The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-08-28
WAS A "NEWSY" ONCE.
Remarkable Career of President
Jerome H. Raymond.

JclOlllt H. NdyillUllu.
He is Now Mt the Head OF the West yir-
GINA University, but 81 Years ago he
sold Papers in Chieago-An Editor
at IL How lie Became Prominent in
Educational Circles.
From newsboy to university presi-
dency in twenty years-such is the
remarkable leap from the streets of
Chicago into fame by Jerome II. Ray
mond. Through poverty and strife
against conditions that would have
dismayed a Titan, backed by indomit-
able pluck and ceaseless industry, he
worked his way from the chrysalis
stage of newsboy's life and bloomed
into an Admirable CrichtoD," to
whom study was easy and learning
quickly acquired He was a plucky
little Chicago newsbey twenty years
ago, says the s'Times- Herald" Nuw
at the age of 30, he has passed many
| of his seniors in the educational race,
and has just been made president OF
the West Virginia University.
! Mr.. Raymond is the youngest col
| lege president in the United States.
His career in search OF knowledge is
almost unparalleled. Few men have
been able to climb the ladder of learn
ing so quickly as this Chicago news
boy. Many men are able to assimilate
knowledge, but few have also develop
ed ability to become brilliant teachers
of the learning they have imbibed.
Knowledge greeted Raymond with
smile and welcomed him in the halls
Of learning. He galloped his way
through college and Immediately be-
came valuable as an educator. He
was called to the head OF the West
Virginia institution from the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin, where he had held
the chair of sociology for the last two
years.
Professor Raymond began life in
Chicago. His father died when he
was a child of 8, and he went out into
the streets to sell papers in order to
keep the wolf from his mothers door.
Young as he was he caught the edi-
torial fever and wanted to start a
newspaper of his own. Three years
later he did become the editor of a
newsboy's paper. He wonders at his
nerve even now. He left the streets
to become office boy for George M.
Pullman. He studied stenography,
and when he was IT Mr.. Pullman
made him his personal stenographer.
He had thirst for learning, how
ever, that nothing could quench. His
| friends thought he was on his way to
high position under Mr.. Pullman, but
the youth preferred to study. He left
the palace-car magnate when he was
Is, Notwithstanding the protests of
| his friends, and entered the North
western University academy. As his
only chance to study had been at
home, he had no credits from another
| school to secure advanced standing.
By continued outside application
and by special examination he com
pleted the four years course in one
year. AT the same time he supported
his mother and himself by working
as stenographer to Miss Francis e,
Willard, former President Joseph Cum
mings, and Il. G. Hoag, former bust
ness agent Of the university.
The precocious and diligent youth
entered college in 1888 and completed
the freshmen and sophomore years.
He then became private secretary to
Dr. Thoburn, bishop of India for the
Methodist Episcopal church, when he
was writing his book on India, and ac-
companied the bishop on two-year
trip around the world. On his way
to India he visited several of the lead
| ing European universities. He spent
a year and half in India, keeping up
his college studies and making use OF
his opportunity to study Sanscrit.
He returned to the United States
by way of China and Japan in Janu-
uary, 1892. He Immediately resumed
his college work at Northwestern, and
| by special examinations received cred
| it for the complete course by the end
of the winter term. While his class
mates were getting their final credits
in the spring term, Raymond took
trip with George M. Pullman as his
travelling private secretary, and re-
turned in June to graduate with his
class. He was later given the degree
of Phi. ID. by the University of Chi
cago.
| When the Chicago Society OF Uni
versity Extension was formed in the
summer of 1892, he was made its sec
rotary, and was the editor of it's Off
cial organ, known as the "University
Extension Magazine" Mr.. Raymond
came into prominence as university
extension lecturer on economics at
Chautauqua in the summer of 1894,
and he was engaged by those interest
ed in the work in several different Cit
les to give course or university ex-
tension lectures.
| President Harper, OF the University
of Chicago, was impressed with his
ability and excellent command of his
subject, and secured him as secretary
of the class study department and as
university extension lecturer at the
University of Chicago. In the con-
duct of this work he became well
known to educators throughout the
northwest.
In the summer of 1895 Mr.. Raymond
had accepted an offer from President
Charles Kendall Adams of the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin, of the chair of so
GEOLOGY at $4,000 year, although
President Harper had made counter
proposition at the same figure.
Prof. Raymond was married in Au-
gust, 1895, to Miss Nettie J. Hunt,
who defeated him for the King prize
in oratory at Northwestern univer-
sity.
Prof. Raymond was the one chosen
out of II applicants for the presidency
of the West Virginia institution. He
was Endorsed by the faculties of the
universities of Northwestern, Johns
Hopkins, Chicago, Wisconsin, Prince
ton, Harvard and Yale.
Deafness Cunnot be Cured
by local applications as they cannot