DESPERATE BATTLE
AGAINST BIG ODDS.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT OF ROUSH RIDERS AND UNITED STATES
CAVALRY NEAR SANTIAGO
One Thousand Americans Meet Two Thousand Dons, Kill Many and Pat the
Remainder to Flight—Our Forces Pushing on to Santiago.
Friday’s fighting in the advance upon Santiago has cost the American army up-
ward of two dozen men, but it was a day of magnificent success for the American
cause.
For every American who fell in battle the enemy lost two or three men, and for
each of our soldiers who were wounded several Spaniards were disabled.
The day was one of action all along the line although the fiercest fight was the one
that took place early in the morning to the southwest of Sevilla, where General Linares
is making his final stand before retreating into Santiago City. It was in this engage-
ment that the Americans sustained their heavy loss.
CONVERGING ON SANTIAGO.
Santiago was the centre of rapidly converging forces. All the country ‘within ‘a
radius of twenty miles was one great battlefield resounding with the din of artillery and
rifle fire, echoes which were thrown back from the lofty mountains fifteen miles across the
sea.
After a comparatively pacific prologue the war drama began in earnest Friday.
The hot sun lifted the curtain of morning midst and revealed scattered along a narrow
valley which traces irregular paths between Balquiri and Sevilla, where were the camps
comprising the advance division under General Lawton. Two miles to the rear were
the tents of the Second division marking with a white line the road to Gemajaydo,
where General Wheeler had established headquarters during the night.
LAWTON’S HEADQUARTERS.
General Lawton’s headquarters was a cluster of half a dozen huts two miles inland
from Altares. The little harbor of Altares was crowded with transports, launches and
small boats, which had been engaged all night in landing troops. ]
The Third division was clustered about the beach, some bathing, others gathering
the scattered equipments and still others making preparations for breakfast.
Far to the front could be seen through the glasses the thin lines of Castillo’s Cuban
outpost, who had been on duty continuously for two days, their flags fluttering in the
morning breeze.
Gradually the camps were broken, columns of soldiers were formed and the ad-
vance was resumed. Blazing blockhouses here and there seemed to indicate that the
enemy still was in full retreat, hastening to the shelter of the intrenchments about
Santiago.
NO SPANIARD IN SIGHT.
Not a single Spaniard could be seen, although hundreds of field glasses scrutinized
every foot of ground in a vain effort to penetrate the thickets. Officers and men joked
as they marched over the retreat of the enemy, doubting whether they would ever make
a stand and fearing that General Linares would surrender without a fight.
It was seven o’clock when the Rough Riders entered the village of Altares. After
a short halt they began the long climb up the steep, narrow trail which affords the only
passage to Mount Grand Mesa, which shuts the city of Santiago from the sea. By this
time the heat of the sun was beginning to be felt keenly by the men. Laden with full
marching equipments they toiled slowly up the rocky path in single file.
There was not enough air stirring to make a leaf flutter. Along the hillside sev-
eral halts were necessary before the men could reach the Mesa. A dozen mules carried
the reserve ammunition and hospital supplies. The beasts were effected by the heat
also.
MOVING INLAND.
Besides these obstacles the tiresome ascent finally was made and a refreshing sea
breeze brought some trifling surcease. Before the Rough Riders stretched for nine miles
a compartively level plateau, half a mile in width, dotted with chaparal thickets and
frequently broken by small ravines.
At the other extremity rose the battlement of ancient Morro situated high on a
point commanding Santiago bay. The Mesa is traversed by about one-third of its
length by Juraguasito Creek, a narrow lazy stream which is spanned at the village of
Juraguasito by a railroad bridge over which General Shafter hopes to send his heavy
artillery.
The view from the hilltop was a splendid one as General Lawton’s column, slowly
winding their way along, preceded by the skirmish line to prevent a surprise. The
mules were dragging the mountain battery along after the Twenty-fifth Infantry. A
dynamite siege gun had been carried by a detail of Rough Riders as far as the village of
Juaragua, where the men were resting. The Tenth Cavalry had dismounted and were
climbing the Mesa from Altares. The Seventy-first New York had just landed and
were falling in preparatory to beginning the same ascent.
