New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-27
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR SEPTEMBER n. 1914

have looked LOT very lItlS III wv ",H,
what he would consider learning. Wheh
sitting in the Office of the chairman OF inc
lecture committee, a particularly alert young
man, lawyer, and graduate oil the mar
ward Law School, the door opened, ana
splendid specimen of physical MANHOOD
typical pioneer in appearance, stalked Ii''
The chairman introduced me to INN.
"Mr. Bangs said he, u want you 10
know my father.
The caller gave my hand grip that even
now makes my fingers ache every tune
think of it. He then led me to a comtorta-
bic, lcather-covcrcd arm chair, ana, alter
almost showing me into its capacious depths,
seated himself directly in front OF me;
GSit down. Young man." said he. 81 want
to talk to you.
calling me n young man. I've Deen lcci'h6
trinc old for couple OF days
swell, you are young compared 10 INC,
he said am eighty
"GooI Lord" said |. "You don't look
over sixty, anyhow
"No." ne smiled, IL don't-but that's
Ioway. I've been farmin' out here for ngh
onto seventy years, and we're all too busy
TO grow old We live forever in loway. IL
the prandcst country on the foOtstOol.
didn't feel at all inclined to dispute him,
considering his more than six feet OF tower
inc height. the fresh, hcathfu hardness OF
his wcathcrbcatcn face, the breadth OF ms
shoulders, and depth of his chest. con,
tented myself with agreeing with HIM Ana
I didn't have to work hard to do that,
either; for have known magnificent Iowa
rs a most SalubriouS State for many years:
"Wcll, you see, Sir" said, eve cant all
pick out Our birthpIaCcS. ! was born IN ne"
| York through no choice OF my own. some
are born at brthplaccS, some achieve Dirth-
places, and Others have birthplaceS thrust
llpon thcm-which last was my case.
"Samc here" said he. Il was born IN
Ohicr; but my folks moved out here when
was Dabby. I've lived here ever SINCE
and I'm glad of it. Of course | han.t had
your advantages in gettin' an eddlcation,
most o. mines in my wife's name, but We
got some, and I've had to work so damn
| hard to get it that sometimes | think APP
prcciatc it just lcctlc more than you East
crn bows do who have it served TO you on a
silver platter didn't know how to read
till was twenty-five"
T CONGRATULATE you" said |. Con
L sidcring the sort of things the greater
part Of our young people are reading today
wish that condition might prevail little
more widely than it does
That's it, said he. "Whcn thing
comes too easy we're not likely to make the
hes, Of it. When think Of how had to
sweat to learn to read you don't kctch me
wastin' any o my talents in that direction
on trash.
"Thcn, put in, "thc chances are you've
never read any of my books.
"Not many Of en- he answered. but
one or two folks | know has read EN-, and
they tell me there's nothin' dcclytcrious
about 'cm. But | tell We it was some work
for me to get the knack O rcadin'; but when
it come it comc We see, when first come
out here they wasn't any schools and wasn't
anv too much help around in those days,
either. What with farmin, and diggin food
out o. the ground, and fghtin' InJunS, there
wasn't much spare time for children to spend
in schools, even if we'd a had EN-. But
along about the time | was twenty-thrcc
wears old we started one. We built little
SchoolhOusc, and then we sent East for a
Schoolmarm, and when she come she boarded
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