The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-05

that his children might be taught.
When Champ was old enough to go to
school his father signed three schol-
ars" in order 10 make OUT enough to
secure teacher.
From the beginning Champ was an
industrious pupil. He learned rapidly
and was always on the lookout that
his little sister should have the best
Of everything. lie was recognized as
Il genius in ma thematics. and on one
occasion astoundcd his teachers and
fellow pupils By adding three columns
Simultaneously.
After Champ had mastered reading
TO a certain extent lie struck bar
gain with one Of Ills old neIghbors
who could not read. The contract was
that the old man should take the
louisville Journal and that Champ
should read TO him all the news OF the
DAY. While reading the markets, the
price OF tobacco, hemp and cattle
palled upon him, but he stuck 10 his
contract.
Ills father taught Champ in gym
nastics and in his reading and writing.
for the little follow At the age OF
eleven Champ had read "Washn & on
and His Generals, Napoleon ana Ills
Marshals.' n child'S history Of Europe.
Asia, Africa, North and South Ameri-
ca, and had memorized the '.Dccl ara :
ton OF Independence"
In 1861 Champs father moved to
Mackville, where there was a large
school. Champ and his sister were in
classes with children much older than
themselves. They were In the Mack
Vile school for TWO years
That Champ Clark was a born poll
tician and speaker was shown at
this old country sclioolhouse. There
was picnic one day and no old peo-
pie present. IT was after an urgent call
had been made BY the government for
volunteers TO the Union army, and as
the children played about the grounds
beneath the shadows Of the mprovsed
platform that some one suggested that
Il real speech be made. The older boys;
then went into executive session and
unanimously selected Champ Clark as
speaker Of the day. He refused but
the honor was pressed upon him willy
nilIy.
Standing upon the platform from
young men Of the country to serve in
the Civil War against .he South in
a burst Of eloquence he quoted the
lines Of Daniel Webster, beginning
when my eyes shall be turned for the
last time to behold the sun in heaven
may not sec Him shining on the
broken and dishonored fragments OF
once glorious Union"
BY this time the country was con
vnlscd by the throes OF the Civil War
The school was broken up and Champ
returned to the farm. Through manual
labor lie developed the body which
gave him his powerful physique. After
WORKING on the farm he worked for A
| while as a clerk In a country store in
order TO obtain money to pay for a
college education.
! When only fifteen he began tea aching
when he was offered his first school
| he was told that three Yankee teach.
ers had tried TO teach there but in
| each instance had been run out Of The
county by the older pupils There were
two factions in the school-the Dcatons
and the Dcvincs Undaunted, cbnmr
, took the job
On the opening day, as matter OF
rrccantion. he took a brace Of hugo
navy rcvolvers with him to the school.
| house With apparent heightened
| Champ hung them on q convenient pcc
/ by his desk and called the roll.
| Trouble among the students began
and as a,result Champ thrashed abou
! n dozen and a half or the strappins
iDevine boys The next DAY while Ii,
(, was standing In the doorway one q
the Devines rode up in front OF tn,
ldoor, about 100 yards away and free