The Detroit times., 1912-03-18
RUSSIAN PEASANT RISES
I TO POSITION OF INFLUENCE
BY HIS UNTIRING WORK
Adelph Portraits, Graduate
From olivet, Wins Fame as
Sociologist in Chicago
FLED FROM NATIVE LAND
Tyrannical Methods There Made
Him Hunger For Freedom
n and Opportunity

OLIVET, Mich. March 1S.-To mold
the position Of dean Of the Chicago
university settlement school of ciu.
zenship. and to be recognized as
one Of the most prominent and con-
spicuous figures in settlement work
In Chicago. IL the distinction OF
Adolph Portraits. native Lithuanian
who graduated from oliyet college
last June.
u was In 1907 that this tall. awk-
ward. Russian peasant came to olivet
and with but little previous educs-
ttonal training, succeeded in four
years IN completing his college course
and was turned out last June the most
accomplished student in sociology and
political science that the institution
has ever graduated.
He was born in Lithuania in pow
erty. At the age OF IL he was APP
pointed by the Russian government
as customs officer on the Lithuanian
border. It was his duty to wiring IN
iust tRxes and duties from his coun-
trymen, and his experience In this ca
pacity has given him hatred Of Rus
sian tyranny. Revolving at the
thought OF being an agent to make
hin people suffer, he asked to be per
m1tted to resign. This request was
denied and obtaining a weeks leave
Of absence, he took his life in his
hands and during that week got just
a Tar from Russia as he possibly
could. He says that he did not at the
time know why he was so eager 10
leave family, friends, country and all
that he had ever known, but that
there was In his soul longing for
freedom and craving for knowledge
and enlightenment. Lying for days
ON the bottom of q merchant vessel
hound for New York, all but dying
from cold and hunger, this Russian
lad fought his way to America aud
freedom. Almost year was spent in
different parts of the east, and finally
he secured a position in a Grand
Rapids furniture factory. There an
old Olivet graduate saw In the home
ly Russian the making of valuable
man and he arranged that Portraits
should come to Oliyet-. -, --s-.--a
Portraits had thought a great deal
about the wrongs done to the work
ingman and believed that Socialism
would cure the laborers' problems.
HIS expressions, broken and poorly
expressed, gave his fellow students
the impression that he was an ex-
IRENE socialist and he was branded
The anarchist" and "nihilist," He
never cared to mix with his fellow
students aud practically all OF the
four years that he spent here was
given to his books in the dingy attic
in which he lived. He did not like
10 leave HIS room for fear that his
strange appearance and unframed
tongue would call forth sneers and
contempt Asked one day why he
did not associate more with his fell
low students, he said: People smile
and point their fingers when l go
along the street Here in my room
/ 1--WE with my books. They never
cnange, never sheer, nor laugh at me
or my mistakes, but are always my
willing and friendly companions"
Duke" as the students always
called the strange Russian, never par
ticipated in any OF the college social
functions and not once, during his
entire four years, did he attend an
athletic contest, although the field is
but a stones throw from his home.
Those who knew him best say that
he devoutly loved and lived with his
books and as a result there is no man
who has left Olivet in years SO we'll
trained In his chosen line Of work.
Portraits associates In Chicago
have learned to hold the former
OIivet man In the highest respect and
he IL known throughout Chicago's
settlement districts as THE maker OF
A m, erica No I"