The record-union., 1892-10-19

other, so that, perhaps, by ami by [ may
become a lawyer myself. 1t is easier for
lawyer TO gain political honor than for
any one else" So the young man bor
roWed some law books and while he
worked at wool-carding during the day
he read these law books at night, and of
the two tasks the reading was the harder,
for there were many things which he did
not understand. A lawyer who learned
OF hlS energy took compassion upon the
young man and explained those things
he did not understand to him. BY and
by after several years had passed this
young man believed that he had learned
enough OF the law to justify him III ask
ing to be admitted to the bar. He went
before the Judge and the lawyers and
they asked him his name.
'Millard Fillmore" he said.
"How long have you been reading
law?"
Several years." And he answered
with some timidity, fearing that he would
be told that he must study more before
he could be admitted.
The lawyers We're kind to him, how
ever, and examined him, saying that he
was well fitted to begin practice. And so
the wool-carder became d lawyer, and
nothing that ever came to him in the
way OF honor in his life, he atterward
said, gave him such exquisite JOY as when
he saw his little sign, "Milard Fillmore,
Law Office" hung from the door of his
ONCE. He began practice in Buffalo, in
which city many years after another poor
boy began the study Of law, little dream
ing that he should become President one
day.
There WIS q political meeting in Buff
talo during the campaign which first re-
suited IN the election OF Andrew Jackson
for President. This meeting was held
by those who were opposed to Jackson's
election. There came into the hall where
II was held tall young man who was
a stranger to most OF those gathered there.
He seemed to have come merely as a
spectator, and ne was with a friend. The
speeches did not seem to interest this
stranger greatly until a young man, tall.
muscular, with finely shaped head and
a pleasing voice, although hesitating in
his speech, began to speak. He seemed q
uttie tIInld, Tor II was his 1lrSt speech in
political gathering. But he had not ut
tered many sentences before the attention
OF this stranger was fixed upon him.
who is that young man?'' said tho
stranger to his friend when the speech
was finished.
That is a young lawyer named Mill
ard Fillmore, who used to be Il wool
earder, and has only recently begun to
practice law"
we ell, there is something in him." re-
piled the stranger, land [ would like to
meet him"
So 1t happened that within an hour
this young speaker, Millard Fillmore,
was presented to the stranger. whose
name was Thurlow Weed, and that was
the first meeting between one who was
10 become the most successful politician
OF his time and the man whom he was
largely instrumental in bringing to the
Presidency.
They chatted for an hour, each of them
talking about his early struggles, and
then Mr.. " eed told young FILLMORE that
his party ought to send him to the New
ork Legislature. The young lawyer
s9ld that IL would give him great Joy to be
elected, but he did not see how he could
get the nomination.
think can arrange that" said Mr..
Weed, and be did. He saw the politi-
clans and urged them to nominate younp
FIllmore, and they did so and elected
him.
Thus Millard Fillmore began his polit-
zeal career at Is years of age. In Albany
he met Mr.. Weed and another man who
was to become very famous as a politi-
clan and statesman and almost to attain
| the Presidency-Wm II. Seward. From
that time on, through the friendship Of
Mr.. Weed and his own abilities. young
tlilmore's progress was rapid. Mr.
Weed helped hIm secure a nomination
for Congress. and in less than fifteen
years from the time when he was a WOOL
carder Mr.. Fillmore was the Chairman
of the most important committee in Con-
gress, for it was the one which prepared
the bills providing for the raising of
money, and also at that time for the eX-
penditure of it for the support of the Gov
ernment.
Through Mr.. Weeds efforts very large
ly Mr.. Fillmore was nominated for Gov
ernor of New York, but he was beaten. a
defeat which afterward brought him to
the Presidency, for had he been elected
| Governor of New York lie would not
have been nominated for Vice President
when General Taylor was nominated for
President.
OF course Mr.. Fillmore would not have
been President had it not been for the
death OF General Taylor, but that does not
detract from his ability or the success Of
his career. The little bare-footed boy
who heard forty years before the preacher
say that some of those who heard him
| might become President some day found
in his own experience that this preacher
had told the truth.