The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-10
STERLING CELT At
SKOWHEGAN
Visits Children in Land
of Opportunity
Career Striking Example of Man Ris.
ing Above Environment.

One of the most interesting and
remarkable men who have ever come
to Skowhegan is Jacob Morris from
the valley of the Ceiriog, Glyn, North
Wales. who is now visiting his son
Rev. Robert Morris at the parsonage
of the Church on the Hill. Consid-
ering his birth and environment in
that secluded place seventy years
ago, his subsequent achievements
make the records of some of our
American self-made men look com
monplace. Public schools at that
time were unknown to the Welsh,
and Jacob Morris grew to manhood
and married without having learned
to read, write or speak English. To-
day he is one of the leading men of
his community, a preacher for the
Wesleyans there, and draws a special
pension from the great Prudential
Insurance Company of London, for
his long and meritoriOus service as
an agent.
Quarrying slate is the principal in
dustry in the valley of the Ceiriog.
and Jacob Morris began working IN
the big pits as soon as he could do
anything useful, and continued for a
good many years. But the thirst for
knowledge oyercame all obstacles,
and seizing every opportunity that
crossed his path, he gradually learn
ed to read All through the years
when he was rearing his large fam
lily he kept on improving his mind
and by the time he was 40 qualified
for the position of agent with the
Prudential. With the change to this
congenial occupation his mental
growth ctatinued more rapidly than
before, and his acquaintance with
current events today is decidedly
ahead of the average Americans.
To an interviewer he talked most
intelligently and interestingly about
the intricacies of the famous Lloyd
George bugdet, and the political revo-
luton now progressing through Par
! lament He knew all about the stu
alton in Morocco, enthused over Pres
! ident Taft's efforts in behalf of inter.
naional arbitration, and commended
Canadian Reciprocity. Neither wat
his viewpoint that of the casua
newspaper reader, but rather of tn
sociologist, interpreting current event
with reference to the world-wid
| struggle between human rights an
special privilege,
Jacob Morris is the proud father o
ii children, and their geographical
distribution is no small tribute tC
their paternity. Richard c. Morris
lives in Alaska, Frank and Benjamin
in Vancouver, Edward in San Fran
cisco, George in Millinocket, Robert
in Skowhegan, Luther in No. Nassal-
boro, Mrs. Catherine Jones in Lowell
Mass, Mrs. Margaret Newcombe and
I AlIS. ElIllld NlOl ID III N{ulhNN +'ht'1fF''
Mrs. Maria Jones in Wilkesharre
I Pa, and Griffith Albert and Rose n
Bridge End, South Wales. The wise
father of the foregoing understood
how the system of land tenure II
/ Great Britain closed the door OF op
! portunity in the face of his children
and led them to make their homes
elsewhere.
To illustrate the conditions whicl
confronted the young man of Wales
Mr.. Morris cited the case Of an acrt
farm one mile from town that ha!
just been sold for $1,000. Good lanC
rents for $40 per acre per year ant
the ordinary grade for $40. Take
were levied upon the rental of tn
property, and in many cases amount
ed to nearly one-half. The owner
of the great estates who kept thei
lands in comparative idleness, pai
practically no tax at all, until the re
| pent adontion of the Ilovd Budpei