Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-02
4SSERXlNGRECORDS or THE SIGNING
a1EfEDECIARATION or INDEPENDENCE

5hSgScyeFe1ard them one evening plan-
ninxsSt0 apprentice hirnsto the old
All t6ls de6dre D book. learning
flooded Chayles,s mind, and this, con-
tra4eed with = future made up Of an
sexistence spent before the forge OF 8
sblacksmithss shop. soon decided him.
IN the dead Of night he fled, running
away from New Castle AZ fast AZ his
energetic legs would carry him.
Fortunately, these legs carried him
IA q safe direction with Q lady trav-
eling to her home on the outskirts Of
New Castle. Upon seeing such haste
manifested BY 9 boy OF about l6, she
no hesitancy in telling her the whole
story, w~hereupon she asked him. II q
sblacksmith's life was 10 d~istatteful
what he would choose for himself. The
answer came promptly and emphattcal-
~. He would choose for himself the
HE OF q scholar n who made his way
by brain n PEN.
So delighted was the lady with this
reply that she took the boy home with
her and later sent him to school. This
was he turning point in the life OF
Charles Thomson, the point where his
career flowed from the brook and man
"a labor into the broad stream OF an
intellectual future. It raj this which
was the beginning the end OF which was
to be Charles Thomson, secretary OF the
continental congress.
And Thomson overlooked no oppor-
tunity IN the way Of gaining knowledge.
" IS said OF him that coming across q
Few stray pages Of the Spectator. he
was 80 charmed with them that he de-
cided that he must own the volume.
10 Q this, however, necessitated q trip
70 Philadelphia. which he made, walk
ffnU Rfhnrn a nj In IL 4, - 4 ,H---a
tnat ne would o be late at school the
following morning. On another occa-
sion 1t Is said Of him that he went
g considerable distance to visit q man
ne was not acquainted with in order
70 ask II he might borrow certain
Greek and Latin books in his library.
Ills education waS obtained at the
New London Academy. under Dr..
Francis Allison, who was induced to ac-
cept MN as q pupil. the tutor OF so
many men Wild afterward left their Inn
press Upon the events OF that time, 1t
5eems g city that the lady who thus
gave such an opportunity for
realizing his dreams should receive
oniy little credit, but no record has been
name. SO
AT the New London academy Thorn
son specialized on Greek and Latin.
Tor which he developed an abnormai
love. although his brightness along All
iines soon won him the respect Of DR..
Allison It was here. too, that he be-
came acquainted with Benjamin Frank
nn, an acquaintance which soon ripened
INTO friendship, as attested BY the a :
that upon leaving the academy It WAS
upon F'ranklin's recommendation that
thomson secured q professorshin ~
Greek and Latin ina Friends school.
II During the time he val a teacher he
also wrote article on various subjects.
Z majority of which were printed in
paper. In this way sThom-
IONS learning and ability began to Re-
known among the people Of Rhtiadel-
phia. Principal among the topics with
which he dealt In his articles were
9 on the Indians. His interest in
sWel1are 81. the Indians was marked.
and@the just and truthful d IN
when ne with them led to his
40option by. the Delawares in 1856.
They gave him the name Of Man az
lTuth," This interest and knowledge
concerning the Indians later led to his
ppointmen ~ . commissioner anon
Inoynson remained a tutor OF Latin
2 Greek In the Friends school until
Typ. nay1ng been there five years. He
after g couple 81 years. becoming an n.
struct9r In what was later known an
William Penn Charter school IN
Philadelphia. He gave up this posi-
lion I 1850 and entered the mercantile
business. becoming an importer Of hats
= other wearing apparel.
y was during this time that the
lamp act went Into effect, and feeling
its Influence upon his trade, he be-
came more than ever q believer In the
1reedOm#Of the colonies Has alec tonI.
inactive interest IN preventing John
Hughes. the newly appointed stamp
collector. from entering upon his duties
Philadelphia. Hughes was waited
upon by 9 committee. OF which Thorn