The Wilmingtonian., 1888-05-26

no particular liking. And, singular as 10
may seem, the only study at college in which
he displayed no aptitude was the very one in
which, later In life, he exhibited surprising
excellence. He was conditioned in rhetoric
the first year, and during the first three years
Of his college course literary studies were as
distasteful to him as mathematical studies
often are to literary men. But he excelled
in scientific and historical studies, and SO sue
eessful was he in the latter that he attracted
the attention Of Andrew D. White, president
of the university. He had up to this time
been earning his own way through college,
devoting his spare time to work in the uni
versity printing office. He now became the
private secretary of DR.. White, retaining
this position until the December Of 1875, when
he went to Rochester
Loaded down, as most graduates are, with
intellectual wares for which tbere is no mar.
ket, and obliged to work at something that
would bring him the largest possible income,
he took place as reporter on The Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle In spite Of his dis
krste for writing and dislike of a literary
career, he made rapid headway in the field OF
journalism. He was soon promoted to the
night editorship, and later became the man
aging editor of the paper. In this position
he distinguished himself as a brilliant, in
cisive and scholarly writer. Many an article
quoted and credited to the editor came from
his pen. The training to which he subjected
himself In the office The Democrat and
Chronicle developed to an extraordinary de.
gree his perceptions of the needs Of the read
ing public. He also had charge Of the
weekly edition Of the paper. Under his di-
rection it became the foremost weekly paper
in western New York. Its success was due
simply to his skill in selecting and arranging
che reading matter of most interest to the
public.
When he became the editor of The Cosmo-
politan this same faculty came into play.
Mr.. Smith is only 35 years old, having
been born in South Granville, Washington
county, in 1858. He is slightly under six feet
in height, and Of slender build. His COM
plexion is dark, and his hair and beard very
black. Penetrating dark gray eyes look
through pair of steel bowed glasses His
forehead is broad, but not high, and the gen
eral expression of the face is one of strength
and dignity. Mr.. Smith is also bright and
capable business man. Personally, he Is
kind, generous and S'Upathetic. j. N. r
The wiggles Of wakefulness.
Some expressions are all the more forcible
for having sprung spontaneously into exist.
ence without the fostering aid of grammar.
Lillian had an uncomfortable way Of waking
before light, and expecting the family 70
rise with her at what they considered an un-
bearably early hour.
"Lillian, you must lie still ana Try 20
Sleep" said her mother one morning, when
this early bird began to chirp.
"rll try,n said the child, and so she did,
but it was r no purpose. In Eve minutes
she was sitting up in bed playing with her
little pink toes. This time her mother, grow
ing impatient, as sleepy people have been
known to do, summarily extinguished her
under the bedclothes, saying, in despair;
"Ihllian, told you to try once more to go tc
sleepF
~ know it, mamma" said truthful Lillian
"and did try, but the wake wiggles in me
so can't keep stillr-Youth's Companion.