It soon became evident that the day would be extremely hot. The column had
not proceeded a mile before the men began to cast off blankets and other articles.
Men soon began to fall out of the ranks and drop exhausted under the shade of any
convenient brush. The ambulance corps, under Dr. Labotte, had its hands full attend-
ing to the numerous cases of heat prostrations.
FOUGHT FOUR HOURS.
The fight at Sevilla began at 8 o'clock Friday morning and lasted 4 hours. Up to
nine o’clock the Spaniards, who began the attack, tenaciously held their ground.
Between 9 and 12 o’clock the battle was a running one, the enemy hastily retreating
towards Sevilla and our troops as hastily pursuing. From the time the American
forces landed on Wednesday General Shafter restrained his troops with difficulty.
It was his plan to make a quick advance against the enemy, but he was surprised at
the eagerness with which the Americans threw themselves forward.
In their desire to get at the Spaniards the Americans had thrown their picket lines
considerably beyond the points indicated in the General’s instructions and a feeling
that the fighting could not begin too soon prevaded our forces.
MARCHING TO VICTORY.
Despite this impetuosity on the part of the gallant American soldiers, they have
swept everything before them. They have attacked the enemy at half a doen different
places, taking possession of each in turn. On but one day have our men been on the
defensive. That was on Wednesday while the landing was taking place. It was thought
the Spaniards might make an attack that night, but nothing of the sort happened. In-
stead, General Linares ordered all of his troops to fall back and to destroy their block
houses as they went.
Little time was lost in sending a part of the American troops after the fleeing Spanish.
Their retreat was discovered early Friday morning, and the Americans promptly
went in pursuit. They advanced mile after mile inland, returning the Spanish fire
whenever the enemy appeared to give battle. When night fell Friday the Spaniards
had heen driven within two miles of Sevilla, and it was from this position that they
were driven in Saturday’s engagement.
SPANIARDS NOW AT BAY.
General Linares and his men now are at bay close to the outer defenses of Santiago.
They are harassed by General Shafter’s men on the east, by General Garcia's trained
Cubans on the west and by Admiral Sampson’s fleet on the south. Another day’s work
like that of Friday will force the enemy into the last ditch and the assault on the city
.of Santiago will take place.
General Shafter’s latest information from General Wheeler, General Lawton and
Colonel Wood indicates that the regulars and the Roosevelt ‘‘Rough Riders’’ encount-
ered the enemy at about the same hour Friday morning,although the several detachments
of the army were a considerable distance apart at the time.
General Shafter was about to proceed to the front when the Mindora left for Port
Antoni with this dispatch. All of our army, including officers, are pressing toward
Santiago on foot, no horses being used in these engagements.
Throughout the morning’s fighting General Wheeler and General Lawton walked
at the head of their troops, as did Colonel Wood and Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt.
SPARED ANNIHILATION.
It was rare good luck that saved the Spaniards from complete annihilation when
they encountered the regulars and ‘‘Rough Riders’’ in the outskirts of Sevilla
They had to face barely a thousand Americans, but if the fight had been delayed
a few hours enough Americans to have crushed them completely would have arrived
on the scene.
Four troops of the Tenth Calvary, four troops of the First Battery and eight troops
of Rough Riders had been sent in advance of the army, and it was this detached force
that the Spanish engaged. Against our thousand men they pitted two thousand. They
were strongly intrenched behind the bushes and had every advantage in position as well
as numbers. Despite this fact they were ingloriously repulsed by the inferior force
long before the second detachment of American troops arrived on the scene.
Colonel Roosevelt’s men, who had pushed their way toward Sevilla Thursday,
resumed their march soon after sunrise Friday They were joined by a detach-
ment of Cubans under General Castillo, who guided them over the steep hills along
winding paths. Constant watch was kept for the enemy, but none seemed to be lurk-
ing in the thick underbrush that lined the narrow roadway.
THE CHALLENGE.
