement signed?"
"Oh, no," said I, "it's not necessary,
,but we want tho money before we
transfer tho cargo to your lighters."
Very well, you shall have It Now,
if you will come to my office tomorrow
morning I will give you all the neces
sary Information."
"One moment," said McKlm. "How
Is it that you dare Intrust such a valu
able cargo to strangers and foreign
ers?"
The Chinaman smiled joyously and
emitted a few happy little chuckles.
"I cannot fro myself," he said; "It Is
necessary to trust some one, and I have
found that white men of the better
class are honest Besides, there will be
more cargoes to carry.
Tho following day we went over to
Manila and saw our patron. He ex
plained in detail what was required of
us, at the same time giving sugges
tions as to the easiest way of accom
plishing tho undertaking. It was easy
to see that the thing had been done
before, and not to his satisfaction. We
were to clear In ballast for the open
ports of tho southern Islands, ostensi
bly after a general cargo of rice, to
bacco, coffee, hemp, sugar, etc., and,
once clear of the land, were to .make all
haste across the China Sea, run. Into the
estuary of the Hal Chin River and drop
anchor. Then we were to charter a
boatman to take a letter about 20
miles up the river to a place called Wal
Fu, lying In the foothills of the Yan
Chin Mountains. Tho following night
a small Junk would come alongside
from which wo would transfer our
cargo. On our way back wo wero to
call at Cebu, where a general cargo
would be quickly put aboard. Then
wo were to break out the hemp and
bale it up around the opium and silk.
If there were any questions about the
time it took us to go from Manl7a to
Cebu we were to answer that we had
got aground and sprung a leak, so that
it was necessary to beach her for re
pairs. This story the appearance of
our craft would amply justify.
Our patron promised us that- there
would be no risk to us, as he would
give us an order duly made out to
carry his cargo, of wljlch, of course,
wo would not be expected to know any
more than Its general appearance
seemed to Justify, from Cebu to Ma
nila. Once anchored in Manila Bay the
whole work of discharging would be
taken by him, and all It would be
necessary for us to do would bo to
show him tho manifest signed by his
Chinese partner and receive our pay.
The whole trip should not take over six
Weeks.
Three days later we sailed. Much
to my surprise, the Purisslma proved to
bo a fairly gdod traveler, and It was
truly a marvel tho way the old coffin
would get to windward. McKlm had
made a few alterations In her rig and
had given her a tremendous foro and
aft mainsail, which made her some
thing between a brlgantrne and a her
maphrodite hrlg. It had a queer. look,
but it helped her wonderfully In get
ting Up Into tho wind. Our crew
turned out very well., They all bunked
forward, of course, and seemed to got
on peacefully enough. McKlm had the
starboard watch with the two Tagals.
and I the port with the VIsayans. The
old man cooked.
An Incident had occurred on our way
across thnt I must not forget On tho
morning of the second day out McKlm
came on deck to relieve me at eight
bells, and beforo I went below to got
my breakfast he dipped up a bucket
of water from over tho side and threw
off his clothes for a bath. I was watch
ing him casually, for his quick, lithe
motions always had a fascination for
me, and I noticed around his neck a
sort of r.osary, which, when I observed
more closely, seemed to bea dlmlnutlvo
Imitation of those peculiar ancient ro
saries that have frequently been found
In use In China, Tibet, North America
and Old Mexico. I believe they have
also been dug up with the relics un
earthed from the ancient tumuli of tho
mound builders.
"Why do you wear that thing, Mc
and Russians, and we have been so for i
many years. We deprecate the war they
are waging, but we do not feel that we
have the right to Interfere with either
nation nor to critlslse it."
"But, General, can you not point out
some of the peculiar features of their
warfare. This is the first war of the 20th
century, and it is being waged after 20th
century methods; have not many new in
ventions been brought into use and new
ways of fighting developed?"
