The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-27
ABOUT THEMSELVES.
WHAT CONGRESSMAN SAY IN THEIR
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY.

Many Of Them Passed Their Boyhood In
Humble ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Phases
of Human Nature-Henry Clay Miners
Career-The Delegate From Arizona
WASHINGTON. Dec. 26.-[Special. lit
is always interesting to know what men
think about themselves. A very good idea
of q mans character may often be formed
from knowledge of what he says about
himself and the Importance which he at
taches TO particular episodes in his career
One thing / have noticed in the biog
raphies of congressman printed in the Con-
gressional Directory is the frequent men,
tion of the boyhood OF the subjects being
passed amid humble surroundings. These
biographies, of course, are prepared by the
statesmen themselves, and the large num-
Der Of instances In which they dwell upon
the struggles which they had in early life
To obtain an education or footing in the
world indicates general pride in the
minds of successful men in the fact that
they have been able TO rise to high public
stations despite all adverse conditions. BY
reotory could give possibly 90 or 100 in
stances of this sort, but few examples
will suffice to illustrate the idea. Mr..
Lorimer of Chicago, for instance, tells us
in his biography that he was left at the
age of IL years TO his own resources; was
first an apprentice in the business of sign
painting, and later worked in slaughter
house and drove a street car. F" After that
he engaged in the real estate business, and
finally got into politics and congress.
Congressman White, also of Chicago, in
forms us that in 1867 he removed TO Chi
cago, "a poor young man seeking employ
ment, which he found in lumber yard at
$50 "a MONTH" Walter Evans, the new
congressman from Louisville, who is also
talked Of as senator from Kentucky, re-
cords in the Congressional Directory that
he is mostly self educated, alternating
his few school days with work on the
farm, and aeterward reading law at
night with no tutor but his own zeal
Poor. but Proud.
One rather likes this sort of pride and
frankness in public men. They are indie
alive Of the genius of our country, which
is almost invariably found rising from the
humber walks of life. 1 suppose that
biographies would show that three-fourths
of the senators and representatives were
born amid humble surroundings, most Of
them on farms, and that in early life they
were Injured to toll and privation.
Now and then we get in the Congress
sional Directory another phase of human
nature. Some of the statesmen are anxious
to exploit their ancestry as well as them
selves, which, / take 1t, is also praise
worthy trait. One should never be
ashamed of his ancestry. An example of
this sort is found in the case of Congress-
man Harris Of Ohio, who tells us that his
grandfather, John Harris, served in the
Revolutionary war under General Wash
ington and signalized himself for bravery
in the battle of Monmouth, where his
brother in law, John Hamilton, was shot
down by his side, sprinkling him with his
blood.
Congressman Buck of Louisiana not
only mentions his family history, but
gives us quite a romance connected with
his own life. Mr.. Buck says he was born
at Durrheim, in the grand duchy of Ba-
den; Germany. His father, Anton Buck,
burgomaster of the village, became in
volved in "a political revolution and found
it prudent to migrate to the United States
Shortly after the arrival of the Buck family
at New Orleans both the parents and all the
elder children fell victims to the yellow
fever, and the future congressman found
shelter in the household of countryman
keeping saloon and boarding house.
Here Mr.. Buck says, he assisted in the
work appertaining to the business without
any schooling" After four years of this
service he attracted the attention of the
principal of one Of the public schools and
was taken out of the saloon and started on
the road toward an education. After a
vain effort TO enlist in the Confederate
army he finally returned to the saloon,
worked for his board and lodging and
studied law.
A Checkered Career.
Some of the statesmen are fond of tell
ing US in their biographies all about their
business career and connections. Henry
Clay Miner of New York city is one of this
sort. MIR. Miner informs us that in early
life he studied the drug business and has
been more or less engaged in that bust
ness. Thirty years ago he went out in
advance of Signor Blitz, the magician and
bird trainer. After that he was engaged
with n circus, and eventually he became
the head of "A metropolitan theater, and
then arose to the proprietorship of five
popular Thespian resorts. But this is not
all. Besides his theatrical interests he
takes hand in directing the destinies of
several great enterprises in which his cap
ital Is invested, is president of litho-
graphing company, owns extensive phos-
phate interests In the south, holds large
blocks of railway and mining stock, di-
reefs New York newspaper syndicate is
the owner of a large drug store and photo
graphic material house, and is the COM
piler and publisher of an American dra.
matte directory.
Congressman Brewster of Rochester
gives in his biography some interesting
particulars concerning the activity of the
modern business man. He is now first
vice president of the bank of which he was
cashier for 26 years, is vice president of a
trust company, director in still another
bank, president of the Clearing House as
ISOLATION, director in the Genesee Valley
director In the Rochester and |