The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-20
FROM sLUMs TO GovERNoRsHIPs.
story of Two Street Waits Who Be-
came Governors.
From the New York Herald.


came Governors.
From the New York Herald.
John G. Brady, who is now in the East
in the interest of the development of the
vast territory of Alaska, of which he is
Governor, is a sef-made man in the best
American sense. At dinner at the
Waldorf-Astoria last Tuesday evening he
referred 10 the time when he was waif
and an outcast in the slums of New
York.
Many of the Governors friends are ia
miliar with the romance of his life. 9th
ers who heard his brief reference to his
youthful hardships were curious to learn
more.
Gov Brady, who is now at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, never hesitates TO tell the
story. Especially" he says, "as ii may
be an incentive 90 other boys who are as
poor and friendless as 1 was once" The
man who is now the Governor of $4,000
square miles of territory was born in
squalor in the lower end of Roosevelt
street. His father was a drunken long
shoreman. His mother died when he was
a child. At years of age Johnny" had
turned his hand to most of the devices
by which the New York gamin seeks to
keep body and soul together He had sold
newspapers, shined shoes, run errands
carried sachels 20 the steamboat docks
and haunted the East river front in the
hope of picking UP an odd job now and
then.
Sometimes he found a lodging in the
Newsboys' Home AS often as not he
slept curled up in box or in some dark
corner in Chatham Square. One night a
big policeman reused him from his bed
in a packing case, and Johnny confessed
that he was hungry and that he hadn't
any home to speak of. His worthless
INfather had married again, and Johnny
found little favor with the stepmother
So they sent him with a boatload of other
waits to RandalPs Island
On the island Johnny made friends rap
idly. Among others with whom he found
a fast boyhood friendship was homeless
lad named Burke. In the summer of 1859
the Childrens Aid Society arranged to ship
cargo Of boys 10 the West there homes
had been secured for them en- farms
Brady and Burke were among those selec-
ted to go. and a happier pair Of young
sters never took the famous advice Of Hor-
ace Greeley.
There were twenty-seven boys in the
party, but no member OF the phiianthropic
Children's Aid Society would then have
been bold enough to predict that there
were two future Governors among the
tousled headed urchins riding in the ore
car. But so it was. Brady is now Gov
d
ernor of North Dakota.
When the carload reached Indiana, John
ny Brady was consigned to the home of
John Green. a leading lawyer of The town
of Upton, who had asked for the 'Ugliest
raggedest and most friendless boy in the
lot" Johnny then became Jack" To
the kindness and good influences of this
Christian home Gov Brady attributes
much of his later success. Mr.. Green
stimulated his ambition and turned his
energies into useful courses. He went 10
the village school, applied hims;lf to his
studies and afterward took the prepara-
tory course for college in the Waveland
Academy.
Ever ready to assist him, his benefactor
recognized the advantage to the boy of
having to work his own way as far is pos
sible. So Jack" was never idle. All the
time he was in school he was earning
what he could to help pay his way. Mr..
Green had destined Jack" for the law,
but about this time the boy decided that
his mission was the ministry. He lad his
way about 1t, and went to Yale determin-
ed to work his course through college
During his years in Yale he helped make
both ends meet by chopping wood making
fires, ringing the chapel bell and doing any
other manual labor that offered recon-
pense. Later he earned something as a
tutor. Because of the true democratic
spirit that prevails in most American col
leges, Brady, though poor, was popular
After graduation. true to his purpose 10 be
| a preacher, he worked his way through the
| Union Theological Seminary, depending a.
most entirely on his own resources. In
| those days, while here in New York, he
| never missed an opportunity to talk en-
| couragingly to boys whose lot was az for
| lorn as his had BEEN IT was through the
| influence of DR.. Sheldon jackson that Mr.
| Brady went to Alaska as a missionary. He
was a pioneer in the task of civilizing the
| Indians and in the section where he labor
| ed as a teacher and preacher nineteen
years ago the Governor is stll requently
| referred to as the Rev. John Brady.
AS business developed in the territory
| Brady became a trader and opened a store
| in Stka Here he prospered SO well that
he became the manager of the sitka Trad
| ing Company,snd soon acquired one-thi; d
| interest in the concern, but he never relin-
| quished his active interest in missionary
| work When. three years ago, President
| Mckinley was looking for the right man
| for Governor of the territory, the honor
| fell to the versatile John Green Brady ell
| most by process of natural selection
| His Excellency now has q happy home ana
| a wife and five children TO share ii.
-Deciphered-"Theb boss is goin' to give
dinner to some of the boys" said the
| small politician. Il got an invite this
| mornin', and on the bottom of IL was