Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-07-28

young LaFollette entered the state uni
versity In the fall of 1873. He was ac-
tive In debating and literary societies,
and spent much time on the college pa
pers, which were a source of revenue.
But he cut little figure AZ a student by
reason Of these distractions. Neverthe-
less, he was regarded as an interesting
and potential young man and In his
senior year these prophecies were part
ly fulfilled In an grafton that
won for him and the univer-
sity much renown at the time.
Passing by the stereotyped themes
National Greatness" Wendell
Phillips" etc.--young LaFellette, Sc
lected as his subject "Ingo." 1T was
an analysis Of the Shakesperian char
acter--about as difficult subject for n
youth OF "a to say anything of merit
about as can be conceived. But the
Grafton is a masterpiece (you will find
II In the History Of Dane county"
along with the Villas GRAFTON on "Grant")
and young LaFollette threw into the
rendition all his dramatic powers. Ed
win Booth praised the analysis and the
success (for the college orators of 1--WE
states were vanquished) might well
have spoiled q young men. All Madison
turned out on the return from Iowa
City William i. Villas and Judge
Keyes made speeches Of congratulation
and the band played.
1t was about this time, II the story Is
true, that Bob was fired with ambi-
tlon to be an actor. The store-loungers
have 1t that he was studying elocutioh
,l,.
the stars of the stage
Why In Toilette Didn't study Tragedy.
Finally John Mccullough came along
and Bob" by insIstence, got chance
to recite II Come to Bury Caesar, Not
to Praise Him." and other familiar re-
Elections, 10 BE, or Not to BE-" He
threw himself into the rendition with
his usual earnestness and when he had
finished Mccullough folded his arms,
looked over the youthful Bob from
head to foot, and said.
young man, you're all right, but
you'il never make mn actor, Your de-
livery and posing are all right but you
haven't got stomach enough (presuma-
bly, referring to his small stature). You
may get to congress on the strength of
your uIHiHHiiC pDNelb,
T4nFollctte was admitted to the bar u
year after his graduation, having taken
u year In the law school and studied In
an office, It does not appear that he
shone here In scholarship but he was
conspicuous In the country and was
promptly elected district attorney
rather AN unusual sequence mt a county
seat 30 crammed with excellent law
yars m Madison, He was reelected
and 80 served four years. Then he
went Ia congress, at the age of 20, the
youngest member, and served six years.
All these years he has had n law COM
ncrtlon and good Income. He has
ever been u worker to u tremendous
extent, and although he has a very
tough frame, his encroachments on the
night and his aversion to vacations
lead to periodical brcak-downs.
His Standing nj the liar.
But these political Interruptions are
foreign To the highest achievements In
the legal professions. There Is all tho
work MIR. LaFollete wants, IT he will
take II. Until this latest eruption Sam
Harper told me his friend had a $4,000
practice, But when II campaign Is on
tho offices become the storm center OF
tremendous political activity, and no
man can serve two masters. Mean
while the years are slipping by and the
brilliant LaFollette's spurs MS an adj
vocate must be won soon. If ever.
Mr. LnFollettes first opponent was
Senator H. M. Bashford Of Madison,
who was Governor Taylors private sec
rotary and Ron-in-lnw. That was tho
first run for the district nttorneyahip,
and in the Garfield campaign. Two
years later he defeated Attorney Hayes
tnow of Ashland) by an Increased ma
Jority, II feud In the party having been
healed up and this prestige made him
available MS II congressional candidate.
The anti-IaFollctte man says that La
Toilette has never cast large vote
and an admirer retorts that the "old
liners have always had II In for him"
at the polls, He is certainly an indie
pendent and was never put together to
be amenahle to anyone but himself.
MIR, LaFollctte's home life IL unusual
ly beautiful. The wife In her way is AZ
remarkable M he, she was a Miss
Case and spent her childhood In Bara-
boo, though born In Summit Juneau
county. She graduated from the state
university IN 1879, taking the Lewis
prize for tho hest commencement ora
ton and looking back on eight sue
cessive school yenrs without losing one
recitation, They were married In 1881
ana little later she took the law
course (another Bryan paralleD. though
the demands of Washington social Hfe
soon put an end to any aspirations for
practical work There are two chill
dren-Flora, II daughter just budding
into womnnhood, and Il sweet baby hoy
who bears his fathers full name. The
LaFollettes have a modest home, over
looking one OF Madison's lakes. ndjoin-
Ing the home of Judge Siebecker OF the
circuit court, hrother-ln- law.
A Handsome Pair IN Horseback.
They attend the Unitarian church,
and may sometimes be seen riding
horseback. and handsome couple they
make, Mrs LaFolletto IL much inter
csted In the physical culture OF women
and has done much to promote classes
In exercise ns well as to aid In al, move.
ments that make for good
Mr.. LaFollette has HIS quota Of the
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