It began to seem as if the enemy had retreated into Sevilla, and the men were ad-
vancing in quick order, when the crack of Mauser rifles suddenly was heard. Bullets
whizzed over the heads of the Rough Riders. The fire came from behind a thick under-
brush, and the Cubans were ordered to reply. Colonel Wood, after ordering his men to
lie down, quickly surveyed the situation. His men had been caught by an ambush.
The fire at once became furious. From several sides the enemy’s bullets came
whistling toward our men and the engagement had scarce begun when several of the Rough
Riders rolled over on the ground dead. The Spanish could not be definitely located.
They were well screened by the underbrush and their positions could be jadged only
from the direction of their fire.
General Castillo’s men began firing more rapidly and the Rough Riders made ready
to join in the shooting. Provoked by tueir inability tosee the enemy they began to curse.
DON’T SWEAR ; SHOOT !
“Don’t swear,’”’ Colonel Wood shouted. ‘Shoot.’
They did. They joined with the Cubans in pouring a terrific fire into the bushes
where the Spaniards lay. It was an open fight for the next fifteen minutes or so. The
fire of the Spanish then fell off a bit. They seemed to be falling or retreating. Lighter
and lighter became the fire from the underbrush, until finally only an occasional shot
whizzed toward the American position.
This evidence that the enemy was on the run quickly inspired the American troops.
They charged foreward, presently gaininga position from which they could see the
Spaniards. They renewed their fire with greater vigor, driving the enemy foot by foot
toward Sevilla.
STUBBORN RESISTANCE.
The Spaniards resisted the American advance with great stubbornness, but the tide
of battle had turned against them. Durning the next two hours they devoted them-
selves less and less to shooting and finally fled precipitately toward Sevilla.
While the Rough Riders were giving and taking hard knocks on the high ground
the firing became general in the valley to the north, where General Lawton, the Cuban
skirmish line having been driven back, checked the advance of a strong Spanish force
and eventually compelled them to retreat. General Lawton succeeded in bringing a
section of mounted battery into action. This kept the road clear of Spaniards while our
trooops quickly formed and marched forward.
SPANISH LOSS HEAVY.
Many of the dead will be undiscovered for days until their whereabouts are reveal-
ed by vultures, which already hover in thousands over the field.
The Spanish loss is believed to be heavy. It is known that it is considerably in ex-
cess of the American loss. When the rolls are called some light will be thrown on the
American losses, but it will not be conclusive. Many men are certain to have lost their
commands during the battle, and they may be unable to rejoin their organizations before
the attack on Santiago. They will be reported as missing in the meantime.
Many dead Spaniards lay about the blockhouse, where the enemy made its final
rally. After the structure had been set on fire the bodies of these soldiers were cremated,
and it is believed that hundreds died.
The heat was intense during the day and a great many of the American troops were
prostrated. This, with the nervous excitement attendant upon their first battle, was a
heavy strain npon the men.
General Lawton, in obtaining a position across Juiaguasito Creek, is encamped only
six miles from the Santiago Cathedral and two miles from Sevilla. To the westward
General Garcia is making splendid progress.
GARCIA HAS A BATTLE.
While our troops were engaged about Sevilla General Garcia attacked Hermitano,
five miles west of Socapa Castle, and only eight miles from Santiago. There is a small
Spanish fort at Hermitano with some field guns supported by a garrison. General
Garcia sent one thousand Cubans against this fort, the attack being designed to prevent
General Linares from sending troops to check the advance of the main army. The Cu-
bans attacked so spiritedly, however, that they are reported to have taken a part of the
intrenchments. The Spanish are preparing to fall back to Caimones, which is inside
the regular defenses of Santiago.
Cobre was abandoned by General Linares during last night and the garrison was
withdrawn to Caimones.
During General Garcia's attack on Hermitano the Texas and Brooklyn shelled the
Socapa and Estrella fortifications, which replied feebly. When the Mindora left two
battleships were firing on Jaurasito, to prevent the Spanish from destroying the railroad
bridge which they were preparing to do. It would he difficult to get our heavy artil-
lery across the creek if this bridge should be destroyed.
