Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-15

Philadelphia North American.
EW men have been more written
yet the real story Of HIS career
- has escaped attention-the story
Of the influences which dominated his life
ana Of the hopes and ambitions which
raised him from humble boyhood 70 tne
position OF one OF the most forceful 1ac-
tors in the political conditions OF ms
time
Reed had himself spoken OF his early
DAVIS. and OF the circumstances whicn
formed his opinions and aspirations. He
could trace his line back to George lCleeve,
who built the first white mans habitation
ever erected In the territory now incluo-
"a In Portland, Me-, where the future
statesman was born.
The settlement was called "Stogumnor,
in memory Of an English field OF that
name. and it's founders life was one OF
ceaseless conflict, now with the white
nslshbors OF other settlements, now with
the Iredsl.ina. 80 that Cleeve left behind
him the impress Of bold, vigorous pio-
neer.
Inherited Daring.
His daughter became the wife Of MI
chaeI Niiten, whose two daughters In
turn were married to two brothers named
Bracket. One OF the Bracket daughters
was espoused by a fisherman named
Reed. and Thomas Bracket Reed was MS
descendant. Much OF the nerve ana oar
ing OF old George Cleeve was inherited
by him.
Literature and old romances attracted
me most when I was a boy" said Mr..
Rssd when discussing his boyhood re-
Gently. II liked them better than text
books. But a spare young man named
Noses Lyford was my teacher, ana ne
was the best disciplinarian ever knew.
'sF4e had the art OF holding turbulent
school by nnding out what was the par
ticular spring he could touch to control
every one Of his lawless boys. HIS pun
on me was dismissal BY simply holding
that threat over me at critical moments
he conquered.
seYou see. / had sort of Unborn idea
that school was a great thing for me. and
7 also knew that my parents were too
poor TO be able to send me anywhere else
40 I kept straight as best ] could. de
had a way OF letting every boy who had
no dement's ring his bell before leaving
the class.
Reed ReprImanded.
'sOnce. for three days, l did not ring
that bell He came to me and said, Tom,
is It an inadvertencer
NO sir, I answered. Did you break
the rulesg Yes, sir 'Why?' Because
thev we're too hard Well he said. you
know what you can do IL the rules are
too hard. You can leave school, I hung
nv head. and he went away, saying,
Never let me hear Of this again, Tom.
NO. sir I replied, and meant it.
or his course at BowdOin college, where
he paid his own way Reed admitted that
he had neglected many things, because
he spent too much time on light literature.
The truth is that his college experience
was rather hard. His life-struggle began
with the first year there and he had to
earn enough to pay his way a. he went
along. He had 10 remain out the second
and third terms in order TO earn money
bv teaching, but he kept up his studies
without an instructor.
A Carrot HIs Mecca.
"AII through the first part of my col
lexe course" he said II devoted a great
deal of time 20 literature TO the neglect
of other studies. 4 garnet in the house OF
one of my mothers relations became my
mecca It was packed full OF books
especially novels. end thither / went
spsnding days and the better part OF the
nights reading
'sThey were mostly trashy. imaginative
stun. but they gave me delight and eonae
information. believe / gained my knoWl-
edge OF words from them. Anyway, they
gradually walked me TO a knowledge Of
higher and really important literature"
With graduation only q year on, Reed
realised that his class standing was low,
and at the eleventh hour ne laid aside
poems and romances and got TO work.
IRON that time on until commence
ment," he said. II toiled. I got UP at I'VE
every morning and went promptly TO bed
at nine every night. I didn't Ike It and