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The¡¡Ways¡¡of¡¡Men

by¡¡Eliot¡¡Gregory



Chapter¡¡1¡¡¡­¡¡¡¨UNCLE¡¡SAM¡¨


THE¡¡gentleman¡¡who¡¡graced¡¡the¡¡gubernatorial¡¡arm¡­chair¡¡of¡¡our¡¡¡¡state¡¡when¡¡this¡¡century¡¡was¡¡born¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡admirer¡¡of¡¡¡¡classic¡¡lore¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sonorous¡¡names¡¡of¡¡antiquity¡£

It¡¡is¡¡owing¡¡to¡¡his¡¡weakness¡¡in¡¡bestowing¡¡pompous¡¡cognomens¡¡on¡¡¡¡our¡¡embryo¡¡towns¡¡and¡¡villages¡¡that¡¡to¡­day¡¡names¡¡like¡¡Utica£»¡¡¡¡Syracuse£»¡¡and¡¡Ithaca£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡evoking¡¡visions¡¡of¡¡historic¡¡¡¡pomp¡¡and¡¡circumstance£»¡¡raise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡most¡¡Americans¡¡¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡cocky¡¡little¡¡cities£»¡¡rich¡¡only¡¡in¡¡trolley¡­cars¡¡¡¡and¡¡Methodist¡¡meeting¡­houses¡£

When£»¡¡however£»¡¡this¡¡cultured¡¡governor£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ardor£»¡¡¡¡christened¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cities¡¡Troy£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡in¡¡its¡¡¡¡vicinity¡¡Mount¡¡Ida£»¡¡he¡¡little¡¡dreamed¡¡that¡¡a¡¡youth¡¡was¡¡living¡¡¡¡on¡¡its¡¡slopes¡¡whose¡¡name¡¡was¡¡destined¡¡to¡¡become¡¡a¡¡household¡¡¡¡word¡¡the¡¡world¡¡over£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡synonym¡¡for¡¡the¡¡proudest¡¡and¡¡¡¡wealthiest¡¡republic¡¡yet¡¡known¡¡to¡¡history£»¡¡a¡¡sobriquet¡¡that¡¡¡¡would¡¡be¡¡familiar¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mouths¡¡of¡¡races¡¡to¡¡whose¡¡continents¡¡¡¡even¡¡the¡¡titles¡¡of¡¡Jupiter¡¡or¡¡Mars¡¡had¡¡never¡¡penetrated¡£

A¡¡little¡¡before¡¡this¡¡century¡¡began£»¡¡two¡¡boys¡¡with¡¡packs¡¡bound¡¡¡¡on¡¡their¡¡stalwart¡¡shoulders¡¡walked¡¡from¡¡New¡¡York¡¡and¡¡¡¡established¡¡a¡¡brickyard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood¡¡of¡¡what¡¡is¡¡now¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Street£»¡¡Troy¡£¡¡¡¡Ebenezer¡¡and¡¡Samuel¡¡Wilson¡¡soon¡¡became¡¡¡¡esteemed¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infant¡¡city£»¡¡their¡¡kindliness¡¡and¡¡¡¡benevolence¡¡winning¡¡for¡¡them¡¡the¡¡affection¡¡and¡¡respect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¡community¡£

The¡¡younger¡¡brother£»¡¡Samuel£»¡¡was¡¡an¡¡especial¡¡favorite¡¡with¡¡the¡¡¡¡children¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡whose¡¡explorations¡¡into¡¡his¡¡deep¡¡¡¡pockets¡¡were¡¡generally¡¡rewarded¡¡by¡¡the¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡some¡¡¡¡simple¡¡¡¨sweet¡¨¡¡or¡¡home¡­made¡¡toy¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡slender¡¡youth¡¡with¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¨nutcracker¡¨¡¡face¡¡proving¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡merriest¡¡of¡¡playfellows£»¡¡¡¡in¡¡their¡¡love¡¡his¡¡little¡¡band¡¡of¡¡admirers¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡the¡¡pet¡¡¡¡name¡¡of¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam£»¡¨¡¡by¡¡which¡¡he¡¡quickly¡¡became¡¡known£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡¡exclusion¡¡of¡¡his¡¡real¡¡name¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡kindly¡¡and¡¡humble¡¡¡¡origin¡¡of¡¡a¡¡title¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡which¡¡to¡­day¡¡quickens¡¡¡¡the¡¡pulse¡¡and¡¡moistens¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡Americans¡¡with¡¡¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thrill¡¡that¡¡the¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡flag¡¡arouses¡¡when¡¡we¡¡catch¡¡¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡especially¡¡an¡¡unexpected¡¡glimpse¡¡in¡¡some¡¡foreign¡¡¡¡land¡£