The Cubans report that General Linares has undermined many of the roads and
paths leading into Santiago, and that he will try to blow up our artillery. The Spanish
general evidently has plenty of powder and ammunition for he abandoned a consider-
able quantity at Baiquiri.
INVESTING SANTIAGO.
Unless his progress is considerably checked General Shafter wiil have Santiago com-
pletely invested by Sunday. He has intimated that he will smash the city’s defenses
without delay and Admiral Sampson has prepared to co-operate.
The engagement in which the Americans suffered such a severe loss was preceeded
by sharp fighting on the day before. It apparently was a part of the Spanish tactics to
make the Americans believe that the enemy had entirely abandoned the country leading
toward Santiago.
Dozen of dark columns of smoke arose early Thursday morning from the hilltops
lying from the American camp at Altares and the City of Santiago. From this it was
thought by many of our troops that the Spaniards had sought safety in the outer de-
fenses of the beleaguered city. It had been a night full of anxiety for the men on the
picket lines.
SOLDIERS ALERT.
General Lawton late on Wednesday afternoon had pushed the Twenty-second and
Twenty-fifth and a part of the Second Massachusetts Infantry to a point three miles to
the westward of Baiquiri. This he succeeded in doing without oppositian from the
Spanish. The American picket line during the night had been thrown to a point a mile
beyond that contemplated in{General Lawton’s instructions.
All of our men were very alert and every preparation to repeal a night attack was
made. It was thought likely that the enemy would resort to the same tactics they adopt-
ed when the marines from the Marblehead were landed at the entrance to Guantanamo.
Bay. In this they were mistaken, however, as no attempt was made to disturb the
American forces.
Above the apex of a hill a quarter of a mile beyond our advance picket a tongue of
flame leaped into the air just at dawn. This quickly was followed by another and
another flash above the adjacent hilltops until at last a dozen fires were burning fiercely
within a radius of five miles. Columns of smoke in other directions indicated that
many more fires shut out of view by surrounding mountains had been started by the
Spaniards. As the sun rose higher it revealed a blazing block house on the nearest hill.
The flames here and the other points worked the complete destruction of the Spanish
lines of defenses outside of the regular earthworks
FIRE MARKS RETREAT.
General Linares became convinced during the night that the United States force
was too strong to be resisted and had ordered all the blockhouses to be filled with com-
bustibles and fired when the Spanish retreat began. The little village of Altares, on
the coast, four miles west of Baiquiri, which so tenaciously held out on Wednesday un-
der the withering fire of the American gunboats, was evacuated by the garrison of three
hundred Spanish infantry at the same time.
These troops began to retreat toward Santiago, being compelled to travel through
almost impassable mountain defiles the entrances to which were little known by any
but the Cuban scouts. No other route for retreat was possible for the Spaniards, how-
ever, and they struggled toward the city as best they could. It looked at one
time as if this retreat would be successful, but it finally terminated in a severe repulse
for the Spaniards through the vigilance of General Castillo, of the Cubans.
SPANIARDS CUT OFF.
General Castillo to guard against being surprised by the enemy had gone forward
on Wednesday afternoon with a detachment of mounted Cubans. When they arrived
at a point two miles inland from Altares, General Castillo was informed by scouts of
the retreat of the Spanish infantry. He immediately took steps to intercept the Span-
iards and succeeded in cutting off a part of the Spanish column.
There was a furious skirmish when the Spaniards found that they had been am-
bushed. As soon as they had recovered from their surprise they returned the Cuban fire
with vigor. They were halted at once, soon afterward were compelled to fall back and
before the engagement had been under way half an hour they were completely put to
rout. They fled in such haste that their baggage and much of their ammunition were
captured by Castillo’s men and several soldiers and teamsters were taken prisoners.
ONE CUBAN KILLED.
In this engagement one Cuban was killed and several were wounded.
Spaniards were killede ould not be learn.
The Cubans, although inferior in number to the Spanish, pursued them for several
miles, keeping up a vigorous fire. Gen. Calixto suddenly was given a surprise as the
enemy turned about and renewed their fire upon his men. In their flight they had en-
countered a detachment of Spanish soldiers, and, encouraged by this re-enforcement,
they made another show at resistance.
