New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11
GARFIELD TIE YOUTH.
From The Detroit Post and Tribune.

From The Detroit Post and tribune,
DR.. C.. Henri Leonard, whose father fo- many
years near neIghbor of General Garfield. relates
some interesting "reminiscences OF the Republican
candidate for the Presidency. OF General Garfelds
early life he has often heard his family speak, and
the General has frequently narrated to him incidents
of his boyhOOd career. On one occasion ne told how
it happened that he quit the business of canal boat
man and struck out for better position IN life. He
brought up after at the house of the grand
father of DIR. Leonard, one Worthy Taylor. farmer
of Aurora, Portage County. where he asked Ior
Dir. Taylor said he had no employment for boy,
but young Garfield insisted that he was able to DO
mans work. Mr.. Taylor told him if he did
he wOuld give hun q mans wages. he went to
work in the hay field and was set to NOW
ing with three men. He was given a swath
thinking to bush" the boy and make HIM
sick of his job, crowded him the best they were
able but he held his own without complaint and
let none of them throw their sw ath upon him. This
sort of racing was kept up all the forenoon, and
the men seeing the boys mettle steadled down to
with the rest. When the days work was done he
begged for candle, and retiring to his room
studied until far into the night. The next MORN
ing he up bright and early and ready for the
lie worked for Mr. Taylor throughout the season.
and every day did an honest days work and every
night pOred over his books long after the rest OF
the household were asleep. He had fully made
up his mind to gain an education, and while others
we're indulging IN ldleness or recreation he was
storing his mind with useful know ledge After
ward be went to Hiram Institute and there
prepared himself to enter Williams College, hav-
ing been assisted financially to some extent by an
elder brother. From the time he left the canal,
with the high resolution to make something better
than boatman of himself, his career up ward.
DIR. Leonard recalled incident which had a
marked influence upon Garhelds subsequent
course in life. When he at the insti-
tute glib lecturer came along and adj
vertsed a lecture in which he proposed to
show that the Mosaic account of the creation was
absurd and unscientitc After he had finished his
lecture he said If there was any person in the
audience who wished to ask him any questions he
would be pleased to answer them. Young Gar
field who had been deeply interested in tho study
of geology, propounded a few questions which
proved rather troublesome to the lecturer to
answer and before they got through with it the
audience found that very interesting controversy
was going on.
The result was that the next day the lecturer |
was challenged to series of debates with Garfield
upon the Bible and its relations to science. The |
challenge was accepted and the debate continued |
for a week. The result of it was that young Gar
field showed himself well equipped with argu- |
ments in support of the Bible and against mater
iasm, such keen and ready oontroversialist |
and such fluent and convincing speaker, that he |
was urged to speak in the pulpits of the Christian
or Campbelhte churches in the vicinity. This he |
did with great success, and his fame ms preacher
spread far and wide. and his services were in |
great demand.