Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-12

Copyright 1900 Rights Reserved
- THROUGHOUT the land the children hear the
story Of Abraham Lincoln studying by the
light of a blazing pine knot, struggling to
get an education, and not long before his
death he wrote to friend that to a worn set
of Jacob Abbotts Histories am indebted for about
all the historical knowledge possess"
When the inspiring story is told it ends with the
statement that things very different eighty odd
years ago, when Lincoln a boy lay sprawled on
the floor portng borrowed books while the
pine knot aared in the fireplace. Different are they?
am about to tell what they to-day in the very
region and among the very same mountaineer pioneer
Revolutionary stock from which the Hankses and
Lncolns sprang.
1t was only ordinary booklet through which
found out little cheaper paper and little cbeaper
printing perhaps than most booklets, and turned it
over indierently until certain lines caught NV eve
and felt my heart tighten and throb curiously 1t
was DR.. John S. Allen, OF the Marble Collegiate
Church, New York City, who gave it to me. 1 read
on carefully, and a great wave of sympathy and
something akin to anger possessed me.
1t merely the statement of the mountain born
president of mountain college to the young noun
taineers who were his students might become his
students and not intended for eyes the eyes
others in the outside world; but l wanted to take
that shoddy book into the big university clubs In
NeW 1OrK ClLy ana thrust 1t under the of a
thousand men knew and ask them, remembering
how got education and what campus days
meant to u.s. to read and compare, with shame and
modification Said the book
'By careful economy-the tuition is free-no stu
dent pays anything for instruction, but Ito meet the
expenses of rent, library repairs, &C. students do
however pay small incidental fee of five and six
dollars per term
"These rooms are lighted and heated and furnished
wit mat Uvardr ola
and the larger with washstand and dresser
Other furnishings must be brought provided by
the student Every student should provided
with two Sheets two pillow cases, covers towels
a pillow, napkins, overshoes and an umbrella.
Board in Avery Hall costs the young ladies about
$3.50 per month Board in Grant-Lee Hall costs the
young about ST. per month. The food is of good
quality, well cooked and abundant, but without luxu-
ries"
For the Very Poor.
And below those other lines l read the provisions
for those too poor to enjoy the haute monde life at
22c. day in Avery or Grant-Lee.
For those who wish different accommodations, a
third boarding hall is conducted the University
grounds.
"All students who wish 20 pay a good part of their
expenses in manual laboy must prepared to pay
in cash in produce a terms ncidentas three
months room rent and months board. After this
payment the students who Industrious and willing
to work be able to pay all further school expenses
by labor"
In the few years since the old Harrow School, &
Cumberland Gap, Tenn, became Lincoln Memorial
University its student body has grown till its build
ings bulge with seven hundred boys and girls, and
there is a waiting list of fourteen hundred up
the mountains willing to pay for education in
potatoes and work Fourteen hundred white Amer-
can boys and girls who want an education that badly
and denied it. That the thought that made
me angry
With new thoughts and emotions burning like fire.
turned the pathetic signs of the struggle that light
IN the hills is making shine throughout the land and
ut later day good fortune brought to the foot of
the fame that l might for myself.
For hours the train had rocked and roared through
the mountain passes and down the Southern
along the exquisite Powell River Valley and last
drew up before the stained and ancient station at
Cumberland Gap The breath of the mountains smote
me In the face Around carts. mules. tall men
In jeans, women in calcoes and gaunt dogs, picture