STEAMSHIPS AND SUBSIDIES 211 



which stretched to the horizon, but no eye was 

 turned aside to admire, for all were fixed on the 

 speakers. It was hours before the group broke 

 up and I think there were few who did not feel 

 with me that that night on the Morro Castle was 

 worth a year of life. O'Connor and Samson 

 were friends from that night, though always 

 ready for a passage at arms. 



It was only a day or two later at Nassau that 

 the latter amused me by his quick retort to his 

 antagonist. I was standing with them near a 

 cocoa palm which some negroes had climbed and 

 from which they were throwing nuts to the 

 ground. One of these struck a young negro, but 

 without injuring him. "Dr. Samson," said 

 O'Connor, "one of your profession offered in 

 proof of the wisdom and mercy of the Creator 

 that he put the pumpkin on the ground and the 

 acorn on the high tree where its fall would be 

 harmless to man. How about those cannon balls 

 that the Lord has hung on that tree ready to 

 crack the cocoanut of any one who walks under 

 it?" 



