New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
TIE STORY OF Ills LIFE RELATED BY THE
AUTHOR OF Rem HUR"


the Republican candidate for the Presidency was
to be written by his close friend, General Lew
Wallace, a widespread anticipation OF pleasure
was aroused, and curiosity to see with what IN
tercst the accomplished portrayer OF ancient jew
ish Roman and Arabian life would invest the
career of typical American citizen Inc WORK
Is now nearly finished, and The TRIBUNE takes
pleasure in laying before its readers to-day num-
Der Of bright passages selected from advance
sheets.
The parsonage to whom General Wallace intro
duces us in his description of Harrlsons make
up az the time his biographer first met him is
o STRIPPING lawyer, married, though barely out
of his teens, who had hung out his single in
INDIANAPOLIS and was ready for clients. General
Wallace says:
and e whats msh Be caed bSnds eyes
were gray, tinged with blue, his hair
light reminding one OF what lin in ,,a an,
than POLITICALLY described as tow-head.' lie
was plainly dressed, and in that respect, gave
tokens of indifference to the canons OF fashion.
had pleasant voice and look and did not lack
for words to express himself At first one wondered
that young man apparently so lacking IN as
sertion should presume to entrust himself so lar
from home The wonder was heightened when 1T
became known that the flcdgeling was grandson Of
President William Henry Harrison. He grew how,
ever, with more intimate mountaineering, anu
by-and-by men, speaking of him in the vernacular,
prophesied that he would develop into swlnSe
cat"
BoYHooD DAYS ON THE FRONTIER
After devotng the first chapter to Harrison's
illustrious ancestry, General Wallace describes
his hero, first as a child, boy and student: and
then as a lawyer soldier and statesman. Here IS
a glimpse of Ilarrisons carly boyhood, with its
rugged environment of frontier life and days
of drudgery in a log schoolhouse;
The teachers were sometimes men, sometimes
women: and they were not employed all the year
round but generally in the winter. The caoln was,
as is usual with such buildings the very plaincst;
The floor was OF Punche0n me %h%owS TW a
filled with logs in the morning TO burn all DAY.
The benches were slabs raised above the il0or Dy
sticks fitted in through anger holes. lhey were
without backs, and the little fellows, through the
hours Of session, dropped their legs without touch
ing the floor with their feet Altogether 1t was
were spelling, reading and writing they were hGC
put to much mental effort. In that humble
structure Benjamin began his education
In seasons when the crops were being planted
and harvested he was as farmers boy, gwen 10
employment suitable to his years, lie fed the
CATTLE he did the milking though be has since G
success. 1t should not be supposed that the at
tendance at school and work upon the farm were
pnmixed with pastmG The rivers hoTh h , GCSe
were squirrels in the woods in their season ducks
were plenteous, and in the pursuit of such game
ts re %erV he assisted the
negro who served the household in the capaclty OF
cook, carried wood and water for him ana helped
him wash the dishes that he might the better
secure his company in bout at fishing or huhtlhs'
TIE HOME FIREsIDE.
In one or two places the biographcr draws
aside the curtain and gives glance at the inner
sanctuary of young Harrison's home life, made
beautiful by the character of the mother whose
presence hallowed it;
His mother was most Christian woman, of re-
markable sweetness of temper and her spirit per
vaded the house The dining room, which was the
common sitting room, was large and commodlous
with the usual wide open fireplace. In evenings
especially of the winter the family assembled In 1t
around central table. The flames in the ire.
place burned brightly. dispensing light IN ald OF
the tallow dips, on the table, beside which wero
the oldfashoned brazen shutters ready IN the
polished tray for instant use. The dips mentioned
were not the store article, but homemade. In
fact, young Harrison helped make them ana De-
tame an expert in the business.
In front Of the fireplace the mother took seat
with her knitting; and while listening to the con-
versation or the reading that went on amongst the
younger folks reeled of her needles the socks
with which the boys could encounter the snow
without. In their most animated moments those
around were always regardful OF her presence; re-
spect for her tempered their voices and forbade
passion in dispute. She was Presbyterian, and
one Of Beniamin's earliest recollections, that to
which at this late udy ne refers Wltl pTOlouHuVS'
reverence of feeling is the habit she persisted in
to her death of rising when the hour of retirement
came, folding up her work, whatever II might De,
saying good night and going aside for prayer.
TIE practice was mystery to him then, as was the
PRAYER she silently made. He did not understand
what it meant: and for that reason possibly the
impression it made upon him has been more lasting
THE COLLEGE BOYS FIRST LOVE.
When the boy Harrison had served his time at
the A-B-C of learning at the log schoolhouse, and
had carried his studies considerably deeper under
his fathers instruction he spent two years at Farm
ers College, near Cincinnati, after which he en-
tered Miami University as a junior. His life
there, it seems was much like the average college
boy Of that day and this with possibly single
noteworthy experimentation actually married
the girl to whom a student he had pledged his
first and only love. General Wallace tells how il
came about:
1t happened that in the town overlooked by
Miami University there was an academy for Young
ladies of which DR.. John w. Scott was manager
and president The fair students were sparkling
feature Of the society Of the village, and young Har
rson not so ascetically devoted TO the Union
Literary and making good the favortlsm shown
him as an orator on occasions TO be blind 10 the
sex Far from that, he VIGOROUSLY diligent in
seeking partners for concerts lectures picnicS and
lent Dent Scott had arr daughter, giriish,
intelligent, witty, attractive, in whom the
young man quickly discovered all the qualities
that entered into the composition of his ideal Of
perfect woman Suddenly he gave up attentions
to the gentle patrons of the academy in general
and became more slave TO his books than ever
For a season there was much wonder over the
change; at length it was eXplained-he was engaged
to marry Miss Caroline W. Scott the presidents
daughter The contract argues great courage
and confidence in his future when 1t is remembered
that he was poor and just out Of the junior class,
and but eighteen, years of age.
It may be well supposed that the engagement
referred TO, while operating as an incentive to
work. had also the effect TO lcngthen each college
day making him impatient for the end which the
collegiate calendar set down for the 24th OF june
$50.
A PRoTECTIONIsT AT NINETEEN.
To give some notion of the class of '52 at
Miami, General Wallace quotes the statement
of Mr. Lewis W. Ross. of Council Bluffs Iowa.
IL Iarrisnn,s Gffeen ClaSSmatGS