-f> >°^ *V , C ,v **0* "°* 4 o ^ *W?2 <#- *%H\v > V ^' o v ^ 4* ^1 >o .# .** /A *W <0 r O > *W 4 o »■* '+ 4 c °* V"' *° nv V" . • • »- c\ A* ■'- .'fStei*- ^ J* '■.♦* ^ tt ^ : V SHOT ON DUTY _£® t _ 1~ — y- s — i, j s l CONTENTS: THE INSTEP THE SOUL THE HEAL MISGEL. EYE EPIGRAMS DUTY EPIGRAMS DICTIONARY OF EYE PREFACE "This plan is reeommendt neither to BLIND approbation, nor to BLIND reprobation. 7 '-^-Jay. ' ' I value myself upon sympathy ; I hate and despise myself for envy. ' '■- Karnes. The Author presents this booklet with the sincere hope that it wil be treasured as a memento of the first history of the new city of Rockport, Indiana. Some declare that if the whisky element had not made Rockport a city, Thomas Franklin Sessor would stil see. Selah ! Mr. Sessor has a lenient hart. He workt for $50 a month. He now asks no large pension, but prefers to make his way so long as possibl. He wil hereafter contribute regularly to THE PRESIDENT. His articles wil deal with the growth of inner emotions, minus thre chief senses, — sight, taste,' scent. We shal be thankful for kind words, but also grateful for practical orders ! "A" President sits at Washington; but "THE" President gets "proof" in Indiana. Illustrated on 6x9 halftone white paper and bound in colored Leatheret. We have, for the next few years, many notabl articles from famous people who know how to do things. Help us make THE PRESIDENT a "Masterful, Moral, Mind Magazine," by voting your yearly subscription. You can get this book, ' ' Shot On Duty, ' ' only as a premium Avith THE PRESIDENT, one year for $1. Hand your subscription to Mr. Sessor, or mail to : THE PRESIDENT PUBLISHING CO., Rockport, Ind. (All the engravings in this book were made by The Knoxville Engraving Co., Knoxville, Tenn.). Photo ly J. M. Killian. THOMAS FRANKLIN SESSOR (BEFORE SHOT.) TESTIMONIALS ® @ @ April 13th, 1909. $. COOK, The President, Kockport, Ind. Your Masterful, Moral Mind Magazine is always read with zest. I wil vote for the Indiana President every year and shal get my Official Brothers to help you win ! ' ' Shot On Duty ' ' is chuck f ul of vital truth ; I shal keep it as a little reference book. My regards to Mr. Sessor. An order is here- with sent. j Signed : FRED. H. BRENNECKE, Chief Police, Evansville, Ind. "$am Rud Cook's books are alright, .but they would be much better if he would not use so many sequipedalian (big) words." — J. T. H. The other side : ' ' Sam Rud Cook 's essays are good stuf . ' ' — ELBERT HUBBARD. "Formerly I only knew 700 words, but by constantly reading your maga- zine I think I now know about 19,000 words. Keep up the battle, for it makes me go to the Dictionary and lern life." — R. W. HOLMES, Plymouth, Mass. $AMUEL RUD COOK, Lit, B., Rockport, Ind. May 31, 1909. My dear Mr. Cook : I have read the copy of your book "Shot On Duty." You have made an entertaining and didatic treatise out of a very sad subject. I am proud to know that your skil as an Author comes largely thru the thoro course you took in our Oriental University, which confered on you the degree Bachelor of Literature. As a modest Automath you have again proven that it is not necessary to spend hundred of dollars at College for an education, if one has the Abe Lincoln grit to slowly but practically accomplish his aim amid many handicaps. Ever kindly your friend, Prof. H. P. HOLLER, Ph. D., S. T. D., President Oriental University, Alexandria, Va. EYE EPIGRAMS t^* e^* £fr (Ein fester Blick, ein- holier Mut, die sincl zu alien Zeiten gut.) "A steady eye and lofty mind are always of a helpful kind." — Bechstein. ((5* t^* x2r* "What do I gain from a man into Avhose eyes I cannot look when he is speaking, and the mirror of whose soul is veiled to me by a pair of glases which dazzle me?" — Goethe. t5* (5* o?* "The eye by which I see God is the same eye by which he sees me." — Schemer. c£* (,5* *5* "The begining of creation (in man's soul as in Nature) is light. Til the eyes have vision, the whole members are in bonds. ' '■ — Goethe. ^» (5* c5* " 'Tis only in the forehed Nature plants the watchful eye; the' back, without defense, must find its shield in man's fidelity." — Schiller. (£% 5^5% t£% "The animals look for man's intentions right into the eyes. Even a rat, when you hunt him and bring him to bay, looks you in the eye. ' ' — H. Powers.- c5* t^* ^* (Cieco el'occhio, se l'animo e distratto.) "The eye sees nothing if the mind is distracted. "—Italian Prov. (£• c?» t?* (Die Augen glauben sich selbst, die Ohren andern Lenten.) "The eyes believe themselves, the ears other people." — German Prov. t^» d?* ti?* "We are creatures who look before and after. The more surprising that we do not look around a little, and see what is pasing under our eyes." — Carlyle. i&* <&* t£r* "The eyes, like sentinels, occupy the highest place in the body." — Cicero. t5* (£* ^?* "Whatever of goodnes emanates from the soul, gathers its soft halo from the eyes ; and if the hart be the lurking place of crime, the eyes are sure to betray the secret." — F. Sanders. e^* d5* e£* "Take thou the beam out of thine eye; then shalt thou see clearly to take the mote out of thy brother 's. ' ' — Jesus. (£w &5* a?* "God has made man to take pleasure in the use of his eyes, wits and body; and the foolish creature is continually trying to live without looking at any- thing, without thinking of anything and without doing anything." — Ruskin. Photo by J. M. Killian. SAMUEL RUD COOK EDITOR THE PRESIDENT. AUTHOR: "SHOT ON DUTY," "TRITE TRIOLETS," ETC SHOT ON DUTY THE INSTEP 'We shal expres our DUTY in the EYE. "— Shakesperq. r A Policeman makes ungarded beats wherein he steps." WRITING of Thorwaldsen, the great artist, Elbert Hub- bard says: "The realbusi- nes-like biografer begins by teling when his subject ''FIRST saw light." But the hero of this es- say makes us commenc by recording when an officer "saw the LAST light." When a person is born, cuts no figure; but a fellow losing his sight is nearly so pityful as when number- les beings have no insight into things. Soon after Mr. Thomas Franklin Sessor was shot totaly blind by the Lana'don boys in Rockport, Indiana, on the night of January 23, 1909, I wrote to Sessor asking him to mail me one of his photos to be used in a newspaper article. He had not only lost both eyes by that fateful shot, but his physical na- ture was considerably wretcht, so he replied : "I can 't now reeal who Samuel Rud Cook is, unles it be one of Uncle John Cook's sons; if so, I think you are alright and I wish you would not only write the newspaper feature, but please publish a book about this shooting AFFRAY ; becaus there are so many versions of it that I want the people to know just how it happened, and that people wil have something by which to remember me." Therefore, so soon as I was able to see Mr. Sessor, we pledged our labors and hope. But I should state at once that the episode was no "Shooting AF- FRAY," becaus, an "AFFRAY" is a quarrel where one .fellow is to blame so much as another; but this was a "defens of public, without regard for self." I then askt Mr. Sessor one fact: "Do you now harbor any malice against the Langdon boys?" (This Avas after the trial.) Poor Sessor lifted his watery emp- ty eye-lashes, his lips grew blue as his hand quivered while it lay upon the faithful cane, which so often is called upon to guide the infirm. Finally, he spoke : ' ' Samuel, is that a Lawyer's point in my case, or may I trust you?" This he evidently im- pugned to assertain some confidence in humanity, for he thot all the world was against him. I dare say, to him, Sidney's phrase came close and trite: ' ' No dreams, but visions strange. ' ' Evading, or perhaps forgeting, I advised : ' ' Only tel me, shal I write this case up from a MALICE STAND- POINT, or do you believe there is no antinomist in all the world?" "If I understand you right," he aspirated, as he put his fingers to his ded-eyes to impres the meaning, "I believed no person commits wrongs knowingly; and as to malice towards the Langdon boys God knows I never had any hatred in my hart for any- body ! ' ' Then he laid his hed wearily SHOT ON DUTY upon an old table, and a world of thots must liave daslit thru his crani- um. Sympathetic swallows filled my throat, as I studied Sessor's big badge displaying these words : ' ' CITY MAR- SHAL. ' ' I thot ' Ah, fate, how cruel ! No badge, title, nor glitter defends poor, mortal man who trys to do some special duty in the path of life.' If a man must be shot, it is some cheer to fall, like a soldier, while on duty: Men are SHOT on duty, wo- men get POWDER for beauty. Nei- ther makes either nice, tho the words rime— the fact is CRIME! The Queen of England took a cup- and-saucer. That's a way of drink- ing deLIGHT! But Sessor is no drinker and his cognomen is not pro- nounced Saucer, but Sessor. Frank people are seldom