The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-22

rear OF the wagon became loose and
| its clatter further terrorized the
| horses. Other vehicles on the road
| were hastily pulled out of the way and
| their occupants gazed in horror. ex-
pecting to see Farmer Fairbanks team
! and his two young sons, perched up
| on a high seat, hurled to destruction.
| But Charles, with a courage and skill
| worthy Of a Hank Monk, guided his
| steeds along the rough country road
| until they were exhausted and Gained
down. The GOODNESS exhibited by the
future Senator when a baby had this
time saved his own life and that of his
brother.
The event in his boyhood which is
most firmly fixed in the Senator's
mind, and which he recalls with the
greatest pleasure, was when his I'M
Gle presented him with a fine muzzle-
loading rifle, which is still retained and
somoNAnes used by the distinguished
statesman. Young Fairbanks was not
yet IL years old when this much COW
eted firearm was given him. 1t is a
heavy rife and was considerable of a
load for lad of his age. His muscles
however, We're well developed by farm
work and he soon acquired the knack
OF handling the gun with ease. He
practiced constantly and became one
of the best shots in the neighborhood
Charles Fairbanks Trusty Rife.
When boy Mr.. Fairbanks develop
ed an intense fondness for out-of-
door sports, but none of them was
more attractive than hunting with his
rife. He was a sure shot within the
range OF his gun, and his favorite rec
reation was hunting squirrels. He be-
came so expert that he could bark"
squirrel-that is, send a bullet so
near the squirrels head that the little
animal would be stunned by the shock
and killed by the fall to the ground
without the skin being broken.
Shortly after he came in possession
of the rife he met with an accident.
While driving his fathers cows home
from pasture a stampede occurred,
and he was thrown against a partly
opened gate and his arm broken. Even
while carrying his arm in a sling he
would not part company with his
rifle, but managed with his sound
arm and an occasional rest to bring
down squirrels and rabbits. Nova
days, when the Senator visits his old
home in Ohio, where his aged mother
lives, he will occasionally show the
some fancy shooting with his old
muzzle-loading Kentucky rifle.
The Senator did not miss many of
the pleasures of boyhood and he has
not lost his keen zest for country
sports, despite the fact that he has
been pictured as the embodiment Of
dignity. He was a good student, but
a genuine boy. He did not care much
for fishing, but the creeks and ponds
near his old home afforded him de-
lightful recreation in swimming and
diving. Sometimes, as he sits in the
Senate during a long, dreary debate
a dreamy reminiscent look will come
into his eyes and a smile across his
face as he thinks of a certain shady
pool out in old Union county where
he played hockey more than once for
the sake of a cool dip.
One Of these stolen joys he recol-
lects well. He and two or three of
his schoolmates overstayed their noon
hours enjoying themselves in the cool
waters of the creek. When they final
ly arrived at the school house the tell
tale damp on their hair informed the
master where they had been. They
were brought out on the school house
floor and underwent a thorough, good
old-fashioned fiogging that was then
the standard of school discipline.
His College Career.
Although owning an extensive farm,
Senator Fairbanks father was by no
means a wealthy man, and Charles,
being the oldest of the children, felt
that II was his duty to contribute as
much as possible to his own support
and education. At the age of thirteen
he went to Columbus to attend an
academy, and while there resided with
his uncle, who held a local public OF
fee. AS Charles was anxious to pay
his own way, his uncle procured him
some clerical work. which assisted in
meeting his expenses.
At Is he attended a preparatory