The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-04-02

NE All rotary of the treasury, in
NH&YGSIH charge of the customs of
ETXWT71I the United States, posi-
H S1l II ton second only in re-
IeSSSDgs5IE sponsibility to that of the
@MZ secretary of the treasury,
affords striking example of the posi-
bilities within the grasp of the young
men of America.
A reporter at So week upon strug-
Cling newspaper in 1885, assistant sec
retary-practically second in command
of the greatest financial institution
in the world in 1902. The achievement
of half a lifetime squeezed within the
compass of seven years.
William Pitt was chancellor of the
exchequer of England at %; Alexander
Hamilton was secretary of the treasury
at 80; Robert B. Armstrong, at 20, is
the youngest man ever appointed assis-
tant secretary of the United States
treasury.
This story, however, is plain, SIM
pie narrative of fact against a back
ground Of difficulty, and should prove
an inspiration to any American boy.
Robert B.. Armstrong was born near
Des MOines, Ia, August 10, 1875. His
father, physician, is still practicing
in the same town.
Robert b. Armstrong was graduated
from the Des Moines high school at the
age Of IA, and was granted certificate
to teach. On account of his extreme
youth and the further fact that he was
small, even for that age, it was not
thought advisable for him to apply for
a school. At 16 he entered the fresh
man class at the Iowa state college at
Ames, the college from which his moth
er had graduated twenty years previ-
Ously.
In Secretary Wilson's Glass.
In his sophomore year, while explor-
ing new college building, Mr.. Arm
strong stepped through a blind door
way in the tower and fell sixty-five feet
to the basement, striking upon pile of
stones. Five fractures were sustained
and it was thought the boy would not
survive, but after three months in the
hospital he emerged, apparently sound.
Mr.. Armstrong was in the classes of
Prof. James Wilson, dean of the college
faculty, the present secretary of agri-
culture, and the secretary advances the
claim that his training and counsel were
potent In laying the foundation for his
pupils subsequent success.
Mr.. Armstrong depended largely up-
on his own resources in obtaining an
education, and the first year he paid his
way by sweeping ard shoveling coal in
the college. The horticultural depart
ment, in charge of Professor Budd, was
experimenting with new species of
fruits at that time and Mr.. Armstrong
struck a great lead in securing an as
hn 70 OF ,fc n
hour. His duties in this connection
involved the removal Of pollon from
certain flowers and depositing it in the
bloom Of other species of fruit. AS a re-
suit of the colonization experiments
and some work he did in preparing and
sending out agricultural bulletins in
connection with Professor Wilson and
Professor Budd, Mr.. Armstrong had
been able to salt away a small sum of
money. Then came the well-nigh fatal
fail, however, and when the boy had
passed from the door of the hospital he
found himself not only hopelessly be-
hind in his classes, but penniless.
Learned Printers Trade.
A sort of grim pride caused young
Armstrong to vow he would not go
home and he determined to hustle. 1t
happened that just at that time a new
newspaper, the Ames Times, was be-
ing started, with Lon G. Hardin as ed
itor and publisher. Armstrong con-
tracted to work for Mr.. Hardin for his
board and learn the printers trade.
And so he put on a pair Of old overalls
and a jumper and swept the office.
washed the rollers, set type, turned the
crank of the old Campbell press and
folded papers publication days.
After working for his board from
May until November the apprentice was
granted raise" of SIS a month. In
the previous six months Armstrong had
picked up an occasional dollar by writ
ing college items for Des Moines pa
pers, and in this way had been able to
provide himself with clothes
After his return from the Worlds
fair Mr.. Armstrong worked in the Press
office until 1894, and then assumed his
studies in college. He made up the
time he lost in year, at the same time
paying his own way. In this year he
was assistant steward, having entire
charge of the kitchen and the dining
room with it's 400 students, and in this
way paid the bill for his own board