OL. XI. NEW BLOOMFIELD, TE TUESDAY, A.TJGUST 21, 1877. NO. 33.
THE TIMES.
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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
Life Is a race, where some succeed,
While others are beginning j
'Tis luck at times, at others speed,
That gives an early winning,
But if you chance to fall behind,
Ne'er slacken your endeavor,
But keep this wholesome truth In mind
'Tls better late than never.
If you can keep ahead, 'tis well,
But never trip your neighbor j
'Tis noble when you can excel,
By honest, patient labor ;
But if yon are outstripped at last,
Press on as bold as ever ;
Remember, though you are surpassed,
'Tls better late than never.
Ne'er labor for an Idle boast
Of victory o'er another j
But while you strive your uttermost,
Deal fairly with a brother.
Whatc'er yonr station, do your boat
And hold your purpose ever
And if yon fail to beat the rest,
'Tls better late than never.
Choose well the path in .which you run
Succeed bji noble daring
Then, though the least, when once 'tis won,
Tour crown Is worth the wearing
Then never fret, If left behind,
Nor slacken your endeavor j
But ever keep this truth In mind
'Tis better late than never.
Anecdotes by General Shields.
YEARS AGO GEN. SHIELDS was a
prominent man In the politics of
this country. He was twice elected to
the United States Senate from Illinois.
He was an officer in the Mexican war,
where he greatly distinguished himself.
He was shot through the lungs and sur
vived the terrible wound. Hestill lives,
and on the 2nd of July lectured at
Lockport, ST. Y.,and a correspondent to
the ST. Y. Times, gives these extracts
from his lecture :
DANIEL WEBSTER AND TIIE QUAKERS.
" While I was in the Senate (said Gen.
Shields) I saw much of Webster both In
and out of the Capitol. He met me one
day and said : ' Shields, I find I have got
into difficulty with some of my constit
uents, some Quakers, who are dissatis
fied with my advocacy of a certain
measure, and they have sent a large
delegation down here from Massachu
setts to make a protest. I have prom
ised to meet them this evening, and I
would like to have you there.'
" 'Why, what can I do V
" ' Your native blarney, Shields it
may help me out of the trouble.'
" I laughed at the idea of blarney ef
fecting anything where Daniel Web
ster's eloquence could not convince;
and I made that my objection ;
but he insisted, and I promised to
be on hand. Evening came, and I
joined Mr. Webster at his rooms. Pres
ently the delegation arrived and were
seated ; a dozen or twenty of the most
solemn men I have ever seen, all rigidly
costumed in Quaker. Without waiting
Any time the Chairman arose and ad
dressed Mr. Webster in a set speech.
He commented severely on the course of
the Senator as to the measure in ques
tion, setting forth the bad effects which
at might Lave on their sect, expressing
great sorrow and surprise that Mr. Web
ster had been found supporting such a
bill, and concluded In a vigorous protest
in writing, which bore many signatures.
Webster listened attentively with un
changed countenance, and when the
spokesman had resumed his seat he rose
and replied. He spoke half an hour,
and before he concluded he grew as elo
quent as he was often heard. Hl de
fense was simply that he deemed the
measure one demanded by the Interest
of the whole country, although it might
not be especially adapted to the wants
and Interests of any sect, and after clear
ly setting this forth, he made such an
appeal to the delegation to remember
that they were Americans, as well as
Quakers, that I was fairly electrified.
'The effect produced by bis words on the
delegation was astonishing. When he
began they were all seated ; after he had
spoken 10 minutes one after another
rose to his feet, until they were all
standing; then they commenced to
move toward him, and they had soon
surrounded him in a body. Before he
finished I saw the Chairman take out
his petition and tear it to pieces ; and
when he had finished, some of them
were shedding tears, and all were grasp-'
lng Webster's hands as fast as they
could get them. ' Friend Webster,' cried
the spokesman, ' thee is right and we are
wrong; we owe thee' an apology; we
will say no more about it; thee knows
thy duty better than we.'
" The next day I met Mr. Webster,
and with a countenance of perfect grav
ity he said : " Well, Shields-now did
not we blarney those fellows nicely ?"
" ROUGH AND READY."