murdered, but they may be made to die by inches, when enemies won't obey the rule. Frank, from Latin, means "Ere.". Take "RANK," prefix F, the beginning of Friend, then you get the Frank name, and to have fre friends one must be frank. The first part of the name Frank is "Fra," which typifies "Brother;" hence, he who is frank in expression, or acts, always gains a brother. Yet Frank Sessor got the deth of his eyes and the tax of darknes. The Bible speaks of a "douting Thomas," but Thomas Franklin Ses- sor never douted the friendship of fellowmen. Frankalmoigne was a tenure by which a priest would hold lands, for which, in exchang, he prayed for the donor. Now most people frankly pray and work out their own salva- tion — even the blind Frank Sessor. The candid man never did anything he must conseal; the frank person never wil do something which needs revelation. In "Who's Who in America," I find no Sessor cognomen; but "I do read of five DISTINGUISH^ Lang- dons — it's a horror to Bluff City minds that some Langdons' were not, of sins, EXTINGUISHT before they found out "Who's Who at Jefferson- viile ! ' ' Some declare that Mr. Sessor has RECOVERED! But, if eternal-dark- pitch is recovery, then, Oh, sweet God, in the game of pop-eyes-out, and the stumble-around-on-justice, poke us al far away FROM recovery! I would rather SEE LIGHT than Marshal a Duty in any Darktown Sillysismus! Mayors come and go; but slayers stay so long as eyes, "which Tennyson, calls "homes of silent prayer," may bo pluged out with a 38 bore i'or only $100, plus two years. . This is no tame sermon, nor a sen- sational lecture — it aims to be, a plain essay regarding th« essence of an in- cident that has had no precedent in this neck- 'o-the-woods, and we hope it cannot have, in the future, a co- incident. It is echoed that one -of the Lang- don boys swore he would not only kil a few more Rockport people, when he returns, but he Avil make 'MUSH out of $am Rud Cook's hed!' I am sorry he read some of the proof of this book, but we are told "the proof is in the puding. " This book is not writ-en to help clam the Langdon boys, then defy them to get up again. Far from it ! It is simply fact, as a les- son to others; and no one should rashly object to being a good lesson for the betterment of a community. Jessie James, Pat Crowe, and many others, have reformt, and our J:aith is strong in the Langdon lads. Yet, like Attorney Heney, of California, we won't accept threats, and we eagerly await the MUSH, or PUDING, which- ever it shal be. But though we can digest mush, puding is too sweet for our dyspeptic stomach. The other Langdon boy has promist to lead a better life and be a "very WARM friend" to Sessor: It is wise THE INSTEP JIM LANGDON to observ that some WARMNES makes it too hot for mortal eyes. But we al wil hope for the best, and await to SEE! "Imagination is the RETINA of the univers. ' ' — Ruskin. Thomas Franklin Sessor was born on John Schofield's farm, Clay Town- ship, Spencer County, Indiana, on the 7th day of June, 1870, just thre miles from Buffaloville. There he lived with his mother, but workt for neighbors for smal amounts so soon as he was four years oM. When 14 bronze counts had flusht his face he came to Rockport, where he lived ever since, excepting six years when he resided four years in Evansville, one year at Vincennes, and one year at Caneville, Ky. Sessor is 6 ft. 3 1 /? inches high and weight 200 pounds May 17, 1909. With all his physical strength he is badly handicapt, for it is even difficult for a man with two good eyes to make a SHOT ON DUTY living. In 1901 Sessor saved the life of a two year old boy as a drunkard held up the child and was about to dash it on the brick-pavement. Sessor no- ticed this, heroicaly ran near, while his face was white as a sacred swan. He grappled firmly the wobbling man preventing him from dashing the lad 's brains onto the pavement. Later, when put upon the Police force, he saw a tipsy fellow racing a horse down Main street one summer day. At the corner of the Farmers Bank thre year old Oleza Darneal was standing. Sessor instantly be- held the deth of that boy in that col- lision. Deftly he sprang, grabed the boy, then whirled aside with his precious trophy, the hubs of the rig brushing him as he struggled away, the youth anchored safe in Sessor 's big arms. There are now no more grateful parents in Rockport, and Charles Darneal, the father, offered to reward Sessor, but he would not take it, claiming that nothing but his sworn duty had been performt. But these are enuf to illustrate his every watchful, thoro service. Sessor was a 'Peace Officer,' he never swore and always made his arrests quietly. Had he used the bludgeon he might have made jelly of some beds, or shot the Langdons. He believed that 'rulers who kil their enemies are teaching murder as a fine art, and fixing private individuals in the be- lief that for them to kil is according to higher law.' There are thousands of opinions ex- prest by the man-who-knows-kow-af- ter-things-happen, — how he, or they would have done in Sessor 's case. Many of these people are like the Rev. Mr. Davidson of Washington, Ind., who told Chief Police Corning that if the star and club were de- livert to him, he would clean the town up in thirty days; but when Corning agreed, the 'Rev-end' refused to tackle the job. It is easy to move tin soldiers, but to study out the checkert board of life in advance is quite an- other problem. Compare Sessor with the coward on the Police Force of New York, who, after being called to duty, ran into a millinery store and allowed a brutal man to shoot two innocent persons. This New York police Avas then brot to trial, his brass buttons were cut off and he was kickt down the lofty steps of The Justice Temple. Had Sessor sneakt off and not made an attempt to arrest the Langdons, after no help was availabl, you would not care to help him, and I dare say he would not feel like grasping your hand of friendship. Sessor says: "I would rather try to look at a person with blind eyes, than to shut good eyes and sneakingly gaze at former friends. Some" say they would have acted different than I did, but my dear people, there is not one thing of which I am ashamed in' this case, for I positively know I did my duty and none could have done better than I did tinder all the circumstances." Some su2,'2,'ested to Sessor that he sue the City of Rockport for $5000; but Frank is frank, and reasonable even in this. He says he knows the better clas of people would have to pay the most of this, so he prefers to fight his own way, for many busi- nes men say 'Sessor shal never suf- fer want.' Pliny the Younger tels in his letter to Tacitus (VI. 16) that, when the eruption began, his uncle ordered out a light swift galley to take him from Misenum, where the Roman fleet lay, nearer to the place of eruption. While so doing, he" received a note from a Roman lady in a villa on the coast below the Vesuvius to send her help. This perhaps was the first intimation to Pliny that the matter was becom- ing dangerous. His nephew then says that his uncle thereupon changed his THE INSTEP plan and ordered out the quadrirerues, — i.e., large galleys with four banks of oars, — in order not only to bring help to that lady, but to many; for he adds that the attraetiv shore was crowded with inhabitants. Pliny the Elder, then, as is wel known, lost his life as a victim of his curiosity and desire of knowledg in going too near to the vicinity of the eruption. "He hastened there,''' his nephew says, "from where others fled." According to the report of his nephew, Pliny cannot be accused for not doina,' much to help his fellow-men, and only in- cidentally picking up some fugitives. He surely did all he could; for his nephew is a short letter, which he mainly wrote to satisfy the wish of Tacitus concerning the deth of his uncle, very probably only toucht up- on the help Pliny brot to those that needed it. Surely, Ave under a Christian na- tion are wiling to help the man who, like Pliny, rusht to help where others fled. THE SOUL (SESSOR'S STORY) ' Yet stab at thee who wil No stab the soul can kil. ' ' Sir John Davis. YEARS ago, one of the Lang- don boys recited in school, ' ' Remember Boys Make Men." But sometimes gassoons don't remember, then start too soon in making men, or ' ' infant industries," braggadocio and-rhodo- montade tatterdemalions, — long before they have enuf dough to raise respect- ability thru some moral enterprise. I was unable to attend the trial, held at Roekport, February 13; but the attorney and Sessor vouch for what I write. A short narration by Sessor follows : "An officer knows not what mo- ment his life wil be shot out." "True," affirmed I, comparing Homer 's Odyssey : "A knotty stake than aiming at his bed Downdropt he groaning, and the spirit fled." "Yes, it was a