In one town in the invaded district, though, there was an elderly gentleman whose sympathies with the Southern cause were especially outspoken. Whenever word came of a victory for the Southern armies his jubilation was undisguised. The Union provost-marshal, hearing complaints from his men of this man’s actions and words, decided to make an example of him. He sent a squad to arrest the offender and presently, under guard, the old gentleman was brought before him. “Look here,” said the officer, “I’m getting tired of your behavior. Every few days I hear that you’ve been going about again spreading reports that our forces have been defeated. Now then, I’ve decided to reform you. Either you take the oath of allegiance to the Union right now or off you go to a military prison. Which shall it be?” The prisoner decided to take the oath. After it had been administered the officer felt that a further admonition might be in order. “Now then,” he said, “I hope you understand what this thing means? If ever again you utter a word of disparagement for the Union cause or a word of approval for the Confederates, and I hear of it, you’ll suffer severely; because now you’re a loyal Unionist. A single disloyal remark makes you guilty of treason.” The reclaimed one thanked him for the warning. On his way out he stopped at the door. “Major,” he said, “they ain’t no law against thinkin’, is they?” “That depends,” said the Major. “What’s in your mind now?” “Well,” said the Kentuckian, “I was just thinkin’ that them Rebels certainly did give us fellers hell day before yistiddy down below the state line.” § 276 Where Higher Education Would Have Landed Him Some fifteen years ago there landed in New York a friendless and almost penniless Russian immigrant who found lodgings on the East Side and at once, with racial perseverance and energy, set out to earn a living. He was of a likeable disposition, and speedily made acquaintances who sought to aid him in his ambition. One of them sponsored him for the vacant post of janitor, or _shammos_, to use the common Hebraic word, of a little synagogue on a side street. But when the officers of the congregation found out the applicant was entirely illiterate they reluctantly denied him employment, inasmuch as a _shammos_ must keep certain records. The greenhorn quickly rallied from his disappointment. He got a job somewhere. He prospered. Presently he became a dabbler in real-estate. Within ten years he was one of the largest independent operators in East Side tenement-house property and popularly rated as a millionaire. An occasion arose when he needed a large amount of money to swing what promised to be a profitable deal. Finding himself for the moment short of cash, he went to the East Side branch of one of the large banks.