The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-14

whllo they might refuse 20 admit that
his administration was 10 be credited
with any striking achievements.
He was loved and trusted most by those
nearest to him, his associates and his
peighbors, and this Is by no means an
uncertain test OF mans personal value.
CAME or GOOD STOCK.
Benjamin Harrison came OF excellent
stock. His people came from England
and settled In Virginia early in the 18th
century. lie came OF race OF sturdy.
farmers and lighters.
His ancestry in historical. and his ra-
cial advantages were many. lie head
Of the family I'm England was n Cen.
Harrison, prominent figure in the civil
wars OF that country.
His great grandfather, Benjamin Har-
rison, was In the continental congress in
l774-75-16. and had the good fortune 20
be signer of the declaration OF indie
pendence. He married Miss Randolph
OF Virginia, who was a descendant OF
Pocahontas the famous Indian heroine,
who married John Rolfe. Peyton Ran
doiph, his brother-in-law. was the first
president of the American congress.
His grandfather. William Henry Har-
rison, was a famous soldier in 1872 and
later noted Indian fighter. He became
governor of the great territory OF Ia
diana. and i'm 1S40 was elected ninth
president OF the United States. He was a
man of honorable record as a public offi-
Ger, a farmer, plain, unpretending. hon
est man, who lived modestly and died
poor
His father John Scott Harrison. who
died few years ago, was twice elected
TO congress. but was a farmer I'm Ohio,
all his life, not a politician. just simple
man who preferred THE quiet ofscountry
life 10 the responsibilities and worries OF
a public station.
BENJAMIN Harrison was a son or Ohio
by birth II not by training. lie was born
al North Bend on the Ohio river. in the
Buckeye state. Aug. -. 1889.
In the humble home in which ex-Presi-
dent Harrison spent his boyhood he lived
plain and simple life. He learned to
practice homely virtues. he mastered the
lesson OF work and thrift and laid the
foundations Of a mental and moral man
hood.
HIS EARLY EDUCATION.
BENJAMIN Harrison's education began in
a most primitive fashion at little coun-
try school. established by his father. i'm
the lonely neighborhood OF the home
farm. From the rough log cabin school
house. he went to Farmers college. at
College Hill. near Cincinnati, where he
studied English. Latin and Greek and
a literary TASTE ny Ttdulnk the
standard English authors.
Two years later he entered Miami uni
versity at Oxford. O., where he graduated
at the age OF is, having made a good rec
ord as a student. During his college ca
reer he practiced as an extempore speak
er The theme of his graduating essay
was the Poor of England. and I'm II he
made strong plea for protection.
II may be noticed here that I'm his ac-
ceptance OF the republican nomination
for the presidency nearly 40 years later,
he declared himself in favor OF "the
American doctrine OF protection" adding
TO his statement these words: The ap-
peals OF the free trader to the working
man are largely addressed to his preju-
dices or to his passions and not infre-
quenty are pronouncedy communistic."
From his youth up there never was any
thing strange or erratic i'm the career Of
Mr.. Harrison. He was always a steady
goer, and his progress in life was marked
by very careful steps. He was man who
challenged the confidence of men, rather
than their admiration. He was not an
orator who charmed the people by bril-
liant flashes of rhetoric, but a plain. mat
ter-of-fact, yet pleasing speaker. who al
ways managed 10 maintain personal
equation superior 10 surrounding circum-
stances.
At his graduation Mr.. Harrison be-
came engaged to Miss Caroline Scott,
the daughter of Rev. DIR. John w Scott
principalsof a female seminary at OK
ford. Then he went TO Cincinnati and
studied law for two years I'm the office of
Slower a. Gwynne, and in 1854 he settled
in Indianapolis.
His law partner from 1856 to 1860. Will
liam Wallace. writing of young Harrison,
says: "He very soon disclosed his ad-
mirable qualities as a lawyer--quick of
~hana oil nd
ical I'm his analysis and statement Of a
case. He possessed a natural faculty for
getting the exact truth out OF a witness,
either by a direct or cross-examinaion.
He was poor. The truth is, IL was a
hard struggle for bread and meat with
both OF us. He had noble young wife
who cheerfully shared with him the
plainest and simplest style of living. He
did the work about the house himself for
long time and thus made his profess
sional income-not large-keep him inde-
pendent and free from debt"
Mr. Harrison had been able TO secure
that noble young wife" by a fortunate
circumstance. He would hardly have
risked marrying so early, but he received
an Inheritance. the only one OF his life.
An aunt died and left him lot I'm Gin
cinnau. which was valued at sS00. Young
Harrison regarded this legacy "A for
tune He sold the lot. and with the money
IN his pocket and his young wife on his
arm, he started on the road TO fame.
HIS GIFTS AS A LAWYER.
He had many natural gifts qualifying
him for the practice OF law. He was
quick of comprehension and had calm.
judicial mind. He was clever direct
and cross-examiner OF witnesses, earn
est advocate and logical speaker. never
creating scene I'm court, but always in
sisting upon all legal rights involved i'm
case. He was engaged i'm tho trial OF
many important cases
lie became known as a stump speaker
er Al the age Of g. soon after he was
elected to the supreme court. reporter
ship, which gave him a salary OF $500
n year. he had a verbal setto with Thomas