Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-01-30
WOODROW
WILSON
The Story of His Life
From the Cradle to
the White House
By WILLIAM BAYARD HALE
Copyright. 1911. 1872 by Doubleday. Page

glory He entered eagerly into IFS ira
ditions and became almost Immediate.
~ one Of its leading spirits. To read
ing and writing day and night upon
his favorite themes he began to add
practice in elocution. One of his class,
mates troubled with weak throat,
who was sent down to Potter's woods
to practice exercises, often saw Wilson
in another part of the woods declalm-
ing from n volume Of Burke. ON va
cations he was known to spend good
deal OF time reading aloud and de.
claiming In his fathers church Mt VIII
mington. Another debating society or
ganized by Wilson himself. called the
Liberal Debating club. was fashioned
after the British parliament.
Wilson does not appear as n great
prize winner However, he did score
as second sophomore orator In the Wing
Hall contest and was one of the lit
erary men Of the class. an Grafton
on Golden and an essay on Lord
Chatham being especially recorded.
Connected with the two big prizes OF
the college are two stories which throw
light upon Wilson's character ms stu
dent The English literary prize Of
S125 his classmates thought that VII
son might easily win, but when he
learned that to compete meant to spend
time studying Ben Jonson and two
plays of Shakespeare he refused to &C
into II. saying he had no time to spare
from the reading that interested him
The other big prize, that OF the
Lynde debate. had been founded the
year OF Wilson's entrance to college.
and he had undoubtedly looked for
ward to winning II throughout nj
course. The Lynde was an extern
poraneous discussion participated In
by three representatives from each of
the two halls. The halls representa-
lives were thus chosen, a subject was
proposed by committee, and cnndi-
dates were required to argue on e.
Their side. ms was determined by lot
BY universal consent Wilson was now
the star debater of the Whlg society,
He was quite In class by himself,
and there was no doubt In anybody's
and win the prize. The subject for
the preliminary debate In Wing Hall
was "Free Trade Versus Protection"
Wilson put his hand into the hat and
drew out slip which required him to
argue In favor Of protection" He tore
up the slip and refused To debate He
was convinced and passionate free
kra nnihtn,r IN
swore. would induce him to advance
arguments In which he did not be
iieve.
1t will not be supposed that life was
all work even for this rather serious
minded youth.
Princeton was famous for the pranks
OF Its students. On one occasion they
had taken n donkey to the cupola OF
Nassau hall. Every class considered
itself disgraced unless 1t had made
way with the clapper of the college
bell. The rs class wore the mortar
board; the '79's did not. Wilson ridi-
culed 'TS's headgear
Wilson lived first at the house of
Mrs. Wright One of his classmates,
Bob McCarter, who also lived at Mrs.
Wrights. tells of certain evening
when the two were engaged in viii
sons study In quiet game of euchre.
a forbidden pastime In those days.
On the table, as 1t happened, lay Bi-
BILE. knock was heard Mt the door.
McCarter swiftly swept the cards out
or sight under the table and went To
the door. Before he opened 1t he turn
ed his head for moment. the thought
flashing over him that the conscien.
dous Wilson might have put the cards
back In plain view ON the table. But
what he saw was--Wilson reading the
Bible.
At this time 1t Is recorded that he
weighed 1856 pounds and stood five feet
eleven.
While without particular inclination
az ability In athletics and while back
l. ,o-9 athletics did not play the part
IA college life that II now plays. Wood
row Wilson was n leader In the encour,
agement of sports and in $50 was
president of the athletic committee. Mt
ton.
His classmates and schoolmates con
cur In describing the college lad MS n
fellow OF dignity. yet perfectly demo
cratic. The picture is that of youth
of unusual mental and moral maturity
IA well poised fellow. never roiSter-
err, yet always fun of life and inter
ested In everything that was going on.
He was popular-of that there can be
no doubt. The young man had a Ger.
tain charm of manner and sweetness
of soul that forbade anybody's dislik-
ing him, although he was generally
felt to be IA little above the crowd
He never belonged to Il clique. He was
normal college boy, not a prig nor Il
dig" nor grind" hut II nesi:av.