The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-04
DAD AND son STUDY
FATHER FHEsHMAN; HEIR 4
"soPH" IN GAME COLLEGE.
they Meet In Glass Rush In Missouri
i institution and Younger Loses
His shirt-EIder an Ath.
iete and Frisky.


Columbia, Mo.--Earl Van Natta is a
sophomore at-sMissourl State univer-
sity. His father, Elmer Ellsworth Van
Natta, is a freshman, and what this
scion will do to his dad, with the re-
membrance of lickings in childhood
ever paramount, will be a caution ana
a-plenty.
Already the younger Van Malta as a
sophomore has aided In compelling
the governor" to discard his hat and
don one of the dinky little freshman
caps, according to the edict issued re.
Gently by the upper classmen. A
strange sight It was for the gray.
haired Van Natta to go about adorned
in such headgear, but he realized both
the necessity and propriety of acquies
ccnce. Moreover, he got even with
his young hopeful a few days later,
when the class rush came.
Daddy" Van Natta lined up with
.he freshies, and the kid" with the
sophs, and when the smoke cleared
away there stood the old man, waving
three-fourths of his heirs shirt.
Papa Van Natta did not succeed In
reaching the pennant at the top of a
lamp post, but he did not waver in the
line until the banner had been hauled
down by one of Earls classmates.
Because dad didn't reach the pin
nacle was not because he is not ath
letic, for he goes in for gym" work
three times a week, and hits only the
high places in cross-country runs
And II anybody thinks The old man
brings up the rear--well, he's got an.
other think coming. He is afraid to
tackle football, but is rooter of the
first water.
Dad witnessed the shirt-tail parade
the other day. He did not participate;
his wife Is in town. Earl, though, was
in line, well up toward the front.
The elder Van Malta is A years old
and prematurely gray. His son will be
20 years old on November 90.
The father was student In the
academic department of the state uni
versity 23 years ago. He returned to
his home in Audyain county and Cupid
stepped in and ended his school days
for more than decade. His bride was
graduate of Stephens college, Col
umbia, whom he met while at the uni
versity. Last summer he concluded to
finish his education and matriculated
at the agricultural department Of the
university. Earl is in the same de
partment Mr.. Van Natta, Sr., inte ids
to complete the four years course. He
has rented his fine 200-acre farm five
miles from Vandalia, Mo- Mrs. Van
Malta is now in Columbia. The family
will live here until father and son have
been graduated.
The elder Van Natta's class work Is
that of all freshmen "aggies." He
studies chemistry, whish is the bug
bear of all the students. He has been
doing "A" work in this since he was
enrolled The boys of his class often
come to his room for help. He is pro
ficient In botany, and in animal hus
bandry and stock judging he leads
the class. His long experience in
stock raising has made him an ex
pert.
II like all tho work." said Mr. Var
Natta. II try to be one Of the boys
and they treat me as such. l have
never yet missed meeting of the
students. One week was out three
nights in succession.
Halloween night ! was out to see
what the boys did. didn't help in any
Of the mischief done, but thought the
boys were not much to blame. The
next night | went to the barn.*armine
given by the farmers. | had one VI
the best times of my life.
Il believe the boys are more socl
able than they were 20 years ago.
know more boys after two months
stay here this time than did at the
end of my first year in 1884. Every
fellow was for himself in those days
II don't know just what kind o.
farming shall do when | leave here
I think that shall be better of fnan
cially by having come. left my farm
mostly in grass, so that its fertility
might be retained, have raised fine
thoroughbred chickens and at thu
worlds fair in st. Louis took hun
dred dollars in premiums against EN-
tries from the whole world.
II expect to buy a house In Colum
bia, near the university and the Bap
tist church, of whichI am mem
ber."