The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-05-02

| ger anu tue severity OF lne IeNeT nai
weakened him both physically and
mentally, and the interest Of the farmer
and his neighbors led them to debate
the advisability of sending Mr.. Altgeld
into the city and procuring his admls-
sion to one Of the city hospitals for
treatment. Young Altgeld hotly op-
posed the wishes Of his new friends on
this point, and, fearing they would
send him away without his consent, re-
solved to go away himself. He quit
the farmhouse late one night, and some
weeks later appeared on the streets of
st. Joseph. Mo. He had tramped the
entire distance. His clothes were In
tatters, and In place of shoes he had
his feet bound up In rags, his shoes
having given out on the tramp. Thus
attired he started out to get situa-
tion.
From place to place Mr.. Altgeld went
in search of employment, and man after
man heard his hardluck story without
offering him any encouragement. After
putting In a week at this dlscouraging
work young Altgeld arrived at the con-
cluslon that he must move further on.
Again he started on the tramp, and
finally. In Andrew county, he obtained
work on the farm of Henry Mueller.
who gave him his lodgings for his la
Dor. He chopped wood all the first
morning of his stay, and at noon sat
down to rest and told Of his troubles
and travels. Mueller became interest
ed, and was shrewd enough to discover
that there was metal of worth in the
young fellows makeup His sympathy
was aroused, and he made him a mem
Der of his family circle For $40
month wages Altgeld worked for two
years, during which his strength re-
turned and his recovery was complete.
He bent his energies constantly to-
ward the requirement of means to the
study of law. de tried for a certificate
to teach a district school, but found
that he had not knowledge enough to
pass the required examination. Farmer
Mueller and David Rea. afterward a
member of Congress, fixed II so Altgeld
got a certificate, and he also got
school that paid him $50 per month.
Judge Rea loaned young Altgeld law
be oks and after the days work he
would sit down at night to store his
mind with the knowledge that was to
arm him for battle with the world In
few months he became so tremen-
dously earnest that Rea took him into
his office. where Altgeld read law for
some time.
From that period the determined Ger
man student worked with the star of
success glimmerlng as a faint possi-
bility in the distance Of the future. He
went into politics and soon had his
name up for prosecuting attorney on
the Democratic ticket In a strong Re
publican county. hard fight was be-
fore him, but he wor through sheer
persistence. and the admiration which
he excited in the minds of the farmers,
who. to this day. refer to him as "Pete
Altgeld."
His Love Suit Rejected.
About this time there entered, for the
first time, as far as Is known, the ele-
ment of romance into Mr.. Altgelds life.
One day, while in Savannah. Mo-, he
met Miss Anna Rohrer, daughter of
George Rohrer. the President of the
State Bank Of Savannah. and one of
the wealthiest men of the town. To
the young lawyer the girl appeared the
incarnation Of his ideals. the realiza-
tion OF his dreams Of w6manhood. and
it seemed that a rosy world of bright
possibilities had suddenly been dis
closed to him. With characteristic de-
cisiOn he set to work to win her. His
suit did not prosper. however, and the
girls father at last gave him to under
stand that his visits to their home must
cease.
This was hard blow. not only to
the affections but to the pride OF Alt
geld, and for the first time in his life
be found himself face to face with an
obstacle which be could not surmount.
Never did he lose sight of his intent.
and later. when the situation became
less strained. be visited Miss Rohrer
again. He made a formal proposal of
marriage. but was refused by the young
woman. In obedience to the wishes Of
her father.
He at once made an effort to get away
from Savannah. although he had served
but six months Of bis two years term
as prosecuting attorney OF Andrew
County. he made arrangements to
that end. and soon sold bis law library
for 500 and the prosecuting attorney
Of Andrew County left for Chicago.