Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-01-05
Most Valuable Experience.

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Quite as entertaining is Ills descrip-
ton Of another period OF his early ca
reer:
After l was graduated from college /
obtained clerkship in the Brownsville
bank. My father had died, and what
property he left went to my mother II
was necessary for me to 20 TO work. /
remained In the bank q year, received
800 and saved 5000. which was enough 20
pay my way into my profession. stud
led and lived on $25 q month for two
years l sought a place In the bank to
earn money; but, better than money,
entered into the most valuable experience
OF my life. / learned how to meet busi-
ness men, all about bookkeeping and com
mercial paper and how and why notes
and drafts go to protest. After l began
to practice law l never had to call on q
bookkeeper to explain entries, trial bal
ances or the technical details OF his ac-
counts to me. l could study a set of
books and understand them. Every young
lawyer can't be clerk In a bank. but he
should obtain a thorough knowledge of
the underlying principles Of business and
OF bookkeeping. The more he knows
about such things the better
els there any advantage with the boy
who Is poor7" inquired his listener.
Yes. but 1t il hard to make him believe
that he has been favored by circum-
stances l am well pleased that had to
work and that i narrowly missed being
the son OF a rich man. My grandfather
Scotch-Irish Episcopalian, Joined the
Methodist society within his own denom-
nation. Coming to this country, he was
sent into western Pennsylvania eastern
Ohio and Virginia TO preach. He rode cir
cult urtil he was eighty years old, ex-
horting and doing much good. The first
Methodist church In Pittsburg was built
with funds he collected am told he
sven did some Of the work Of construc-
ton with his own hands He was an eco
nomical and prudent man and In course
Of time saved little money. There was
q farm across the river from Pittsburg
and some village lots In Ohio. My grand
father bought the lots, and they are about
as valuable today. l suppose. as they
were then. The city Of Allegheny was
built on the farm. have often thought
that my grandfather left me q better leg
acy than he imagined. am satisfied that
1t was well learned the printers trade,
that my expenses at college were no more
than $50 year and that earned the
money with which to study law
Horses His Friends.
Mr.. Knox has always been a lover
Of good horsehesh, and his horses are
his friends. He has risked his life
with them on a number Of occasions,
going with them to save them from
Injury when It seemed certain death
rather than abandon them to save
himself.
On one occasion, shortly before he
became attorney general, ne was driv-
ing his famous pair Of registered trot-
tiers in the suburbs Of Pittsburg. It
was a cold, crisp morning. and the
spirited animals were in fine fettle.
They were bowling along the road at
2:20 gait when a reckless driver
tried 10 pass Mr.. Knox In his effort
to do 30 he whipped his horses into q
run and went by the high bred trot-
tiers Of Mr.. Knox like a whirlwind.
hourishing his whip and shouting like
q demon.
He repeated this performance until
Mr.. Knox was no longer able to hold
In his horses. They left their feet and
ran away. They went down the bou-
Ievard at terrific speed, and the light
road wagon was not even heavy
enough to steady them Mr. Knox
could not pull them down.
He had to let them run, and be did
30 for several miles, but as lie neared
the city and saw the certainty Of their
being killed by running into the net
work Of street cars and trucks his
mind began to work quickly and calm
Iy In finding a way to save his horses.
He knew. as a fact, that there was
stone pile by the side Of the road near
the railroad crossing. and be knew By
instinct that the horses would not run
into that stone pie even II be tried to
pull them that way. but would shy
and Oyertarn the wagon with him N
H. He reasoned surely and acted
quickly. As he Deared the stone pils
be pulled the frAGhtSn@4 h01@As ~