The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-09-20


States Senator at Eirty-seven-be-
tween these extremes lies a story.
Albert J. Beveridge began life without
opportunities, hut with unconquerable
courage ; without influence, but with
indomita BILE will !; without money, but
with inylnclble industry. Foot by
foot he fought his way from farm to
college, from college to courtroom,
from courtroom to Senate. By the
power OF Ia single purpose he made him
self what he is.
The average self-made man bears
upon him some brand of the stress and
struggle-some talnt of speech, some
mark of manner, some line Of face or
figure, eloquent of those early days Of
rough work and coarse associations.
But work and study-days under the
bright sun and nights under the pale
lamp-body in the flelds and mind
among the stars--leave different
stamp. They bring out the fine lines
of muscle and character, knit a man
close, physically and mentally. And
this is ones first Impression of Senator
Beyeridge-strength refined, physical
and mental. 1t is in his step, firm and
quick, the step of an alert mind it is
in his bearing, easy and confident, the
bearing of man at home in saddle or
Senate and it is in his face, pale and
serious-the face of man who has
aimed high and fought hard.
A BoYHooo OF HARD WORK.
For, from the first, life was serious
business to young Beveridge. He toll
ed as hard as Abraham Lincoln and
knew poverty as grinding as that ol
Henry Clay. He was born after the
Civil War tegan, October 6, 1862. Al
the outbreak of hostlllties his fathers
place was the most important in the
nelgaborhood Mr.. Beverldge, Sr.
owned several farms ard was consider.
ed we'll off but hard times came and
with them the loss of everything
| The father was a man o! stern lnteg-
rlty he set out steadily and consclen.
tiously to pay every cent that he owed
and thus the family was brought down
to the verge of priYation In order that
his nice sense of honor might be pre-
served. Old men of Sullivan, Illinois
say that Albert Beyeridge has piowed
every field around the town except the
Fair Grounds and the Woodruff farms
In those days he got up at three O'Clock
in mornings ard was at work in th'
fields by the time the sun rose. II
was toll, toll, toll.
| No wonder young Beverldge welcom
ed rainy days, for then he could stay
indoors and lose all sense OF time and
space in reading the old Goodrich his
tories of Greece Rome ard the Unitet
States, and whatever else he could LAY
his hands on. While yet boy HI
drew the constitutions of secret socie
ties and literary associations, and a!
ways took leading part in the debate.
in the High School. In those days
too, he was a great soldier. Born a
the beginning of the war, in a centr
of war sentiment, be inherited tn
military instinct strongly, and through
out his boyhood was at the head o
military organizations.
In those days the Francis Murph.
movement was spreading In the West
When it reached Sullivan the peopl
crowded the court house. The youth
full Beveridge was the principal speak
er.~He had committed to memor.
most of his remarks, and his addres
of an hour and half is still remember
, ed IN the town.
In all these years he was putting il
most of the time at work and in get
ting an education. For two years b
was in log rollers camp. In tha
region grew most of the walnut use
by the country, and 1t was the gettin
ont of those logs that formed the har
work Of the lunbermen.
On one occasion the men began wha
promised to be free fight, but the bo
Jumped in and demonstrated so ell
quently that be temporarily stoppe
c the row. Then, seeing his advantag
8 he seized a boom pole and threatene
the whole crowd ii they resumed tt
:, fracas. The fight was called off.
PLuCKy FIGHT FOR A cOLLEGE KDU
CATION.
Alter these exreriences--he was th'
only fourteen-young Beveridge dete
}" mined to carry out his determinatl'
Is TO 20 to college. For time be so
l. papers, and out of his profits bought
euit Of clothes. He worked in the po
% Office, he drove dray and hauled lu'
1t Der, and, by working continuous
saved little money. In the me-
while things locked bright upon t
n farm but the great drought OF 1873