FEARLESSNESS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12492, 19 March 1909, Page 4

FEARLESSNESS.

Andrew Johnson possesed two" Qualities useful for a public man — magneism and fearlessness. A writer iv the "Century Magazine" tells an ii>cident which happened in the early days of the struggle in Tennessee, when he was hated by the whole Secession element. He was to addresß a meeting iif the Town Hall. He had been informed on good authority that half-a-dozen men were ready to shoot him as soon as he appeared before the audience/

When he appeared on the platform, he advanced to jfche speaker's stand. Something held the. crowd io silence while he deliberately drew a pistol out of his pocket. He laid it On the table, while a spellbound crowd hung on his movements. Then at last he spoke. ''I understand," he said, in his placid way, "that the first business before the meeting is to shoot me.- I move that the" meeting proceed to 'business.'"

During the few minutes that lie scanned the audience there was breathless silence. At last, when no one moved, he began his address in rather "a disappointed manner.