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VoL XXI.—No. 15.
Cbe Doyage of tbe Bon flomme.
IN A private apartment of the Bon t
Homme vessel two men were bus* i
. ily scanning maps and charts. |
'these persons were none other c
than. Tod Gray and Japes Owen. Al- a
thb several months previously they j
had been cast into Southern waters, c
incidentty escaping a watery grave, t
and being separated, still, in tbe nat- i
tirai trend of human affairs, the friends a
had met at the Waldorf Aero. Taking (
an inventory Of their possession 8 they 1
concluded that circumstances justified i
resorting to an expedient which sbppld *
-euaUe them to accumulate a plentiful
amount of the realm’s coin. Being I
nnchar+ered members of the great bo- I
oiety of get-rfch*quick wishers, they 1
decided to charter a vessel and seek in !
Mediterranean waters for the Midas I
island conceded, by scientific sages, to f
have been the private island of King i
Eaton, who reigned over the people 1
residing on the Atlantic group. Such i
was the mission of the two friends, as, I
in comfortable quarters, they scanned J
papers, etc. ■ ‘
“It is evident,” remarked Owen,“that i
if we succeed in locating Midas island i
we will discover evidence of the his
tory of mankind as yet unrecorded.
You see, scientific men have arrived at
conclusions which have induced me to
believe tbe Atlantic group comprises
a chain of islands from the rocks of
Gibraltar to the coast of Africa. How
ever, earthquakes may have caused
many of the islands to sink below the
blue waters. Therefore, if my deduc
tions are correct we will discover Midas
i aland ahnnt. one hundred miles south
by southeast of the coast of Italy,
ffavingiceated this island we proceed
t&CKptpeelor the castleof King Eaton.
Within its walls I figure we shall find
some kind of a vault—within it, records
or evidence of-man’s early history that
will revolutionize present-day beliefs
and show the absurdity of prevailing
doctrines.”
With these views, Owen had recent
ly interviewed an old friend of his, Pres
ident Lyod, of the Trans atlantic
Steamship Company, and as a result
Lyod consented, iu a few words, to
finance the expedition. Thus the fore
going gives the reader an insight into
the beginning of an exploration voy
age that almost entangled several na
tions into complications which bade
fair to result -in international war.
And, as contradictory versions have
been heralded by scribes, 1, after pre
cautionary investigations, have deemed
the time appropriate for a brief exposi
tion of the virtual facts.
The second day after leaving an
American port the crew of the Bon
Homme were assembled on the deck,
busily engaged in joining apparatus
: that, when finally completed gave the
vessel the appearance of a flying fish
Boating idly on the water. This con
struction resulted from the ingenious
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-Owen ordered certain levers manipu
lated. Obedient to gaidiug hands the
vesaeireaenp wards. Dark, ominous
clouds threatened to destroy the ship,
* buteddetorred it glided thru the Clouds,
and.es thaship gained a position abase
the ploads, momentary confusion
reigned among the «t*w. Here, as tho
«*• taMx*
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w
ness of Owen's resourceful mind. As
experiments proved, much to the
amazement of the entire crew, the ves
eel coaid be easily converted into an
aerial ship. Everything aboard the
Bon Hqmme was, one evening, unusu
ally serene. A fact that led to proph
ecies of a coming storm among the
crew. Ere the following morning the
wind raised to such a degree that the
crow began preparing for an ocean
storm. However, scarcely had the
preparations commenced when Owen
appeared on deck and informed the
crew oftheir useless exercise of muscle;
■"for,” said he, “at the flrst indication
of an impending storm we will simply,
eqil up among the clouds until the storm
oupsides.”
Soon the necessity for such action
became apparent; and, with a smile,
built on the tops of the clouds, was a
wide, level expanse, similar to a level
plain, which, lit up by the bright rays
of the sun, might have been considered
as the goldeu street of man’s conceived
paradise, Apparently astounded,, the
crew gazed at their surroundings—
gazed until the voice of Oweu com
manded action. Soon the ship was
speeding onward; while the crew dis
cussed the wonderfulprogressln ocean
transit,the marvelous success of O.wan’s
invention, md, inciden^yjjas^gbmcvs
having become monotonous the crew, I
leaving a watehman on duty, turhed in *
for repo sc. Tod was selected as the 1
first watch, but, thinking it advisable *
to auchor, as it were, until daylight, he *
stopped the ship. For a time it re- *
mained stationary, finally, the ship *
lurched forward, followed by an explo- -
sion. How it happened no one kuew, '
but on the following morning Tod Gray 1
found himself beside a piece of wreck- •
age, lying upon terra firma. For a few
moments Tod lay gazing at the azure
sky aud wondered where he was. *
Arising, he glanced around, but no
trace of a human beiug was visible. 1
Thinking others of the Bon Homme 1
crew might have been washed ashore,
as bimael f, be wandered along the shore,
alternately gazing seaward and search- 1
ing the shore for traces of others.
