Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-04-02

!.
Rev. Dr.. Thomas Woodrow, Maternal
Grandfather Of Woodrow Wilson.
of his work and his. "easy indiffer.
ence' to all subjects not directly In
line with his purpose. His business
in college apparently was to train his
mind to do what he wanted 1t to do.
and what he wanted it to do he knew.
He had already made himself prof.
cient In stenography, finding 1t Of
great value in making digests Of what
he read and quotations which would
otherwise have occupied him long. :.
Princeton was not then remarkable
in the teaching Of English. But the
men trained themselves in literary So
cieties. The body of the students was
divided into two "halls," so called Sc
cret societies, but really debating clubs
the American Wing society and the
Cliosophic society. Wilson belonged to
Wing Hall, an organization whose con-
stitution had been written by James
Madison. : =.
Here the young man was in his
glory. He entered eagerly into its 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 elocudon. One Of his class
mates troubled with a weak throat,
who was sent down to Potter's woods
to practice exercises, often saw Wilson
in another part of the woods declaim-
ing from a volume of Burke On va
cations he was known to spend good
deal of time reading aloud and de-
claiming in bis fathers church at Will
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 a 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 as stu
dent. The English literary prize Of
$125 his classmates thought that Will
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 go
into it, 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 1t throughout his
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 candi-
dates were required to argue on e.:
Their side, as was determined by lot.
By universal consent Wilson was now
the star debater Of the Wing society.
He was quite in a class by himself,
and there was no doubt in any body's
mind that he would represent the hall
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
trader, and nothing under heaven, he
swore, would induce him to advance
arguments in which he did not be-
neve -; II NJ. Il:
It will not be supposed that life was
all work even for this rather serious
minded youth. Il. >@... ss. r s. s
Princeton was famous for the pranks
Of Its students. On one occasion they
had taken donkey to the cupola OF
Nassau hall. Every class considered
itself disgraced unless it had made
way with the clapper Of the college
bell. The Is class wore the mortar:
board; the ISIS did not. Wilson ridi.
culed '78s headgear.. I. g." u. Il
Wilson lived first at the house OF
Mrs. Wright One Of his classmates
Bob McCarter, who also lived at Mrs
Wrfght's. tells Of a certain evening
when the two were engaged in viii:
sons study in q quiet game Of euchre
q forbidden pastime in those days
On the table, as it happened, lny BIZ
ble.- A knock was heard at the door
McCarter swiftly swept the cards out
Of sight under the table and went to
the door. Before he opened it 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-W' ilson reading the
Bible. .=...
At this time It Is recorded that ht
weighed 156 pounds and stood 1--WE Zee
eleven. =3sS E.s.
While without part cular inclination
or ability in athletics and while bacl
ins''75- 9 athletics did not play the par
II college life that J 1t now plays. Wood
Tow J tlIilson was 8 leader 81 the encour
'l.asement q sports and in .7e:9 wa