36 Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope 



Why not be bold and bad, like the buccaneer- 

 ing Briton ? Let the United States annex Cuba, 

 and Spain, and Europe, and the Aurora Bore- 

 alis, if necessary. The reaction had set in. Then 

 I remembered one of Max O'Eell's best stories. 

 Mons. Edmond About had written of a hero that 

 he was " virtuous as a pupil of the Polytechnique." 

 The pupils of the Polytechnique at once held an 

 indignation meeting that simmered into the form 

 of a round robin to the distinguished author. 

 "Monsieur," it ran, "pray mind your own busi- 

 ness. We are no more virtuous than you are ! " 

 Max O'Eell always added that he knew this story 

 was true, because he signed the round robin 

 himself ! 



But be the causes of the war what they please, 

 the spirit in which the youth of America responded 

 to the call of arms must awaken the liveliest 

 admiration in all of us. If Mr. McKinley had 

 asked for a million men, he would have had them 

 within twenty-four hours. Friends of mine, men 

 with many interests at stake, volunteered to serve 

 in the ranks. A private's musket might have 

 been a marshal's baton, judging by the eagerness 

 with which it was sought. One patriot — to cite 

 a single instance out of a thousand — no longer 

 young, very rich, occupying a high position in 

 society, a man of fashion and culture, wired to 

 Washington entreating his friends there to procure 

 him any position, however humble, in either the 

 army or navy. It is said that his wife wired also : 

 " Pay no attention to Jimmy." No attention was 

 paid to Jimmy, except perhaps by the Eecording 



