The sun., 1903-05-10

The matter evidently slipped the presi-
dents mind for Pickens didn't hear from
him again On the day before college wa
to open he bought himself new overcoat
and then ticket TO Tallsdesa which cost
him Us. Twenty-four hours later he pre-
sented himself 10 President Andrews and
handed him 80 and said that was all he hao
but that he wanted as much education az II
would buy. The president was 80 taker
back that he had TO tell the students OF Il
when they assembled In chapel the next
morning.
When Pickens was called up for examina'
ton Latin was the first subject that the
professors proposed to try him on. Aftel
asking him how much he had read the In
strlctor opened tho book and told him tc
read on.
1t was &C sar's Commentaries" anc
Pickens knew It by heart. He went straight
ahead till the examiner told him to halt
that that would do. Then he tried hin
on other Latin and then he turned to the
other members Of the board Of examiners
and said:
wed better put this boy in the sopho'
moro olass."
Dwuuk HID uCC yC0Ib al AoloACSu hS
took all the prizes offered and stood at the
head Of his class.
The first summer he was at Talladega
he earned $40 by teaching summer norma
school The second year he travelled
with club from the school soliciting funds
for the college. In his travels he came
to New Haven and then and there deter
mined to study at Yale II he could get the
cash. About this time Booker T. Washing.
ton became interested In him and invited
Pickens to speak with him on several occa-
sions. He was graduated last year at Talla.
dega and from there he went to Chicago
to work in a mill. Late in September
he landed In New Haven with trunkful
Of books and $40 in cash.
D. Stewart Dodge Of New York, cousin
Of the Rev. Anson Phelps Stokes. secretary
to the Yale Corporation, sent him check
early in the fall and again at Christmas
time. Friends In the city got him em.
ployment in a restaurant for three hours a
day 40 that he was enabled to keep on with
his work here. He was invited to give
dialect readings at private entertainments
and in this way he has earned quite a little
sum Of money.
During the fall term he lived in board.
ing block in the city but after Christmas
arrangements were made 80 that he could
come to the campus. He rooms now in
White Hall.
In speaking Of his Yale experience he
said to-day:
knew that 1t would cost more than l could
raise. Finally, after talking with Mr.
Washington l thought l would make a
try for 1t.
After reaching here was fortunate in
getting a place in a restaurant, where by
working three hours q day I could earn
my board. Mr. Dodge helped me con.
Aderably with my tuition, and managed to
get on for the first term.
Il earned considerable outside, but 1t
all took time from my studies. Just after
Christmas was studying the catalogue
and I read OF the Ten Eyck prize and the
subjects of the essays.
Most OF the men had their essays partly
written by that time, but thought would
read up on Hayti got so interest ed in
and got up At clock in the morning and
wrote my essay before church.
1T was the Sunday before the essays
were TO he handed In. didn't change
the essay much but handed 1t in rs had
writtcnit The rest is an old story, as much
OF a surprise TO me AZ to any one.
The recent story about my going @
HAyti IL an imaginative yarn and is all
nonsense. received the letter from the
Southern association, but that was all
there was toit
If have iuok. I ahall finiah here at Y ale
next year, and then shall have more time
to consider propositions Of government
In appeara nee Mr.. Pickens is of stall
wart build, little above the average in
height He shows considerable muscular
development especially across the shoulders
and hack. In his oonv ersation he shows
the advantages OF cl ose application to
books.
His proficiency in his studies has been the
result to . large extent OF close applica-
ton as we'll as Of natural aptitude. When
In the grammar schools. he used to learn
his history by heart 30 that he could recite 1t
page by page. In this way he became
familiar with good expression. and he says
that this early training has been OF great
advantage to him. When he finished his
history he could begin at the beginning
and reoite It every word from cover to
cover.
His proficiency In mathematics shows
that his ability docs not lie In his good
memory alone, for since beginning the
study OF mathematics he has never yet
failed on problem.
In his early high-school days, and even
before that. I've spent all his spare time
from the close OF school until bedtime
never stopping even for his sup
per. In this his mother aided him. for
she would never let him be interrupted
Her death threw him on his own resources,
for, while his father did not discourage him
in his work, he did not place any confidence
In the advantages Of education.