Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-02-15

Massachusetts Congressman will
Succeed John Russell
Young.

Washington, d. c., Feb. l1.-Rev
DR.. Samuel j. Barrows, congressman
from the Ninth Massa chusetts district,
announced to his colleagues yesterday at
ternOOn he was ready to receive cOngrat-
ulations, having accepted the position Of
librarian Of Congress.
1t was stated at the capitol Yesterday
morning that Herbert Putnam, the Bos
ton librarian had declined the appoint
ment, and that the President would turn
his attention to Mr.. Barrows.
Samuel ]. BarroWS was born in 1871.
His father died when he was only
years of age, leaving his mother poor, so
that at the early age Of 8 he was forced
to do what he could to help support his
mother and her family of children. His
cousin was the inventor of the Hoe press,
and with him he commenced as an office
boy. His cousin saw in him the promise
Of great abilities, and at II sent him to
school without diminishing his wages.
From 16 to 20 he attended the Cooper
institute classes in New York, and, hav
ing early developed talent as public
speaker, thought he could utilize his pow
erS 10 the best advantage by entering
the ministry, and for years occupied his
leisure IN preparation for a theological
education
While studying he earned his living by
practical newspaper work. He was first
connected with the New York Sun, after
ward with the World, and later on with
the New York Tribune
lie had cost interesting and valua
bic experience in Washington during the
exciting period of the war. AS secretary
to William Il. Seward he was brought
into close personal contact with the great
men of the time and became thoroughly
familiar with official life.
While in Washington Mr. RorrOuS
was correspondent for the PHILADELPHIA
Press and occasional correspondent for
the New York Tribune, and was natu-
rally close student of legislation ard
a close observer Of the central figures
OF our national political life.
In 1871 Mr. Barrows came on to Cam
bridge and took a course of theological
studies. While pursuing these studies
he supported himself by newspaper work,
and during his vacations of '73 and III
acted as correspondent Of the New York
Tribune with Gen. Custer in his Indian
expeditions ID the Yellowstone and Black
Hills regions.
Upon the conclusion Of his studies at
Harvard he went to Germany and con-
tlnued them at the Leipzig university
He returned to this country in 1876 and
was for 4 few years settled in the his
torlc first parish church of Dorchester,
where has great ability as speaker. and
his sterling character as a man won him
the respect and admiration of a large
and critical congregation.
But the ministry was evidently not Mr..
BarroWs' destiny, and in "a he aban-
doned it for his first love, and re-entered
the profession of journalism, taking the
editorship of the Christian Register,
which position he still holds
During his whole adult life Mr.. Bar
rows has been a profound student of the
great social, religious and economical
questions, and at the same time, as recre-
alton, has cultivated a knowledge of the
classics that is probably unsurpassed ex-
cept by those making it specially.
No good cause ever appealed to Mr.
Barrows in vain, and legion is the name
Of those he has befriended and encour-
aged and redeemed to lives of usefulness
and joy. He has been especially success
full in his personal efforts for discharged
convicts, and his wide familiarity with
the characters and management of penal
| institutions has been justly recognized
by his appointment as the representative
of the United States upon the interna-
| tional prison commission.
In 1896 he was elected to the Fifty
| fifth Congress- and last fall was defeated
| by the Democratic candidate, Henry f.
! N1Dnon