The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-24

and also made our Ink. I remember that
she taught US elementary grammar and
arithmetic without the help Of textbooks
At recess she would call her active pu-
pills around her-of whom I was one
and tell them stories from English his
tory I was eager to learn and never
missed any Of her lectures. Indeed,
was favored. generally. above all the rest,
even If Mary Dillon whipped me every
day for fighting. One day she thrashed
me three times. When she punished me
I always got another whaling at home.
However, I gave her no trouble when I
was physically present in school. My out
side performances We're those of which
she complained
During vacations l went to Mary Dill
| Ions house every Saturday morning and
/ reclted special lessons in arithmetic.
grammar, and history. The Mexican war.
/ ending In 1S4S. was followed by a food Of
sensational tales of blood and adventure
dime novels. as they were termed at
/ later day In some manner 1 got hold
! OF a paper covered book called The Maid
/ of the Chaparral' II was a stirring
story, In my opinion. and contained the
/ picture of a beautiful girl holding a flag
| in one hand a big pistol in the other
/ Il was my first taste of fiction, and /
! bore it in pride TO Mary Dillon. She took
/ one scornful look al the cover, at the
maid herself, you understand, and then
threw the book in the fire After hearing
! my lessons she had me name the mon
H.os,-
Betters Her Condition.
There were two sons in the Dillon
family, one Of whom did odd jobs here
and there and wore newspapers around
his feet instead of stockings; but Mary
was the real man of the household.
Finally. they came into a little Irish in
heritance, and Mary bought better farm
in another county. Several men wanted
to marry her. but they were unlettered
and rough, and she looked upon them as
being no better than hObos. She lived
until after I was elected TO Congress,
and one summer 1 took her on a visit to
Winnipeg. where she attended a theateT
for the first time The next day we
called on the Catholic bishop at her re-
quest Until then l had never known
her religion; had not thought of IL as a
boy, supposing. if I supposed anything
at all. that she was a Lutheran, like the
rest OF US. She aroused my desire to
obtain an education. and I shall always
venerate her memory"
"At the age OF fifteen you attended an
academy at Albion?" I said.
Eyes. In the meantime. however. We
had left the sandy waste that had beer
our home and moved to Dane County
near the village of Deerfield. which is
east of Madison, the State capital.
wanted TO attend school, but had NJ
plans. The Seventh-day Baptists had ar
academy at Albion. sixteen miles distant
/ walked there and interviewed the prin.
clpal. I want an education, / said. 'bui
I have no money Undoubtedly I wa:
a strengthening youngster. My clothe:
had been made by my mother, the
trousers being so short that they mag
nified the size Of my feet and my rust,
cowhide boots. The man TO whom
talked laughed good-naturedly at my
candor and personal appearance. tellinl
me 10 come along when 1 was ready anC
he would put me to work currying horse:
and saving wood
Spent Three Years There.
''When I went away. as he told M
after@ard, he thought he would never
see me again. IN that he was mistaken
! He didn't know Knute Nelson. I re
turned IN December and Senator Nelson
| laughed so hard that be all but choked