With¡¡increasing¡¡wealth¡¡the¡¡brick¡­yard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Wilson¡¡brothers¡¡¡¡was¡¡replaced¡¡by¡¡an¡¡extensive¡¡slaughtering¡¡business£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡men¡¡were¡¡soon¡¡employed¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡¡¡establishment¡¡for¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡killing¡¡weekly¡¡some¡¡thousand¡¡head¡¡¡¡of¡¡cattle¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡the¡¡military¡¡operations¡¡of¡¡1812¡¡the¡¡¡¡brothers¡¡signed¡¡a¡¡contract¡¡to¡¡furnish¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡at¡¡Greenbush¡¡¡¡with¡¡meat£»¡¡¡¨packed¡¡in¡¡full¡¡bound¡¡barrels¡¡of¡¡white¡¡oak¡¨£»¡¡soon¡¡¡¡after£»¡¡Samuel¡¡was¡¡appointed¡¡Inspector¡¡of¡¡Provisions¡¡for¡¡the¡¡¡¡army¡£

It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡coincidence¡¡that¡¡England¡¡also¡¡should¡¡have¡¡¡¡taken¡¡an¡¡ex¡­army¡­contractor¡¡as¡¡her¡¡patron¡¡saint£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡we¡¡are¡¡¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡tradition£»¡¡St¡£¡¡George¡¡of¡¡Cappadocia¡¡filled¡¡that¡¡¡¡position¡¡unsatisfactorily¡¡before¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡martyrdom¡¡¡¡to¡¡sainthood¡£

True¡¡prototype¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation¡¡that¡¡was¡¡later¡¡to¡¡adopt¡¡him¡¡as¡¡¡¡its¡¡godfather£»¡¡the¡¡shrewd¡¡and¡¡honest¡¡patriot£»¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam£»¡¨¡¡not¡¡¡¡only¡¡lived¡¡loyally¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡contracts£»¡¡giving¡¡full¡¡measure¡¡¡¡and¡¡of¡¡his¡¡best£»¡¡but¡¡proved¡¡himself¡¡incorruptible£»¡¡making¡¡it¡¡¡¡his¡¡business¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡others¡¡too¡¡fulfilled¡¡their¡¡¡¡engagements¡¡both¡¡in¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡and¡¡the¡¡spirit£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¨U¡£S¡£¡¨¡¡£¨abbreviation¡¡of¡¡United¡¡States£©¡¡which¡¡he¡¡pencilled¡¡on¡¡¡¡all¡¡provisions¡¡that¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡his¡¡inspection¡¡became¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡soldiers¡¡a¡¡guarantee¡¡of¡¡excellence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Samuel's¡¡old¡¡friends£»¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡of¡¡Troy¡¡£¨now¡¡enlisted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¡army£©£»¡¡naively¡¡imagining¡¡that¡¡the¡¡mystic¡¡initials¡¡were¡¡an¡¡¡¡allusion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pet¡¡name¡¡they¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡¡years¡¡before£»¡¡¡¡would¡¡accept¡¡no¡¡meats¡¡but¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam's£»¡¨¡¡murmuring¡¡if¡¡other¡¡¡¡viands¡¡were¡¡offered¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡comrades¡¡without¡¡inquiry¡¡¡¡followed¡¡this¡¡example£»¡¡until¡¡so¡¡strong¡¡did¡¡the¡¡prejudice¡¡for¡¡¡¡food¡¡marked¡¡¡¨U¡£S¡£¡¨¡¡become£»¡¡that¡¡other¡¡contractors£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡¡¡that¡¡their¡¡provisions¡¡should¡¡find¡¡favor¡¡with¡¡the¡¡soldiers£»¡¡¡¡took¡¡to¡¡announcing¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam¡¨¡¡brands¡£

To¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡troops£»¡¡ignorant¡¡£¨as¡¡are¡¡most¡¡¡¡Americans¡¡to¡­day£©¡¡of¡¡the¡¡real¡¡origin¡¡of¡¡this¡¡pseudonym£»¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡¡¡Sam's¡¨¡¡beef¡¡and¡¡bread¡¡meant¡¡merely¡¡government¡¡provisions£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡the¡¡step¡¡from¡¡national¡¡belongings¡¡to¡¡an¡¡impersonation¡¡of¡¡our¡¡¡¡country¡¡by¡¡an¡¡ideal¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam¡¨¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡logical¡¡sequence¡£

