Show ji f CHARACTER OF AARON BURR BURR- Defender of Ills Fame Was Willing but Didn't I Know now Tricks of off Oratory The first secret society with which whirl I was over ever affiliated was called the Omega Omega which was tw two thirds ds literary literary liter liter- ary an and third one social said an old college man who has bas since won distinction distinction dis dis- as a national orator and campaign cam cam- campaign speaker In our rival society the Alpha Rho this order of or things was reversed and we prided ourselves I greatly on the fact that our feast of reason outranked the flow of soul I Ours was a good deal of a debating society and though I early gained some reputation as a speaker I was either too bashful or er too ignorant to take part in any of the debates One of my intimate chums was wall named Grant who excelled in that line and although much younger young r than tho the average member never hesitated I to cross swords with the older ones and was not infrequently the victor He was very anxious that I should learn to debate and frequently urged me to at least make malte a commencement arguing that after I had gotten over my embarrassment I would enjoy the fun and excitement The subject of debate one evening was to be be Was the Influence of ot Aaron Burr upon the time in which he lived good or bad 1 Grant knew that I was quite an admirer of ot Burr had read quite extensively about him both In history and fiction and said to me that this would be an excellent opportunity for me to make my do do- but Grant himself was to answer one of ot the oldest and best debaters and I could answer the one who followed him He coached me very thoroughly told me to listen carefully to what the opponents urged against Burr to cite my proofs showing he was neither a drunkard nor a libertine as they would assert and then show what a debt Washington and the country owed him for his military skill sItU and ability during the Revolution He lie said I must not allow myself to become flur hur- hurried flurried ried or excited that I could occasionally occasionally occasionally occasion occasion- ally refer to my notes and in fact talk and and act just as if I were simply arguIng arguing arguing ing with one or two of my school school- mates During the day I thought much of the important part I was to play in the coming drama and there seemed to me meno meno meno no reason why I should not score a complete success But as the hour of the me meeting tIng drew nearer the success seemed to grow more problematical and by the time the debate opened my thoughts were completely topsy and I could hardly remember whether Burr was an Italian or a Chinaman The man who opened the debate showed plainly that my hero was everything everything ev ev- that was vile and wicked and should have been tried and convicted as a traitor and nd I found myself wondering wondering wondering won won- dering how Grant could possibly answer answer answer an an- all these terrible charges But Buthis Buthis Buthis his defense was splendid He spoke in his Ms usual fiery manner and all my former for tor- former mer admiration for Burr returned and andI I 1 became eager to help defend him The debater who I was to answer was a slow earnest speaking fellow not very bright but accustomed to argument argument ar ar- ar and fond of statistics and even before he had finished I had again veered around and found I was losing my faith in my side of the question When my name was called I rose as asif asif asit if it In a dream and for about I pr pre presumed sum ed ten minutes talked the lot of nonsense that was ever heard I in a debating club If It I looked at my notes I found that I had said everything everything every every- thing about the subject that I could think of and if it I tried to extemporize I repeated the former things over and over The ordeal was finally passed and as I took my seat there was a a. little little little lit lit- tle perfunctory applause and then the tho president promptly decided the case against Burr Grant was sitting quietly and lookIng lookIng looking look- look Ing straight ahead into vacancy and I noticed he had made no demonstration in my favor Leaning toward him I timidly touched him on the shoulder and said Well old fellow did I make a a. complete failure No he answered answered answered an an- slowly You did pretty well for fora a first attempt but the devil himself couldn't have made out on which side you were debating |