knotty arm which aimed at my lied, and I fell groan- ing; but, thank Jehovah, the spirit ain't dec! yet. "Now, I don't want to dictate, but we must get the particulars of this case — " ' ' Sure, ' ' interrupted I, ' ' Particular Produces Public Peace!" Again, he started: "I want to be so particular with the details of this book as I was in the performance of my official duties. ' ' I only know the Lan°don boys l wo years BACK" — "and one night from the FACE," I suggested, as Sessor got deeply interested, almost l.i Lifting his troubles. ' ' People Avho haye lived here all their lives, have talkt in crowds where the Lang'don boys were, yet, now they claim they never knew' those boys. The reason is, becaus the Langdons never converst, except with a few pals. "Many a night I have stood a square off to watch Jim, Dick and Bill Langdon, while they stood vis-a- vis for so long as an hour at a time, seemingly ploting. As I would pas I never could get an inkling of a sup- posed cacology. ■ ' ' Yet, I did not know, until the fateful night, that people generally were so afraid of these boys, that they stayed aloof fearing I- would deputiz them to help arrest the Lang- dons, then later get killed. For peo- ple now say that these desperados had threatened to murder Mayor Walker, Squire Jones, Prosecutor Savage, and several others. "I also found out afterwards that when Bill Langdon cut the throat of Sam Young's boy, Langdon laid out in the woods like a lion in Africa afraid of Roosevelt. Thus, Langdon finally THE SOUL 11 crost the Ohio river to Martin Machel- fresh's, and so awaited Young's re- covery. ' ' Two "weeks before I was shot I received a telephone call, from Pow- er's Corner, stating' that Bill Langdon was about to kil a fellow out there. It was tipt that Langdon had only a knife; but later T discovered that he had a gun ready for my bowles; so he might have killed me that night, while I approach! him. ' ' On the following Saturday night, a week before I was shot, Atlas Clark, who runs the Third Street Saloon, sent word to Mayor Walker that the Marshal was needed on Third Street, to which place I hastened. "Bill Langdon had been there, flashing a "gun.. When Clark told him to give up the weapon, or go out, Langdon threatened that the Saloonist was not game if he would not go out into the street to fight the matter thru. "Anthony Tignor claimed that Langdon was drunk and he (Tignor) had taken him home. But as we went out of the Hell Hole we met Bill Langdon coming back, with his hands in his pocket on his gun. He made an effort to fire, but I grabed his hand and got the revolver, then fined him $19.50 which he could not pay, on default of which he was lockt up. "While in jail he broke two win- dow PANES, with his fist. His fa- ther Avas PAINED enuf to stay the fine of his wayward son. That lookt nice for a clear view, and I thot I had aired Bill some. "I never saw Bill again, until the darkest night of my life, January 23, 1909. The "23" was unlucky to my sight, wil it be to Roosevelt, Avho left for a DARK Continent two months later? "That night Jim and Bill Langdon had gone to the Powers last chance, to put bird-seed into the cerebrum of Joe Meredith. But Joe had shut his door early and went home; yet, if it had not been for the boys loafing a- round the corner, Langdons' would have carried out their threats, as several attempts were made to dis- turb the Meredith domicile. All this I only heard later. The Langdons' then came upon Main street, and I ordered them to go home, but Bill persisted, tho Jim seemed to be wil- ing. .' ' I met them again in ten minutes, slashing their knives, trying their best to cut some innocent little boys, among whom was Harry Daniels and Cliff Prather (white), and Leo John- son (colored). ' ' They passt along Third street and knockt their little Brother Henry, age 13, from the cannon standing on the Court House terrace. I chased them. "The Langdons' ran and dodged into the Veranda Tonic Parlor. Then Harry Daniels told me of the troubl Bill and Jim had; so I laid-in-wait until they came out of the dizy-hed creator, 'for I realized that I had to lock them up, or they would kil some one that night. "Shortly they came out of the sa- loon, then walkt towards the river. I decided to watch until I could get close enuf to arrest them. They stood on Second and Main for fifteen min- utes, then returned, to the Veranda, the main Hotel in the city, where I arrested both." Here Sessor drew a long breth as inspiration for a retrospect. ' ' I found an open knife in Bill Langdon 's pocket. I got Roy Fry to hold Bill while I searcht Jim; but I found nothing. I quickly told Pry to help me lock up the Langdons', but Pry protested, on color lines, that his upper-story might some day be made into fried-gravy, if he assisted. ' ' After weiging the matter mercy- fully, I thot' I was man enuf to get the mes to the stew-box, or, per- chance meet some wel-bred, helpful 12 SHOT ON DUTY BILL LANGDON WHO DID THE SHOOTING man in the street." "So with Milton yon knew: " 'Hesperus, who's office is to bring Twilight upon the earth.' " "No. I never knew Hesperus, but I wanted to do my whole duty; so alone, I proeeded to bring quiet to the dusky hours of Rockport, " Ses- sor grilled back, geting keen on some logical terms of English. ' * I saw men a block away, to whom I advanct; however, I lackt twelv feet of making my goal. I had both pseudo-men by the shoulder, while each one puled with tauromachian force, all the time, trying to break loose. "Bill got possession of my mace, which had been strapt to my wrist. Suddenly, Jim halted, and blubered: 'Why do you, hie, arrect us?" I gave him the cond to move on, saying, 'ar- guments only WHET the bone of contention. ' • Jim blustered, that 'they would WET my bed-pan with brimstone by intention,' then he THE SOULf 13 drew his hand back as tho he intend- ed to stab me with some secret knife. Knives were always their weapons. I did not think they had guns. Fear of the knife was one of the causes why I was shot. I nabed his arm, jerkt it down, but saw he had no dagger; therefore I deftly turnd my scrutiny to Bill. Being so busy I had forgoten my gun in my overcoat pocket, where I had put it for handy reference; but I did not think it" necessary to resort to 'powder-and- lead,' in a tussle with boys. Some- how Bill secretly had swipt the ' cali- ber-defence, ' and put it into his right- hand-hip-pocket. -'I, again, askt them to move on, as I pusht Jim along. Bill, who held, with his left hand, my club, all that time, now slipt around directly in front of me, while Jim began to snivle something like this, interspers- ed with chocolate cholloquialism : ' In the name of Almight, and the game of Dunite, hie, this string of goods must be rammed up tonight ! ' He drew the gun; then I made a terrific lurch, and with my tied-right-hand I knockt the fire-arm up, the first bulet going wild. Just as I came within an ace of snatching the gun, Jim, who had a tiger-hold on my left-ulna, gave me a suden jab causing me to mis the gun. Then I flincht. Then he fired, striking me in the back of my right eye, the ball coming out an inch and a half behind the left eye, between the zygomatic muscle and the vascular membrane lining the sclerotic, almost severing the ventricle of the larynx. ' ' Obsesing my right mind, — no en- cephalitis, I went down upon the ground to see if Bill would stop his shooting, as I saw they had the best of me. I only could do as Sir Walter Raleigh, who laid his bed upon the block, then bravely acquiesced : ' There now, take that, it is all I have left to give you.' Sure, the present brute fired thre more shots. By this time I bea-an to feel that the first two were very fatal. Quickly I felt in my pockets to satisfy my consciens that it was my gun that did the gehennish work, for I did not know how soon I might be unconscious. One shot put both my eyes out forever! The sec- ond shot made a deep gash in my forehed, all the others (thre) whized by. 1 ' The odd feature is that the same day I askt Squire Jones to trade me some of the new, dry catridges in Bill Langdon's pistol for some of mine, which were wet, and the Squire con- sented. Thus, you see, " I was shot with my own gun, but loaned bullets: Moral — Never borrow even a shot ! Had I kept my damp cartridges I may not have been prepared for duty, but the Langdons' could not have robed me of the greatest beauty in life, — SIGHT ! "Never again, shal I see any face upon earth. The last objects I be- held were Mr. William Langdon's face and my gun. "I lay there thre minutes. Mr. Whit Bise was the first man to come to me,, and he, with several other men, led me to Dr. Lang's office. After walking up stairs I sat down and in ten minutes had thre Doctors; but by that time I was so weak I barely could raise my hand. My pulse had dropt to 36 beats : This