This looked like the turning point in the skirmish, for the combined Spanish
troops opposed the Cubans with such force that Castillo was compelled to order his men
back. The tide of battle then ran in favor of the Spaniards for a time, and the Cuban
success gave promise of turning into a defeat. But just as matters were becoming
desperate for Castillo’s men they had the same good luck as had come to the Spaniards
a few minutes earlier. They were joined by a detachment of Cubans who had heard the
firing and had hastened to the scene. The fight, as onserved from the hills two miles
in the rear, was most picturesque. Not a single blockhouse was left standing by the
Spaniards.
How many
GARCIA CO-OPERATING.
It is evident from the skirmish that Gen. Garcia is carrying out his part of the pro-
gram, and is pressing closely toward Santiago from the west. This belief is also borne
out by the fact that the ships of Admiral Cervera were called into action on Wednesday
to repulse an attack made by the Cubans on the western shore of Santiago.
1t is becoming more apparent daily that the Americans must have more horses to
use in the Cuban campaign. At Buiquiri there are only enough horses to draw the
ailery: None of the officers is riding. Major Forbes, of the Rough Riders, borrowed
a mule.
The Cubans hang any person who is detected sclling horses or mules. One man
sold a mule for $150 and was pursued into the mountains by Cuban soldiers.
Dispatches have been sen to hurry along horses, as the roads are bad and the work
of movlag siege guns can be carried on only with great difficulty. The work of hurry-
ing these guns toward Santiago began Friday.
THE ROUT OF THE SPANISH INFANTRY BY AMERICAN CAVALRYMEN.
Dismounted American cavalrymen forced their way over the rough mountain
trail Friday, and encountered the Spanish infantry in a dense thicket on a high pla-
teau overlooking the city of Santiago de Cuba and routed them after a sharp battle last-
ing one hour.
Friday afternoon, strongly re-inforced by the arrival of additional forces, the cavalry-
men held a position a little more than five miles from the Spanish stronghold in South-
eastern Cuba, preparing for a general movement on that city.
The victory was not gained without the shedding of American blood, and one officer
and fifteen of the troops lie under the ground on the field of battle, while about sixty
others, including six officers, are in the field hospital, suffering from wounds. Of
these eight or ten will probably die. It is believed tbat the enemy’s loss was at least
fifty dead, besides many woanded.
FIRST UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
Killed.
Captain Allyan K. Carpon, Muscogee, I. T., Fort Sill, O. T.
Sergeant Hamilton Fish, Jr., Washington, D. C. ; New York.
George H..Dougherty, Whipple Banks, A. T., Jerome, A. T.
Private denry Haefner, Sante Fe, N, M.
Private James Cruse, Muscogee, I. T.
Privates, Tilden W. Dawson, Muscogee, I. T., Vinita, I. T.
WOUNDED.
Major Alex O. Brodie, Prescott, A. T.
Captain James H. McClintock, Whipple Banks, A. T., Pheonix, A. T.
First Lieutenant, John R. Thomas, Jr., Muscogee, I. T., Vinita, I. T.
Sergeant George W.;Armijo, Sante Fe, N. M.
Sergeant Thomas F. Cavanaugh, Sante Fe, N. M.
Corporal John D. Rhoades, Guthrie, O. T., Enid, O. T.
Corporal James M. Dean, Sante Fe, N. M.
Corporal Luther L. Stewart, Sante Fe, N, M.
Private Fred N. Beal, Guthrie, O. T.. Kingsfisher, O. T.
Private Edwin M. Hill, Guthrie, O. T., Tecumseh, O. T.
Private Shelby H. Ishler Guthrie, O. T., Enid, O. T.
Private Marcellus L. Newcomb, Guthrie, O. T., Kingfisher' O. T.
Private Frank B. Booth, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private Robert Z. Bailey, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private Albert C. Hartle, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private Heye L. Albers, Santa Fe, N. M.
a, ie
Private Edward J. Albertson, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private Clifford L. Reid, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private George Roland.
