In the face of a fire peril which would have stricken an
ordinary crowd with panic, 600 convicts recently, at the Western
Penitentiary, sat quietly through their Sunday afternoon
service, with hardly more than a ripple of fear. There was good
cause for alarm in a fire in the hosiery factory, not fifty feet
away from the chapel, and its smoke enveloped the windows so
thickly that electric lights were turned on while Chaplain C.
Miller continued the exercises.
Warden Francies himself was in the chapel when the fire broke
out. He selected half a dozen “trusties” to help the prison
and city fire departments fight the blaze, and then returned
to quiet his charges. Fully half of the 600 had looked like
stampede, but at a word from Chaplain Miller they recovered
composure, reseated themselves, and listened attentively to the
sermon. As the flames grew more threatening a second ripple of
excitement started, but the choir stayed it by singing many
hymns, in which the convicts joined.
The fire was fought for more than an hour, many of the
“trusties” doing the most valiant work. Several were overcome by
smoke.
After the fire Warden Francies paid many compliments to his
charges for the self-restraint they had shown.
“No body of United States troops,” he said, “could
have acquitted themselves better under such trying
circumstances.”--New Orleans _Picayune_.
(2885)
* * * * *
About three weeks after the capture of Fort Donelson slanders and
misrepresentations sent to Washington resulted in removing General
Grant from his command. Colonel Nicholas Smith, in “Grant the Man of
Mystery,” tells how Grant behaved under this unjust treatment. Grant
said:
When I was ordered to remain behind it was the cause of
much astonishment among the troops of my command, and also
disappointment. I never allowed a word of contradiction to go
out from my headquarters. You need not fear but what I shall
come out triumphantly. I am pulling no wires, as political
generals do, to advance myself. I have no future ambition. My
object is to carry on my part of this war successfully, and I am
perfectly willing that others may make all the glory they can
out of it.
(2886)
* * * * *
When you read this to your uncle he may say, “If General Grant
had been provoked as I often am, I think he would have sworn.”
Just tell uncle this story and ask him if General Grant did not
have some reason now and then to have a provoke:
“After he had served the nation as its President, General
Grant was in New York when the Masonic Temple was burned. The
fireline was drawn half way down the block, but the great,
surging crowds hampered the work. A policeman stationed below
failed to recognize the ex-President as he approached the line,
and quickly grabbing him by the collar, he swung him around in
the other direction, yelling at him as he gave him a whack with
his club: ‘Here, what’s the matter with you? Don’t you see the
fireline? Chase yourself out of here, and be quick about it.’”
The general did not swear, but just got out of the crowd and
began to attend to his own business. Swearing would have been a
great waste of time.--J. M. FARRAR.
(2887)
See PROVOCATION, SILENCE UNDER.