The Opelousas courier., 1897-12-18
A NEWSBOY PRESIDENT.
HEAD OF UNIVERSITY WHO ONCE
SOLD PAPERS ON THE STREETS.

dent of the University of West Virginia
A Romantic Career.
From a newsboy selling papers OF
the corners of Chicago's crowded
downtown streets to the presidenc,
of a state university, all within twent!
years, is a rapid rise in the world
Yet such is the progress of John Hal
Raymond, who last year was called
from a professorship of sociology il
the University of Wisconsin to the
head of the University of West Viz
fnia. Moreover, he is the Youngest
president of a university in the United
States.
The way in which Mr.. Raymond
wrung success from adverse circum.
stances is an interesting story of per,
severance. He was only two years
old when his parents moved to Chi.
cago. His education was meagre,
being acquired at uncertain intervals
in the Englewood public schools. In
his early teens he sold newspapers on
b downtovN corner. The average boy
VI PIoS1eHolWo tClocLClco Noulu lOok
with satisfaction toward a commercial
career, but Raymond had little
thought Of such a life. At fifteen he
was editor of Philately, a paper de-
voted to the interests of the postage
stamp collector. This journal circu-
lated throughout the United States,
and W found its way to foreign
countries.
Meanwhile Raymond put in his
spare time learning stenography. He
lrifted to Pullman, and when only
nineteen had risen from office boy to
q position which brought him $1,000 a
year. There is reason to believe
that, if he had chosen to continue in
the line of work laid out for him at
Pullman, a few years would have
brought him to a position assuring
large cal and great responsibility.
But against the advice of his friends
be threw up his prospects and went
to Evanston, where in two summers
and one winter he completed all the
work usually included in a four years
preparatory course, and passed with
ease the entrance examinations to the
College of Liberal Arts. All this time
he vas earning his living by stenog-
:aphy. In addition to paying his own
expenses and carrying on his studies
he supported his mother. He entered
college in 1889, remaining until the
winter of 1890.
While Raymond was in his sopho-
more year he made the acquaintance
of Bishop j. M. Thoburn, who has
charge of the work of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in India. The
bishop was writing a book on life in
India, and was SO taken with the
young man that he engaged him for
two years as travelling secretary. They
went to India by way Of the Suez
Canal, touching at different points in
Europe, and at every stopping place
Raymond made the most of his OPP
portunities for study. Here he was
enjoying opportunities for travel sell
dom granted to men of his age who
are not in easy circumstances, work.
ing at an a%ppointedt task with sufficient
energy to satisfy the call Of duty to
any less clamorous conscience, and yet
be vas carrying on all the work of his
college classes by private study and
branching out to regain unrequired
out desired knowledge.
In India Mr.. Raymond devoted
himself to Sanscrit. He returned to
Chicago by way of China and japan in
The winter of 1892, and took the ex-
aminations with his college classes.
One term of his senior year remained,
but his work was SO far in advance
.hat he was excused from attendance
1T classes. The spring term he passed
as travelling secretary for George NJ.
Pullman, returned to Evanston in time
to receive his diploma and to partici-
pate in the Kirk oratorical contest. 1t
is curious that in this contest he vas
defeated by the young woman who af-
terward became his wife, Miss Net
tie Hunt of Aurora, I'll. Miss Hunt
was one of the brightest of the young
women whose names form a list Of
alumna highly creditable to North
western University. Her engagement
to Raymond began during their college
course, and they were married in 1895,
before he accepted his call to the Uni
gersity of Wisconsin.
After graduation Mr.. Raymond's
rise was rapid. The first year he
served as secretary Of the Society for
University Extension in Chicago, and
The following year became professor
Of political economy at Lawrence uni
versity, Appleton, Wis. A course of
lectures delivered by him at Chautau-
qua the following summer attracted
he attention of President Harper of
he University of Chicago, and the
aext winter saw Raymond as secretary
md lecturer in the class study work
Of the university extension department
Of the Chicago institution. His ability
IS an organizer was here brought into
play. In one year he raised the num-
Der of classes from ten to fifty, and in
three months increased the member
ship from 200 to 1000. He received
the degree Of doctor of philosophy
from the University Of Chicagoin1885.
Before that he had been called by
President Charles Kendall Adams to
The professorship Of sociology in the
University of Wisconsin, a position
which he has since filled with rare &C
Hi next step as the president OF
;he University Of West Virginia will
what can be accomplished
BY a young man Of push and ambition
opposed by the stubborn fact of pow