The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-31

Ill prepared to take the position, I
had just begun to walk after a severe
sick spell and could scarcely sit at the
| printers case. L had even more than
the usual timidity, bashfulness, mex
perience, awkwardness and supersensi-
| tiveness of a youth of sweet sixteen.
| Then 1 knew that 1 would have con-
siderable class work to make up, as L
would start in late. Yet 1 thought it
would be a sin to ignore opportunity.
| (In those days 1 sadly confused reli-
gon with ambition and had ingalls,
poem on Opportunity down patti.
$50 I entered college at B. U. and
took the job-at ten cents per hour
which was to occupy my spare time
and pay expenses.
First Day.
ct will never forget the forlorn APP
pearance the old depot at Baldwin
not the handsome structure there now
presented, as 1 got off the train
about noon. January Is. in the midst of
drizzle. few wet individuals were
huddled on the platform. At the fur
Their end was a rough box.
"a friend of our family met me and
took me home with him to dinner. On
the way to his house we passed a
brick building. I thought it was the
high school building, but 1t was the
main college building. Since then sew
eral new additions have been added
to the college.
"By evening I had met my future
boss at the office, had been enrolled
in college and had arranged for board
and room. I enrolled in Freshmen
English, Latin and higher physiology.
The English class met only twice a
week. the classes in the latter subjects
every school day. We were supposed
to put in two hours a day studying
these subjects, so I thought that with
back work to make up and every after
noon occupied with printing, I would
have just about enough with the three
subjects.
"a newly-made acquaintance. a
senior named Johnson, 1 think, loaned
me his physiology text as he had no
further use for it. He would accept no
pay. I was so surprised and over
1oyed that I Immediately fell in love
with B. U. and all connected there
with. When the other expenses were
paid I had about $500 left.
Homer Hoch There.
Another very pleasant young man
met was Homer Hoch, the son of ex-
Governor Hoch. He was then a senior,
/ believe. in the college. He had been
empoyed in the office where / was to
work. He is now editor of the Marion
Record. In college he was good stu
dent and very popular.
Across the hall from my room was
Mr.. Baker. the son of ex-Congress-
man VIM. Baker from Lincoln county.
Mr.. Baker, jr., was as pleasant a young
man as you ever meet, always kind
hearted and accommodating.
81 wish I could say as much for my
roommate. The evening of my arriv-
al, in unpacking, I came across g
stamp safe, the parting gift of friend
the Episcopal minister of my home
| town. Although we are not Episcopal
ians, 1 was very proud of the gift. as
tho mail ndnCafnd q nd
cultured He had carried the stamp
safe through his college days and
wanted me to keep it as a remem-
brance of him.
"As my roommate had noticed the
token, I mentioned the circumstances
He narrowed his eyelids.
"'An Episcopal he exclaimed
You might as we'll not belong to any
church as to the Episcopalians.'
Il turned away and looked out OF
the window at the falling snow and
gathering dusk. Bill Black. (To be
continuedl.