In¡¡his¡¡vigorous¡¡old¡¡age£»¡¡Samuel¡¡Wilson¡¡again¡¡lived¡¡on¡¡Mount¡¡¡¡Ida£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡estates¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Warren¡¡family£»¡¡where¡¡as¡¡children¡¡¡¡we¡¡were¡¡taken¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡his¡¡house¡¡and¡¡hear¡¡anecdotes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¡aged¡¡patriot's¡¡hospitality¡¡and¡¡humor¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡honor¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡¡¡was¡¡held¡¡by¡¡the¡¡country¡­side£»¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡for¡¡good¡¡he¡¡¡¡exerted£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡informal¡¡tribunal¡¡he¡¡held£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡his¡¡¡¡neighbors¡¡came¡¡to¡¡get¡¡their¡¡differences¡¡straightened¡¡out¡¡by¡¡¡¡his¡¡common¡¡sense£»¡¡are¡¡still¡¡talked¡¡of¡¡by¡¡the¡¡older¡¡¡¡inhabitants¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡story¡¡in¡¡particular¡¡used¡¡to¡¡charm¡¡our¡¡boyish¡¡¡¡ears¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡about¡¡a¡¡dispute¡¡over¡¡land¡¡between¡¡the¡¡¡¡Livingstons¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Van¡¡Rensselaers£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡an¡¡¡¡end¡¡by¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam's¡¨¡¡producing¡¡a¡¡barrel¡¡of¡¡old¡¡papers¡¡¡¡£¨confided¡¡to¡¡him¡¡by¡¡both¡¡families¡¡during¡¡the¡¡war£»¡¡for¡¡safe¡¡¡¡keeping£©¡¡and¡¡extracting¡¡from¡¡this¡¡original¡¡¡¨strong¡¡box¡¨¡¡title¡¡¡¡deeds¡¡to¡¡the¡¡property¡¡in¡¡litigation¡£

Now£»¡¡in¡¡these¡¡troubled¡¡times¡¡of¡¡ours£»¡¡when¡¡rumors¡¡of¡¡war¡¡are¡¡¡¡again¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡one's¡¡thoughts¡¡revert¡¡with¡¡pleasure¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡¡half¡­mythical¡¡figure¡¡on¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡century£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡¡¡legends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clear¡­eyed¡¡giant£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡quizzical¡¡smile¡¡and¡¡¡¡the¡¡tender£»¡¡loyal¡¡heart£»¡¡whose¡¡life's¡¡work¡¡makes¡¡him¡¡a¡¡more¡¡¡¡lovable¡¡model¡¡and¡¡a¡¡nobler¡¡example¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡up¡¡before¡¡the¡¡youth¡¡¡¡of¡¡to¡­day¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡mythological¡¡deities¡¡that¡¡ever¡¡¡¡disported¡¡themselves¡¡on¡¡the¡¡original¡¡Mount¡¡Ida¡£

There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡singular¡¡fitness¡¡in¡¡this¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Sam¡¨¡¡as¡¡¡¡our¡¡patron¡¡saint£»¡¡for¡¡to¡¡be¡¡honest¡¡and¡¡loyal¡¡and¡¡modest£»¡¡to¡¡¡¡love¡¡little¡¡children£»¡¡to¡¡do¡¡one's¡¡duty¡¡quietly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heyday¡¡¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡become¡¡a¡¡mediator¡¡in¡¡old¡¡age£»¡¡is¡¡to¡¡fulfil¡¡about¡¡¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡patriotic¡¡heart¡¡must¡¡wish¡¡the¡¡¡¡analogy¡¡may¡¡be¡¡long¡¡maintained£»¡¡that¡¡our¡¡loved¡¡country£»¡¡like¡¡¡¡its¡¡prototype£»¡¡may¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡protector¡¡of¡¡the¡¡feeble¡¡and¡¡a¡¡¡¡peace¡­maker¡¡among¡¡nations¡£




