New-York tribune., 1906-09-30


Glowing reports came home about his progress
One morning he knocked at the door Of his
fathers study.
Come in." said the kindly voiced father.
The small boy entered. marched sturdily TO
the desk and laid before his astonished father a
sheet OF paper. which was written IN childish
hand the words:
Charles E. Hughes's plan of study"
Father" he said, Il don't Ike It at school.
and the teacher goes over the same thing so
many times; 1 could study at home and get
my lessons done In the morning."
The parent looked over the plan Of study
and found the days OF the week, with the hours
OF study and subjects written opposite them II
was decided to accept his proposition, and until
he was ten years old he studied at home His
father prepared him for college teaching him
Greek while his mother assisted by training his
mind with mental arithmetic, mathematics being
a subject, it is said, for which she had a genius
His faculty for mathematics. gas and insurance
men have found TO be especially well developed.
HIS rather was not able to hear him recite his
Greek daily, and sometimes a couple OF weeks
would elapse between lessons. Then they would
DeSn early ana spend an entire day at IL. The
boy seemed TO be fresh at the end of the
days work as his father. At the age of thirteen
he was ready to enter college but was Obliged
70 walt year as he considered too young
He studied year with his father. and then en-
tered the sophomore class of Madison. Col
gate, University, at Hamilton, ". After
studying there a couple of years he went to
Brown University, which he also entered az a
sophomore. He was one of the Phi Beta Kappa
men or his year, and won the Dunn premium
Tor English literature and the Carpenter pre-
MUM for general attainments He also had the
classical Grafton at commencement.
Having little money. he decided to teach be-
rore taking up the study Of law. He endeavorcd
10 secure position, but his yOuth-he was ONLY
nineteen years old-and his slender physique
made IT difficult for him to obtain one
As soon as the head of a school saw him. he
used TO say. his chance was gone. He decided
10 try another method of securing emplovrnent
He wrote letters instead of going see the pos
sible employers. He finally engaged 20
teach Greek, mathematics and French at the
Delaware Academy, Delhi. " Y.
Mr.. Hughes once declared that he never for
got the panied look which the principal of the
school, Professor James o. Griffin. turned on
him when his immature face and figure presented
themselves before him.
My dear young man." said Professor Griffin.
there is doubt about your ability to
teach the branches for which vou have
been engaged, but how do you expect 20 rule
the young gentlemen who will come under your
and lack the physique which is sometimes neces-
sary In controlling the etfervescent spirits of
class of young men
Young Hughes finally persuaded the professor
to give him a trial. with the result that they
became great friends.
The next year, 1882, Mr.. Hughes came TO this
city and took up the study of law at Columbia
He obtained a scholarship. and. in 1883 secured
a clerkship in the law office of Chamberlain.
Carter & HOrnblOwer. After being admitted to
the bar in 1884 he added 10 his slender income
by tutoring in law we'll practising In
1888 he married Antoinette, daughter of Walter
s Garter, member of the firm in whose office
he had begun as clerk and of which he was
destined to become the head. In 1891 he had
worked hard that his friends said he had
worn himself out With his theory about work
he would not admit this. but declared that he
"only tired out"
friend told him of a law professOrship at
Cornell which he could probably have and
which would allow him to secure rest Much
10 the chagrin of his father-in-law he gave UT
the practice of law and went TO Cornell. Two
years of the quiet life of a college campus salts
fed him. and IN 1898 he returned TO New York
to the active practice of the law. After
Strengthening out the affairs of a Western rail-
road. which occupied seven months of his time,
he became the court member of the law firm
of Garter, Hughes & Dwight. 1t is said that
Mr. Hughes's experience as a teacher and tutor
had great value in developing his ability as an
examiner and speaker
A third pier in the foundation was his love of
mathematics. This assisted In developing in
unusual degree concentration of attention and
agility of thought. The wonderful exhibition of
his mathematical ability in the gas fnvestiga
tiOn of the first things which centred
public attention him. He seemed never 10
be lost in the tangle OF finances which was pre-
sented In the simultaneous investigation OF
thrty-one different companies. He was dubbed
the schoolmaster. and the gas experts who came
before him 10 explain the different items on
their books, his pupils
His quckness of thought and his ability to
present technical point in new light so that
it could be interpreted by the slowest wit. were
often illustrated in this trial. On one occasion
he seeking information as to what a GER
tain part of the capital stock of cne Of the
combined companies represented
Why, II represents the equities in the prop
critics which the power company took over
said the witness. For instance, the illuminat-
ing company was earning 13 per cent. but
bought il a basis of s $40 per cent
Then you mean by equities IN this case the
earning capacity Of the property" asked MIR.
Hughes.
IF you wish to put it that way. yes" replied
the witness. tartly.
I'm other words you capitalized the monopo-
listic value of the corporatiOn%
You can put II that way, IL YOU like"
the witnesses unwilling answer.
Not a small part of his success in the investi-
cations due TO this ability to see Instantly
beyond the exact answer. He saw a possible
meaning in II, and putting two and two to-
gether pumped another question at the witness
which laid bare a new phase OF the subject He
often saw the significance of an answer quicker
than his witness. George w. Perkins and
others learned, and the public saw as IL
watched him, with unperturbed air and without
q sign or surprise or emotion LAYING another
stone in the structure of public knowledge or
life insurance which he was building Under
his hand the investigation became a mighty play
OF which, 10 the Iublic, only he seemed 10 know
the entire plot. Those who attended the bsar-
ings found IL so fascinating that they couId
hardly tear themselves away. They felt them
selves In the presence of artist who pulled
the strings and the witnesses moved as puppets
doing his bidding
The superstructure which has been huVt ON
this foundation is a fine amalgamation OF spirit
uaI ana mental qualities His is q finely bal
apced nature. Erect. not only physically but
mentally and spiritually. his carriage signifies
fibre One instantly recognizes that his .',-es,.
is yes and his no" no Moreover one ac-
cepts his word as a Judgment that IS wise This
was Illustrated In the manner in which his ac-
fall was received
Quietly. from choice he has been working ON
the bedrock out 9t the signt of the public de-
Neiopihs the qualities which stand out surely