While engaged in the latter he suddenly
discovered a coat and hat banging upon
the limb of a tree. Picking it off tbe
limb be recognized it as Owen’s. Thus
inferriQg.tbatOawa. was-naac.Tod sat
down—aud was soon slumbering peace
fully.
“Wake up, Tod!” It was the voice
ofjOwen, wfii» returning from a short
reeonnoiter found Tod sieepiug beneath
the tree where his coat had hung. Tod
awoke, and after mutual thanks for
their narrow escape from death, they
began to discuss the present outlook.
“I’m sorry I ever left the land of my
nativity,” remarked Tod. “Well,’’re
plied Owen, “nothing ventured, I’m
told, there’s nothing gained. And
while I cannot consciously disagree
with the sentiment you’ve expressed,
1 yet, my principles of life contain the
principle of endeavoring to make
amends for visibly impressed errors,
• bat, at the same time, foregoing the
. useless, tendency among men to be
> sorry. However, suppose we proceed
• to explore this province whereon we
f are, at least, temporary sojourners.
Wending their way along the shore
the companions finally came to a nar
t row trail leading inland. Altho it ap
> peared as not having been used for
, months, still, they decided to follow the
s trail, thus hoping to discover the abode
i of some human being. An hour or two
i later they paused at a mountain gap.
* Gazing ahead of them they saw a wide
* valley, jn the center of it a wended
s its way, while on the bank of the river,
e a short distance from where they stood,
i” they spied a bamboo-looking cabin,
n Behind this, huge cliffs rose high in the
e air.
“Deserted!” exclaimed Tod as he and
Owen were inspecting the interior of
the cabiti. However, they continued
inspection. Lifting a trap door
at one side of the cabin, Owen drew
his breath softly, and pointing down
the opening whispered to Tod: "Look!'’
From where they stood both eould de
cern a small, narrow stairway, at the
loot of it were boxes aod barrels. This
pinch they easily discerned and readily
agreed to the cellar.
, At the foot of the stairs Tod paused
to push aside a box. in so doing he
upset it and was surprised to discover
several.candles and boxaa of matches.
candle he hold it tip while
both surveyed the interior of the cellar.
It was crowded with boxes and barrels;,
which, on examination, was found tp
contain rice and tea—Oriental edibles.
While wandering eboatthispeeaHar
“IT IS METER TOO LATE TO REMO.*’
STILLWATER, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24,1907
a subterranean passageway that led
toward the cliffs behind the cabin.
Picking np the candles and matches
Tod and Owen entered the passageway.
After a few paces they; came to an
ohhqnestatrway leading, apparently, up
into the ellff. Up this they ascended
until confronted by another door:
With considerable difficulty they forced
U open, crossed a narrow space, pulled
asWe a curtain, (Mid—the candles fell
from their hands. There, in a large
room, embellished with Oriental rugs,
Chili laced curtains, artistic tapestry of
various -designs, including Japanese
musical instruments, and other Japa
nese urnisbings—seated amidst.these
surroundings, by the side of a small
table and reading a book, was a young,
fair American girl, imagine then the
surprise of Tod and Owen. Otwervfhg
them the girl arose ami silently mo
tioned toward an adjoining room. This
they entered, soon followed by the girl.
After closing the door she said: “Sire,
your presence is a surprise to me. 1
presume you are Americans, aud, may
I ask, what brings you to this island?”
“Madam,” replied Owen, “we are
Americans, aud while bent upon an
exploration voyage we were ship
wrecked. By a miracle cast upon the
shore of this isiaud. Now, may we
iuqulre, why are you in this place?”
“Three years ago,” she began,“l went <
to Korea as a missionary. Later I was
selected to instruct the children of a
prominent Japanese residing iu Korea.