Chapter¡¡2¡¡¡­¡¡Domestic¡¡Despots


THOSE¡¡who¡¡walk¡¡through¡¡the¡¡well¡­to¡­do¡¡quarters¡¡of¡¡our¡¡city£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡glance£»¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡little¡¡enviously¡¡as¡¡they¡¡pass£»¡¡toward¡¡¡¡the¡¡cheerful¡¡firesides£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡reflect¡¡that¡¡in¡¡almost¡¡every¡¡¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡apparently¡¡happy¡¡homes¡¡a¡¡pitiless¡¡tyrant¡¡reigns£»¡¡¡¡a¡¡misshapen¡¡monster¡¡without¡¡bowels¡¡of¡¡compassion¡¡or¡¡thought¡¡¡¡beyond¡¡its¡¡own¡¡greedy¡¡appetites£»¡¡who¡¡sits¡¡like¡¡Sinbad's¡¡awful¡¡¡¡burden¡¡on¡¡the¡¡necks¡¡of¡¡tender¡¡women¡¡and¡¡distracted¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Sometimes¡¡this¡¡incubus¡¡takes¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pug£»¡¡sometimes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡¡¡poodle£»¡¡or¡¡simply¡¡a¡¡bastard¡¡cur¡¡admitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡family¡¡bosom¡¡¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡unreflecting¡¡pity£»¡¡size¡¡and¡¡pedigree¡¡are¡¡of¡¡no¡¡¡¡importance£»¡¡the¡¡result¡¡is¡¡always¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡Caliban¡¡is¡¡¡¡installed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡stronghold£»¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡independence¡¡desert¡¡¡¡that¡¡roof¡£

We¡¡read¡¡daily¡¡of¡¡fathers¡¡tyrannizing¡¡over¡¡trembling¡¡families£»¡¡¡¡of¡¡stepmothers¡¡and¡¡unnatural¡¡children¡¡turning¡¡what¡¡might¡¡be¡¡¡¡happy¡¡homes¡¡into¡¡amateur¡¡Infernos£»¡¡and¡¡sigh£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡think¡¡of¡¡¡¡martyrdoms¡¡endured¡¡by¡¡overworked¡¡animals¡£

It¡¡is¡¡cheering¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡societies¡¡have¡¡been¡¡formed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡¡¡protection¡¡of¡¡dumb¡¡brutes¡¡and¡¡helpless¡¡children¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡no¡¡¡¡attempt¡¡be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡alleviate¡¡this¡¡other¡¡form¡¡of¡¡suffering£»¡¡¡¡which¡¡has¡¡apparently¡¡escaped¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reformer£¿

The¡¡animal¡¡kingdom¡¡is¡¡divided¡¡¡­¡¡like¡¡all¡¡Gaul¡¡¡­¡¡into¡¡three¡¡¡¡divisions£º¡¡wild¡¡beasts£»¡¡that¡¡are¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡hustle¡¡for¡¡¡¡themselves£»¡¡laboring¡¡and¡¡producing¡¡animals£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡man¡¡¡¡provides¡¡because¡¡they¡¡are¡¡useful¡¡to¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡dogs£¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡¡¡created¡¡things¡¡on¡¡our¡¡globe¡¡the¡¡canine¡¡race¡¡have¡¡the¡¡softest¡¡¡¡¡¨snap¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡more¡¡one¡¡thinks¡¡about¡¡this¡¡curious¡¡exception¡¡in¡¡¡¡their¡¡favor¡¡the¡¡more¡¡unaccountable¡¡it¡¡appears¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡neglect¡¡¡¡such¡¡wild¡¡things¡¡as¡¡we¡¡do¡¡not¡¡slaughter£»¡¡and¡¡exact¡¡toil¡¡from¡¡¡¡domesticated¡¡animals¡¡in¡¡return¡¡for¡¡their¡¡keep¡£¡¡¡¡Dogs¡¡alone£»¡¡¡¡shirking¡¡all¡¡cares¡¡and¡¡labor£»¡¡live¡¡in¡¡idle¡¡comfort¡¡at¡¡man's¡¡¡¡expense¡£

When¡¡that¡¡painful¡¡family¡¡jar¡¡broke¡¡up¡¡the¡¡little¡¡garden¡¡party¡¡¡¡in¡¡Eden¡¡and¡¡forced¡¡our¡¡first¡¡parents¡¡to¡¡work¡¡or¡¡hunt¡¡for¡¡a¡¡¡¡living£»¡¡the¡¡original¡¡Dog¡¡£¨equally¡¡disgusted¡¡with¡¡either¡¡¡¡alternative£©¡¡hit¡¡on¡¡the¡¡luminous¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡posing¡¡as¡¡the¡¡¡¡champion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡disgraced¡¡couple£»¡¡and¡¡atta

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