His first Interview with Gen. Taylor
was humorously described : " I was sent
with my briga.de to report to him on the
liio Grande. After getting my com
mand into camp, I put on the most
showy uniform I had, and spent much
time rigging myself up to do honor to
such an occasion as the meeting with
the Commander-in-Chief of the Army
of Occupation. Arrived at headquar
ters I inquired for Gen. Taylor, and was
shown into a tent by the orderly, who
went away to announce me. Presently
entered a hard-featured man, quite under-sized,
who, from his appearance
would easily have been taken for a wag
oner. A great flapping straw hat crown
ed his head; he had no collar; a linen
coat, and the coarse pantaloons he wore
had no suspicion of rank about them,
and his unstockened feet were covered
by common infantry shoes. While I
was trying to figure out in my mind
what this appartition could be, he grasp
ed my hand and heartily exclaimed, " I
am very glad to see you here, General
Shields, and will cut out some work for
your command before long." And this
was actually General Zachary Taylor,
one of the bravest, kindest, and noblest
men that ever lived."
CERRO GORDO.
Previous to the brilliant Amercan vic
tory at Cerro Gordo, the engineers, both
of the attacking and defending armies
had carefully surveyed the highest of the
eminences that bristle about the place,
and had reported it inaccessible. It over
looked the whole Mexican Army, but
the Mexicans were confident that it
could not be occupied, and the same be
lief prevailed in the American camp.
The night before the assault was a very
dark one. Shields was in his tent-when
toward midnight a number of soldiers of
his command came to htm and asked
permission to put a 6 pounder gun on
the top of this cliff.
" I was astonished. Don't you know,'
I asked, that the engineers say that it
can't be climbed r to say nothing about
putting cannon up there.' They insisted
however that they should like to try it.
Try it, then boys,' I said, no harm
will bedone.even if you fail.' They went
away, and in two hours time they were
back again with the amazing news that
they actually had a 6 pounder in posi
tion on the summit of that almost per
pendicular height.
" ' And if you will consent, sir,' said
one of them, we'll put a 12 pounder
there, too.'
" ' Go ahead,' I replied. ' I'll believe
you can do anything now.' And long
before daylight they reported that the
12 pounder M as up there beside the 6
pounder, ready to open on the Mexicans
in the morning. I thought the news too
good to be kept, so I went to General
Twiggs' tent and roused him up. He
heard my story, and looked at me as
though he did not believe a word of
It
" ' Do you mean to tell me, he ex
claimed, 'that those fellows of yours
have hauled a 12 pounder and a 6
pounder up to the top of that height ?"
. ,fB' "lr ; aud what d0 yu think of
that V"
" ' I think there are two pieces of ar
tillery lost to the United States ; for there
are not men enough in the army to get
them down again.'
" But those two pieces did excellent
Bervlce against the astonished Mexicans
that day, and they were got down again
afterward." t
AN INCIDENT.
Gen. Santa Anna was lit command of
the Mexicans at Cerro Gordo. He was
utterly defeated and compelled to re
treat, with heavy losses in prisoners, ma
terial, and killed and wounded. Shields
was dangerously wounded In the fight,
and of course left behind at Jalapa.
When ho became convalescent he was
informed that a lady living opposite the
house where he lay had been very kind
and attentive, and had been of much
help to his attendants. As soon as he
was allowed to walk out he went out to
thank her, when he learned to his sur
prise that she was a daughter of Santa
Anna. In the course of conversation
that followed, he remarked :
" But did you know who it was that
you were ministering to all this time?"
" Not at first," she replied. " I dis
covered after a time that you were Gen.
Shields, who I heard was killed.
" Perhaps, had you known at the first
that I waB one who had a large share In
defeating you father, you would not
have relieved me."
She drew herself up with the air of an
old Castllllan. "Sir," she said, "had
you with your own hand killed my
father In fair fight In fair fight I
would have done for you in your ex
tremity Just as much as I now have."
And she looked It as well as spoke it.
MAGRUDER AND THE GUERRILLA.
It was during this campaign, and
about this time, that an incident occur
red which the lecturer very humorously
described, but which is here greatly ab
bievlated. Gen. John B. Magruder, of
subsequent Confederate fame, was then
an officer in our Army, and plumed
himself highly on his horsemanship.
One day he rode across the square on a
superb black animal that he had just
bought for a high price, and came to the
window by which Shields lay, that the
latter might see and admire his purchase.
The curvetting of the steed and the
bearing of the rider drew a crowd Into
the square, and presently there were a
thousand or more soldiers, citizens, and
army followers of all kinds, watch
ing and admiring "Jack Magruder"
show off. After a time, when Magruder
had stopped a moment, one of the Mex
icans came up to him, patted and prais
ed the horse, and told the officer that he
rode almost as well as an inhabitant of
the country.
