El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-25

for their nests, into fragments SO un-
recognizable that the treasury could not
redeem it.
Was Blow to Champ.
1t was dreadful blow. But was
Champ discouraged? Put the question
to that iron jaw which he wears in his
Photographic portraits. He had the jaw
then, just as now. Consequently, he
went to work, in the Kentucky back
woods school, and, supplementing his
earnings as a teacher with whatever
dollars he could acquire from other
sources, at length succeeded in putting
away enough TO enable him to enter
college.
At just about this time something
quite out of the ordinary happened a
very rich man of the neighborhood-
well known to be worth $4,000, or pos
sibly 000-offered to pay for
Champs college course. sUncle Billy"
as folks called him, was very liberal
minded; ne said that any college would
do. in Europe or America. The only con-
dition he made was that Champ should
become clergyman Most young
fellows, under such circumstances, eager
for an education, would have assented.
Champ declined. He said that ne must
preserve his independence; he would not
bind himself.
Without anybody's help, Champ man.
aged to enter Kentucky university when
he was IL years old, and promptly took
and held the first place in his class
Six years later he was graduated with
highest honOrs and a great reputation
for Greek at Bethany, W. Va. 1t had
been a long struggle; for, in order to
pay his college expenses, he was obliged
to keep on with teaching He would
teach school for a SPELL go back to col
lege, return to teachino again. and so
on, until he got through.
Were Character Builders.
Doubtless, however, these experiences
had much to do with the building of his
character. And, in the meantime he had
earned the respect of everybody who
knew him. Furthermore, his reputation
for scholarship was so high that on the
very day after graduation re received an
offer Of the presidency of Marshall
college, at Huntington, w Va Being
asked to make formal application for
the place, incidentally stating his quail
fications, he wrote: .sTo the trustees.
/ have just been awarded my diploma
at Bethany with highest honors l am
% years cd. 6 feet 2 inches tall, weigh
10 pounds, am unmarried, a Kentuekian
by birth, a Campbellite in religion, a
Democrat in politics, and a Master
Mason"
He got the place, thus becoming the
youngest college president on record, and
soon found that he had his hands full.
Many sof the students were older than
himself, and not few were indisposed
to submit to any kind of discipline
Champ felt no doubts, however, about
his ability to handle the problem. A
good deal OF hazing was going on, and he
made. up his mind to stop that right
away A boy who had his face painted
with lampblack, to make him a counter
felt OF a niger, recognized the four
young men who did the job, and gave
their names. Champ summoned the four
TO his office, and gave them the choice
OF three alternatives to apologize,
~ to resign. or 81 TO be thrashed by
Champ They apologized, and there was
no more hazing.
Had Legal Aspirations
But Clark, ever since he heard J. Proc
tor Knott address a jury, had wanted to
be a lawyer His original ambition, as
a boy, was to become a prizefighter, but
he got over that idea Soon firing of
the business of presiding over college,
he took a law course at the University
of Cincinnati, and then went to Wichita. |
kan., to practice. Unfortunately, there
was total lack of clients; and, after
for IL weeks on crackers and
cheese $50 he tells the story. he took
a fresh start and landed in the town of
Louisiana, in Pike county, Missouri.
Still the law did not prosper. Champ
was obliged to take up teaching again,
becoming the principal of school. But
his kind OF persistence was bound to
win, and before long he was city attor-
ney. Afterwards he became prosecuting
attorney of Pike county, and held the
Job four years, doing some lecturing and
farming Incidentally
On one occasion he was due to deliver
lecture at Clarinda, Ia. in the town
hall, and had hopes of getting. much
needed $50. But he had hardly reached
the place when a tornado came along
and picked up the town hall before his
very eyes, reducing it to kindling-wood
IN a few seconds and scattering It an |
over the neighborhood. This ruined the
lecture, because there was no other
place big enough to hold an audience.
Champ Clark has written: Il can't
back to a time when was not |
at hard labor OF some sort-on a farm, !
in a store. teaching school, practicing |
law, serving as a legislator The hap
piest hours OF my life were when I |
When | married and when NV !
children were born, the saddest when |
two of them died.
Champ a Born Teacher.
Like his father, Champ is a born |
teacher and lecturer. During recent sum- |
mers he has received $1,000 week for |
lecturing on Ohataueua circuits. Like !
his father, also, he is a great student of |
the Bible, and it has been said of him |
that he knows the book from cover to |
cover. He married the daughter of a |
Missouri planter, Genevieye Bennett. |
and has had -four children. That he
'poils his children he freely confesses-
lis recollection of the severe discipline of |