While so doing one evening, 1 over
heard a plot unfolded that, if carried
into effect, was ctattned to cause con
tinual strife and.consternation among
the Chrj&tianlzed.'pepple. It was a plot
to promote a glfhritic warfare of the
Asiatic tribes against the European
nations, later to include the Americas
and tributary islands, The conspirators
planned to capture tbe fortress at Gi
braltar as a preliminary declaration of
hostilities. The whole scheme was
carefully discussed, but alas! 1 was un
fortunately discovered and suspected
of evesdropping. To dispose of me was
the question the plotters debated, and,
as a result, £ was forced to accompany
General Tokio to this forsaken island.
Duriug the voyage to this place the
general quietly informed me that my
life was entirely in his hands aud that
if I consented to wed him I should
live, otherwise—4nd he shrugged his
shoulders meaningly." I consented with
the stipulation that our marriage should
uot occur until Gibraltar was captured.
Thus I have remained here seven long,
weary months, hoping to escape. Every
month several cargoes of munitions
for the contemplated war are landed on
this island aud bidden ia caves. To
morrow;more supplies w|ll arrive, aud
six weeks from today the Asiatics in
tend to undertake to capture one of the
world’s strongest fortresses. Now, as*
an American, l appeal to yon for ad
vice, assistance, to prevent the succees
of the contemplated hostilities.”
“How far are «e from Gibraltar?"
, asked Owen. The girl replied: ‘ About
fifty miles, and . flready a tunnel has
i been completed from here to tbe fort.
Ail that they-ednaider necessary is to
: land an army on this island aud, pro
! eeeding thru the tunnel suddenly dur
i ing the night, enter the fortress and
- capture it. The tnnuei,” she added,
r “proceeds directly from the small cabin
i below.”
The last trip with supplies had been
completed; a few weeks later Orientals
would be landed on the barren island
—then—bat in the meantime Tod,
Owen and Nellie Allen (as she intro
duced herself) were alone to face the
situation.. Scbeme after scheme was
debated, dually Owen declared his inten
tion of proceeding tin t. the uuder-water
tunnel to the T i<>;t, to nUrm those
stationed then*' «f the impending
danger. However, Tod and JNelHe de
dtgid to aceompany him. ‘Taking a
supply of food end materia: (or. light
lug purposes, they entered tie tunnel.
two days, they imagined, bad passed
agay, when Owen, hi^the^lead.
the girl beheld a scene that startled
them; Iu one side of the ingeniously
ereated tunnel was a window, and by
the feeble rays of their candies the ad
venturers could disetrn what appeared
to be a large room. Breaking a win
dow they entered. It proved to be a
library, well stocked with books, writ
teh in strange characters, bat evidently
written prior to our-conceived ideas of
the period of the creation. Further
investigation proved that they had
chanced into a large castle, lii another
rooffe-they* discovered images and hand
wprk Wrought in precious metals—
verily a hidden fortune. Finally they
returned to tbe tunnel and slowly, care
fully, resumed, as they th«ir
way towards Gibraltar. However,
another two days elapsed when com
pletly astounded they stepped back
into the room from which they started.
Disheartened and discouraged, Tod
and Nellie were on the verge of des
pair. “Cheer up,” said Owen, “for one
Can never tell what the tide of life will
bring to one.” On the following day
the three wended their way to the
shore of the island, where to their mu
tual surprise and joy they found the
Bon Homme anchored. Shortly after
wards they were aboard the vessel and,
subject to Owen’s commands, the ves
sel was headed toward Gibraltar. It
developed that Tod and Oweu had
fallen asleep on deck aud when the
vessel lurched forward some powder
exploded, causing several pieces of the
deck to be thrown into tbe ocean—in
cidently Tod and Owen. Arriving at
the fort, Nellie, Tod and Owen* inter
viewed the commander-in-chief and
laid before him the knowledge they
possessed of the contemplated warfare.
******
In a large room of one of the build
ings of the Gibraltar fortress, some
twenty representatives of various
(Continued ott page four.)
The Formation
of Republics.
The causes that lead to the formation
of a republic are usually tyranny and
arrogance, but sometimes other causes
' lead to their culmination. We shall
endeavor to give a brief synopsis of how
1 some of the republics Of tbe world were
' inaugurated. As we are familiar with
tbe incidents that led to the rise of our
' own republic and the men who played
’ a prominent part in its creation, we
r shall pass it by and ideal'with others
1 more remote.
History records the fact that before
it is possible for the birth of a republic
the sacrifice of thousands of lives on
the battle field seems to be necessary
before the minority can realize their
hopes and aspirations. However, this
is not always the case. ‘ In 1068 b. c.,
Athens, by a remarkable turn of events,
succeeded in forming a republic with
out declaring internecine war. King
Codrus became involved in a quarrel
with the Dorians. War was declared
by the two countries. Before a battle
had been fought, however, the oracles
were consulted, in those days every
thing was left to the oracles. They de
clared that the victory ought to belong
to those whose king was slain by the
enemy. This prophesy was accepted
by both the Athenians and the Dori
ans.