"If what we see in the papers is true
I might say yes to that," said General
Grant. "But we have no reports as yet
that can be absolutely relied upon, and
none upon which one would dare to base
an opinion. New and powerful explosives
seem to have been discovered, the wire
less telegraph ho3 been operated for the
first time and other new things are, it Is
said. In use. We shall get the facts as
to such matters through the Information
bureaus of the Army and Navy, but that
will not be before the war is over. It will
then be time enough to express an opin
ion."
United States Army In 1904.
"What Is the present condition of the
United States Army?"
"It is steadily Improving. Our soldiers
are better trained from year to year. They
have better habits, there is less drunken
ness and they have higher Ideaiss."
"How about profanity, General Grant?
It is said that the United States soldier
Is the wickedest swearer on earth."
"I don't believe that," said General
Grant. "I know we have many soldiers
who use profane language, but they are
individual cases. There are many who do
not swear at all. Profanity is, as you
know, prohibited by the army regula
tions."'
At this point tho conversation turned
to profanity among the officers, and I
asked General Grant as to whether the
stories that his father used profane
language were true. He replied that they
were not and that he had never heard his
father use a profane word. Said he:
"My father once told me that he had
never uttered an oath in his life. I know
that he did not use even the ordinary
expletlves and that he was averse to
slang. I once heard him say 'thunder
and lightning,' and once or twice
thunder,' but as he drew toward the
latter part of his life he did not use even
such expressions. He was a man of much
natural refinement. He never told a vul
gar story nor would he listen to one if he
could help it."
The American Soldiers of Today.
"Then you think our soldiers are grow
ing better?"
"Yes. The character of our army always
Improves when the army has something to
do. Since the Spanish War we have had
our hands full, and there has been plenty
of active service. Army life is now busier
than ever. The people have a higher re
gard for the soldier than they have had
during the latter years of peace, arid the
soldiers feel it. .The profession of the
common soldier Is more desirable and I
think I may say we are making better
soldiers from year to year."
"Would you advise a young man to go
Into the army?"
"That would depend much on the man,
upon his character, his condition and his
ambitions," said General Grant. "If he
Is anlxous to make a fortune the army Is
no place for him. If he has natural busi
- By Henry C 'Rowland
Klm?" I asked. He flushed and then
looked rather vexed.
"It belonged to my grandmother,"
he answered shortly. "It is an amulet
Here, boy, throw that water over me,"
he added, turning to one of the sailors.
I saw that he was touchy about the
thing-, so I mado no further comment,
but went below.
The little bay where we dropped an
chor was a fine harbor, landlocked on
all sides by high, bold, rounded nills,
naked of vegetation and studded with
great black granite boulders; a wild,
desolate place and uninhabited except
for a few fishermen's huts art the shore.
Wo got hold of a couple of coolies who
came out in a sailing sanpan, and after
much haranguing, for their dialect was
different from any that I had encoun
tered in my missionary work, made
them understand what we wanted, and
that there would bo twice the amount
of money paid them when they re
turned. Our patron's agent was to send
us back a scrap of paper bearing a
character of which we held tho dupli
cate to indicate that our message had
been received.
Tho following day the messengers re
turned, so I got everything in readiness to
receive our cargo. The silk was to go
down in the foro peak under some extra
sails and the opium under a false flooring
beneath our cabin. I had seen enough of
Chinese character not to trust it too far,
so I got out my Colt's revolver and care
fullyoIIed and loaded It, getting McKlm
to do the same. Then I armed the sailors
with heavy knives that I had secured
before leaving Manila, and cautioned
them again turning their backs on the
crew of tho dhow.
Thel night cam a down dark and murky,
and blotted out tho shore lino except
where Here and there the shoulder of
some great overhanging hill loomed
blackly against the somber sky. The
water was dead and dismal. Not a rlpplo
nor a flicker of phosphorescence came
from the sea, though now and then I felt
the puff of a chilly land breeze, smelling
of mol3t earth and rotting seaweed. I
was leaning on tho rail trying to cheer
myself with a reflective pipe, for my spir
its were low, and thinking of tho altered
conditions between my first and second
trips to China the first as a missionary,
the second as a smuggler.
