The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
'THE author of
THE WORKERS. =
Walter A. Wyckof, the Young Princeton
Lecturer, Who Became Laborer
From Choice.

voted TO their missionary work. and there
fore spoke the native tongue a, all times.
even when alone and talking with each
other. Because of this and my compan-
!onship with the inevitable native ayah.
or nurse. who cared for me- | learned on
ly the speech OF the Hindoos as young
child and had to learn English later, pre-
cisely as | had to learn German aud
French But / was sent TO an English
school in the Himalayas when only a 1T
tie lad. and l knew English before l came
TO America"
Mr.. Wyckofr studied for college at Free
hold. New Jersey and other places. en-
tered Princeton in 1881. was graduated in
1883. and then studied theology at the
Princeton divinity school fer one year
with the Presbyterian ministry in view.
While in college he partially supported
himself. and after graduation he did some
private teaching.
He AdmtreS kiplimx.
Mr. Wyckofr has Travelled a good deal.
aside from his journeyings in search OF
work in America, Twice or thrice he has
been around the world. and once no
spent n considerable period In Germany
studying the language.
1 WAS pretty backward as 10 knowledge
or current literature in English at that
time" he said in the course of his talk
with the writer, and on my return
picked up thin volume labeled Plain
Tales From the Hills. 10y Rudyard Kip
ling, without much interest, though
must confess that the title appealed 10 ne
a little possibly referring To the hills
where l had passed my earliest school
days. The name of the author too. was
striking, though l had never before seen
1t. / opened the book at random and be-
gan 10 glance casually over the pages.
But this semi-indifference did not last
long. l assure YOU. i had found in the
thin volume the work OF a man who knew
India. His stories seemed like invigorat-
Ing whiffs from the very hills themselves
TO me. and his Observation-Disclosures and
the others-were nearly all old friends.
did not put down plain Ta.es From the
Hills TIL 1 had read every line between
Its covers. ! consider Kipiing today TO he
In the line of succession to the great Eng
llsh poets. and l shall be exceedingly
surprised II he does not turn out some
things Of even yreater strength and beau
ty than anything he has yet written. He
has already made some contributions to
literature which believe viii last"
Personality and College, Life.
Mr.. Wyckufr Is of medium height. Of
studfous appearance. wears glasses and
on the whole looks like the last man who
might be moved 10 undertake such task
as he has written or. He dresses more
like a young business man than one who
Is living the academic life. While in col
lege he gave special attention TO phys
ical science as well as economic topics
In the junior year he was one of the eight
chosen annually by the CIiosophie and
American Wing societies TO compete for
the oratorlcal prizes. This Is the highest
honor that can be conferred on a stu
dent by the halls. and he Justified his se-
lection by winning the Mclean prize for
~. saesff r.r, ard a. I'D
livery
While he did not go in heavily for ath-
letics in college and never entered inter-
collegiate contests OF any sort. he did in
dulge somewhat In track athletics. He
made a desirable record when running
the mile. and he won few home prizes
at that sort of athletic effort. He Ia fond
OF witnessing a football game or any
other SORT of stirring physical contest lie
was ''poler" all right enough at college
(which Is Prncetonese for saying he stud
led hnrd). hut he made many friends
and among them were several of wealthy
anfecedents. Junius s. Morgan. rel
alive but not the sou OF j. Pierpont Nor
gan. was one of these. and IL In because
OF his acuuaintances of this sort. no
doubt. that Mr.. wyckom has So many
times been termed "a young aristocrat"
Mr.. Wyekon believes he sees existing
conditions much clearer than he did be-
fore he spent two years earning his iiv-
Ing a iaborer. He recognizes certain
defects In the social system as at present
constituted, but does not consider HIM
self qualified to outline a remedy. At tho
same time he believes certain changes
are bound to cofne-are taking place now
In fact. with n rapidity that IL astonish-
ing. These changes. he holds, are being
brought about by inexora bic laws aud al
most without relation 10 those who are
trying 10 either further or retard them
TO some individuals they will no doubt
bring sorrow and Disaster. but the gencr-
81 efYsci on the world will he good
Mr.. Wyckof Is not now doing any writ
Ing beyond finishing up the inataIimentE
~ the second half Of his work 10 appear
10 scrihner's within the present year Tie
nas received many requests TO DO general
writing and expects To divide his life be-
tween academic and literary work
fits father and neither are now in Amer
Ca on leave of abzence from their mis-
sionary Held. bat they expect eventually
10 return 10 India
DEXTER MARSHALL.