Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 213, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1913 — YIELDED ALL BUT ONE POINT [ARTICLE]

YIELDED ALL BUT ONE POINT

Even Approach of Death Could Not Make Man Give Up Every Claim of Distinction. “Yes, this is an emblem of mourning for one of my relatives," said the man with the black band around his’ sleeve. “Yes, he was an uncle. He wanted to live awhile longer, but he was taken two weeks ago.” “Wanted to see another Washington’s birthday, eh?” was asked. “Yes, that was it. He was an old man, and he claimed that once he saw and talked with Washington. We knew that he wasn’t old enough for' that, but he stuck to his story and was often written up for the papers. Three days before he died, but when he knew he must go, he said to me: “ ‘Homer, I’m not exactly sure the man I talked to was Washington. It might have been someone else.’ “Next day he was uneasy for a while and then said to me: " ‘Homer, I don’t think I was ever within a mile of Washington. I’ve said that I was, but; I’ll take it back.’ "The next day, and three hours before his death, he called me to his bedside and Bald: “ ‘Homer, I’ve been thinking about Washington.’ “ ‘Yes, uncle.’ “ ‘lve finally made up my mind that I never met him.’ “ ‘Well, don’t worry about it’ “ ‘But I once came pretty near It, Homer.’ “ ‘There, there, uncle.’ " *l*ll be darned If I didn’t see his tracks in the mud and foller ’em all of 40 rods!”’—Baltimore American.