Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-13
CHICAGO UNIVERSITY HAS A TREAT.
Young Wall With Thirty Cents Admitted to the In
stituton,
n u,nrr1r unnnnnnu

Chicago, Sept 5.-Weakened and
shriveled in body, half-staryed and
wearing rags that barely covered him,
John George, 10 years old, an ignorant
orphan, son of Pennsylvania coal min
err, visited President Harper at the
University of Chicago to find out
whether he could complete full course
at the university on 30 cents, obedient
to the injunction of his dying mother,
the boy had taken the fortune Of $40
that she left him. With this money
his mother told him to make tour OF
| the world and then spend the remainder
In securing an education at the Uni
yersity OF Chicago.
Following instructions. the boy start
ed on his trip around the world as soon
as he had seen his mother buried. lie
set out westward, but found that he
had only 80 cents when he arrived in
Chicago, He thought that he had bet
| ter 40 out TO the university before he
continued his trip, and when he called
on NJ, III. MacLean of the information
| Office OF the university and asked him
| II he was President Harper, Mr.. Mac
Lean thought he was questioned by a
maniac.
However, Mr.. MecLean learned the
! boy was sane, but ignorant TO an as
founding degree, and sent him 10 a
number Of officials OF the university and
| finally TO Assistant Dean Whaley OF
the South side academy.
Though the boy arrived four weeks
, ago the matter had been kept secret
until today, when his marvellous prog
ress became known.
John has proven himself an "lntellec-
tual freak" Though he knew nothing
about reading or writing and could
speak the English language only NTH
difficulty he has learned to read and
write English and TO speak French
The professors who have been helping
the boy privately say that he is an
educational marvel"
Dean Whaley OF the academy had the
boy relate the history of his life In fun.
He told the dean that his father, coal
miner, was killed five years ago In
mine disaster. John then picked up
and blacked boots to help his invalid
mother, who took In family washing.
According to the boys simple story he
and his mother lived In howell
For five years his mother cherished
the hope that her boy should never go
into the terrible coal mines and die
there as his father had, but should see
the world and gather wisdom. with
this In view she had boarded every
penny she could When she died a lit
lie over a month ago she called Ler
! son 10 her and said:
"Taint no place for you here, John.
! want you 10 go away from this awful
place and be with other kinds OF ieo-
pie. Don't die in the mines, Ike your
tatftr. Take this money. II is al we
nave Go around the world and see
things and then go TO the University u
Chicago and spend the rest on your
education"
John was the only mourner at me
funeral. As the coffin was hid from
sight tears Of bitterness coursed his
CheeFs and \ firm determination seized
| him 20 carry out the wishes Of his
motler. lie started that night His
railroad ticket and his other expenses
| took al his money except three dimes
/ liy tho time he arrived In Chicago. Then
| he decided 20 so out and see the uni
vfrsity before continuing his tcu.
Tie starved condition OF the boy
aroused pity among the university oia-