The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-22
GARF|ELD'S SCHOOL DAYS
A Story Told by a Student Who
Knew Him Well
Ills BRAVERY WAS TESTED
And the Martyr President Withstood
the Trial
4 Life Of Self Denial and Drudgery Alone En-
abled Him to Attend 0eauga Seminary,
But He Went Through It.

oscar A. Bernard, formerly OF Akron,
o., now living in this city at Second and
Broadway, enjoys the distinction of hav-
ing at one time been schoolmate of the
martyred president, James A. Garfield.
This may not be of great importance to
the reader. out some OF the "reminiscences
related by Mr.. Bernard to Herald repre-.
sentative will undoubtedly prove inter-
esting. In speaking of the matter vester-
day he said /: 1.-The day that has just
passed is one of peculiar interest to me
as being the anniversary of the death of
one of the greatest men that ever graspeu
the helm of the American ship Of state,
James A. Garfield. Not alone does it
appeal to me as to the average citizen
who reveres the memory of the man
whose administration promised SO much,
but as the day on which there passed
away one of the dearest of my friends it
is Gay OF personal mourning. During
the winter of 1S49 attended the seminary
at Chester, Ohio. There for the first time
l had the pleasure of meeting the man
Who afterward became president. As
q schoolmate Jim was one Ct the most
retiring OF the pupils that attended
Gearga, When he was not at recitation
he would bs off by himself devising
some plan by which he could make his
expenses meet. OF course everybody that
has heard of Garfield knows OF the hard
struggle he had to get an education.
Between school hours he used TO work
in little carpenter shop short distance
below the village. and many were the
slurs and hits he had to take from his
schoolmatss who thought 1t rather below
their dignity to work for an education.
"Steadily day by day Jim went along,
minding his own private business, and
many has been the time that 1 have
passed the door OF the shop and seen
him with the sweat pouring of of him,
busily engaged in planning lum Der. For
quite little while he used to get his
own meals, and 1 have every reason to
believe that they were not very substan-
tial ones. IN school h. was an exem-
plary student and was always to be found
at tho head of his class.
Sin social spheres Garfield was not
conspicuous, and frequently apsented
himself on the plea that he mad not tho
time to devote to pleasure. &c was q
clever conversationalist, however, and
many OF his sallies we're repeated by
bis friends as theii own original pro-
auctions. had not so much to do with
Garfield as did some of the other boys
but was always good friend of hi-.
When there were any parties or eXcurs-
ions that Jim attended be was always the
leading spirit OF the affair and we gener-
ally had an exceedingly good time when
be was along. re.nem Der on one occas-
ion we went out to the Wilson's. family
that lived not far from Chester, to spend
the evening. Jim was invited and had
SO arranged his work as to be able to
come with us. There was no other m ode
of conveyance in those days than
''shank's mare as we termed walking,
had been good deal of talk just about
that time concerning catamount chat
had been seen in clearing near the Will
sons. and one farmer had lost sheep
and sevearl lamb by It's depredations.
On our way home we had to pass through
nearly half mile, and as we approached
this portion of our walk someone turned
the conversation on this subject. There
were several girls that were mem bers of
the party that were much terrified at the
mere mention of the beast. and knowing
this, one of the boys determined to give
them little lesson.
He accordingly dropped little behind
the rest Of the crowd, and when we were
about half way through the DARKEST part
Of the woods. came rushing past us gasp,
ing, 1.-THE lion the ionv' Of course
we were all pretty much scared and
started to run for the next clearing that
We could Just see through the trees ahead
OF US. l don't think there was any
screaming, but we certainly did run for
all we were worth. jim kept right up
with the rest until one of the girls
slipped and fell, being so terrified that
she could not get up. To my own shame
and the honor of my schoolmate l say it,
no one but Garfield paused in the face of
what we thought was imminent peril.
The nobleness of the man showed itself
in the boy. and he alone stopped in the
headlong race and endeavored to help bis
fallen comraue to her feet. The lad that
had started the joke then saw that it was
being carried little too far and came
pack to tell Jim of the needlessness of
his alarm. We all went home somewhat
soberly after that, and l think that Gar
field never had much to do with the prac-
tical joker after that.
l left school shortly after and SO my
acquaintance with the man we now
revere was limited in its extent. Jim
stayed at the seminary until spring. and
then. believe, went home for short
vacation, in which he was enabled to
earn enough money to attend college.