"Almost I" Magruder cried. "lean
ride as well as any Mexican. Show me
one who can ride better?"
" Nay," said the Mexican, " you claim
too much. You ride well, but it is not
possible that you can know our horses
quite as well as we do."
Magruder insisted, and, growing warm
offered to bet a dozen doubloons that he
could ride his horse better than the other
could. The Mexican objected; said he
did not like to , bet and did not like to
show off his horsemanship in publlc.but
at last, as Magruder grew more urgent,
he reluctantly consented, and the mon
ey was put up in the hands of another
Mexican. For judges,, ftn American was
chosen by Magruder, a Mexican by his
adversary, and the two l together chose
for the third a Frenchman. Then Ma
gruder put his horse through his paces,
first walking round the square, then
trotting, then galloping, and, finally,
putting the animal to top speed, with a
magnificent burst that drew cheers and
hand-clapping from the crowd. After
a few moments the Mexican came for
ward for his trial. Without touching
bis hands to the animal he vaulted on
his back and went through with precise
ly the same performance as had Magru
der, and really approved himself the
accomplished horseman of the two. Ma
gruder himself Joined In the applause,
and acknowledged frankly that he was
fairly beaten. The Mexican smiled and
bowed, and said, "Now, if the Senor
will wait a moment, I will show him a
feat of horsemanship the like of which
he has never seen."
Magruder consented, and the Mexican
rode half way round the square; and
then putting spurs to the horse dlsap.
peared in a twinkling.
"What thed Jdoes that meanl1"
said the owner of the horse.
" I only know one-man who can ride
like that," said a bystander, "And that
Is Mollno."
"Mollno, the guerrilla V1" groaned
Magruder.
" The same, sir. I don't think you'll
ever see your horse again."
He never did j and the Mexican who'
had held the stakes had also disappeared ;
probably one of Mollno's men. Magru
der never heard the last of this exploit
among his brother officers ; and while
this vexation lasted he declared that he
was " the biggest fool In the Amerlcail
Army."
A SriltlTED RESCUE.
One of the thrilling episodes of the
Mexican war which Is not found In any
of Its histories, is that of the rescue of
an English family from the City of Mex
ico before the capitulation, by a detach
ment of American soldiers. The city
had been Invested some time, when a
refugee one night entered that part at
our lines which Gen. Shields command
ed. He was taken to the General, and
to him he told the story. He was an
English boy, and with his mother and a
sister, just arrived at womanhood, occu
pied a home In the capital at the time of
the Investment. One of the lawless
Guerrilla chiefs who held the people of
the city as well as of the country In ter
ror, had conceived a violent passion for
his sister, who had repulsed his advances
and he bad declared in his rage that un
less she consented to his proposals on
the following morning he would carry
her off by force, and cause her mother
and brother to be executed. The lad, In
the extremity of his terror, had made
his way out of the city, past the senti
nels and the Hues, gained the American
camp, and now besought the General to
save his sister and mother. Tho ardent
soul of Shields (who was then but 37,)
was fired at the thought o the misera
ble fate awaiting these helpless ladies,
and without communicating at all with
headquarters (where flat refusal would
have been certain,) he formed a plan for
their rescue. To call It rash, quixotic,
or dare-devil would be but the truth;
the best defense of his proceedings of that
Is night that it was a brave act, prompt
ed by a' generous heart, and that he suc
ceeded perfectly, where disaster would
have insured his dismissal from the
army. He had about 400 picked men of
his command detailed, and after quietly
Informing them what he proposed to do,
he found every man eager for the adven
ture. Putting himself at the head of
the little column, he silently left the
American lines, and, favored with the
darkness of night, approached close to
the walls of the city without discovery.
The sentinels could be seen on the walls,
and the cry, "Scnlinela alcrte!" was
heard as it passed from mouth to mouth.
Guided by the lad the party scaled the
wall at a favorable place, and seizing two
or three of the astounded sentinels, de
scended into the city, and quickly made
their way unopposed through the streets
to tho house to which the lad guided
them. The boy ran in and Informed the
ladles that deliverance had come ; they
hastily collected a few valuables and ar
ticles of wearing apparel in a bundle,
and placing the rescued party in the
centre of the column, Shields started to
return. But meanwhile the alarm had
been given, and drums were beating and
lanterns flashing all around the walls.
Arrived near the point of entrance, it
was found that the whole open space be
tween the houses and the wall was filled
with Mexican infantry and artillery.
