Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-23
General Garfield and Yourg N n
Struggling for Positions.

Young men appreciate most keenly the
example, sym patty anc instruction OF a
distinguished leader who takes an active
interest in their lsbors and progress in
life. This is specially true OF those who
have, in moderate or INDECENT circum
stances, toiled up "the rugged sleeps OF
learning" IN our high schools, academies
ana colleges, TO gain afterwards intluen-
tial positions. Very many who are, IN
spite of a hundred obstacles, completing
their educational course in our schools,
are disposed 10 honor such leader,
whose early life sirikingly illustrates
their own srduous career No other OF
our foremost men has attached TO HIM
self, more closely and more assiduously,
80 many young people as has General
Garfield 1t makes but little itfcrence
whether they agree with him or not IN
his political views. Mos, OF them are
certainly not aiming 10 occupy ottic.s,
places, but are striving TO perform excel
lent work in the humber occupations
The causes Of this marvellous power OF
General Garfield sre easily discovered.
They are found in his successful strug'
giles TO acquire q thorough education IN
the midst OF the most abject povtrty in
his superior insight into the longlhgs,
motives and Intellectual experiences OF
young men, in his large hearted fellow
feeling tor them; in his assistance rem
dered 10 them IN school, business or pub
lie life, who enjoys his intimate acqualn'
lance; and in his practical and inspiring
suggestions so often presented IN his pr.
vate and public Instructions.
The most pleagre opportunities were
furnished at his boyhood home and in his
Act f,r IN
rudiments OF an education. 1he Bible
and few ordinary school books were the
only works at that time within his reach ;
and these he read or studied until he
mastered the elements OF reading, SPELL
ing and numbers. Shortly afterwards he
gained access TO other books, not OF high
character. as they treated principally OF
daring and wild adventures on the land and
sea; but they induced him TO seek Tor 3
higher knowledge of the people and the
affairs OF the great world beyond the hori
zon of his mothers log house. His eXer.
tons Ia teaching common schools, IN
cutting cord wood, in working at the car
penter's bench, and in ringing the acade
my bell, TO cam The means by which TO
support himself while pursuing his stud
les, are all well known, as accounts OF
these have been published in the sketches
of his remarkable career. Then follows
his mastery efforts as college student,
and as teacher in growing institution,
upwards of twenty years ago.
The testimony is abundant that he en-
ercised g most wholesome power over the
pupils under his care. He is represented
as exceedingly stfectionate and contiding
in his conduct toward them. Large mum.
bers tiocked to the college over which he
was made princpsl He aroused their
intellectual enthusiasm by his own vigor
GUS and well. balanced mind, and by his
effective methods of securing grasp
upon their thoughts and feelings. One
of his old scholars states, He took very
kindly TO me aud assisted me in various
ways, because | was poor and was janitou
of the buildings, and swept them out In
the morning and built fires, as he al
done only six years before, when he was
pupil at the same college. He was full
of animal spirits and used TO run out on
the green almost every day, and play
cricket with his scholars. When was
ianitor, he used sometimes TO stop me
and ask my opinion about this and that,
as if seriously advising with me. | can
see now that my opinion could not have
been of shy value, and that he probably
spect, and partly 70 show that he felt an
interest in me" Another pupil writes ::
There began to grow up IN me an al
miration and love for Garfield that has
never abated and the like OF which
have never known. A bow of recognition,
or single word from him, was to me an
inspiration. Garfield taught me more than
any other man, living or dead" Another
scholar says, He found me out, drew near
to me, and entered into all my troubles
and difficulties pertaining TO questions OF
the future In greater or less degree
this was true OF his relations 10 his pupils
generally. There are hundreds OF these
men aud women scattered over the world
to-day, who can not f1ud language strong
enough to express their feeling in conlem-
plating GARFIELD as their ola instructor,
adviser and friend"
Here and there in The letters and speech
es of Garfield occur passages which record
his absorbing interest ia Dung men, and
part, Cularly in their mental and moral
developments. When a teacher, he wrote
to young f3Quaintsnce: Tell me, do you
not feel a spirit stirring within YOU that
longs TO know, TO DO and 10 dare : TO hold
converse with the great world OF thought,
anG hold before you some high and no.
BILE object to which the vigor OF your
mind and the strength of your arm may
be given? Do you not have longings such
as these which you breathe to no one, and
which you feel must be needed, or you
will pass through life unsatisiId and re-.
grellul?" As late as in 1877, he said, u
have taken more solid comfort III the
thing itself, and received more moral rec
ompeass and stimulus in. hfJer life from
capturing young men Tor on education
than from Anvihlng else In the world A.