The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-21
YALE'S BRIGHTEST
MAN A farmer.
AS Modest Under His Success as
When He First Knocked at
College Portals.
WAS WINNER OF MANY PRIZES
Chosen From His Class to BE d
Member of skull and Bones"
the Very Exclusive
Society.

HEFUELIC SPECIAL.
New Haven June IA farmers son.
who came TO Yale University with his saw
iuss and a large part OF ms belongings tied
in handkerchief. is the most talked OF
man on the Yale campus. and not only the
brightest man in his class bus in the opia-
ion of many of the Yale professors the
brightest man who has ever been in Yale,
so far as general all around knoTledge is
concerned
Frederick Erastus Pierce. tlss man in
question. though lionzed by his classmates
and the big msa of Yale generally has not
been spoiled by attention and success. He
is the same modest, unassuming country
boy in many ways that he was when three
years ago he bashfully knocked at the rcr-
tails of the great seat of learning and wa
admitted
good deal like Abraham Lincoln Pierce
seems in many respects. He IL tall. anll
ard awkward. with a peculiar look about
the eyes.
From his roommate it was learned that
Pierce was the son of David Pierce, a re-
tired Congr egational minister at South Brit
ain. Conn. Il small country farming village
several miles from the railroad in a seclud-
ed rart Of the State. The father. having
left the ministry. settled on a farm which
has supported the family for a number of
years.
HAS FOLLOWED THE PLOUGH
Young Pierce inherits some OF his intel
lectual faculty. His father. though not a
college man, is said to lie one of the bright
est and best read man of his locality But
he enjoys poor health and when "Rastus''
Pierce WAS 10 FEARS or age he was Obliged
to leave the country school and go to work
RAM dc g.,
me family. For six years ne toiled behind
the plough and jim the fields. rising with the
lark and working hard all day:
Al nights and odd moments he was busy
with his books and 1t was alone on the
farm that he prepared for Yale Though
able to have done so, the father could lend
health.
Interested in Pierce. the local minister
besought him when his fathers health be-
gan to return to come down TO Ya4e and
ny ms luck at the entrance examinations.
with $50 in a handkerchief and his moth
or KISS on his lips as well as word Of
encouragement from his family and friends
Pierce started for the city
The well-dressed youths from the prepar-
atcry schools and high schools laughed at
the lad in the simple country toys until
tney found that underneath the ungainly
apparel s,T was an extraordinary individual
p m,tg MAS YET 70 become an intellectual
the work of the youth who had prepared
himself for Yale; They offered him Every
4
the young man. and he found protection
end announcement. as well as welcome
For a year Pierce did anything he could
get for his living. He waited on table.
SHOOK down furnaces or did any odd Jobs
that came his way. Work was no stranger
to the country youth. and he found plenty
oil II TO 90. both with brain and Drawn
Yet with all his work in his freshman
year Pierce divided the first prize in ma.h-
ematicS with classmate. and won the Nc
baughlin prize for the best English essay
Belore me Easter vacation he had won
me BcfkIey premiums for excellence in
Woolsey scholarship the income of 81 .S1S
Tor the best examination in Latin compost
ZION; Those who had smiled at the verdant
Sas at once put down by his classmates as
an intellectual shark" and from that time
MS success dated
HE WON MORE PRIZES.
In his sophomore year Pierce again won
mathematical prize. His hard work not
only won the. admiration of his classmates.
but, attracted the attention of men in
higher classes well. He began to get
chances to tutor men of wealth in classes
above him. Pierce found himself much in
demand, and the problem of living was
much simpler than the first year.
With all his work Pierce still found time
during his junior year for competition. He
began writing for the Yale Literary Maya
zine. and In one year he succeeded in get
ing place in the Board of Editors a
place which many men struggle for from
Inc time they enter Yale. His work in the
magazine has attracted much attention He
wen the literary medal prize for the best
essay in the magazine. and likewise a sim
ia. prize offered by the newly organized
Pundit Club for similar object He d.
vided with a classmate the John Hubbard
Curtis prize. the income of $3.50. for Literary
and rhetorical excellence. and stood third
In the Ten Eyck prize speaking. which was
Won Ivy William Pickens, the Yale colored
phenomenon.
Bat the most notable instance Of tho de-
n toni -.
ets son was the proud moment when Pierce.
was chosen from among the members. OF
ms class as a member of Skull and Bones
the most exclusive Yale secret society Of
The senior class. Usually men begin to work
Tor position in :he Yale senior societies In
1helr first year at college. Some begin to
seek places even in the preparatory schools
Fierce is probably the first man who ever
received the honor without even the lifting