Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

academy and while there resided with his
Uncle. who held local public Office. As
Charles was anxious to pay his own way.
his uncle procured him some clerical work
which assisted in meeting his expenses.
AT fifteen he attended preparatory
school for college and soon entered the Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware. Ohio.
He did not exactly work his own way
through college, but he contributed ma
terfally toward 1t. When he reached the
university he was not the dignified we'll
poised person he now is. but is remembered
as long. lank STRIPPING about six feet tall
his appearance being extremely suggestive
! or the rural districts. There was an appre-
cfable hiatus between the bottom OF his
trousers and the tops of his Shoes but the
young student was oblivious to this incon-
gruity.
A neighbor lad. equally ambitious for a
college education. attended the university
with Fairbanks. and the two boys conceiv-
cd the idea that If they could toin their
FORCES 1t would make the burden easier for
e eacn Oh Ihem They rented room in the
town or Delaware and set up housekeeping
Tor the term. Their parents contributed
some furniture. and as often they had
opportunity, sent them supplies and pro-
VISIONS They got along economically
To help meet his expenses young Fair.
banks, who had learned how to use the
Tools or carpenter on the farm. frequent
~ secured Jobs of carpentering and repair
ing. he says now that he would have made
quite as good a carpenter as he has a law
yer and II he had stuck to the trade might
nave oeen great contractor and builder
Fairbanks first attends to the business
ne Is mere for, was the remark of one of
fis college mates, land IL he has any SNARE
Time he goes In for pleasure and sports"
nat very well describes the life OF tba
future senator while at college During his
course there he took no prizes for scholar
ships worthy of mention, but made and
kept his averages and graduated with
the respect of faculty and classmates
There is no doubt that the tenderest men,
cries of Senator Fairbanks life cluster
about the last two years of his college
course. During that time he was editor
OF the college paper, and his assistant was
Miss Cornelia Cole. daughter of Judge
Cole of Marysville, Ohio, also a student
at the Wesleyan University. Their associa-
ton in college editorial work developed the
romance which eliminated in their mar
riage in 1872
Entering on Life's Real Work
When a lad Mr.. Fairbanks developed a
decided taste for the law. and in his col
legiate course this taste was gratified. and
he manifested abilities at mock trials in
the college fraternities that In after years
brought him fame and wealth. 1t was
characteristic of him even in early life al
ways to have some definite purpose in view
He never shouldered his rifle for an aimless
stroll in the woods. but always with the
idea of shooting game. To this day he
does not care to start on a walk or ride
without a definite object place In view.
His whole course of life has been shaped
on this policy.
Leaving college, he began his own living,
but still with definite idea of studying
law and being admitted to the bar. He ac-
cepted the position of agent of the Associ-
ated Press at Pittsburg, Pa, the appoint
ment having been given him by his uncle,
the late William Henry Smith, then at the
head of this news gathering and distribut-
ing agency.
The senator often laughIngly refers to his
experience In news gathering in the smoky
city. las recolect it, the most important
of my duties was to report the state of the
weather and the stage of water in the Ale
gheny and Monongahela rivers" he recent
ly said.
He had plenty of time to devote to the
study of law. which he took UP with a
prominent attorney in Pittsburg, but when
he sought admission to the bar he was re-
fused because he had not been for three
requirement for admission. Thereupon he
went to Cleveland, Ohio, and was admitted
and shortly afterwards married and opened
his first law Office In the city of Indianapo-
lis This was in 1874.
The business and political career of the
sturdy Ohio boy. who escaped being burn
ed to death, worked on his fathers farm,
hunted squirrels and rabbits and was fog
ged for "goin' in swimmin'," is familiar to
every one interested In public characters
The success that has attended his policy of
having definite purpose in view augurs
well for his success at the republican con-
vention In Chicago, If one of those definite
purposes Is to secure the vice-presidentiaI
nomination.