The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31

80, ehowed n strong trend toward litera'
tnre philosophy. and the languages. lie
dropped out two terms In the fresh man
4 year 10 earn money TO keep going ht
taught school. and, as usual 'poarueu
round. Reed now became an omniVerous
student Of books. generally, however, OF
a romantic character. His interest IN
class matters tagged. and when the end
came. Il was a difficult struggle 10 get
through Examinations.
The spirit of independence now mani
tests itself, the one ruling passion OF MS
| life. This Il Is that has made him less
| OF a politician than otherwise he might
| have been. we're he not so blunt and
outspoken in his ways. ard did he not
| take such delight in freedom. Mr. DAVIS
| knew him well At Bowdoin. OF Reed,
! this gentleman says;
at Bowdo!n, at this tlme-beforcl@0-
| there were two college societies, INTO
which the whole school was about equally
divided. With Characteristic indepep-
dence. Tom organized a society called
the "Outens." meaning the non-society
fellows. or "barbarians."
"Oid you know Tom as debater In
college?"
"He was q member OF a debating so
clety there, / think the Pucinian. lie
was known as the best speaker In the
school He had then many OF the
characteristics OF speech which after
wards were destined TO make MN
famous He had turn for episram,
wit. and satire that proved Irresistible
In the hard-fought college debates.
There was a man in Bowd0in college
who once clicked" Tom Reed. That is
the very word TO use-'licked." II he
we're alive to-day. he could boast Of some
thing that would make him pfe-emiheh1'
a victory that politicians would rever-
ence him for-this licking Of Tom Reed
William CrOwell. or as the boys called
him. "Bnlie" Crowel, was great, tail
lanky student with shocky blonde hair,
a close friend Of Reeds. 4. w. Bradbury
says concerning Tom and Bilhe.
zone day, / remember. Tom was
leaving his room, when he met CroWell,
lust outside the door. I do not know
what passed between them; at any rate,
Cr0well was sturdy, athletic chap,
handy with his fists, and-bihl he sud
denly let out right-hander which made
Tom staeger. The row continued for
some time. and Tom was fully and
finally licked. Remember the incident?
Wen, I guess Tom does"
Bradbury. who is a jolly bachelor
was a sitting, in evening dress playing
cards under the evening lamp. Il was
talking OF CrOWell 10 ON lo-udNf anu
Tom said yes. nearly all the members Of
our little circle are dead now, Brad
bury. but If ] could cali just one OF them
back. do you know whom l would choose2
well / said, very slowly
L would choose Crowen," was what
he said"
It was soon after Tom graduated from
Bowdoin that he obtained a position as
assistant principal In the Boys High
School of Portland. There he remained
q year.
Never intending to devote himself per-
manenuy 10 teaching, at the end Of
year after performing his duties capably,
Reed resigned.
About this time. a lawyer Of the place,
Mr.. S. G. Strout, one day received let
ter from a friend, saying that a certain
Thomas Reed desired 10 enter his office
as a law student, and asked what could
be done2
'My first impression Of the young man
was favorable" said Mr. StrOut. 'and
1 invited him TO come into my Office TO
study. | learned that he was poor, so
In Toms case, 1 concluded to forego the
legal tuition fee Of one hundred dollars
a year
''What kind Of 2 student did he make?
Well, ! soon learned that the young man
hsd brains. i used TO send him 10 look
up information for submission to some