Shields instantly deployed, and gave the
command to fire. A rattling volley, fol
lowed by a bayonet charge, threw the
Mexicans Into disorder, and the Ameri
cans rushed through and over them
with their little party, made their way
out, and returned to their own camp
with but a few casualties, although they
drew the fire of both sides on their re
turner the American camp was now
aroused, and the pickets were firing rap
idly. But the tumult soon ceased on
both sides, the adventurous soldiers
returned to their quarters as though
nothing had happened out of their usual
course, and the ludies were safely bestow
ed for the night in a hut, made as com
fortable as possible.
How he was called upon to account
for this night's work will be best told in
Gen. Shields' own language :
" The next morning an officer of Gen.
Scott's staff came to my quarters with a
message from the General that he would
like to know the cause of the previous
night's alarm, as It originated inthnt
part of the line which was jinlr my
command, I answered that" I would,
report la. person, which I ift once did.
On tho way I thought the uni let- over
and concluded that it would bX4iestw to
make a clean breast of it, and I did so.
The story thew Gen. Scott Into a tre
mendous rage. Ever since Cerro Gordo,
was fought he had addressed me at
' My Cerro Gordo friend,' but he now
dropped that familiar name. Gen.
Shields he thundered, 'you are insubor
dinate and reckless in the highest degree.
You have put in peril the fruits of the
whole campaign ; you have, perhaps,
frustrated all my plans for the capture
of the City of Mexico 1 "Sir, I'll dis
grace you; 111 court-martial you, and
have you dismissed the service 1' At
this my temper rose, and I answered
him plainly that he might court-martial
me, and perhaps get me dismissed, but
that after all that had occurred on this
campaign, neither he nor any other man
could disgrace me; and being by this
time pretty well stirred up, I said that
under like circumstances I would do pre
cisely the Bame thing over again. In
stead of being more angry, the General
was rather softened by this speech. 'I
was wrong, Gen. Shields,' he said, 'in
Baying that I would disgrace you ; I ask
your pardon for that. You are a brave
man, and disgrace Is not the word to use
toward you. But you are greatly to
blame in this matter, Sir. You have
acted without orders, and have Imperiled
the whole campaign. 'Gen. Scott,' I
said, ' before you say anything more
about it, suppose you come over to my
quarters and see these ladles.' After,
some further talk he promised to do 8of
and I rode back to my tent satisfied that
I should have no further trouble with.
the affair. In an hour over came Gen
Scott, and I at once introduced him to
the ladies. The daughter was a picture
of beauty, with her golden curls and her
blue eyes; and after the mother had
thanked the General for their preserva
tion with tearful eyes and trembling
voice, the girl seized his hands, wept
over them, called him her preserver and
invoked the blessings of heaven on his
head. Scott looked from her to me with
a very benevolent face, and said, ' Well,
my Cerro Gordo friend, if I get you (
court-martialed for this, I shall have I
you promoted, too.' I have only to add
that long afterward, when the war was '
over, and we had returned to the United
States, I received from England, the
gift of these ladles, a costly diamond pin
as to a token of their gratitude."
These are but a few of the interesting
and varied reminiscences with which
Gen. Shields entertains his listeners in
public and private.
For the benefit of those curious to
know something of the personal ap
pearance of the man, it may be stated
that he is of medium size, hale and
hearty, though C7 years of age, with a
keen eye, and something like the
" brogue" in his speech. His residence
is at Kansas City, Mo. He speaks with
out the least bitterness toward any of
his contemporaries, either in civil or
military life, and evinces the warmest
interest in the prosperity and welfare of
his adopted country.
The Rain Tre8.
The consul of the United States of
Columbia in the department of Lereto
(Peru) has written from Yurimagus to
President Prado, informing him that in
the woods adjacent to the city of Moyo
bamba exists a tree called by the natives
Tamia-caspl (rain-tree) which possesses
some remarkable qualities. It is a tree
of about fifteen meters (about fifty feet)
high when at maturity, andof aboutone
meter in diameter at the base, and has
the property of absorbing an immense
quantity of humidity from the atmos
phere, which it concentrates and subse
quently pours forth from its leaves and
branches in a shower.andln such abund
ance that in many cases the ground In
its neighborhood is oouverted into a per
fect bog. It possesses this curious pro
perty in its greatest degree in the sum
mer, precisely when the rivers are at
their lowest, and water most scarce ; and
the writer proposed that it should be
planted In the more arid regions of
Peru, for the benefit of agriculturists..
Knife-wounds heal, but not those
produced by words.