Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-26

HNN age of 20, as assistant sec
EE rotary of the treasury, in
Nf1tg& charge Of the customs of
FTTHINA, the United States, a posi-
SYIL 4 ton second only in re-
NSYgGf@t sponsibility to that of the
s=4Ms=sZ- y secretary Of the treasury,
affords striking example of the possl-
billties within the grasp of the young
men OF AL erica.
A reporter at SIS week upon strug-
CLING newspaper in 1895, assistant Sec
retary-practicall second in command
of the greatest financial institution
in the world in 1902. The achievement
OF half lifetime squeezed within the
compass of seven years.
William Pitt was chancellor of the
exchequer of England at 20; Alexander
Hamilton was secretary Of the treasury
at 81; Robert B. Armstrong, at 20, Is
the youngest man ever appointed assis-
tant secretary of the United States
treasury.
This story, however, is a plain, sim
pie mar alive 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 practicine
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, 1t 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 Class.
In his sophomore year, while explor-
ing a new college building, Mr. Arm
strong stepped through a blind door
way in the tower and fell sixty-flve feet
to the basement, striking upon pile Of
stones. Five fractures were sustained
and 1t 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 and 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
signment upon the stan at 10 cents an
hour. His duties in this connection
involved the removal OF pollon from
certain flowers and depositing 1t 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 Judd, Mr.. Armstrong had
been able TO salt away a small sum OF
money. Then came the well-nigh fatal
fall, 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 pennlless.
Learned Printers Trade.
A sort Of grim pride caused young
Armstrong to vow he would not 20
home and he determined to hustle. Il
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 oYeralls
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 a raise" Of IS month. In
the previous six months Armstrong had
picked up an occasional dollar by writ
ing college items for Des Molnes pa
pers, and In this way had been able 20
provide himself with clothes.
After bis 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 J
charge Of the kitchen and the dining
room with It's 400 students, and in this |
way paid the bill for hia own board /