The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-02

FSOptS LnGL gf6CGS LFG SunOay W iCFt-
ita Eagle. 1t is good for everybody to
read.
Stories of VIII Whites Youth.
at least two Of the boyhood playmates
Of William Allen White live IN Wichita
During the recess OF the Republican con-
vention Friday one Of them described
some early manifestations Of his present
talents and character. He had determine
alton from childhood It caused him TO
nearly lose his life when he was about
twelve years OF age. He was a regular
water rat at Ell Dorado and in suitable
season spent nearly as much cf mis- life
In water as he did on land. This fond
ness for water stu abides with him and
IN the sJnrler time he is rolling in the
Natatorium at Enporia half tho day. He
IS as fond Of the bath as a Roman dandy.
Diving was his long suit. He could
keep his head under water longer than
duck and this gave him great standing
IN the vicinity OF the swimming hole.
one day he made a wager with com
rade that he could keep his head under
water from bank 70 bank Of the Walnut
and every boy in FL Dorado went down
TO the river TO see him do it. Lightly
he dove from TIE springboard and dis
appeared All eyes were on the opposite
side Of the river and he did rot aprear
The boys became very much alarmed
and a panic had about seized tnem when
Dome lad happened 70 see a disturben nee
in the water about 100 yearda up the
river. There he was coming to the sur
face with. as one of them expressed it,
"a four-year-cld breath and scarcely
able 70 keep above water. -Four or FIVE
Ct them had to so to his rescue CT he
would have peIished. It was his deter
Tnination 70 reach the shore opposite to
the spring board but when he was under
the water he got turned around in some
way and was doing the length Of the
width Of the stream.
Dog fashion was his favcrite style OF
swimming.
Nj. White manifested no prec3cious
beligerency. Besides hitting VIII Stot-
Ter, now editor OF the Wellington News.
over the head with a cows horn. he
Lad but one fight in his youth ana that
was with the only negro boy in 81 Dor.
ado, Iveson Williams, by name. He
ealked awhile On the doubtful propriety
OF giving battle to q representative of
The Inferior race" nut his companions
made him accept the challenge They
al went to the fighting ground across
the river, rope was stretched according +
10 the conditions laid down by the negro
boy Williams it appears regarded his
Ehins as his most vulnerable point IN COM
tat and ne knew that Whites long suit
In fighting was kicking. They fought to
q draw. White insisting that he would
not fight longer unless the rope was re- (
moved. He wanted to get action on that
eolored boys shines
According 20 his friends, White always
wore shoes and was the only boy in FL
Dorado who cd. being more tenderly /
cared for than the other boys, owing to !
The fact that he was an only child.
Bfr. White had dramatic inclinatiors in /
his youth. He was great on giving shows /
In the barn for the admission fee of ten I
pins. He ana a boy named Bronson. now !
= BANKER of Topeka and Judge Harvey. /
now Judge Of the city court Of Wtohita, /
were the great actors Of their boyhood /
times Afr. Bronson was the only boy in /
FL Dorado who could knot his heels on I
the back Of the neck. while White could 4
hasng from q horizontal bar 10y his toes. /
Judge Harvey's most interesting play
was walking on his hands with his feet 1
in the air.
1t has been said that VIII White was /
the hero I his own story, The King of /
PcyvIie." He was not. That honor Il I
al pears. belongs 10 a boy named Hank /
Carpenter He was the lad who could /
beat everybody, in feats Of daring. both /
I'm wafer anG on land He could lick every I
boy of his size. out-run them, out-swim /
them. out-climb them. and out-wrestle (
them. He could pitch BAN. catch bah.
and was q wonder at playing marbles.
In school Mr.. White was strong IN es-
says and he showed a precocious disp0-
sition 10 make himself heard in public /
speaking. One night he was before an
OF school patrons and was say
ing q Ionr piece. The audience got tnpa-
tent and started 10 cry him down. White
advanced to the frcnt of the stage sewing
n the a1dicncc. Ladies ard gentlemen.
keep Norr seats. I am going 10 finish
this talk ard tho more quiet YOU keep
the quicker il viii be over. IT won't take
long 20 complete il. III be done socn Il
you let me- The crowd allowed him II
proceed and hc went on as if nothing
had happened. 40 made il Dorado hear
hnn and he is making a larger Audience I
hear MIN now.