was the first time I made only a few beats while I held office," Sessor writingly con- doled, as he smiled for the first time. "By my moving around, after I was shot, my hart was kept beating, . thus saving my life. But- the real battle has only begun." These latter words Mr. Sessor ut- tered with an emotion that makes all the world kin. Analogy in Holy Writ testifies: "A cloud RECEIVED Him out of their sight," but in Sessor 's plight, the tragedy reads: "A cloud (darknes) DELIVERT him unto their sight. ' ' After wiping his eye spaces, Sessor concluded: "I know a few more 14 SHOT ON DUTY things, but I dare not tel them. I solemly swear I was not warned by the lower clas of people who now boast they did warn me. The short of the truth is, that I never could be 'TLPT' for vice privileges. I wasn't shot by ACCIDENT, I was shot on PLOT ! But may God let me live to have no malis for any person. Friends, this is a terrible shock and I may never get over it; but if I do, it can 't be soon. Yet, if I could get one of my eyes again, I would go right back on the force, for I love the work ; however, as that can't be, I wish all my friends, and especially Police Of- ficers, would call on me often to cheer the dark, dismal dungeon hours." Mr. Eigenman says he heard the Langdons' swear: "Sessor shal never beat us over our heels with his billy ! ' ' Then they rusht to the river, while Eigenman yelled: "What's the trou- ble?" They darted towards Eigen- man, as one twirled Sessor's gun on a finger, gnashing back: "What in the damnation of this creations groans and the cremation of your bones, is it to you? Do you want some of it?" Eigenman jokingly says that he then thot he ought to be in Boston where plentyful street corners serv as quick protection. Louis Savage, the Prosecuting At- torney, was informt, who hurried to the scene of crime, investigated, then rusht to the river wel armt; but dur- ing the twenty minutes the Langdons ' had time to proceed half way acros the crystal ! Ohio. Savage returnt, then messages were sent to all sur- rounding towns, offering $100 reward for the capture of the would-be frat- icides. It was later learnt that only Bill went to Kentucky, and he loosent Ferryman Miller's skift in such a hurry that he found no oars, so had to paddle over by hand. They were great water-dogs and fishermen. Big, Tom Ellis was sworn in to take Sessor's place; George Fleeger, Ses- sor's half-brother, who had been Marshal a year ago, refused on ac- count of Sessor's serious condition. Fleeger secured an ambulans, then took his brother home. 'Sessor testifies : ' ' Charles Mayhall, the owner of the ded wagon, told me later that the Doctor declared I would die before they got me home. My bed was roaring like a -30,000 horse power engin with the govener belt thrown off! I kept asking the Doctor wheth- er he couldn't ease my hed, but he thot I was talking out of reason, yet I was conscious. Fully 300 people gathered that morning at my home, all eager to see me and find out how it happened. ' ' Word was soon received that one of the Langdons' were in Rockport; so Marshal Ellis, Sheriff Thrasher and George Fleeger put up a good watch, while Sessor struggled for life as he lay in his bed with a weeping mother near. Robert Bartley- spied Jim Langdon in the Lobby of the Veranda Hotel, so he levelt his gun on Jim, then marcht him out into the street where Sheriff Thrasher, after being notified, arrested Langdon. At the advise of Louis Savage, Langdon was placed in the Rockport jail for that night, as Jim was only an accomplice in the crime, his brother Bill having clone the shooting. But Langdon evidently saw the ghosts of the two negroes who were taken from the same eel, several years ago, and lyncht, becaus they murdered barber Simmons for a few dollars. So Langdon at once remarkt that 'if the people wanted to mob him the Sheriff should unlock ■ the -door and let them hang him on Sunday morn- ing, January 24th.' People make a practis of burying the ded on the Lord's Day, but here is a jail-bird who preferecl to sing the first song in BZeven on the Christian Sabbath. Everybody trys to save time nowa- days, and superstitions reigns ! THE SOUL 15 '- -3mm^ -^| / ; fl '::l':'./%m^^^^^^% PROC. WRIGHT WALKING NEAR WHILE BILL LANGDON CREEPS FROM WASHOUT UNDER BIG ROOTS OP KENTUCKY TREE. The next day Jim was hurried to the Vanderburg County Bastile for safe keeping, where he read the Bible until brot to Roekport for trial. In the meantime, Proek Wright, Tom Ellis, and Ellis Thrasher, the Sheriff, brave Hoosiers, were pursuing Bill over in that land where they sing without notes, "My Old Kentucky Home." Bill evidently had no NOTES, nor could he find one of those palacial homes, while the fine, fast horses also seemed to be scarce; so he coucht himself near the river bank under the roots of a massive water-oak. It is said pro and con that Prock Wright walkt right over the roots of that tree causing some clods to fall upon. Bill's cheeks to send tickle sensations to Langdon's system. Unsuspicious the posse searcht by, Bill all the while bating his big grey eyes much elated and perhaps singing, "Pas Me Not Gentle Saviour. ' ' He might have shol Wright at that moment. Surely it is a bad thing to go to the BIG- TIMBER ! 16 SHOT ON DUTY Mr. Sam Walker, Officer of Davis County, Ky., offered $25 to get Bill in a house. Word was received that Langdon was in Machlef resh 's house. Walker askt entrance, but was re- fused, so he broke in, and there Bill lay in bed. All he ogled, as the guns were levelt upon him, was: "That's one on me." After handcuft Bill demanded : "Is the reward on me for alive or ded?" "One hundred dollars for alive; $5,000 for ded," grilled the officer; then Bill wincht and troted on faith- fully to every command, meeting his brother at Evansville. At first re- quisition papers were demanded, but when Bill found out that Sessor was alive he agreed to come to the "Riley Land," twitting, "I'm glad Sess can't see me." Thus, they were brot to Rockport on the 13th day of Febru- ary, where ' Not Guilty, ' was the plea. They were put under $2,000 bond. When arranged the next day they pled 'GUILTY,' were fined $100 and sentenced to Jeffersonville from two to fourteen years, both being too young to send via State Prison to Michigan City. Bill is 24, Jim 26. A big crowd saw the boys leav and it is reported that Bill grieved : "I only regret that I can't chaw tobacco up at Jeffy, and I am not sorry for the deed, I would do it again." But since then each one has regretted the deed. It has been claimed that the revol- ver which did the dastard deed, was thrown into the Ohio river; but later honest, old Bent Evans found it at his home in a bureau drawer. But few know how it got there. The num- ber of the gun corresponded with the number Sessor had kept on a Tablet in Squire Jones' office. Salem Crow- ler bot and now owns this historic weapon. Large lumps of dough have been offered for it. "Prison, emblem of hel, nursery of crime." — Tom Brown. Before the Local Option election in Spencer County I was askt to go in the Temperance Parade with signs, ' < This is What Whisky Did, " " Shot On Duty ; ' ' etc. I thot over this very seriously, but finally considered it too bold and bragadocial, becaus some of the WETS might have later sneakt up and clubbed me, and I, being blind, would have had a poor chance of de- fense. I wanted to be friends with everybody, but now since the WETS hang on to the cry "Sessor voted WET," I come square with facts: Out of fourteen saloons in Rock- port only two Saloonists have spoken to me since I was shot and only one came up to shake hands. Why should I vote wet? It pained me almost so much as when I was shot when the rumor got out that I voted WET, especiallv when I heard that many of the best people believed this political scheme. Bovee says, "The highest virtue of the tropics is chastity; of colder regions, temperance." It seem- ed the people had put their reason to the cold shoulder of indifference with no sympathy for me. But why should I vote WET when even pure, little children, who have drinking fa- thers, askt me how I would vote, and when I replied "DRY," they said, "We think you ought to." The law says no man is sober after he takes one drink, so any man may be arrested after the first drink. You say, "If Temperance is such a good thing, why wasn't it brought about long ago % ' ' You might as wel claim since you are a good man why wasn't you born long ago? God's. good mils grind slow, but sure. You prophesy the laws wil be repeald. That may be if politics get into moral rectitude ; but why not have a good thing when you may and so long as possibl? As God created all men to live so near Him and the Law as possibl, then gave his Spirit to save souls from sin, yet if a man twenty-one years THE SOUL 17 old wil turn his back and