Suddenly I caught the faint "chunk-a-chunk"
that the great stern sculling oar
of a freight sampan makes upon Its thole
pin. I called McKim, who came up
through the companlonway buckling on
his gun. Wo listened together, and
presently heard the soft "pat, pat" of
naked feet as tho coolies who wore scul
ling the craft threw the weight first on
one foot and then on tho other. Our
crew were gatherer together forward In
a llttlo black huddled knot, and presently
one' of them crawled stealthily aft.
"What Is it?" I asked in a whisper.
The man pointed hi3 skinny arm into
the darkness. Following the direction
there suddenly resolved itself from the
gloom a great square opacity that stood
out against tho denser darkness behind.
It puzzled mo a first, and then I made
It out to be the big black sail of the dhow,
which had been hoisted to catch the fitful
puffs of the, night breeze.
Our anchor light was burning a dead
yellow. I went .below, and, lighting a
powerful lantern we had got-for the pur
pose, hoisted It on a halliard that I had
reeved through a little block lashed to the
spring stay the day before. The light
flared suddenly on the big sail of tho
dhow, that was now close aboard. A
patter of muffled orders in a guttural
voice came from her decks.
"Hollo," said I. "Stand by for a line."
"E-ee yah aa " came a voice in
answer.
I sent a heaving line uncoiling snaklly
through tho darkness. It fell athwart her
decks and In a moment wo had her
moored bow and stern. McKlm dropped
our sea ladder and Immediately the Crew
of the dhow, came swarming up. I couldn't
see any use for more than the captain,
30 I shoved the rest of the mob back
and hauled up the ladder. A light whip
had been rigged from the main topsail
yard arm, and I ordered our crew to man
it. and In a moment the bales and boxes
. came swinclne over tho side. No at-
ness ability he can perhaps do better out
side, but If he has a desire for the ser
vice and Is anxious to improve himself in
It, I think it offers many advantages.
Tho common soldier 13 better paid,
better fed and better clad than the ma
jority of his same rank outside the army.
He gets his lodging, food and raiment
free, and has $13.50 a month out or wnicn
he ho3 to pay only wash bills. If he
Is a good man he can make a great deal
more, outside of that. So you see his con
dition Is by no means a bad one."
"Has he any chance to become an Of
ficer?"
"Yes, Indeed. The army Is always
advancing those of the privates who are
worthy. There are regular examinations
for promotion, and the young man who
would rise can do so If he has It in him."
"How many soldiers have we now In the
army?"
"About 59.00Q."
"Is that enough?" I asked.
"Wo. could use more: and when the for
tifications now building are completed we
shall require more."
School Cadets and the Militia.
"How about the military spirit among
our young men; does It grow?"
"Yes. It has become associated with the
schools, both public and private. We are
drilling school cadets by tho tens of
thousands every year all over the country
and are training them In' case we should
need them In the wars of the future. The
militia Is very strong everywhere.
Indeed, we have now a vast amount of
reserve material upon which we can call
should it be needed. The American,
trained or untrained, is, you know, always
ready to enter the army If his country
needs him. In thl3 respect the United
States has a strong fighting machine. If
all our men from 18 to 44, which should be
considered the mllltla age, were In the
army, we should, in round numbers, have
IC.000,000 fighting men. Of these about
14.000.000 would bo white, and the re
mainder colored.
Military Education in Europe.
"How about the military systems of
Europe, where every boy Is required to
spend so much of his life In the army?
Would they be good for this country 1"
"I do not think our people would con
sent to that, and our geographical situa
tion Is such that we do not need it. There
are, however, advantages in the military
systems of Europe. The armies there are
great schools in which the young men are
taught obedience to law and good citizen
ship. They are taught sanitation and
the laws of health, and by the exercises
and drill forced upon them the nation in
dividually and collectively Is Improved.
These are some of tho compensations for
' the loss to the nation of the work of the
young men for several years. I do not
wish to say that the system ought to be
adopted here."