The oracles of the Greeks were wise
in their generation. It would have
been rather difficult to foretell a victory;
jso, in order to maiutain their prestige
for supreme wisdom, they evaded the
issue. No doubt these oracles conclud
ed that the people who lost their king
would be ipiMrable enough without
also losing their liberty.. Therefore,
they rendered 4 just and satisfactory
decision; King Codrus, rulerof Athens,
heard of the remarkable' declaration.
He at once became Inspired with a lofty
motive. He.bknsetf wohld sacrifice
his life in order tpaave hie people the
horrors of war. Disguising, himself as
a peasant he ent«as J&e Dorian ranks,,
J9Wft with otth.
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soldiers, and was slain. Whan the
Dorians found oat that they had killed
King Codrus, they were terribly fright
ened and left the battle Held without
striking a blow, thus fuddling the proph
esy of the oracles. The Athenians
deeply deplored the loss of their ruler,
but when they realized the self-sacri
ficing motive that prompted him to
give up his life, they at once abolished
kingship, saying that no one was worthy
to take his place. What a magnificent
act of gratitude! Where can we find
anything to equal such devotipu V in
conferring such an imperishable honor
on King Codrns the Athenians demon
strated their worthiness to be called
great. Athens was then governed, by
archons, a republican form of, govern
ment, for. one thousand years. She
then lost her supremacy to theHomans
and other invaders.
Altho Roman history offers no anal
ogy Xo the foregoing, the period in
which Tarquiu the Proud ruled is suf
ficiently interesting to be embraced.in
this article. This ruler was exjled i,n
509 b. c , and Rome remained a republic
from that time until 27 b. c. The Ro
mans deposed their king because of bis
profligacy, and were so sick of the king
business that they would not permit
Tarquiu the Proud’s successor to rule
over them. This kiug’s reign was one
of tyranny, lie became enamored of
the wife of one of hiß soldiers who was
away from Rome tightiug the battlea
of his country. Her name was Lucre
tia, and she was one of the most beau
tit ul matrons in the Roman empire.
One day Tarqnin entered her home and
ravished her. Sue was so deeply iu
censed at the kingVeoaduet that the
committed suicide, leaving a letter ad
dressed to her husband. When herd
turned and found htsadorabfe Lucretia
dead be was almost frantic with grief;
and when he read his wife's letter in
which she told of the king's perfidy,
he Bwore a mighty oath that Tarquin
the Proud should die ere the day had
paused. His friends interferred; they
held a meeting and discussed the af
fair. This meeting was rather pro
longed and heated, but when it ad
journed the fate of Tarquin the Proud
was decided upo». He was exiled, and
threatened with instant death if he
ever entered Home. On deposing their
discredited king, the Homans appoint
ed Junius Brutus aud Tarquinius Col
latiuus as consuls. Shortly after this
epoch-making event in the history of
Rome, Tarquin induced a neighboring
race to take tip his cause and wkge
war against the R tmans, promising
them rich rewards it successful. ' The
king and his allies were defeated and
thenceforth ceased the struggle to re
gain his lobt kingship. Rome remained
a republic until Octavus Caesar was
crowned emperor.
The establishing of republicism In
France bas few parallels in history,for
it differs materially from the two inci
dents we have cited iu the foregoing.
An orgy of blood followed; bate and
revenge ran amuck; the people, after
being held iu subjection by years of
cruelty and insufferable arrogance at
the hands of the nobility, destroyed
everything that belonged to their for
mer masters. After the leaders had
spent their fury on the nobler, they or
ganized a republic; but it was as short
lived as the republic which Olivier
Cromwell attempted to engraft on
British soil. However, after the rest
less Napoleon had ceased his tnrjbn
lent career, republicism in Franck be
came rather erratic. Today the repub
lic is as firmly established as is that
of the United States. -
(n a future paper We shall endeavor,
to give a concise sketch of the repub
lic that I.ycurgus founded in Sparta
about the ninth century b. c. This has
been considered one of the most pecul
iar antP Quixotic governmental the
World bas ever seen, individualism
was abolished aa decisively ay the meet
pronounced socialist could wish, and it
seemed to agree with the Spartans* for
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