New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-12
NEw.YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE. MONDAY, JULY r. 1880

Columbus Railroad was Just open, and the taEei-
lers went by it to Columbus, where they saw 'ho
State Capitol and the Legislature, ana from whehco
they proceeded by stage to GAINESVILLE ana tneh
foated eighteen miles in skin down ire MUS
kngum River to their destination James taught
Spring school IN log buiding Oh Back Kun' III
Harrison township. There was coal IN bank near
the school-house, and the teacher aud his Doys aug
the fuel for their fire.
AT HIRAM CoLIFGF.
Returning to Orange in the Summer he decided to
go on with his education at n new school just estao
ished by the Disciples at Hiram, Portage County
a pretty crossroads village. twelve miles from
town and railroad. His religions feeling natur-
ally called him to the young institution Of his own
denomination. in August. 1851, he arrived nj
Hiram and found plain brick building standing IN
the midst of cornfed, with perhaps dozen farm
honses near enough for boarding places for tho
students. 1t was a lonely, isolated place on hgh
ridge dividing the waters flowing into Lake Ere
from those running southwark to the ONO. lie
lived in room with four other pupils, studied
harder than ever, having now his college project
fully anchored in his mind, got through hls SIX
books OF Caesar that term and made good progress
i'm Greek. In the Winter lie again tauSnt SCHOOL NJ
Warren sville and earned SlS month. Next spring
he was back at Hiram, and during the summer va
eaton he helped build house III tue VlliaRe'
He met at Hiram woman who exercised a strong
influence on his intellectual life-Siiss Almeda A.
Booth a teacher in the school. She was nine years
older than the young student, possessed mnd OF
remarkable range and grasp. and character OF I'M
usual sweetness, purity and strength. She became
his guide and companion in his studies his mental
and moral heroine, and his unsefsh, devoted friend
The friendship between them continued until she
died few years ago, and he delivered an Grafton
on her life and character before the pupils OF the
Hiram Eclectic Institute. Young Garfield was
again thrown into class associations at Hiram win
Lucretia Rudolph, whose father had settled there
to educate his four children. strong. mutual at
tachment grew out of this association, and the
young people entered into an engagement to marry
as soon as james should graduate at college ard es
tablhh himself III life
THREE YEARS HARD STUDY.
AT the beginning of his second year at Hiram,
Garfield was made a tutor IN place Of one OF the
teachers who fell i'll, and thenceforward he taught
and studied at the same time. working tremen-
douslv to fit himself for college. His future wife
recited TO him two years in Greek, and when he
went TO college she went to teach i'll the Cleveland
schools and 20 wait patiently the realization OF
their hopes. When he went to Hiram be had stud
led Latin ONLY six weeks, and had just begun
Greek; and was therefore Just in a condition to
fairly begin the four years preparatory course or
dinarily taken by students before entering college
in the Freshman class. Yet in three years time he
fitted himself to enter the Junior class. two years
further along aud at the same time earned ais own
living thus crowding six years study into three,
and teaching for his support at the same time. To
accomplish it, he shut the whole world out sfrom his
mind save that little portion of it within the range
of his studies knowing nothing of politics or the
news of the day. reading no light literature, and en-
gaging in no social recreations that took his time
from his books.
In the Spring of 1854 he wrote to the presidents
of Yale Brown and Williams, telling what books he
had studied, aud asking what class he could enter
if he passed a satisfactory examination in them.
All three wrote that he could enter the Junior year.
President Hopkins, of Williams, added tins sentence
70 the business part of his letter: " If you come
here we shall do what we eau for you" This
seemed like kindly hand held out, and it decided
him TO 20 to Williams. He had been urged to 20 to
the Disciples College, in Bethany, Virginia founded
by Alexander Campbell, but with a wisdom hardly
TO be expected in a country lad deyotelly attached
to the sect represented by the Bethany school, he
sought the wider culture and broader opportunities
of q New England College. Z. V. S.