The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-06
HON. CHARLES:T BLAND
A Brief Biography Of Porlsmeuth's RepTesen-
tatiye In the Next General Assembly.
ENERGY, PERsIsTEAGY AND AMBITION.
IprtIHg Life at the Age Of Ten.
Meeting and Overcoming, All OBJ
staclcs, I1c To-Day stands Promi-
ncntly Before. The People as n Man
Honor, tho Peoples Choice.


The election of Mr.. Charles II. Bland
to represent the city of Portsmouth In
the General Assembly of Virginia is
Dnly another evidence of what energy
and persistence will do. when coupled
+ with worthy ambition.
Mr.. Bland was born on the Northeast
corner of London and Middle streets
Portsmouth, on the Sd day of October,
1857 and from that time to the pres
ent he has possessed IL life full of vim,
and energy, and a desire to follow In
the footsteps of those we'll known in
the history OF the State bearing the
same name as he. Mr. Bland never had
the opportunity to procure Il collegiate
course, but below will be found Just
what a young man can do when lie
fully determines to get, at least, n
part of q good. practical English edu-
cation, showing at the same time what
energy patience and perseverance ii
requires to come out of the struggle
bearing the appreciated and crafty
ing title of u self-made man:
, The subject of this sketch started
active life before he had reached the
tenth mile stone In the number OF
years, being engaged in carrying papers
for the sum of fifty cents per week.
which sum went toward clothing him-
self and buying a book or two from
which to start the foundation OF an
EnSnSn CuuCatlOn. Ills lHtHel eHIisi-
ed in the service Of the South at the
beginning of the recent hostilities, and
remained Il Confederate soldier until
Lee surrendered at AppomattoN and II
Is probably due to his Impoverished con-
dition upon his return home that subsC-
Quent events in the life OF Representa-
tive TNand have shaped the course
taken by him.
At the age of ten the young man at
tracted the attention of young lady
teacher, who saw In him q desire to
gain knowletlgeNvho taught him his first
real lessons In CQbb's Spcller. He. In
turn. running errands and doing 9TH
err odd jobs to pay for the same.
This continued for about two years.
when the st. Johns Parrish School
WAS established. and Mr.. Bland became
pupil and remained until the school
= became u thing of the past Then came
the public school, then kept in the
old Academy building, on GLASGOW
street and where. through the mentor
ship of Mr.. lessee Morris, now deceased.
he received the best and most lasting
instructions OF any school up TO this
time attended.
From there TO private schools. where
he paid his own tuition from the .'cve-
nue. derived from carrying papers and
other kinds of labor that could be per
formed by Il hoy of his age, then about
10. Then came the time, when from the
lack OF means to continue study and
the financial condition of his parents. ho
was compelled to seek more renumrra-
tive employment, and at the same time
learn Il trade, which is at all times ar-
ceptablc and valuable to have. espec-
tally SO TO the poor boy. as vas he, who
at that time saw, not the least ray of
sunshine or hope for future ADVANCE
ment But as is his nature he went at IL
with will, and the result of that move
mcnt was, that at the end of about ten
years, lie walked out of the carriage
factory of y. Wrcnn & Sons, carrying
with him the best wishes of the gen
tlcmen, as well as papers certifying TO
his ability as strictly first-class arr
tisan.
During all these years he showed a
fondness for knowledge. and off and on
pushed his studies at nigt. In 1878 he
married and after many vicssitudes,
moved to Baltimore, where a good posi-
ton and first-clnss night school facili-
ties awaited him These opportunities
he srasped, and after Il four years resi-
dence in the Monumental city, all of
which was spent in work and study. he
graduated from the Baltimore Night
School Academy, presided over by the
1amented DIR. II. J. Houck.
He entered the first civil service exam
ination under Cleveland's first admin
fstration, held in Baltimore College ap-
plying for n position In the PostofIicc
Department in Washington. and passed
with fair percentage. which 0cca sion
ed his tutor much joy, especially when
there were two other ambitious young
men of his academy who did the same
thing al the same time. His next move
was to Richmcnd, where he started the
life of travelling man and travelled the
South and Southwest until he is well
acquainted with his section of the coun-
try, as we'll as the people. He came
home TO Portsmouth and the people OF
this city know how rapidly he has
grown In the confidence of the people
and Judging from the natterng vote
he received in the primary for the
Mayoralty of the city. with the hand
some majority rendered him at the Leg
islative primary, in conjunction with
the utter rout of the Independent can
didate. who opposed him yesterday,
defeating him by majority of CTS
there Is every reason to believe that a
bright future is I'm store for the honorable
young gentleman of whom mention
above Is only short biography Of an
eventful and interesting life.