The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-12-29

Would you hear a simple story
about an orphan boy, UGeducated-
without means, without ambition. and
a young attorney and editor who had
just become assured of success in his
pTOfesSiOu2 Then listen. That man
had been left fatherIess and nenni-
less when a mere boy, bur he had by
his own eEeTtiOns on a farm managed
TO care for mother. brothers and sis
ter, and by study and reading and
reflection had educated and qualified
himself for the practice of the law.
The boy applied 10 the man for a 20
SiriOn as printer. He was nothing TO
/ the man. They were not related, nor
were there ties of friendship demand
/ ing Of the man an interest in the boy $
welfare. The boy knew not the mean
ing Of mhitiOn-was content to Sc
cure employment afOrding bare liz
/ ing merely, with never q thought Of
! success in a field higher than that OF
printer on a small country newspaper.
But the man knowing from experience
what might be accomplished even By
one without education or means f
he only could be induced to make the
effort. anxious TO aid and encourage
others. declined to employ the boy rs
a printer: told him the story of his
own success under difficulties similar
to and no less discOuraeinE than
those which beset the boy; and ap-
/ Tealing to the UnanbiriOu5 boy TO
make the effort, BY his fatherly advice
and encouragement fired the spark
cf ambition for higher things which
/ mad until that moment lain dormant
/ ii the breast Of the boy by advising
MIN 10 study law He knew the boy
! lacked education, and the boy FRANKLY
/ told him he was absolutely without
means to attend a law school or even
I to pay the expenses Of living while
/ reading in a private office, but the
man knowing from experience that
these difficulties, though apparently
iinsurmOUntabIe, could by proper eff
/ fort be largely overcome, would not
| listen to the suggestions of the boy,
lOfered to take him into his home,
/ teach him in his Office, all without
compensation. advancing the srecious
/ argument that the boys services il
/ the office would be ample recOmpense
+ for his board and tuition, in order
I that the boy might not feel that the
/ act was one Of mere kindness and
charity, and consented to advance to
the boy whatever he might need until
/ he should be admitted TO the bar, a
/ period estimated at two years. The
boy accepted the proposition, be
Z tttl4it a ltItELitFt'I vi tfif attlilN OF t1ti
manipulating of its joys, sharing
its sOrTOws-aud under the constant
I encouragement and fatherIy advice OF
thb man, bending his energies to the
accomplishment Of the task before
/ him, after 2 period Of eighteen months
was admitted to practice his profess
sion The man was ever kind to the
/ hoy. contributing CheeTfully and reg
UlaTly from one to two hours each
+ day to Dainstaking instruction, Hter-
/ airy and legal, SO necessary to qualify
+ the boy for the profession he had
chosen. and by precept and example
IordeavOred to teach him the value
/ of maintaining a good name and d
+ industry and attention to matters of
business intrUsted to him. That man
: was BENJAMIN Sullivan LddOn, OF
Mariana. Florida, who died on De
cember DIST. 1909. on the eve of the
] Christmas holidays.
Many regard this man great as a