Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-03
FROM pLOWBOY TO SENATOR
Progressive Steps in Fame's Ladder Taken
by Shelby M. Cullom,
RECOLLECTl0NS OF PIONEER DAYS
Some Early Experience In the Science
of Pedagogy and Pork Selling
The Presidency ana the
Campaign Issues.

UonvrIsbted. 1895, by Frank G. Carpenter.)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3l.-I had a long chat
the other night with Shelby M. Cullom, the
famous United States senator from Illinois.
He ia one of the most interesting takers
among our public men. Plain and simple IN
his ways. there are no frills nor furbelows
about either himself or his conversation. lie
calls a spade a spade, and as a story teller
has many Of the attributes which were SO
noted in Abraham Lincoln. He grew up
under the shadow OF Lincoln. and his like
ness to the martyred president has been often
remarked. No one would call Cullom hand
some. His frame is big, bony and angular
His figure Is straight, with shoulders SO
square that the arms seem to fall from 'hem
AZ right angles, the whole acting as a ciothes
frame for his Prince Albert coat. ms ses-
lures are not graceful and his face In repose
is severe. When he talks, however, a smile
creeps out Of the corners OF his eyes, the
lines OF his features soften, ana you iorset
everything else in the impression OF honest
strength and good fellowship which shows
ont on them. You soon discover that Cullom
has lots Of personal magnetism, and that,
with It all, he is full Of brains, and at the
same time possessed OF a remarkable degree
Of plain, practical common sense. There are
few men In the United States who stand so
close TO the people and who appreciate their
wants so well. There are few who have had
as remarkable a career and have not peeh
spoiled by it; and few senators whose lives
would be more inspiring examples 10 the boys
Of the United States.
SENATOR CULLoM'S BoYHooD.
During my visit with Senator Cullom l
drew him on to talk about his boyhood. He
told me that his family was Scotch-lrish,
and that his ancestors came from Maryland
to Kentucky. 1t was there that Cullom was
horn. and when he was q baby of 8 months,
-lol,- hlp htt1a Hgtg Uhinh were not SO
angular then, with his toothless gums, ana
sausllihg at times, ] venture, in more pierre
Ing tones than those be now uses In the
United States senate, the family moved to
Illinois. They rode out and in through the
stumps in canvas covered wagons, and Baby
cullom, wrapped in a feather bed, was rocked
by the iolting OF the wheels. Father Cullom
settled within fifteen miles OF Peoria, taking
up 500 acres, and chopping a farm out OF the
forests. Baby Cullom crept over the log
noor and toddlsd about the c~learings year by
year. until he became old enough TO go to
school. His first lessons were studied in a
log school house, and working on the farm
and studying at school made up his boyhood
life.
After he bad finished his schooling at the
nountry schools young Cullom concluded thai
he wanted a better education. His father
was hardly able to send him to college and
Shelby had to look out for himself. How
he succeeded ! will tell in his own words
Said he:
II was about II years old at this time.
thought | ought to be better educated and
looked about to see how could make SONS
money to pay my way through the academies
saw an opening in a country school neal
where / lived. l applied for IL and got 1t
My wages at the start were SIS a month, ant
I must have done pretty we'll, for at the enc
Of the second month they raised me to 800
and / received this for the remainder Of tn
year. ! boarded with the scholars and saved
nearly every cent of my munlfcent salary"
A PLoWBoY SENATOR.
"a whole years salary wouldn't amount t.
much, senator. at $40 a month," sail |. "Wai
This the only way you had TO make money!
mo; | made something after school wa