The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-06-05
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Inspiration in a Life.

ing, and at the same time, an instructive
article treating of the inspiration that
was given Senator Knute Nelson when he
was a lad attending school in Dane coun-
ty, Wisconsin Mr.. Nelson's life is a
practical illustration of what a good wo-
mans influence can accomplish. 4 great
er influence than had this same woman
been permitted to cast her ballot Out
of the boy born across the water, and
coming to this country in tender years,
compelled to struggle for an education
she made man who is respected by all
men. He is to be admired more because
out of the rough he emerged a bright and
shining example of what one can do if he
will place his goal and then work to
reach it, The article referred to is an
be read by all youths who are at all am
bilious.
THE life of the senior United States
senator from Minnesota has in it the
elements of a purpose-novel of twofold
intent The themes, which are closely
interviewer, are the powerful intiunce
which the early inspiring of a definite
ambition has in shaping life, and how
success is gained despite the most I'M
toward conditions.
- l,r MOL
son came to this country from Norway
with his widowed mother when he was
less than five years old, and earned his
first money selling newspapers upon the
streets of Chicago. Later, when he and
his mother were settled on little sandy
farm out in Wisconsin, his life was
given a definite direction by one Mary
Dillon, who taught the district school.
Miss Dillon was a cultivated woman who
came with her family to this country
from Belfast, Ireland to mend their
broken fortunes. She became interest
cd in the little, virile, eager minded
Norwegian boy, and, at stated intervals,
invited him to her home. There, for the
first time, he saw table-napery in use
and a tea table ornamented with flowers.
On one of these occasions, in talking with
him of the famous personages of his
tory, Miss Dillon said:
"'You, too, may become a distinguish
and all you have to do is to be industri-
Gus and preserving. You can't be presi-
dent, for you were not born in this coun-
try, but you can be United States sena-
tor This was long before there was
New Education but one of its founda-
ton methods was used by Miss Dillon in
thus relating young Nelson's life to the
vital facts in the lives of men of sue
cess. From this time on he studied
them with keen personal interest, seek
ing to find out just how they had achiev
ed. He realized that the first step was
to learn more than a country district
school taught
"Senator Nelson tells that he journey
ca in an ox-cart of home construction,
the wheels of which were sections of
big log, to the little village academy
from which he graduated. On this cart
was large wooden chest which contain
ed, in addition to his scanty wardrobe,
sufficient provision from the farm to
last him half the term. He did his own
cooking, living as simply as did Daniel
when he was in training to stand before
Babylon's triumphant king. At this
time he bore, without the slightest
thought of relinquishing his object, the
constant sights and ridicule of his fell
low students.
Senator Nelson's personality announc
es the staying qualities which enabled
him to realize the ambition inspired
by his first teacher He walks short,
sits tall and has the sturdiness of those
not easily overthrown. His wide, firm
mouth closes evenly; his irongray hair
and beard are cropped to coordinate with
the square turned lines of his head and
fact; and his ear, which, according to
de Maupassant, indicates ones origin far
more accurately than any certificate of
birth, is stable, with elaborate, we'll
defined convolutions.
''If you ask him leading question
which he does not choose to answer, he
will tell you 3 story in terse, clean
cut English. He makes no plunges, least
of all the Lucifer plunge of presumption.
Taking up all questions as he would
case to be tried in the courts, no opinion
can be wrested from him until he has
mastered the subject.
''In small way, he entered the arena
OF politics shortly after he had finished
his academic course, and has filled almost
every office in the gift of the people, once
or more, up to the one he now occupies.
Meanwhile he found time to serve as
soldier during the civil war, and to be-
come an able lawyer.
''The woman who opened the world of
books to the senator, and the scarcely
less important world of the amenities of
life, was guest at his home while he
was congressman After her death,