Private Michael Coyle, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private Robert W. Reid, Sante Fe, N. M.
Private John R. Kean, Muscogee, I. T., Sapupa, I. T.
Private John P. Damet, Muscogee, I. T., Gibson, I. T.
Private Thomas F. Meagher, Muscogee, I T.. Muscogee, I. T.
. Private Nathaniel M. Poe, Muscogee, I. T. Vinita, I. T., First U. 8. Cavalry, Regular
Army.
Killed :
Private Jack Berlin, Chicago, 111.
Private Emil Bjork, Fort Riley, Kansas.
Private Peter H. Dix, Fort Riley, Kansas.
Private Alexander Llennock, Fort Riley, Kan.
Private Gustav A. Kolbe, Chicago, 111.
Wounded :
Major James L. Bell, Hollidays, Pa.
Captain Thomas K. Knox.
First Lieutenant George L. Bryam.
In the case of the officers and men of the First Cavalry there is no record of their resi-
dences nor of any relatives.
Tenth United States Cavalry.
Killed—Corporal White.
Wounded :
Captain Edward H. Braxton, Washington, D. C., Washington, D. C.
Private James Russell, Cleveland, O.
Private Mosley Gaines, Pittsburg, Pa., Pittsburg.
Private Frank A. Miller, Indianapolis, Ind.
Private James H. Miller, Richmond, Va., Richmond, Va.
Private Arthur G. Wheeler, New York city, New Milford Conn.
Private Samuel Redd, Washington, D. C.
Private Gelly Mayberry, Nashville, Tenn.
a Thote is no record of any relatives in the case of the killed and wounded in the Tenth
avalry.
Out of the entire number the only ones married are Captains Luna and Capron.
Edward Marshal, correspondent of the New York Journal and Advertiser, was seriously
wounded in the small of the back.
Practically two battles were fought at the same time, one by the Rough Riders, under
the immediate command of Colonel Wood, on the top of the plateau, and the other on the
hillsides, several miles away, by the regulars, with whom was General Young.
The expedition started from Juragus—marked on some Cuban maps as Altares—a small
town on the coast nine miles east of Morro Castle, which was the first place occupied by the
troops after their landing at Baiquiri last Wednesday.
Information was brought to the American army headquarters by Cubans on Thursday
that forces of Spanish soldiers had assembled at the place where the battle occurred, to block
the march on Santiago. General Young went there to dislodge them, the understanding
being that the Cubans under General Castillo would co-operate with him, but the latter
failed to appear until the fight was nearly finished. Then they asked permission to chase
the fleeing Spaniards, but as the victory was already won, General Young refused to allow
them to take part in the fight.
General Young’s plans coutemplated the movement of half of his command along the
trail at the hase of the range of hills leading back from the coast, so that he could attack the
Spaniards on the flank; while the Rough Riders went off to follow the trail leading over the
hill to attack them in front. This plan was carried out completely.
Independence Day. ius of its author. Jefferson gathered up the
thoughts and emotions and even the charac-
teristic phrases of the people for whom he
wrote, and these he perfectly incorporated
with what was already in his mind, and then
to the music of his own keen, rich passionate
and enkindling style he mustered them into
the stately and triumphant procession where-
in, as some of us still think, they will £0
marching on to the world’send. There were
then in Congress several other men who
could have written the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and written it well — notably
Franklin, either of the two Adamses, Rich-
ard Henry Lee, William Livingston, and
best of all but for his own opposition to the
measure, John Dickinson; but had any one
of these other men written the Declaration of
Independence, while it would have contained,
doubtless, nearly the same topics and nearly
the same great formulas of political state-
ment, it would yet have been a wholly dif-
ferent composition from this of Jefferson’s.
No one at all familiar with his other writings
as well as with the writings of his chief con-
temporaries, could ever have a moment's
doubt, even if the fact were not already no-
torious, that this document was by Jefferson.
He put into it something that was his own,
and that no one else could have put there.