vote against God's wil, I would say such a person is in great danger of losing his soul. Why should I vote WET ? I have a deep discerning mind and know the vilenes of iniquity enuf to believe that an officer should never lounge around a saloon, thus giving an example for better principles, — then how could I condescend to vote WET? Since I have been blind some askt me to go into a saloon for a drink, but I ever reply: "No thanks, boys, when I was on the Police Force I sometimes had to go in, but now I need not enter and never wil." About twenty years ago I walkt up the crowded ile in the Court House of Spencer County, and let Ira B. Chase, the orator, pin a pink and white ribbon on my coat as a pledge for the Temperance Cause, and I stil cherish that bit of ribbon; yes, that sentiment and moral duty shal cling to my hart forever ! Some declare that I should not have voted ; but then my conscience could not have been clear, for casting a half-Avet vote. I can say emphaticaly and sacredly that I certainly did vote just as Christ would vote, namely DRY. I started to the polls early, Miss Ethel Shriner met me at Bill Ice's Grocer, then took me to Charles Wilbern's residence, where Mr. Tharp, the Pol- ing Sherif, escorted me thru the ropes. I caled for both clerks. Henry Maas, the DRY clerk, askt me "DRY" I replied "YES," and I am confident Mr. Maas put the X on the square markt YES. In another part of this book I have my affidavit, for "The Lord answered me and said, write the VISION and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it,"— Hab. 2: 2.' I would not dare to swear falsely. I lost my eyes thru the curse of whisky, could I then afford to vote WET? "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. ' ' — Prov. 20 : 1. "Oh, that my words were now writen ! Oh, that they were printed in a book ! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock f orever ! "— Job 19: 23, 24. Let us not disparage God's Word. Christ avowed : ' ' Touch not, handle not, taste not. ' ' Dodsley gave us this gem: "Make temperance thy com- panion, so shal helth sit on thy brow. ' ' One incident I know where a lad was intoxicated by simply inhaling the gas from a jug of rum. What harm wil the ineberate stuf do if habitualy used 1 ? Why do Railways, Factories, et al, demand temperate young men arid women to operate and work in the mighty, modern, pro- gresiv, industrial institutions? Just becaus one who 's brain is tainted with liquor cannot reason rashionly nor act wisely. Prostitution ruins constitu- tion and burrys institution. Psychelogists even prove that peo- ple get sick by thinking mad thots while eating; so I don't only look for a Universal Temperance Nation, but stricter laws regarding the amount of foods we eat, how, what, where and when ! I also believ in days to come we wil have State Inspectors to en- force laws that each home must be thoroly ventilated, with special ap- provd window appliances. Air and water is life, but hot gas and whisky is deth ! Like Mark An- thony, I may say: "I am no Orator, I only speak right on ; I tel you things Avhich you yourselves do know." In the name of God thru Justis and the shame of the Devil that would burst us, let's do our duty, our whole duty, and nothing but the duty forever- more! Heven's work speaks for morality, devils jobs whisper for raskality. To cure a man from geting drunk you either must treat him with med- 18 SHOT ON DUTY icin, punish him thru fines, make him stay at home, or take the saloons a- way. I can safely say, not a WET man reads the Bible. I am positiv of this challenge. If you clon 't, or won 't read Holy Writ, listen to some one who does j_ and if you can't speak the truth, don't say anything! It wil do your episgastratum, and other parts of your God created body, much good. AH a rum seller is fit for is to re- tire, bild mansions of blood, then when you ask him for a trifle he wil hawk and spit tobacco amber and beer foam until it makes you think of a turbilent sea voyage, and you realize why whisky money is tainted. In some states, as in New York, the law requires a meal to be given with' each drink. But the saloonist slams, down a stale piece of cow and cals it a meal. I am proud that No. 1 Precinct, in Rockport, wherein I live, went 95 DRY. If all had done so wel the County would never have toppled to 43 WET. Brother, did you do your strenuous, citizen duty? Get into line, the battle for supreme right has just begun. Among the champions for loyal Temperance crusade are these wel known men : Hon. John W. Burns, the coming orator of the Pocket; Allen Payton, the Manager of the Local Home Telephone Com- pany; Thomas Chrisney, Spencer County Representativ and editor of the Chrisney Sun; Mr. C. T. Baker, the ever-warm-all-over Temperance giant and editor of the Grandview Monitor;- Rev. Bryan, Wesley Rich- ards, C. M. Partridge, and many others. I was shot becaus' the whole thing originated from our endeavor to purify the morals of the communi- ty, but people who did not, or could not comprehend our meaning often made such expressions as : " Sessor is a fool," "Sessor don't do right by such wholesale supression." They did not realize that when one gets into a hornet's nest he must hit right and left. For that reason the Langdon boys are not to blame alone, becaus they heard many of the above mentioned slanderous remarks, hence the boys had some reason to do the criminal act. The Bible says we are our brother's keeper, but bad "words about an Officer bild the minds of boys which justis cannot keep. Let me warn again all American Youth to shun liquor and respect your Of- ficials. Now a word about the profits on this book. Some say Mr. Cook gets the most benefit. This is not true; but even if he does get a smal per- cent from the sales I secure, you must remember, Samuel helpt me write the book, he paid for making the pic- tures, cuts, printing, 'binding, etc. One man askt me $100 to write the book, another demandt $35 just for read- ing and correcting the proof. I want you to help us now to make it a suc- ces, and not only financialy, but for spiritual and moral victory we pray. (<5* t&* <■£* The Eye Never shal my eye sight Be restored unto me; But I have an insight With my mind that is free — Thus, duty never blind Wil repay in a way So my heart ever kind Shal for soul visions pray! MISS SOPHIE A. GUMBEL THE TRAINED NURSE, OF EVANSVILLE, WHO ATTENDED SESSOR. THE HEAL (ORDER) "Order is heven's first law." — Pope. : Every loaf has a heel, but some souls are always crusty." N the days of Mayhew, ORDERLIES kept Loudon streets fre from mud in winter and fre of dust in summer. But now the American Orderlie's perilous duty is to keep a nincompoop quiet after he is wet with bug-juice : But it is a sacred encouragement that Universal Tem- perance is coming so sure as the Uni- versal Language. The poet asks: "Why should the spirit of mortal be proud ? ' ' We ans- wer, "becaus it gives us Universal Option in Heven and blis in 'the' present. ' ' Blindnes was inflicted upon Saul of Tarsus, but only for THRE days. The hand of the Lord smote Elymas blind for a SEASON; but Thomas Erartklin Sessor is blind forever! Why? Becaus he cherisht ORDER. Southey has wel writen : "ORDER is the sanity of the mind, the helth of the' body, the peace of the city, the security of the state. As the beams to a house, as the bones to the miro- cosm of man, so is order to all things," Some protest that Mayor John Walker wanted too much order, a case of "graft versus dam the in- habitants.". Or, as South' detects, "His command over them was but SAUSIV and POLITICAL." We shal not try to speak for either side; but if Sessor was commanded to act the custodian at wholesale, he did no more than his duty. Again, if the Marshal was too easy, as Milton attests: "I had a mind to SEE him out, and therefore did not care to contradict him," with such a humaniterian view, who dares, in the name of clear explanation, or the bluf of want-to-put-in-more, who, I say, dares to swear there were too numer- ous arrests in Spencer County during the reign of the first Mayor in our fertile vicinity? Sessor declares that many women told him to arrest their husbands, then the men later came and told the Marshal that he had saved their lives and henceforth they would do better. Their ambition Avas to better the moral conditions of the vicinity, and even the sane old Rockport Journal lately declared that it believes with Solomon: "Spare the rod, spoil the child." The much discust Golden Rule Police Systems' work, but only where citizens back up the Moral Suasion of Officers, which often is a slow proces. It is certainly evident that there was no graft, as strenuous efforts were made to get the city out of det and 20 SHOT ON DUTY more liquidating was done in the latter few years than in twenty years back, reducing the city public det