The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-10-04
BEGAN LIFE As NEWSBOYS'
EMINENT MEN WHO STARTED
AT THE LADDERS BOT
TOM ROUND.
David 3. Hill the First Railroad
hewsboy.
Congressman Tim Campbell and Ex-
Gov. Waller, of Connecticut, Slept
in Dry Goods Boxes Together.
TGIobe-DemocrAt.1

NJ
luton of newsboys into prominent men
newspaper writers, Juvenile" authors
and Sunday-school orators have said and
written much. But no amount OF labor
with this topic has ever solved the prob.
lem whether that evolution was the re-
suit of Unborn qualities or just pure luck
No attempt will be made to solve it here
This is only a collection of true stories
about the rise OF half-dozen well known
men to positions of prominence.
Among the statesmen OF the past who
once were newsboys can be found such
distinguished men as Silas Wright, Thur
low Weed, Daniel Manning and John
Kelly. But am dealing with the living
rather than the dead in the present arti-
Gle, and in my opinion the best known OF
all newsboys now alive are Ex-Governor
and present United States Senator Tor
New York, David B. HILL ex-Gov. Tom
Waller. of Connecticut; Lieut.. Gov. VIM.
F. Sheehan, of New York; Congressman
Timothy J. Campbell and last but not
least Assemblyman Timothy Dry Dollar
Sullivan of the Second District OF New
York. A bird's-eye view of their news
boy days can not but prove interesting.
David b. Hill, senior Senator for New
York, and determined, persistent can
didate for presidential honors, was ambi-
tious from the cradle. Left fatherless
when almost an infant, the youngest OF
five children, whose mother was compell-
ed to exc out subsistence from a heav-
ily mortgaged farm near Elmira, he easily
learned what it was to "hustle." When
boy of but | / years he left his mothers
farm to make his way in life. With So
in his pocket he came to Syracuse to see
what fortune might have in store for
him. BY good luck he ran across Dean
Richmond, then head of the famous cal
bany Regency" and the President of the
New York Central road. He immedi-
ately "struck" the great man fora LOB"
"Why, my lad, what can you dor" ask
ed the Dean of the Central kindly, "You
are only baby. We need men to work
this road"
81 can sell papers and candy on your
trains, if you will let me, )" responded the
boy briskly.
That practice, now SO common, had
never been dreamed OF in those days and
the Dean was considerably impressed by
the boys brightness and originality of
thought. "All right, my lad, !" he replied
promptly, "if you can turn an honest
penny by it, go right ahead"
Young David went ahead, and has been
going ahead ever since. With his limit
ed capital he bought supply of candies
which he sold to the ladies, and lot of
newspapers which he disposed of to the
men
He worked the route between Albany
and Buffalo. Soon he enlarged his field
and laid in stock of books and cheap
literature. This he did for three years,
and at the aye OF IA had bank account
of $500 which he could call his own. AS
much more almost he had given to his
mother in the interval.
One day it was his good fortune to
meet the late Lucius Robinson, OF Elmi-
ra, then rising politician and afterwards
State Comptroller and Governor of New
York. The famous Jerry Mcguire, after
wards Speaker OF the New York Assem-
bly,, was with Mr.. Robinson when the
two future Governors OF New York, the
newsboy and the eminent lawyer met.
Mr.. Robinson was pettish because young
David did not have copy of the New
York Tribune in his stock. Mr.. Robin
son, although staunchDemocrati in after
years, was then Republican and swore
by Horace Greeley.
~ wouldn't sell that Radical sheet, no
matter what you'd give me for it," tartly
replied the youthful David. 'Tm Dem
ocrat and won't spread such nasty lies
before the public as old Greeley writes"
The epigram which caught the Democ-
racy Of the nation at Brooklyn eight years
ago when Hill announced the platform
upon which he stood, was then enunci-
ated for the first time.
"Old Rough and Ready" as Lucius
Robinson was called in those days, at
once took great liking to young Dave
Hill. He advised him TO seek another
pathway in life, one suited to his abili-
ties and ambition OF which the old war
rior easily perceived the seeds. He Of
fered him the position Of office boy in his
law Office at Elmira, and Jerry Mcguire
advised the lad TO accept the offer. He
did so. But alas for the irony OF fate
Young David Bennett Hill in after years
supplanted Speaker Jerry Mcguire as the
Democratic leader of the Southern tier,
and not long after that became the idol
of the New York State Democracy, its
triumphant leader in three successful
terms when Lucius Robinson, ex-Comp
troller, ex-State leader and Ex-Governor
was living in retirement in his native
baiIiwick. tfa q aa
Who does not know genial "Tom'
Waller, of Connecticut, the gallant sol
dier Of fortune, who sacrificed Govern