Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-11
Mr.. j. e. SWEARINGEN.
Hon. John j. McMahan's Estimate of
the New Superintendent.

The following, published as an ad
vertisement during the campaign, b!
Mr.. John ]. McMahan, former super
| intendent of education, continue!
worth while to those who are inter
ested in knowing about Mr.. j. e
Swearingen, the blind man who ha:
been elected to the office of state SUI
perintendent Of education:
To the Editor of The State:
Your publication today of a contri'
button from a Mr.. EtchiSon, arguing
against Mr.. Swearingen that his blind
ness incapacitates him for the dutie:
of state superintendent Of education
1ustifies my recital Of few facts ir
refutation of this view. The full de.
tails of Mr.. Swearingens life would
make a wonderful story of divine
providence and human achievement
surprising romance.
Accidentally shooting out his eyes
when a large boy (after his mind had
been stored with the facts Of the WIS.,
ible world as they come into the life
of a country boy), he was selected by
his father as the beneficiary of small
life insurance policy, designed to pro-
tect him against pauperism, which
might overtake one blind, and there
fore supposedly helpless. Upon the
early death of mis- father, the boy
(full Of confident courage and high
ambition born Of unusual genius) de-
termined to invest his small patrimony
in a college education. Not content
with completing the course In the
school for the blind at Cedar Spring
he came to the South Carolina col
lege, undeterred by the universal ad-
vice that he was attempting the i'm
possible He felt the divine call to do
mans work. He alone knew the
power within him-a mind to sur
mount all difficulties and perform
miracles.
At the state college, where no pro-
vision or exception was made for his
peculiar situation, he soon proved his
ability to hold his own, asking no ia
vors. Those who regarded his admis-
sion as an experiment came to compre-
hend that with him there was never
reason to doubt his ability to do with
greatest efficiency what he undertook
The faculty Of the college hesitated to
allow him to take up the study of
physics, the professor, Maj. Sloan, say
ing that this subject taught by dem
DnStratiOnS in the laboratory, could not
be pursued by a man without eyeSight
However, permitting him to try, this
noble hearted professor soon reported,
by George. I found he could see more
than those who had eyes" His power
full mental vision, with his store of
childhood recOllections of colors and
FORMS enabled him to see in imagina-
ton, and, seeing, he understood.
In higher mathematics he was a
marvel. He went through the longest
and most complex demonstrations of
geometry and trigonometry with easy
mastery. 1t taxed the professor to
keep up with him. as his mind rested
on no part, but saw the whole in one
mental grasp.
His taste. however, ran still more to
history and the science Of government.
He was soon a brilliant orator, speak
ing profoundly on the philosophy of
politics and eloquently for the rights
If man. He was also a leader in the
Y. NJ. G.. A. work. and an eXemplar Of
Christian manhood.
Fellow students kindly served as
reader for him in the preparation Of
the mOrrow's lessons and soon learned
tn value and eagerly seek a companion
ship in study which gave them the
benefit Of his luminous explanations.
Thus he went through college, with
first honor in an able class. Men be-
gan to argue that blindness is an ad
vantage. promoting the concentration
Of thought and the development Of pure
mind
1t can not. therefore. be feared that
Mr. Swearingen's blindness will pre-
vent his measuring up to the fullest
requirements Of the office Of state su-