National Republican., 1886-12-04
SCHOOL TEACHERS ASPIRE.
The Eminent Public Men Who Once
Welded the Birch,

Until President Arthur's death few peo
ole knew that he began life as school
leacher. Nor does every one know that
his predecessor and successor started out In
he same way. Gen. Garfield taught for
many years before he entered politics, and
President Cleveland's course led from the
lhool house to the white house. \ glance
1t the careers OF other eminent public men
makes 1t appear that training in the school
'ostrum Is one Of the best preparations
for success In public life. Mr.. Blaine, as
every one knows, taught school in Ken
tucky after graduating from college.
MAY Or.elect Hewitt, of New York, began life
with the birch In hand and with money earned
in the school room laid the foundation OF
his great fortune. Gov. Lloyd, Of Mary
land, was a teacher less than ten years ago
Gov. Wilson, of West Virginia, also taught,
and his namesake, the congressman from the
second West Virginia district, was teacher
at the time OF his election to Congress.
In the United States Senate and House OF
Representatives many OF the leaders are
whilOm teachers. Speaker Carlisle began
life in the rostrum OF little Kentucky
school, aud, as he remarked In recent
speech, It was the happest moment OF his
life when he received teachers certificate
after walking twenty.four miles to get IT,.
The speaker, by the way, is very fond oi
referring TO this part OF his life, and attri.
butes to its experiences the patience and
Judgment which has stood him In good
stead in his present difficult position. The
river and harbor chairman, Mr.. Willis,
caught at the same time In an adjoining
county, and his subsequent career Is like
Carlisle's. Congressman Foran, the labor
leader, prepared for the bar while teaching,
nd Ia ha
about his classroom experience, Randolph
Tucker has been a professor most OF his
life, and will, after his term has expired,
take the presidency OF Virginia uniyer-
sity.
On the Republican side there are leaders,
too, who once handled the rod. Reed, OF
Maine, taught for a while In Portland
while he was studying law. 1t is said that
he was teacher of elOCuton, and at that
time acquired the wonderfully distinct
enunciation which distinguishes him now.
Mr. Hit, the millionaire Illinois congress
man, earned his fret hundred dollars IN the
school room, and afterward branched of into
shorthand, farming, aud literature"---a
queer combination from which TO extract a
fortune Browne Of Indiana; Butterworth,
of OaiO, and several other Republican
heavyweghts also recall years spent In
teaching the youthful idea how to shoot
Among the senators there are several dis
tingusned educators. Senator Eustis was
professor in the University OF Louisiana
at the time he was elected TO the Senate
Senator Mcmillan, Of Minnesota, was one
Of the pioneer teachers OF the northwest,
Young Mr. Kenna taught before being ad-
mittcd to the bar Senator Iugalls united
law with teaching for awhile after he emi-
grated TO Kansas. Senator Mitchell, Of
Pennsylvania, was teacher when the war
broke out Senator Miller, Of New York
has the same record, Who say that teach.
ing Is not one of the by-paths that lead
most surely 10 the highroad of famey