Iron County register., 1883-04-26
Anecdotes Of s. p. Chase.

SchOol at the old Cincinnati College.
The "reminiscences that he gave of the
great statesman and jurist were of
great interest to me.
Chase's father died when he was only
twelve years old, and, as his mother
was left in rather Strengthened circum
stances, Bishop Chase, of Ohio. sent for
the young man, agreeing to look after
his education and provide for him as
though he were his own son. The
young man was from March until the
middle of June, 1920, in making his
way from New Hampshire to Worth
ington, Ohio, and brought up at the
Bishops house, in that place on the
evening before the Episcopal conven-
| ton of that year was to assemble. He
had fallen in with some young men at
Cleveland who were going to Worthing-
ton on horseback to attend the conven-
ton, and young Chase got the privilege
of walking along with them, and when
they became tired occasionally got a
few minutes in the saddle. The Bishops
house at Worthington in those days re-
| scmbled a farm house very much and
he really conducted farm and academy
at the same time. Boys. from all over
Ohio came to attend the Bishops school,
and young Salmon found himself inn
mediately in the midst of business. He
was given the chores to do, and in Va
cation was expected to work on the
| farm. The good Bishop himself labored
! diligently on the farm and while he was
| in his way kind to his nephew expected
a great deal of him.
Salmon was one of the most awk-
ward boys ever seen in Worthington.
He was very near-sighted, had bad
impeachment in his speech, and was
stoop-shouldered, shambling and
slouchy in. his appearance and gait.
My friend related that the future Chief
Justice was one day passing along the
road in the outskirts of Worthington
when a rail-splitter stopped his work.
expecting to speak to the young man.
The latter walked on in an absent
minded way, with his face on the
ground. "What fool is thatp,' asked
the man of another student who came
along presently. s'Why, that is the
Bishops nephew" replied the young
man. This conversation coming to Sal
mons ears soon after, he was greatly
reused by it, and determined to improve
his personal appearance to such an ex-
tent that rail-splitters should not make
such remarks about him. He entered
into a systematic training in gymnas-
ties, and one day while he WIS thus ex-
ercising he felt something give way in
his side. 1t hurt him very much at the
time and he tainted completely away.
But when he was himself again he was
no longer stopped in appearance. Few
people who have seen the noble bust of
the Governor and Chief-Justice of late
years would ever imagine that he was
r. 4 i
One day the Bishop went away on
one of his trips into the diocese and told
Salmon to quit school early enough in
the afternoon to kill and dress a pig.
The young man had never done any
thing of the kind, but he knew that he
must first catch the pig. He did this
But now the question arose how he
should get the hair off He had heard
that the farmers usually scalded hogs,
and so heated lot of water and soused
the pig in. But he held the pig in too
long, and the water was too hot, so that
the hair was simply set and would not
come out at all. The future jurist dug
away with his fingers until they were
raw, but to no effect. He finally be-
thought himself of the Bishops razor,
and getting it. shaved the pig from nose
to tail. Every one congratulated him
upon the good job he had done, but
when the Bishop next tried to shave
himself he came as near as Bishops ever
do to using profane language.
Salmon went with the Bishop when
the latter accepted the Presidency of
the Cincinnati College. moving with
kim to that city. His uncle finally went
10 Europe, and Salmon returned to New
Hampshire to see his mother. After q
short time at home, during which he
tried, and failed in the attempt, to teach
district school, he entered Dartmouth
College in the junior year, and after
various experiences graduated with
honor.
When in the Cincinnati College. some
one set fire to the benches in one of the
rooms. The boys were all questioned
about it, and all denied any knowledge
of the affair. Finally Chase was reached.
..Salmon Chase. do you know who set
the fire?" Il do" '.Who was it,
Il refuse to tell.'' The case was re-
ferred to the President when young
Chase said: Il did not intend to insult |
the professor, but do not desire to lie. |
l know who did the mischief, but will !
rather leave the school than tell" He |
was reprimanded and excused.
While he was at Dartmouth, student |
of whom Chase was very fond was sus-
pended, as he thought, unjustly. He |
told the Faculty that if his friend left he |
should go with him. The Faculty did
not see fit to reconsider their action and |
SO the two boys started away together.
They had not proceeded far when they
were overtaken by a messenger sert by
the Faculty, who informed them that |
they were requested to return. They |
thought it was now their turn to punish |
the Faculty, and SO they went on home
and made a visit, returning in triumph
q week later.
On leaving college Mr.. Chase was fol
a long time very hard up. He finally
tried to teach private school in Wash
ington and was unsuccessful in that. At
length, becoming entirely discouraged,
he applied to his uncle, Dudley Chase,
who was a Senator, for an appointment
in the Treasury DeDartment ssSaI- |