Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1882 — A Story of Ye Olden Tyme. [ARTICLE]

A Story of Ye Olden Tyme.

Arnold's Reminiscences of W. B. Ogden. General Worth was a warm personal friend of Mr. Ogden. He visited him in Chicago. I remember that, in these days, when a steamer signalled its approach, and when distinguished strangers were coming, we used to go down to the wharf, some to welcome, and. others to see who came. I witnessed on the landing of General Worth one of the saddest spectacles I ever saw. Among the crowd of citizens who met him was a retired army officer, his old classmate, as 1 was told,at West Point. He had been entrusted by the Government with large sums of public money ’ and in the tempest of speculation had used it, doubtless with the expectation of making it good; but disastrous tiroes came on, and he proved a defaulter to* a large amount. He went forward with others to greet and welcome his old comrade and schoolmate. As he extended his hand, I shall never forget the look of Worth. Drawing his tall, martial form up to its full height,and throwing his military cloak over his shoulders, he stood a moment looking at the defaulter, and then he turned upon his heel. The act seemed cruel. In those days and with such a high sense of personal honor/ a defaulter among officers of the army /was rare indeed. If those who cheat and plunder the government were'to-day, as in those early days,visited with absolute social ostracism;such offences would become far less numerous. x )