Evening star., 1895-11-02
Senator CuIlom's Boyhood.

whose lives would be more inspiring eX-
amples to 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-Irish
and that his ancestors came from Mary
land to Kentucky. 1t was there that Cul-
lom was born and when he was a baby of
nine months, chewing his little fists which
were not so angular then, with his tooth
less gums. and squalling at times. I ven-
ture in more piercing tones than those he
now uses in the United States Senate, the
family moved to Illinois. They rode out
and in through the stumps in canvas-cov-
| cred wagons, and Baby Cullom, wrapped
in a feather bed. was rocked by the jolting
of the wheels. Father Cullen settled with
in about fifteen miles of Peoria. taking up
800 acres and chopping farm out of the
forests. Baby Cullen crept over the log
| floor and toddled about the clearings year
by year, until he became old enough to go
to school. His first lessons We're studied
| in log school house, and working on the
farm and studying at school made up his
boyhood life.
After he had finished his schooling at the
country schools, young Cullom concluded
that he wanted a better education. HIS
father was hardly able to send him to col
lege, and Shelby had to look out for him
self How he succeeded l will tell in his
cwn words. Said he
Il was about seventeen years old at this
time. l thought I ought to be better edu-
Gated, ard l looked about to see how
through the academies 1 saw an opening
in a country school near where l lived. I
| applied for 1t and got it. My wages at the
start were SIS month, and l must have
done pretty well, for at the end of the sec
ond month they raised me to $40, and re-
ceived this for the remainder of the year.
1 boarded with the scholars, and saved
! nearly every cent of my munificent salary"
A Plowboy Senator.
"a whole years salary wouldn't amount
to much, Senator. at $40 month";" said 1.
"Was this the only way you had to make
money!
"No; I made something after school was
| over by plowng 1 got s125 an acre for it.
1 borrowed five yokes of oxen of my father,
and went to breaking up land for the neigh
| bors. We plowed a furrow about eighteen
| inches wide and hitched from four to five
yckes of oxen to the plow. We fastened the
| plow to wheels and set it for the proper
depth. I walked outside and yelled at the
team. 1t is not an easy matter to drive
oxen, can tell you, and great deal of the
! lung power which 1 have today was, 1
venture, developed them
The Senator VS.. TriIby.
by the way" the Senator continued,
! with twinkle in his eye, "a rather queer
| thing happened in connection with that
| plowing. You know they talked a little of
| me for President four years ago, and some
of my old friends in Illinois thought had
| chance for the White House. One of
these was farmer for whom I had broken
| land In my boyhood. He wrote to me, re-
| calling the circumstance. He said he had
print of my bare foot, which 1 had made
| at that time, in clayey strip OH his land.
| He said he had cut it out and kept it, and
| that he was going to frame it as the foot
! of a President"
He must have been one Of the grand
| fathers of Du Maurier's Billie, and history
| is only repeating itself in the craze over the
foot Of Trilby," said l. as 1 looked at the
good, comfortable understanding of Mr..
Cullom. And did you plow in your bare
| feet, Senator?"
| "Yes; 1 suppose so," replied Mr. Cullom.
| I'VE did great deal of farm work in our
bare feet in early days. 1t was more COM
Portable than working with shoes, though
| now and then one was liable to raise a
| stone bruise snag off a toe nail against
| a root"
| SchOOlbOy Struggles.
where di,: you go to school, Senator"
asked.
| "It was at seminary at Mount Morris
in northern Illinois," replied Senator Cul
| lem. There was a big Methodist institu
| ton there at that time, and it was consid
| cred a very good school. I studied Latir
and Greek ard other things, but before
| got through l fell sick. This was within
| three months VI tIle CLOSE oI my term.
| thought 1 was going to die, and 1 wanted
| to go home. They persuaded me to stay
however, and give the valedictory."
| Then, 1 suppose, you We're at the head
| of your class, Senator?'
Yes" replied Mr.. Cullom, Il managed te
| keep pretty close to the top"
| What did you do neXt?"
| II came home" was the reply. mo one
| thought 1 would live. 1 was as lean as
| rail and pale as a sheet of white paper.
| had an ambition to be a lawyer when
| started to the seminary, but my sicknes:
| led me to give this up and go back to the
farm. Ten days after 1 got home I wa!
| in the harvest field. l soon grew better