Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-23
WILL CARLETON'S START,
The Author of EARN BALLADS as a
SchoOimate Remembers Him.
From the Detroit Tribune.

From the Detroit Tribune
L ran across George W. Thompson in Grand
Rapids the other day. He was a member of
the house during the session of 1888. He has
| law Office in the Court block, Just uuhler the
| shadows of the city hall tower, and quite near
enough to it to feel the vibrations of the great
bell that tolls the hours of the day and night.
he was writing at desk when entered.
'Know Will Carleton?" he queried as he
motioned me to chair near him and laid down
his pen. Il should say did. The first time
saw him was early in the sixties. He came
from his home. little north of Hudson, in
Lenawee county. to Hilsdale to attend school
there. He was a tall, lank, green country boy
He wore pair of high water pants made Of
coarse stuff, the best We fellows could afford in
those days OF expensive clothing. l remember
that he had little blonde moustache, and it
seems to me he had goatee too. He had a
voice like horse fiddle and couldn't sing. We
were both in the preparatory school.
Carleton was peculiar fellow. Most of the
boys didn't like him, particularly when he was
writing his poems He seemed to possess a
natural aptitude fer poetry. 1 think the first
he did while we were together at Hillsdale was
the writing Of some verses upon the death of
one of our classmates. He was always melan-
choly when he was composing. and that was
why the rollicking college boys didn't like him.
But didn't care rap how he felt or acted.
when the other fellows found his society too
depressing
Before he had begun to secure any recogni-
ton of his work. he was like the rest of us in
those days, obliged to work vacations. The
money we earned went to help Us pay expenses
during the college terms. This was gem
orally done by teaching school. But the
work was tedious and not particularly remu-
neratlve. This set Carleton to scheming
some way by which he could make more
p1nn 4.
Somebody about that time invented a pen
made of SO flexible metal that it could be
bent in any direction and then back into the
proper position without impairing its utility
Carleton bought lot of these pens and fol-
lowed the circus to a neighbOring town, where
he thought he could make something by selling
the article to the crowd. He never dreamed
OF being caught by Us. But as luck would have
IT a young fellow named Beale. then theo-
logical student. now at Andoyer. supplied a
pulpit at Owosso. and some of us fellows
went out to hear him preach The next
morning when We started for home we
passed the circus grounds. Imagine our sur
PRISE and amusement when We saw Will Garlic
ton there throwing these pens fastenedin hold
ers into pine board bending them up.
Strengthening them out and then showing the
open-eyed. gaping countryfolk how well they
would write after so much abuse. When he
saw us he dropped his pens. swallowed uneasily
and called out. Hello, boys. is that you?'
Il was teaching school 1t Cambria Mills when
Carleton was writing 'Betsey and l are Out"
Mr.. Thompson continued, he stroked his
moustache reminiscently. was studying law
too. Carleton came ont to see me- One of the
girls drew picture OF him on her slate and
made the others laugh. He talked some about
his poem and joked me and my chosen profess
sion by quoUps the well-known lines:
Once when was as young you and not so smart
perhaps,
For she mittened lawyer aud several other chaps
etc.
Il was in his room when he received his first
pay for poetical work-for this same .Betsey
and l Are Out 1t was a check from the Har-
pers' for SIS or $50, / don't remember which.
He was very happy over the money and the
recognition it meant"