"Does the army have much trouble in
securing recruits. General?"
"No, there are always men who want to
be soldiers. We treat our Boldiers better
than almost any other nation, and we
have little trouble in recruiting. When
tho times are hard the applications In
crease." "How about the desire to be officers?"
"That seems to be born In a large pro
portion of our American boy3. There are
always ten applicants for every vacancy
at West Point." (Copyright, 1904.)
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
empt was made 'to examine them, as we
were simply to receive what was sent and
receipt for the total number of pieces.
The Chinaman who had come aboard
carried a piece of paper in his hand
which he signified that he wanted signed.
McKlm carried It below. The Chinaman
stood beside the hatch waiting for him
to come up. I was busy tallying In the
boles, the last of which was just coming
aboard, but something. I don't know
what. Impelled me to watch that China
man out of the tall of my eye. And as I
watched the bales with ono eye and tho
man with the other I saw his hand sud
denly slide down to his belt and caught
the flash of the cargo light on naked steel.
"Look out McKlm!" I shouted.
A wild, eerie scream came in answer
and a wave of dark, agile figures came
pouring suddenly over the bow and stern.
My gun was out In a flash, and I cut
down on the man at the head of the
companlonway, who, with another scream
even wilder than the first, lurched head
long Into the scuppers. The next moment
McKlm was on deck, and together we
leaped onto tho deckhouse.
Up forward our sailors were fighting for
their lives, and for a moment they stayed
the rush from that direction, giving me
time to reach under our dinghy, which
we carried lashed bottom side up on the
deckhouse, and to slip out the heavy teak
tiller which was shoved under the after
thwart It was well that I did so, far
our revolvers were quickly emptied into
the faces of the mob, and the next mo
ment we were back to back fighting a
blind and hopeless fight against over
powering odds.
McKim had got hbld of a long iron cap
stan brake that he had torn from the
hands of one of the assailants, and was
lashing about him like a wildcat I had
thrown my empty revolver into a man's
face, and, gripping the tiller with both
hands. wa3 getting In blow after blow
as opportunity offered, parrying occasion
al thrusts as best I could. For what
seemed a long time we beat them back
as fast as they leaped up at us, then sud
denly something heavy struck me in the
chest and over I went with a crash, and
the next moment was almost suffocated
In writhing, gripping forms, and remem
ber with disgust the abominable stench
of opium mingled with a nasty, fishy
smell that was overpowering. My arms
were wrenched back until I thought that
my shoulder blades would go, and turn
after turn of thin bark twine was whip
ped around and cut deep Into my wrists.
Although repeatedly struck and cuffed I
did not lose consciousness, and the mo3t
distinct Impression retained Is that of
McKlm. the clothes torn away from the
upper part of his body, a great, gaping
gash over his eye from which the blood
spattered over his demoniacal face, which
was working grotesquely in the dim. flick
ering light from the cargo lantern, and
even at the tlmo -I was struck by the
weird similarity of his face to those about
him.
So quick were his actions that they
seemed unable to reach him with any
weapon; then suddenly some great object
flew up from tho crowd. There was tho
scrunching noise of Iron on bono, arid the
next moment he was gone.
(Concluded next week.)
O, Fain Would I.
Anon.
O. fain would I, before I 4le,
Bequeath to the a legacy.
That thou may'st say. when I am gone.
None had my heart but thee alone!
Had I as many hearts as hairs,
Aa many lives aa lovers' fears.
As many lives as years have hours,
They all and only should be yours!
Dearest, before you condescend -
To entertain a bosom-friend.
Be sure you know your servant well
Before your liberty you sell:
For love's a Are in young and old.
Tls sometimes hot and sometimes cold.
And now you know that, when they please.
They can be sick of love's disease.
Then wisely choose a friend that may
Lnut for an age, and not a day.
Who loves thee not for lip or eye.
But for thy mutual sympathy!
Let such a friend thy heart encase.
For he will comfort thee In age.
And klsa thy wrinkled, furrowed brow
With as much Joy as I do now.
1