Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-05

ana enjoyment with those whom he
loved and who reeiprocated his ef-
forts.
Congressmsn's Early Life.
Mr.. Bremner was born on Decent
ber II. 1873, IN Keiss, a village on
the easterly coast of Gaithness, the
most northerly county on the main
land of Scotland. where his fore
fathers for generations had lived and
followed the sea or engaged In the
fishing industry.
His early life was not different
rom that of others IN the struggling
village. dashed by the tempsstuous
vaters of the North Sea. There were
New educational advantages in that
mart Of the country. but Robert was
in his early youth, the Oldest or four
brothers, when his father, having
suffered from financial reverses in
the Iishing trade, emmigrated 10
canada. He located in Toronto and
IateT sent foI his family. Ultimately
the family settled on a farm IN Ca
mella. about fifty miles north OF
I Toronto. The family was possessed
+ Of very little wealth and the farm
was heavily mortgaged. Added to
The financial handicap was the
handicap of inexperience In farm
life, but Mr.. Bremner, ST., worked
hard and succeeded.
!. Robert went to the village school.
Z he took a high school entrance ex-
animation and was admitted to the
Crangeville High School, eight miles
from the Bremner farm During MS
high school days he boarded with
Mrs. McQuarrie. whose son, Jim. now
q prominent physician In Chicago,
was a school chum of Mr.. Bremner's-
, In three years. at the age OF sixteen,
Mr.. Brernner finished his high school
course and entered the Dufferin
County Normal School, where he re-
NAMED for three months, qualifying
+ MS a teacher in the primary grades.
In school Mr.. Bremner enjoyed the
4 same degree of popularity that he
did in later years. He was regarded
3 as one of the most proficient stu
dents In the high school, particularly
In tbs French language, and he was
? active in the athletic affairs OF the
school, although never strong physi-
cally.
Alexander Steele, who was priu-
cipal of the high school at Orange
vile when Mr.. Bremner attended, Is
still principal.
MIR. Bremner taught school for two
years in one of the primary schools
about two miles from his home. Dur
ing these two years he seemed to
have acquired a desire for travel as
we'll as a thirst for book knowledge.
The Bible and books on ancient lore
and ancient history were Mr.. Brem-
ner's favorites.
81 found" ne said to the writer
one day years after he arrived in
Paterson. that reading the Bible
gave me more knowledge of good
English and a finer inspiration In lit
al Alassr, fvae
End to read
And Mr. Bremner could quote sec
ions of the Bible and discuss sacred
history and the Old Testament as
web as most theologians.
At an early age Mr.. Bremner de-
cided to see the world. He had
picked up a knowledge of carpentry
and electrical work and concluded
that this knowledge would enable him
10 find an opening in some of the big
cries Of the United States. The year
1893 found him in Chicago, where the
Worlds Fair was in progress. Mr..
3remner secured employment as an
electrician and after opendlug a ye:r
In Chicago he went to New York. bis
purpose being to earn enough Money
there to take him to South Afro a.
He found employment as 4 carpenter
and later as an electrical worker. and
was at work on a new building on
Thirty fourth street when a strike
was called. In speaking Of This Incl
dent In later years he said he did not
recall the cause of the trouble. All
= he knew was that he had 20 money
and that he must find work.
In the Newspaper Field.
Looking over the help wanted Gel
amn in a New York newspaper next
= morning he saw this advertisement:
= Reporter and proofreader wanted.
Apply Paterson News, Paterson, n.
T." That was in 1895.
Mr.. Bremner had never read a proof
n a newspaper office. and he had no
experience as a reporter, but con-
cluded to try for the place. On the
way over from New York to Pater-
son he studied the proofreader'5 page
ia the dictionary. He was given the
Job, but his first attempt to read proof
was unsatisfactory and a stormy in
terview with his new employer fol-
owed.
Il thought I was gone and my only
hope was to hold on to the job to the
end of the week. That would give
me one week less to worry about, he
declared later when asked about his
first newspaper experience.
At that time the editor of the Pat
flSOH NEWS was EOlA1A 9li4AlE tAAG ~
ords of tax assessments to be pub
lished in pamphlet form.
go over to the tax assessors
office and copy the tax records he
was ordered.
AS the new arrival stood looking up
ut the City Han building a newspaper
man who became a lifelong friend and
1. was employed on another Peterson
q newspaper, came along.
z Where is the tax office, please?"
: Mr.. Bremner inquired.
The office Of the assessor was point
J, ed out to him. Mr.. Bremner intro
Y duced himself to Timothy j. De-
y aney. clerk Of the board at that time
and now a member Of the board.
s From the first day he began the work
Of copying the tax lists Mr.. Bremner
& vas popular with the Office force,
vamong whom were wits who enjoyed
.teas'ng the new conner in good
natured way and who equally enjoyed
Bob's" sallies.
Within a year Bob" as every
body called him, became we'll
known figure in the official and
newspaper life of the city. One Of
his most intimate friends in these
early days of his career in Paterson
was the late James Robertson, law
yer and Assemblyman.
When the Span sh- American War
broke out Bob" and Jim" enlisted
in Company c, Second New Jersey
Volunteer Infantry in which James
Parker was captain. They Joined the
regiment at Sea Grit. having been
mustered on May 10. 1898 for two
years. The regiment was sent to
Jacksonville, Fla. Mr.. Bremner' S
brief military career is told by Ad-
tutant John T Hilton as follows:
"Bremner's military record is not
a very long one, nor very strenu-
Gus hut what there was of Il was