New-York tribune., 1905-08-20
PAUL NORTON rs II BOY.
He Sho1Ced Little Promise Mentally
or Physically.

Paul Morton. at present head of the Equitable
LIE Assurance Society. in this city, born
IN Detroit, where his uncle. W. D. Morton now
Ives and who has in his possession probably the
Cn,y pictures extant of Paul a boy and a
Young man. Until recently there stood at
Brush and Congress SITS, Detroit, the little, old
fashioned frame house in which Paul Morton
born.
Perhaps the chief characteristic of Paul
little boy his strong disinclinaton to go to
chool. On one occasion when he became home
sick he ran away from q. boarding school in the
night and tramped several miles to his home.
He arrived there about midnight, and raped
loudly for admission.
Who's there?" called his father, from an up
per window.
paul. I'm homesick and want to stay homer
came the answer.
After a brief talk the father made his turn
about and march through the night back to the
school
When about twelve years old the boy was so
round shouldered that his parents feared he
Hould be deforned. The family doctor was con-
ted but to purpose Other experts were
:le1 called in, but they could make suggestions
". AS a last resort 1t decided to send
Paul to a school where he would receive mill
!ary training. To the old P. NJ Patterson School
for Eoys, in Detroit. Paul accordingly went. 1t
had u military company known the Pelouze
Cadets. Every month the cadets used to give
an exhibition drill in the old Fremen's Hall, and
there are those in Detroit to-day who remember
wei a certain overgrown and unganly boy who
used to march with them Where the Detroit
boys of to-day play in trim parks Paul Morton
roaped through woods and farm lands. In the
sumner months he was fond of playing along
the river, and many were the expeditions he led
TO Belle Isle, then forest covered. Swampy re-
sort There Pauls chief sport hunting
rattesnakes and often he returned to the city
tn as many a dozen dead reptiles in the
bottom of his hoat. He would march up the
streets holding them by the tails. to the horror
OF pedestrians.
Paul did not prove himself brilliant scholar,
and many an extra hour did old Professor Pat
terson put in with him. The lad did not like
school and would not study but the cadet COM
Danv was a source of delight to him. Better
than all his play he liked the hours of drill and
the marching in uniform; and at that time he
had firmly made up his mind to become sold
Ter He never failed to invite his uncle and
aunt to the drills Though the experiment of
sending him to a military school failed as an
educa tor it succeeded in strengthening his shoul-
Gers; and to that old Detroit military company
Paul Morton owes his fine physique.
a LOyish prank day came near depriving
the United States of future Cabinet minister.
Paul and one of his chums played doctor and
soon after swallowing a dose of medicine"
taken from bottle which the chum had
brought from his home it was observed that
Paul acted queery. Soon a real doctor was
called. for the patient became unconscious.
Unlnowingly the play doctor had given his
friend laudanunl, and it was only after a seri-
Illness that Paul himself again.
Paul" said the boys father one day, you
NJ a a do Mt
to 90? DO you wish to go to work at once?"
The boys ambition to become a soldier had
suddenly left him. and he wanted to become a
railroad man. In a short time he secured a
position with the Chicago Burlington and
Quincy Railroad at Plattsmouth. At last he was
in his element From the beginning this boy
of sixteen was a success in the railroad busi-
ness He learned every detail of railroading
and was doing double his snare of work
that he might learn more. The manager rec
ognized his ability, and when vacancy oc-