The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-06

complimented his brigade Tor It's discipline,
praised him for his wisdom. foresight and
valor, and advised his promotion - = just
recognition for his services and martial &C
complishments.
Concerning President Harrison's per-
sonal character, it may be said that he
possesses two prominent traits. modesty
and piety. Coming Of an illustriois ances-
try, he has no belief in the aristocracy OF
name, and believes that .'every tub should
stand on its own bottom" Frank and
cordial in his manner, warm in his greet
ing, his whole bearing is attractive. conse-
quently. among those who know him best
his popularity is unbounded. The gener-
ous traits that manifested themselves dur
ing his boyhood grew with his growth and
at mature age were dominant in his char
acter, as Is attested by every soldier who
fought in his brigade during the war.
Born in log cabin. he first saw the
light under circumstances precisely SIM
liar to some of the greatest men who have
adorned our nations councils or led our
brave armies in perilous fight.
In conversation with friend regarding
his early struggles he said:
my father had farm about i've miles
from that OF my grandfather He signed
some worthless notes and died poor, leav-
ing his family nothing. married young,
when was only 20 years of age, and came
to indianapolis, which was then place of
only 14,000 or 1900 inhabitants. My wife
and took as our dwelling little house
Of only three rooms in Indianapolis. /
remember we had six knives and six two
pronged forks, six plates and similar
slim equipment all around. My wife did
her own work and We have both said since
We were never happier in our lives"
Down the Ohio river, short distance
below North Bend, where General Harri-
son was born, there stood log cabin, to
the door of which during term season"
the youth of the neighborhood turned
their footsteps to receive whatever Of
education could be impaired to them by
an old-fashioned country pedagogue, who
boarded round" among the farmers in
part compensation for his services. This
was the first school that Harrison ever at
tended. Later on he was sent to the
Farmers college at Pleasant Hill, and
finally became student at Miami univer-
sity, at Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated
at the age Of Is.
Immediately after he had graduated
y
Judge Bellamy Stor~, at one time q part
ner Of Chief Justice Salmon p. Chase, and
under the instructions of that able man he
fitted himself for the arduous duties of the
legal profession. While at Oxford he had
formed the acquaintance of Mamie Scott,
tn. bright-eyed daughter of the professor
of chemistry in the Miami school, she
having been at the time q scholar at the
e. Ill - Of "a -
love at first sight, and when graduation
day threatened to separate the lovers he
told her that as soon as he had concluded
his law course he would return and claim
her. He did as he said he would, and
Professor Scott. seeing that Harrison was
bright young fellow. interposed no OBJ
lection, and the pair were married. They
went Immediately to Indianapolis and
made ready to fight the battle of the
world.
The house into which they moved at
that time, 1854, stood in the outskirts of
the then village. 1t stands today just as
it stood then, except that many blocks of
buildings extend beyond it. 1t is little,
one-story frame building, and President
Harrison said to friend while stand
ing in front of it: "My first fee as law.
vera S gold piece-I received at the door
Of that dwelling. was hired by farmer
to plead suit for him in little country
place. could not hire q carriage and
have any money left Of my fee; SO went
horseback in much discomfort; but I won
my case and brought home some money.
Lawyers do not make much money, or, at
least, they usually do not have much more
when they die than the roof over their
heads. / own this housesand the lot on
which it rests; but have no other real
estate, except fifteen acres of my grand
fathers farm at North Bend. bought
that for sentimental reasons. It is part of
the farm of sister of mine"
A legal investigation on which the
future soldier and statesman secured en-
pioyment first brought him into promi-
nent notice. The ability which he
displayed won for him the highest praise
of lawyers and laymen. From that time
his abilities were fully occupied. He soon
acquired the reputation for consummate
skill in the preparation of cases. became
an expert examiner of witnesses. discussed
legal questions in briefs or oral arguments
with convincing logic, and became one of
the leaders of his profession as an advo-
cate and the recognized head of the
Indiana bar.
In this.connection lawyers will be inter
ested in the estimate placed upon General
Harrison's character by his former part
ner. Hon. W. d. Fishback. who said:
"He possesses all of the qualities of q
great lawyer in rare combination. He
prepares case with consummate skill !;
his written pleadings are models Of clear
ness and breyity: and as an advocate it
may be said of him that when he has fin
ished an address to the jury nothing re-
mains to be said on that side of the case.
] have often heard able lawyers In In
diana and elsewhere say that he was the
hardest man to follow that they had ever
met. No lawyer who ever met General
Harrison in legal encounter has after
ward placed small estimate upon his
ability"
tellectual qualities of Benjamin Harrison,
and showing the sentiment of one whose
ancestors have been patriots and states
men, could not long have kept entirely
aloof from participation in the politics of
his native land. With many young men
of generous impulses he joined the Repub-
lican party, and with superior oratorical
ability he soon became known as one of
the best and most fearless Republican
speakers. While dwelling upon the per-
sonal characteristics of BENJAMIN Harri-
son it is almost needless to say that when
the call to arms rang through the land
and the integrity of the republic was
threatened by one of the most terrible
wars of ropaerp f;rpes Tho rr.,5So~ e