He put himself into it—his own genius, his
own moral force, his faith in God, his faith
in ideas, his love of innovation, his passion
for progress, his inevitable enthusiasm, his
intolerance of proscription, of injustice, of;
cruelty ; his sympathy, his clarity of vision
his affluence of diction, his power to fling out!
great phrases which will long fire and cheer
the souls of men struggling against political
unrighteousness. And herein lies its essen-
tial originality, perhaps the most precious,
and, indeed, almost the only originality ever
attaching to any great literary product that is
representative of its time. He made for him-
self no improper claim, therefore, when he
directed that upon the granite obelisk at his
grave should be carved the words: ‘Here
was buried Thomas Jefferson author of the
Declaration of Independence.’’
July the Fourth is fittingly celebrated
by this young Republic of the New World
as Independence day ; and yet it might
more distinctively be styled the Declara-
tion of Independence day. American in-
dependence was not proclaimed on July
4th, 1776. It was on July 2nd, two days
before the commemorative date, that Con-
gress adopted Richard Henry Lee’s resolu-
tion (introduced June 7th):
That these united colonies are. and of
right ought to be, free and independent
States : that they are absolved from all alle-
giance to the British Crown, and that all
political connections between them and the
State of Great Britain is, and ought to be,
totally dissolved.
Indeed, it was not even upon July the
Fourth that the famous old Liberty bell
rang out its historic tidings, or that John
Nixon gave the first public reading of
Thomas Jefferson’s inspired Declaration of
Independence. That original celebration
of the event occurred on the ‘‘warm, sun-
shine morning’’ of July 8th.
In fact, John Adams, who had been the
orator of the resolution of Independence,
felt in a somewhat personally interested
way that July 2nd should be the future
holiday of national independence. In a
letter written on that great day of Ameri-
can deliverance he wrote this sentiment,
long years afterward reflected by Daniel
Webster in his stirring oration :
The die is cast. The second day of July
will be the most memorable epoch in the his-
tory of America. I am apt to believe that it
well be celebrated by succeeding generations
as the great anniversary festival. It ought
to be commemorated as the day of deliver-
ance by solemn acts of devotion to God Al-
mighty. It ought to be solemnized with
pomp and parade, with games, sports, guns,
bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one
end of this continent to the other, from this
time forward and evermore.
Jefferson was no orator. He relied on
the pen. He had, in pursuance of a Con-
gressional motion, on July 28th drawn up in
his High street longing house, in the little
Lying as a Disease.
‘“The liar is a much abused person,’
said a well known local physician to a re-
; porter last wat “The liar 1s not always
to blame, and if you have friends who are
room on the second floor, the draft of the! 3qicted to false representation of things
Declaration of Independence. Debate at | 5qyjse them to consult their doctors. There
once began on this rhetorical effusion as is hope for at least one class of liars. Med-
soon as the resolution just mentioned had |; 0 and medical methods applicable to
passed. Had the Declaration perished, | those who suddenly develop an abhorrence
therefore, Independence would, meverthe-' ¢/"tyo'¢ uth and lie on all occasions, even
less, have been proclaimed and America : though the truth might better suit their
robbed of one of her greatest glories. But, nase.” This has come to be thought of
Jeflerson’s burning words were like ton-| 1) "20s species of dementia that is oft-
gues of flame. His was, so to speak, the | ti = successfully treated.
voice of inspiration, uttering the thought “The malicious liar is a difficult problem,
of the hour and the hope of the future. So |g, he knows that he is telling a lie and
is happened, after all, that the memory of | (1016 is no hope for him. But there are
John Adams’ day (July 2ud) was lost—or, | 155 of people who just lie naturally. with-
rather, blended in Thomas Jefferson’s day, | oy knowing what they are saying or why
July the Fourth. And inexplicable, mys- | 4.0 say it. The individual often has
terious coincidence of fate, upon that very nothing whatever to accomplish by lying,
day, on the fiftieth anniversary of the | }.¢ does so just as some people stutter.