of $35,000 clown to about $11,000. Furthermore, Rockport, Spencer Co., Indiana, has become known as the healthiest city in America, proven by statistics. It is an automathic city, situated on high rocks, with 3500 people who striv to inform them- selves, yet object not to being taught modern reforms ! There was a "Pastor Court," for often the Ministers of the city would meet with Mayor Walker, Squire Jones and Sessor, then talk of what they would do and what others should do to purify the community. Mayor Walker is a man of few words, but he knows and attends to his busines. Squire Jones is a man' who stands like Gibralter with of- ficial brethern in exacting justice. Jones was always particular about rendering judgment against a man where there was reasonable dout of innocence. Some say he placed false entry of a. plea of guilty on his dock- et, but this he never did. There is no city, or smal town, which could elect a better man to protect the innocent than Squire Jones. Sessor had pledged that he never would bring Jones a false ar- rest, or lie in any event to convict a man. One time Sessor arrested John Henry Payne, fined him $12, which Payne would not pay until they got over the river, when the Kentuckian puled out several hundred dollar. La- ter Payne askt Sessor why he arrested him, for he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing ? "That's just it," replied Sessor, "you might have fel into the river, then sue the city." Sessor 's orders always were, "If you must drink, don't drink to exces. " So, brother, it's morning, get up^- see the arc-vision of duty? Let us rather believ Mr. Sessor was to ex- ceedingly compassionate, for Dryden teaches us : "Men are not good, but for neces- sity: Nor ORDERLY are born, but bred." Watts, in 1782, invented a rapid way of making shot by droping finely divided metal into water. But shot "whats" now, is prone to create wa- ter- and blood when the lead enters dutyful eyes. The aim of a gun may kil the AM- BITION of a man. A revolver fre- quently evolves into the wrong hands. Merchants are now forbiden to dis- play firearms, which is certainly a good late law going wel with the Lo- cal Option, and pseudo-harmles guns, — these are the two devil-cousins of corruptiv government. It is said when Sessor was shot, one of the Langdon boys yelled : ' ' Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away AMBITION;" but' others captivulate that the Langdon boys were too il- literate to quote such phrase. Sessor amplifies : ' ' Never mind. Blest are the pure in hart for they shal see God. Faith here is turned to vision There. We walk by faith not by sight. ' ' Sight gives aim, for ambition; but insight inherits mind power, thru any condition ! One who has no eyes, can't blink; But it strengthens the sense to think ! We have BLINDS before our win- dow PANES, but when blindnes comes into our eyes, the PAIN never lets the sun in. 1 ' And when they had blindfolded him, they struck his face." — Luke. Langdons' blindfolded Sessor; wil you strike the face, or cheer the hart ? Blue eyes represent love, gray eyes signify talent; but black eyes often prove deformity. THE HEAL 21 Bodenstedt says : "A gray eye is a sly eye; a brown one indicates a roughish humor; a blue eye expreses fidelity; while the sparkling of a dark eye is like the ways of Providens, al- ways a riddle. ' ' Arc-vision measures the least dis- tans to any horizon ; bebalfic-vision, the immediate sight of God; direct- vision, that view performt by means of straight rays; and refieeted-vision, that scene procured by looking at a mirror, or leting mind see out. All these Sessor lost, except, we might say, a part of the later sense, the reflection of soul and mind vision. Some Rockport student askt us to give an ORDERLY list of diseases to which the eye is subject, so here are a few : Amaurosis, amblyopia, cataract, choroiditis, cyclitis, glaucoma, hypo- pion, heratisis, hypermetropy, neona- torum, panophthalmitis, pannus, pin- gueculia, pterygium, rentinitis, scle- ritis. staphyloma, trachoma, xeroph- thalmia. Some of these maladies cans blindnes ; but where blindnes is caused by a drunken enemy the con- ditions are more hart rending. As for example : when you kick at something. but mis, the jar is the more sever! Describing the eye, Bilz says: "All the influences and conditions of the outer world and of our own bodies are preceived thru the" five senses and by the sensitiv nerves conveyed to the brain, and then we become con- scious of them. The senses are only the ends of nerves, which are con- nected with a special apparatus for the reception of exterior expressions. According to their importance, the five (medium of) senses are divided into two higher, the eye and the ear, and the thre lower — the skin, nose and tung. In consequence of the greater im- portance of the two higher senses, their organs have only one purpose, and no ulterior object, hence their construction is more artistic and ela- borate than the lower organs. This is especially the case with the eye, which is a most skilfully constructed apparatus, subject to the laws of optics. ' ' From the most remote ages, the e,ye has been considered the most beautiful gift of nature, and next to the los of life, the los of eyesight is the most serious. In the eye the principal divisions are the eyebal and the subsidiary or- gans which serv to move .and protect it. The eyeball lies in a funnel-shapd cavity, protected on all sides by walls of bone, and padded with a thick sheath in which there are tiny open- ings to allow of the passage of the optic nerv and the muscles which move the eye. The eye ball (in form like an apple, of which the optic nerv may be considered the stem ) moves freely in all directions in this socket. Just as the skin of an onion lie one over another, so the eye is envelopt in -thre outer coverings. The outer skin, so-called sclerotic membrane, is tough, strong and leathery, but is covered with a sdft mucous membrane which extends to the upper and lower eyelids. At the front of the eye, the sclero- tic membrane, is blended into a trans- parent, more curvd membrane, the cornea, which fits into it rather as a watchglas fits into the rim. Inside the sclerotic membrane, comes the choroid membrane, coverd by a brown pigment. This curves toward the front and forms by cros- ing a cavity (the pupil) the iris, which is in the middle, and forms the division between the front and back of the eye. The inner and most im- portant skin for purposes of seeing, is the retina. This consists of ten layers of different sorts of cells and fibres, and is nothing else than a network formd by the ramification of the optic nerv. Behind the iris lies 22 SHOT ON DUTY a transparent, elastic, crystalline lens, shaped like a magnifying glas, the offis of which is to refract the rays of light. By means of its power to cnrv itself thicker or thinner, objects which are near or far off can be seen equally wel. Behind this lens is a circular body as clear as water (vit- reous humor), which, like the lens, serves to refract the rays. Vitreous humor and lens lie behind the iris in the back of the socket, the space in front is filled by a watery, transparent fluid — the aqueous humor. The eye is protected by the eyebrows; the eye- lids with their special muscels for movements, their soft membrane and eyelashes, and the tear glands which lie on the outside of the eyeball. Cor- nea, aqueous humor, lens, and vitre- ous humor, as transparent bodies, serv the purpose of seeing, in so far that they receive and refract the rays of light and produce on the retina a reversd picture of the objects seen. Light produces a movement and vibra- tion of the cells and fibers of the retina. This vibration is conveyed by the optic nerv to the brain, and the impression of seeing is produced. How this takes place has not yet been dis- covered, and is stil a puzzle. 