Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-14
PRESIDENTS SCHOOLS.
HOW OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVES KHR6
 EDUCA TED,

Washington Not n studious Youth, but Fond or Military Exercises-Jnclkson Was Intended for the Ministry, but Abandoned the Idea-How Johnson Was Helped Ina His Education. Washington's early education extended | only to the elementary English branches and the higher mathematics, of which he was very fond. He was not especially | studious, but eXcelled in featS of agility i and strength. and was fond of military | exercises. He followed the calling of a surveyor from Is until l9, when he en- tered the military service.
 John Adams enjoyed the best facilities of his day for education, graduating from Harvard college at 19. He then engaged in teaching and at the same time studied law. He was admitted to the bar at | 23 and his success was made certain by the signal ability which he displayed. Thomas Jefferson entered an elemen- tary school at years of age, and began the study of Latin, Greek and French at 9. At l7 he entered William and Mary | college, where ha remained two years only. After leaving college he studied law and was admitted to the bar at 24. | James Madison's early life was a con- stant struggle with ill health, which seriously interfered with his desire to gain an education. He nevertheless graduated from Princeton collage at 2l, after which he studied law. He was de- voted to mental improvement, was a thorough Bible student and of religious l turn of mind.
 James Monroe entered William and Mary college at Is. but left it at IS to join the Continental army, where he soon rose to the rank of colonel. Leaving the army he studied law and was elected to fhn nrvic1 1nf hnn nlxyO nfo,
 Andrew Jackson studied literature and the dead languages at Waxhaw academy. At he abandoned the idea of Is enter ing the ministry, for which he was intended by his mother, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar at 19 and chosen representative to congress at 29.
 Martin Van Buren received a good academic education and early showed great mental vigor and quickness of comprehension. He was especially fond of composition and public speaking. He began the study of law at II and was admitted to tho bar at 21.
 William Henry Harrison was educated at Hampden Sidney college, and after wards began the study of mdicine. He was diverted from this to join the army serving against the savages on the west ern frontier.
 John Tyler was brilliant student, and graduated at William and Mary college at seventeen with the reputation of hay ing delivered the best commencement oration ever heard by the faculty. He then read law and began to practice it at nineteen. meeting with unusual success.
 John Quincy Adams education was conducted in a good measure abroad during his fathers residence in Paris, Leyden, Amsterdam and other European d cities. At Ii he was private secretary to the United States minister to Russia. Returning home he graduated from Har- ward college at 21. He then studied law and practised it in Boston.
 James K. Polk, though reared on a back woods farm, at an early age mani tested decided literary tastes. His father desired him to be a merchant, but finally consented to his entering the University of North Carolina, from which he gradu- ated with the highest honorS at 23. He then studied law and began practice at Columbia.
 Zachary Taylors boyhood was spent in a wilderness, surrounded by hostile Indians and with decidedly limited edu- cational advantages. He early entered the army and was commissioned as lieu tenant at twenty-four.
 Willard Fillmore's father was poor farmer, unable to educate him. At IA he was apprenticed to @ clothier, but found time % gratify his thirst for knowledge by spending his evenings in reading and study. His studious habits attracted the attention of neighboring lawyer, who assisted him to study law and general literature. At 23 he was admitted to the bar and rose rapidly to distinction.
 Franklin Pierce graduated at Bowdoin college at Is, being g classmate of Flaw thorne. He was a tolerable scholar only. After leaving college he studied law, and was soon sent to the legisla- ture.
 James Buchanan graduated from Dick inson college at IS. He was good stu Fowly escaped expulsion. His tastes were for logic and metaphysics. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar at 21.
 Abraham Lincoln had but little school ing, and that of the poorest quality. He gained most of his education by his own efforts, reading and studying during his spare moments. It was not until after serving as captain in the Black Hawk war, acting as government surveyor for several years and serving one term in the legislature that he studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of 9.
 Andrew Johnson received no schoolin z, but was apprenticed to a tailor when Ee was 10 years of age. He was ablo to read a little, but did not learn to write and cipher until after his marriage when he was taught by his wife, In spite of these disadvantages he early served as mayor oi Grcenville, N. C., and at 27, was elected to seat in the leg islaturr.
 Ulysses $. Grant graduated from the military acadeMy at West Point at Fl years of age, ranking twenty-tirst in a class of twcnty-nine. He never dis played any brlliancy of intellect, but was gifted in a high degree with the genius of accomplishment.
 Rutherford B. Hayes was educated in the common schools, in an academy at Norwalk, O., preparatory school at Mid dletown, Conn.,, and at Kenyon college, which he entered at 16. He excelled in logic, mental and moral philosophy, mathematics and debating. He was as- signed the valedictory in graduating. He entered the law school at Harvard and was graduated and admitted to the bar in 1S45, at 5 years of age.
 James, A. Garfield was educated in the common schools of the Western reserve, at Geauga academy and Hiram Electric institute in Ohio, and at Williams colleg ., from which he graduated at the age of twenty-five. He taught school before and during his attendance at college, and