The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-03-19
WARmHEARTEO COLLEGE BOYS
CONTINUED from Page One.)
ties for the 81 and set out to find win
dovvc tn xx.ocb

ties for the 81 and set out to find win
dows to wash.
He found them in plenty and al
though his services were much in de-
mand on account of his superior work
would not raise the price above what
he thought was fair, that being $500
for dozen windows. He never Slight
e. single window, every corner was
polished.
He also obtained job as janitor of
Olivet Congregational church and
transferred his membership to it. A
few days later he registered in the first
year class of Pearsons academy.
Although different in age, disposition
and nationality from the rest of the
students he soon won their great re-
spect. Not only that but the poor
Finnish boy who could not yet talk so
that he could be understood with ease,
became power in the Olivet church.
Attendance upon the weekly prayer
meeting of the church had become
smaller and smaller and one Thursday
evening the question was raised
abandon the midweek meetings and
unite with the First Congregational
church for these meetings during the
inclement weather of the winter. Near
ly every member present had ex-
pressed himself strongly in favor of
this PLAN
Then the shabbily dressed, awkward
ho1finc
sentences in favor of not giving up
the midweek meet which ought to be
so dear to them. But these sentences
were so charged with earnestness they
converted everyone even those who
have spoken strongest in favor Of the
abandonment of the mid-week meet
ings and unite with the First Congre-
gatiOnal church for these meetings
during the inclement weather of the
winter. Nearly every member present
had expressed himself strongly in
favor Of this plan.
The motion was lost. One of
the leaders of the meeting, a man
whose fame is national, said after
wards that never in his life had he felt
so ashamed Of himself as he did that
night when Eckman sat down.
For the last few weeks it has been
noticed that Echman has been grow
ing weaker and weaker. Sometimes
he could scarcely drag himself to his
classes, but he resolved not to give up.
He had no money but what he earned,
he said, and could not give up. Finally
the college authorities took the mat
ter in their own hands and made him
see a doctor. When his verdict be-
came known about the campus, stu
dents and faculty of the old college
arose magnificently to the occasion.
Some who have witnessed college
haZing or witnessed the sharper, if
refined, torture which college students
sometimes inflict on their fellows I'M
der the name of teasing have declared
the college man has no heart. The
actions of the students and faculty of
Whitman college during the past three
days are alone sufficient to give the !
lie to this assertion.
Boys and girls gave the remainder
of that remittance from home Or the
price of that last cord of wood
chopped or carpet beaten and resolved
to stay at home from the next base
ball game. And when all the loose
change had been collected and it was
found that the $50 would not be enough
to send Eckman to Arizona" a COM
mittee of Whitmanites collected con-
tributions of $50 more from warm !
hearted citizens of Walla Walla.
And this was not all. Last night at
Billings, after dinner, a paper was
passed around among the boys It was
then the boys who had so little in COM
mon with Eckman, the Finn, Eckman
the ''old man.; Eckman the 'pOler and
grind"-each wrote a message of good
cheer and signed their name to it.; SO
that Eckman, their comrade, could read
them when he got to Arizona" and
know that they thought of him and
were wishing him well in his almost
hopeless fight against the grim de-
stroyer. And Eckman will read and as
he reads he will know that back in old
Whitman college there are the finest
fellows in all the world