The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
MANY LOCATIONS LISTED IN SCHOOL Boys Work Way Through the
 University BIRMING NGHAM BOYS NERVE Reaches College With 60 Gents But Finds Way to Enter and Pay
 Expenses of Securing the
 4 University Course.
BIRMINGHAM BOYS NERVE
By SAM CLABAUGH.

reports are represented in the employ ment found by an increasing contingent of university students who are working their way through college.
 T am working my way through col lege," is the simple explanation of the often peculiar, sometimes humble, tasks that occupy college students between lectures and during the summer vacation,
 Whether or not the self4sustained stu dent was formerly to be found only at the great universities in the large cities, figures compiled from last years roll of students at the University of Alabama show that at least 20 per cent of the un- dergraduate body were on their own re- sources-either working their way by spare time employment or else using funds accumulated during vacation.
 In this class are some who came to the university with not enough capital to pay weeks board. Others, although from wealthy families wish to supplement the allowance of an exacting parent with enough additional income to provide some of the little luxuries, and small colony there is composed of men who are sup porting their wives and children and af- fording them also the opportunity of a university education.
 No Social ostracsm.
 The most encouraging and hopeful fact about this large class of self-supporters is that they suffer no social ostracism. What lines may be drawn in the society of the college community do not regard the amount or source of ones income. In fact a list of the students who are mak- ing their college education pay for itself would include not a few names of social and political prominence In Alabama
 It was a Birmingham boy, who, coming to the university last year for the first time exploited its money-making possi- bilties to the greatest advantage. So far from having help from his family and other relatives, he lacked even their encouragement, and his bold effort to go to college was in defiance of their advice and instructions. Without any promise of work. loans. or help of any kind. he stepped from train in the rush of the opening last fall. He gained an audience with the president the first day and told him he needed a loan and employment that would make it possible for him to repay that loan while in college. The president asked him just how much he needed and almost swooned at the reve-
 
 boy left Birmingham with s2 but had spent $1. 40 for his railroad fare. He can didly advised him to wait until he had somewhat brighter prospects, for the stu dent who works his way through college, he said, is engaged in a four years strug- gle. Without capital. without borrowed money, without work, and even without promises this 6-foot prodigy, related to prominent Birmingham family, had a. discouraging beginning. But the strange feature of 1t was that he alone saw noth- ing dismal in the outlook
 Finally Makes Loan.
 He was finally allowed a few days of grace before being required to pay his fees, etc., and before the expiration of that time he had secured a loan of $100 and enough work to enable him to return 1t and pay other expenses as they wore incurred. He found man with a. small set of books that he could attend to in odd hours. He got a position as time- keeper on one of the construction jobs about the university, which took him but a few minutes three times a day. He found two freshmen who needed coaching in a subject which he knew something about, and from to 10 o'clock each night he bored over their books with them. In a short time he had his work so systematized that his three jobs al- lowed him ample time for reading and study, and before long he was using his spare time in the agency for a popular brand of shoes.
 On a pretty green knoll just back of the main buildings of the university is a little group of cottages owned by the university, each with Just enough adja- cent ground to allow incidental farming Here are number of university students most of them men with families, who supplement the income from the farm" ~xvfk 1, -1- p.z- ing table board to some half dozen uni versity students. One of the men who last year was a prominent member of this little colony on the hill is now prac- ticing law in Birmingham with a fair de- gree of success, having disposed of 27 cases last month.
 One Boys Idea.
 Probably the most unusual employment ever secured by college student was the position that one wide-awake boy last year made serve several purposes. Learn ing of a prominent Tuscaloosian with a literary bent and failing eye-sight, he proposed to read to him two hours every evening. The offer was accepted. The walk to and from his patrons home was this students daily exercise, and the reading served his own needs as well as that of his limited audience. And this particular student was no more than an ordinary reader. He attempted no elo- cutionary frills and read just as would any one with a fair education. It suf- feed to pay his board bill, however, and gave him two hours of daily diversion and valuable training.
 These unusual cases were familiar to many of the students and professors, and were it necessary or adviseable the names could be given in each instance
 Tourists Go West. The University of Alabama was well represented in the westward flood of tour ists this summer. The students did not however, belong to touring parties or fol- low the crowds on the cheap excursions The adventurous college boy holds in con tempt anything so void of novelty and excitement Instead they followed un- used trails, some selling books, some peddling stereoptican outfits, some help- ing to harvest bumper western crops and get in training for football, and some simply ''bumming' and doing the best | they could. Many less adventurous spirits engage in | employment that if not so original Is just | as remunerative. A number teach sum- | mer schools during vacation and tutor | during the winter months Of course :
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