'Prof. Dr. H. P. Holler, Alexandria, Va., says: "My new theory of double refraction in sight would make the eye a rheita telescope, instead of a mere camera obscnra. The lens-qual- ity .of the cornea has generally been over-looked. The two humors might have indicated two lenses, not men- tioning the fact that they themselves refract rays like water, making con- verging and diverging focuses pos- sibl. It does not seem to be con- clusively proven that the image on the retina is not right side up. The pupil counteracts spherical aberration, and is in fact a diaphram. From time immemoral the fine, ar- tistic construction of the eye has been a subject of wonder, and a microscopic investigation of its smallest details has only serve! to increase the admir- ation. If any one has "wits at the tip of his fingers" it must be the blind man, for it is claimed by some psychologists that the nerv matter at the ends of the fingers closely resembl the gray matter of the brain. The first color registerd by the sight is a dul, dark^red, produced by vibrations numbering some four hun- dred billions per second. The rate of vibration raising produces the color of orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and finally vibrations at the rate of eight billion per second produce the violet color. There are innumerabl shades of color the present human family cannot distinguish, both be- low and above this general known color scale. It is claimed that the workers on the mosaics at the Vatican were able to distinguish 25,000 dif- ferent shades of color. And scientists hold that some day humanity wil be so proficient that al may detect color by sound. If so, wil the eye then be useles? Even the ancient Greek phil- osofer Democritus held that the sens- es of seeing, smeling, tasting and hearing were but extensions of the original amobien sense of touch. Dr. Carl Hertzell, of Berlin, Ger- many, has invented, the ' ' Ophthalmo- Diaphanoscope, " by which one may see the back of another's eye. Per- haps, some day too, one may not only see another's eye from the back, but the blind may get back their sight. Writing of the presumd keen senses of the bfind, John G. McKendick in Nature (London), has this argument: ' ' There appears to be no evidence that blindnes, per se, increases the sensitivenes of the senses, but on the principl that if one sense is defectiv the others are likely to be also de- fectiv, the other senses, in the average blind, are les acute than in the see- THE HEAL 23 ing\ Hoav, then, are Ave to explain .the wonderful way in which the blind avoid obstacles and find their way about? It has been supposed that by praetis the skin of the face, in par- ticular, becomes more sensativ, 'or, in other words, that the blind habitualy pay attention to currents of air play- ing on their faces, and especially they may be influenct by sensations of temperature. They say that they 'know' they are near a wal becaus they 'feel' it, altho they do n/ot touch it. It would be interesting to ex- amine the blind as regards the sensa- tivenes of the hot and cold spots of the skin as revealed by Goldscheider and others. The spirit of sensitivenes to the di- rection and temperature of air cur- rents is supported by the observation that the blind do not so readily avoid an obstacle if the face is covered or even if they are blindfolded. This suggests the question : Are all blind absolutely insensitiv to light? (Mr. Sessor hopes to explain some of these arguments in issues of THE PRESI- DENT.) It is believed that the blind pay more involuntary attention to the direction and quality of sounds. The blind man 'taps' his stick. When snow is on the ground the blind have difficulty in avoiding obstacles. "One must not forget however, the physical element that enters into the question. The effort of attention is superadded to the sensory impression. Impressions may reach the sensorium, of which we are usualy unconscious, but they may be detected by an ef- fort of attention. This was strongly pointed out by Helmholtz. , The sens- es of the blind are not in the normal blind more acute, as usualy supposed; but I hold that the necessity of the case oblige the blind to pay closer at- tention to them."' Just lately the physicians were mys- tified by a man, in the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York, who can see only when in a recumbent position. This is a queer and pityful case; yet sight one-half the time, like sight of one eye, is far better than total darknes. Sessor filosfically says if he only could see by lying down, he would do as Mark Twain — stay in bed until some duty lets him see his way out. In Philadelphia there was a case reported where the doctors operated on an eye, but got the optics so mis- constructed that the man now sees thru his ears. The number of blind averages about 1 to every 1,000 inhabitants; hence, there are approximately some 85,000 blind people in the United States.' Christian philanthropy first was content to furnish "blind asylums;'' but since Weef, in 1178, and Valen- tine Hauj, in 1784, establisht at Paris, schools .nd books lot; the blind, mo- dern humanity has greatly progrest, so the blind may now support them- selves, as there are numerous papers publisht, in Braille letters, for the blind. Becaus of some blind frauds, many people are reluctent at encouraging the blind, real hustler. Helen Keller is one of the most notabl blind persons, and she gives Sessor a kind word. ' ' I believe, ' ' epitomized Addison, ' ' the story of Argus implies no more, than that the eye is in every part; that is to say, every other part would be MUTILATED were not its FORCE imparted. ' ' But not every FORCE of the Ex- Marshal is gone. He struggles by his one remaining inodmitable power "GRIT." As intimated, Sessor is not only deprivt of sight; but he cannot smel, nor taste. Job asks: "Is there any TASTE in the white of an egg?" Not for Sessor, since he was shot by a bad-egg who played a shel-game ! You know how dreadful it is to 24 SHOT ON DUTY have no appetite (sitophobia), or how disgusting when you obses a great ap- petite (bulima), yet nothing tastes good ! Biologists elucidate that an ordin- ary person SUDENLY struck blind, who then can't see, taste nor smel, wil commit suicide within five years. Bacon postulated : ' ' The sweetest SMEL in the air is that of the white doubl violet.' 5 ' It is a co-incident that Sessor wore this lovely flower in his coat lapel every Sunday some years ago, while on my father's farm. But now the scent of even this charming flower is suffocated, to Sessor, for- ever! "What, then, is TASTE but those in- ternal powers, Activ and strong, and feelingly alive To each fine impulse? A discerning sense Of decent and sublime, with quick dis- jgust From things deformt, or discouraged, or gros In species? This, nor gems, nor stone of gold, Nor purple state, nor culture can be- stow. ' '— Akensicle. In vernacular slang Ave often hear the precious eyes alluded to as "hed- lights." A good man may stand hed- on-collisions, much fire and satire from some bush-whacker in ambush; but Sessor no dout now wonders why his "bed-lights," were taken, and, as with Moses, the burnt bush re- mained. . Moses saw the mysterious power ascend heven-ward, but in Ses- sor 's plight the people are' compeld to hear that the mutilators went to a smal city along where the Ohio waves wash. Shakespere might sing of them: "Their EYES" of FIRE sparkling thru SIGHTS of steel." The doctors waited on Sessor for several weeks, for life was almost extinct at many hours; but Sessor 's invincibl courage was a veritabl place- bo. Dr. Knapp of Evansville was called. Sessor says his brain felt as tho it was rolling around a disk of knives. One time a clot of blood came from the brain and his pulse sank from 60 to 40 in a few seconds. Thru the care of the pleasant traind nurse, Miss Sophie Anna Gumbel, from Evansville, Sessor rallied. This nurse says : ' ' Sessor ■ has the most cheerful disposition of any patient I ever attended. His Yankee gumption is superb ! There is no faint hart about Rockport's blind former-Mar- shal. ' ' It is largely thru the expert treat- ment and careful attention of Dr. Shirley Lang that Sessor owes his miraculous life. Few ever get up un- der such perilous conditions. Sessor says : ' ' One of my eyes appears as tho with it I can see. This is per- haps God's foresight, for some thugs might beat me some time if the dout- er would not now fear I could see him." To add to the sad affair Ses- sor 's wife had to be taken to the Hospital at Evansville, where she re- mained for many weeks. The people of Rockport have made donations for Sessor, and the Ben Hur Lodge paid his expenses for some time; but NOW Mr. Sessor prefers to support himself, mother and family thru the sales of this book and THE PRESIDENT Magazine, to which he has pledged regular ai tides in the course of many years D. V. A disabled blind soldier receives $100 pension a month, and the present Marshal of Rockport gets $75 a month. Would you have all the world's beauty shut out for only $50 a month? Some -people soon forget. Don't go sight-seeing unles you help the blind Ex-Marshal, thus ameliorat- ing the visions of the soul. Writing to me under date of April 19th, Miss Gumbel says: "I congratu- late you upon your worthy undertak- THE HEAL 25 ing in Mr. Sessor's behalf. My sym- pathy was deeply aroused for him while acting in the capacity as train- ed-nurse to him in his great trial. His fortitude was indeed wonderful. "Recognizing your literary talent and wel merited influence in the com- munity in which you live I see no •reason why your book should not be a sueces both literally and financially. "I am glad indeed to know that Mr. Sessor has so many kind friends that are standing heroically by him in his time of