Declaration of Independence, Adams and But, as I said before, he should not be
Jefferson, both ex-Presidents of the United blamed and frowned upon. His mind is
States, the orator and writer of American unhealthy and his nervous system is out of
Independence, breathed their last. order. Rest, tonic and good nursing often
Adams’ last thoughts-—his farewell words, | restore these people to their normal self,
indeed—were a noble remembrance of Jef- | and then the love of rectitude re-
ferson. Nevertheless, the New Englander | turns, and they are effectually cured of a
has been somewhat harsh in his criticism ! very embarrassing habit.”’ — Washington
of the Virginian’s famous work. Perhaps | Post,
a tinge of envy, a feeling of his unappre-
ciated share in the great events of July,
1776, moved him once to declare :
There is not an idea in it but what had
been hackneyed in Congress for two years
before. The substance of itis contained in
the Declaration of Rights and the violation
of those rights, in the Journals of Congress,
in 1774. Indeed, the essence of it is contain-
ed in a pamphlet, voted and printed by the
town of Boston, before the first Congress
met, composed by James Otis, as I suppose,
in one of his lucid intervals, and pruned and
polished by Samuel Adams.
Jefferson himself was stirred by this
‘‘most unkindest cut of all’’ to remark that
his old comrade’s statements might ‘‘all
be true ; of that I am not to be the judge.
* * ¥ Whether I had gathered my ideas
from reading or reflection, I do not know.
I know only that I turned to neither book
nor phamphlet while writing it. I did not
consider it as any part of my charge to in-
vent new ideas altogether, and to offer no
sentiment which has ever heen expressed
before.”’
Jefferson became the voice of the universal
sentiment. He reflected the current ideal-
ism, touched with his own more impetu-
ous idealism. Much criticism has been
passed upon the spreading eagleism of his
assertion that all men are created equal.
Professor Goldwin Smith has even gone so
far as to exclaim of the Declaration that
‘‘it opens with sweeping aphorisms about
the natural rights of man at which politi-
cal science now smiles, and which might
seem strange when framed for slaveholding
communities by a publicist who himself
held slaves!” How utterly beside the
veal point of view, the actual issues of the
case, this criticism and many kindred crit-
icisms were has been forcibly pointed out
by Professor Moses Coit Tyler in the
North American Review. The Decla-
ration is to be viewed purely as the im-
passioned protest and idealistic yearning of
a great people awakening into a Jay life.
As Professor Tyler eloquently exclaims : = ; i
In the it: ron the De of —No man can be [ute win fake
Independence possess originality—it is indi- ' pain the greatest evil ; nor temperate
vidualized by the character and by the gen- who considers pleasure the highest good.
Chautauqua.
Low-Rate Excursion via Pennsylvania Railroad.
On July 8th the Pennsylvania railroad
company will run a special excursion from
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington,
Reading, Altoona, Bellefonte, Lock Haven,
Shamokin, Wilkesbarre, Sunbury, and
Williamsport, and principal intermediate
stations, and stations on the Delaware di-
vision, Philadelphia Wilmington and Balti-
more railroad, to Chautauqua, N. Y.
Special train will start from Harrisburg at
11:35 a. m. Connecting trains will leave
Philadelphia 8:30 a. m. Washington,
7:50 a. m., Baltimore, 8:50 a. m. Round trip
tickets, good to return on regular trains
not earlier than July 18th nor later than
August 6th, will be sold at rateof $10.00
from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash-
ington, and at proportionate rates from
other stations.
For special rates and time of connecting
trains apply to nearest ticket agent.
Relief From a Mustard Plaster.
If you want to know how to obtain quick
relief from a mustard plaster with no blis-
tering? Well, make a paste just thick
enough to spread well by mixing graham
flour with warm or cold water, never hot.
Spread upon a piece of stout muslin, and
thickly sprinkle ground mustard over the
surface. Cover this with a piece of thin
muslin moistened with warm water and
apply to the effected part of the body. The
! paste will keep the poultice moist for hours
and the thin cloth will prevent the blister-
ing. On extremely tender skins the muslin
covering should be doubled. When the
poultice is removed there will be no sticki-
ness nor dampness about the clothing or
flesh and not the least danger of taking
cold which usually accompanies poulticing.
&
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