Evening star., 1915-05-23

both sides from long line Of
Scotch Irish ancestors. Teuton strain
there is none. nor that of Gallo light
ness with mercurial tendency Scotch
Irish he is-and on both sides. the lat
est human entity descended from men
and women who lived and died and
swore by principles which they be-
lieved TO be the right principles, re-
gardless of what others thought 10 the
contrary. unmindful of what the con-
sequences might be to themselves
Given man with two or three hun
dred years of such ancestors back OF
him. and when once his mind is made
up on an important matter it would be
Just about as easy TO change II as to
pick up the Rock of Gibraltar and
heave il into the heart Of the Sahara.
Fortunately such man does not make
up his mind in a hurry or without due
consideration to the opinions of those
whose Judgment he respects. But when
such a mind is made up it's made up
and there's no more to be said or done.
Those who are sympathetic with such
of "unalterable decision. Others. not
sympathetic. are inclined to term II
sheer obstinacy." The difference
merely reflects difference in individ-
ual viewpoint This mental immova-
hility at basis rests on supreme self
confidence. and In the case of Presi-
dent Wilson il has been said that once
in fight he is in il for keeps" When
victorious no more is to he said. w hen
defeated. as the boys say, he doesn't
know when he's licked.
Side by side with these characteris-
tics-that life is a very serious mat
ter. and that his mind once made up
cannot be aItered-is another: That OF
the hardest kind of work. Glance for
a moment. and very briefly at the story
of Woodrow Wilson's life up to date.
Born in Staunton. Va. in December,
1856: graduated from Princeton at the
age of twenty-three: then student at
the University of Virginia: two years
practicing law in Atlanta: course in
post graduate work al Johns Hopkins.
married at Savannah in 1885. and com
mencing that year to serve as assist
ant professor of history and economics
at Bryn Mawr College.
Many years before this he had be-
come intensely interested in political
movements. Even as a youth he had an
interest amounting almost to a rever-
ence for the science of government,
whereby men are enabled in varying
degree, under varying forms of gov
ernment, to work out their destiny here
on earth. In this aspect the science of
government assumed tremendous i'm
portance in his eyes. and he set him
self the work of trying to master it,
10 40 tnlS ne must neeQS master MS
tory-the records of governments in
times past; and the two studies went
forward year by year. When he mar
ried and went to Bryn Mawr, at the
age of twenty-nine. his first serious
book appeared-"Congressio Gov
ernment: A Study in American Poll
tics" At the time other young men
of his age were publishing in the maga-
zines charming love stories and In book
form novels of adventure. Further
t
At Bryn Mawr and at Wesleyan
whittier he was called in 1sSs,4Wo ood-
row Wilson continued to toll unceas-
ingly. He was a student first. last and
devoted to research. consideration
criticism. reflection in undisturbed
quiet To be sure. he possessed the
innate courtesy born in every south.
erner of gentlemanly instincts and
reared in a home of refinement and
education When he went into society
he was distinguished as much for ur-
banity as for that dignity of bearing
SO quickly recognized by all who come
in contact with him. And his powers
as lecturer were SO compelling, ms
persuasive force SO great, his schol-
arIy enthusiasm for his subjects SO en-
gaging. that at Princeton. as earlier al
Bryn Mawr and Wellesley. his courses
were eagerly thronged by students who
could attend them.
Yet this man has lived apart from
the mass of his fellows. not because
he did not respect them. not because
re deemed himself in any wise supe-
rior to them, but because he was the
hardest kind of student. and to thai
kind of a man long reaches OF quiet
solitude are as necessary for his work
as plenty of fresh air is for his physical
welfare.
He rad been but one year at Wes-
leyar University when his second I'M
porta 1t book appeared. volume entl-
tied Elements of Historical and prac-
tica1 Politics"-this when he was thir-
ty-three. More and more his maturing
mind was concerning itself with the
future of nations. especially with the
future of this nation. his own land
other political works followed, as
wen as life of Washington, volume
called Mere Literature and Other Es.
saws" his interpretative History OF
the American People" and. few years
apo THE New Freedom"
Meanwhile he had served for thirteen
wears at Princeton as professor OF
;,,r;anrudepce and politics, ana from