, 1900-11-16
HEBISHOP'SNEPHEW
SKETCH OF EARLY LIFE OF
SALMON r. CHASE.
About IS ~wkw y Boy rs Ever Was
ssen at tho Country Academy In Ohio
Where lie Studied-Becams Cnief

About eighty years ago a gawky boy
OF Twelve arrived at a country academy
In Ohio. He had been three months
on the road; having come all the way
from New Hampshire. In those days
there were no railways. and 1t is doubt
ruI II he could have used one, had it
existed. for he was very poor. His
father was dead, and his uncle. away
on In Ohio wilderness. as it was then,
mad offered to give him a home II he
would come for it. and he had accept
90 the offer. His uncle was a pioneer
bishop. who kept a school and at the
same time carried on a farm. Salmon
FOR that was the boys queer name
was given the chores to do, and on
hoildays and vacation times he worked
upon the farm. One of his schoolmates
says that at thai time he was about a,
a boy as was ever seen in
place. He was very near-sighted. he
hammered, and he was so st~oop-shouI-
aered. stumbling and slouchy in his
appearance and galt that he was a gen.
eral laughing stock. And worse, for
mis- STOPPING habit had cramped his
lungs. and he was already feeble and
consumptive. There Is told OF him
about that time a funny story, which
gives an idea of his character. One
DAY his uncle was called away on bust
ness. and before starting he told Sal
mon to leave school early enough in
the afternoon to kill and dress a pig.
After much trouble. Salmon caught the
pig and killed 1t. But now could he get
the hair of? He had heard hat the
farmers usually scalded hogs, so he
heated a kettle of water and soused the
pig In. But the water was too hot, or
the pig was kept in too long: at any
rate, instead Of being loosened, the hair
was set AID would not come out at
all. Salmon dug away with his fingers
until they were raw, bat still the hair
stuck fast. Then he %bethought him
self Of the bishops razor, and getting
1t, he shaved the pig from nose to tail.
The job was we'll done. and everybody
praised him, ven the bishop-until he
But 1t was not by shaving pigs that
Salmon made a man OF himself. though
the severe discipline of his life on the
farm nc doubt helped very much to
develop his native force. 1t has been
said that he was not a handsome boy.
One day he was shambling along tho
country road in his usual manner. A
r~ail-splitter by the roadside stoppeo
his work to speak with him. The boy
shufled along in an absent-minded way.
his eyes on the ground, seeing nothing.
What fool Is that" asked the man
OF another boy. a moment after.
why. was the rep. that's the bish-
ops nephew" Salmon heard the I'M
complimentary remark. and 1t reused
him. He deter mined that no rail-
splitter should be able to speak of him
In that way again II he could help it.
Finally he appealed to another uncle
"a senator in Washington, where he
had been teaching school-to get MIN
a petty clerkship in the treasury. His
a nephew in the treasury, and it proved
his ruin. I'll give you half a dollar
to buy a spade, and go out and dig for
a living, but l will not get you a place
under the government" Salmon said
he would % trouble him for the half
dollar. and rose. choking with anger,
to take his leave. You think me
HARSH" said the senator. as they parted
at the door; but you will live to see
that this is the best advice l could
give you" Salmon did not believe it.
but 1t was true. as events proved. He
did get a place In the treasury. but it
was many years after. as its chief Of
acer. Meantime he had risen to emil
hence a a jurist. and had served his
state granny as its governor. He died
chic! justice of the United States. Few
Of those who were familiar with the
noble character and splendid figure Of
Salmon P. Chase in mature life ever
suspected what an %unpromising subject
he was In his youth.