need." Milton was totaly blind, and Whit- tier was color-blind; but the world loved them and encouraged their am- bitions. Fanny Crosby, who was to- taly blinded when six weeks old by the application of a hot poultis by a physician, is now 89 years old, and she has writen 5,000 songs. Stephen Girard almost kiled himself when he found out that he had one "twisted- eye." But he later owned twenty- two ships and was the first man in America who had a million dollars in working property. Sessor is a poor man, but who dares limit his life's work? One thing is certain : In years to come Sessor ^wil always be proof that whisky not only harms the drinker, but ruins the joy of many an officer. All have a right to their opinion — part of the time to part with partial opinions. Hubbard epitomizes : ' ' Succesf ul revolutions are always fought by FARMERS, and the government which they create is destroyed by city mobs." "Man made the cities, God the country, but the devil made the smal towns." But, "Do not suppose that all the gambling is done in the cities. Eliminate the paste-bord pro- clivities." Let the City and Country, the Wets and Drys, be united under the living emblem — Franklin Thomas Sessor, our Ex-Marshal, then sin no more! Some people you must grant favors in their awkward controversy, so al- lowing the crux of the whole history, thus : Even if Sessor had too much confidence in ALL countrymen, and if what shal be wil be, — unles you (wiser) are there to prohibit, then don't yourself now go to the other extreme and have not enuf confidence in ONE citizen— F. T. Sessor! There are two gigantic "iff's," which are not a clouting, but a certain curse to our nation — they are ' ' Sher- iff," and "Tar-iff." Put away with whisky and the of- fis of Sheriff wil become obsolete, and after the Sheriffs are gone Ave won't need so much talk and acts on Tariff. Don't revise the Tariff, but despise whisky — never regard it your duty to drink the swil; that's devising moral welth, with no tax on helth. One more thot, as the preacher og- les, then I shal close, — provided the Lord won't pleonasm (the same thing over), for another hour: In the course of many years I have gathert thousands of clipings pertain- ing to almost every subject under the glare which Joshua stopt. Among these clipings I find the old school- question debated unceasingly in all sections of the country, and that is : "Resolvt that Hope of Reward in- fluences men more than the Fear of Punishment," or "The Rod quickens to Righteousnes more men than does Moral Suasion. ' ' Out of 593 cases I find the judges decided 561 times for the Affirmativ, and only 32 decisions for the Negativ, — and it must be presumed there were chances for so sane, impartial judges on one side as for the other, with the debaters on equal terms and wits. The answer, then, seems to be, that human pseudo-civilized life is stil blind in its obligations to moral duty, and Roosevelt was not too sever when he demandt more Civil Servis men for Congres; becaus debates and life 26 SHOT ON DUTY prove that we need eaueious Detec- tives so urgently as the elating Pas- tors, for water never runs up hil until forced; and we all know the air is purer on the summit of the mountain. In China they have a Marshal for every ten men, and each man keeps survillance over the other. In America we are on the verge of that age when each person must be on the gard of himself, for self- defence is the first law of " Look- out!" Yet, none should be impartial. Sessor wasn't. "Every man would be a distinct species to himself were there no sympathy among individu- als." Now remember, some day your sight might be smasht out, then help would be sweet to your hands and sacred for your mother's hart. Let Clio 's record be clean ! In conclusion Mr. Sessor says: "Hereafter I wil try to live a thoro- ly religious life, with a kind hart for all; becaus I realize that while my present condition may be the work of fate, yet I shal trust in God forever and worship with my friends. I pray to educate and minister thru this book -so that many may be softened at hart and brot to the saving grace of a Redeemer. On thing I ask: "I wish my friends Avould dres in white fifty girls from six to fourteen years, to bed mv funeral procession any time that I may pas to the Great Beyond. I ask this becaus I Avas blinded to earthly life while protecting the in- nocent. I stil have courage and hope to struggle, even if I must do like the Indian woman who cut out her own flesh for bait to catch fish for starv- ing' children." In the minds of the better clas of people there is no dubitation but that Mr. §essor did his whole duty and nothing but his duty! Had they not believed so he could not have sold 169 books in 13 days. So with the Bard of Avon we all vouchsafe : "The Gods can have no mortal OF- FICER More like a god than you." Or, as Goldsmith cajoles: ' ' Taught by the Power who pities me, I LEARN to pity him. ' ' Have you lernt? Then act! The Fine word — ' ' Man 's-laughter, ' ' Is yet grotesque: • Move S backward then Male' mirth becomes certain— "Man-slaughter." Sure a Sad English trait; For no sin Is so- Mean As To kil Fellowmen. Again, no .joy Is so sacred as "Man 's-laughter.' If men LAUGHED So much without coin As they SLAUGHTER For it, world Would be Blis ! FIGURE THRE ODDITIES Sessor was born thre miles from Buffaloville. He was 39 years the 7th of June, 1909. He was shot on the 23d clay of January, with a 38 pistol; he lay thre minutes; thre bul- lets mist him; thre doctors attended him; the cost of nurse was $63; his pulse went down to 36 beats. All this is unique, but more is to follow: There are thre chief char- acters: Frank, Bill and Jim; Lang- dons ran, thre boys and thre officers hunted for the Langdons in Kentucky. The trial was held thre weeks after Sessor was shot, which happened to be the 13th day of February; he wrote to me (Cook) on March 3 (third month), regarding the book "Shot On Duty," which, by the way, has thre words for its title. But follow stil further: Sessor did his first canvasing for this book on the 13th day of March and received 13 orders the first thre hours. Now as we go to pres he has 300 orders, and he declares he wil get many more in the course of time. Now let us not say of the Langdons with Gibbon: "When Commodus had once TASTED human BLOOD he be- came INCAPABL of PITY." But may we believ of Langdons' and Sessor, with Milton: "What better can we do than pros- trate fall Before him revent, and there confes Humbly our faults, and PARDON beg, with tears Watering the ground." (THE END) THOMAS F. SESSOR AFTER SHOT TOTALY BLIND 28 SHOT ON DUTY SESSOR'S AFFIDAVIT State of Indiana, . ss: Spencer County. Thomas F. Sessor, being duly sworn on Lis oath, states that he is a resident and legal voter of Precinct Number One in Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana, and that he was on the 4th day of May, 1909. That at a Local Option Election held on the 4th day of May, 1909, in Spencer County, Indiana, to deter- mine by ballot whether the sale of intoxicating liquors as beverage shall be prohibited in said County, he went to the polls in his said Precinct, and on account of his physical inability to vote for himself, he instructed the polling clerk for the "Drys" to mark his ballot in the square containing the word Yes, meaning "Dry;" that he has every reason to believe, that said polling clerk marked his ballot as instructed, and that he makes this affidavit for the benefit of the public in order that the public might know that he is against the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors as a beverage in said Spencer County. THOMAS F. SESSOR. Witness : • MINNIE D. BABB. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 7th day of May, 1909. MINNIE D. BABB, Notary Public. My commission expires January 8^ 1911. SQUIRE WM. JONES PROSECUTOR L. N. SAVAGE DUTY EPIGRAMS <^w ^* o?* ..("Lass die sehwerste Pflieht dir die allerheiligate Pflicht sein.") — Let the most arduous duty be the most sacred of all to thee. — Lavater. t&fc ^5* <^w "Eve^ subject's duty is the king's, but every subject's soul is his own."— Neu. V; 4: 1. ^5* 45** &?* "One would what he should, but he can't; one could what he should, but he won't; one would and could, but he knows not what he should." — Goethe. tt5* $5* s5* "What is thy duty? To accept the challenge of the pasing day." ^5* t^* ^* "The sum of duty let two words contain; Be humble and just. " — Prior. t£* c^w ^* "Every duty which is bidden to wait returns with seven fresh duties at its back. ' ' — Kingsley. (£* <£* ^* "Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much." — Emerson. c5* t£* (5* "Not liberty, but duty, is the condition of existence." — George Eliot. ^» t^W (5* ' ' To think alright is the sum of human duty. 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