Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-19
Governor Brumbaugh Rose From
Ranks to States Highest Place
Born Poor and Had Hard Struggle For Education; Early Displayed
Character and High Ideals of Life

MIA to-day, is one of the most Wioely
known and best loved men in the state.
His popularity won for him the great
est support given Governor In recent
years What he has done in a public
way, first as a county superintendent,
later as the organizer of the schools In
Porto Rico, more recently in the
schools OF Philadelphia, are fresh be-
fore the minds of the present day. The
human side of the educator, his every
day life. and his innate modesty and
the human side. the most interesting,
! are known only to his intimates.
AS a dramatic, human force, rather
than as an educator, Governor Brum-
baugh appeals to his friends as one of
the most lovabIe and likable characters.
He has a magnetism that seems almost
cultivated, yet is perfectly natural,
and flows from his sympathetic soul.
He is as the Germans say, "all soul; of
boundless sympathies." The atmos-
phere of his personality is borrowed
from the sunny climes of the South.
He is always bright and cheerful,
kindly and considerate of his interiors.
Governor Brumbaugh is rugged,
healthy figure of man, perfect
product of outdoor life and truly rep
resentative of his German stock. He
is the picture of a powerful athlete,
erect, and towering over feet. He is
impressive of the physical giant rather
than the intellectual. Nothing in his
appearance betokens the lines of a stu
dent or recluse. His leonine head,
double -barreled square jaws, and thick
yet well developed body, recall to mind
one of the characters in Wagner's
operas. The most striking facial char
acteristic of the man is his heavy
brows. His keen. discerning, kindly
glance travels beneath this abundance
of hair, overhanging his steel eyes.
4 Born Comrade
If the ethics of his profession per-
mitted, Governor Brumbaugh would
be an ideal clubman. He likes com
panionship and the good fellowship of
the clubhouse. He is a born comrade,
fond of the society of his fellows and
the interchange of wit of the dinner
table. AS a longtime member of the
Five O'Clock Club, of Philadelphia, and
former president of this dining club,
DR.. Brumbaugh is q free-from-care
man of the world and the best enter
tainer of that club of good fellows.
Recently he was elected to member
ship in the Union League of Philadel-
phia-
The Governors Family
Governor Brumbaugh has always
kept his home life in the background.
He holds to the principle that pub
lie man is entitled to virtually the
same privacy as a private citizen as
regards his domestic life and the ac-
ton of his family. He proposes to
| continue this f1Xity of principle in pub
| lie life, If possible. Many men have
tried to protect their family life from
the curiosity of the public, but the
American people whole-heartedly care
as much for the family of the Execu-
tive as the Executive himself He is
exceptionally fond of home life and
will endeavor to maintain the secrecy
of the home in Harrisburg as he has
| in Philadelphia.
Governor Brumbaugh is just beyond
the 90 mark, having been born on a
farm in Huntingdon county, where his
| father now more than 80 years old,
still resides-the object of affectionate
interest and care of his son. He
comes of a family of teachers and
preachers. His father, in his youth,
was a teacher. Brumbaugh was a
| teacher at 16 years, superintendent OF
the Huntingdon county schools at %
He is of German descent, and be-
comes one of that long line of German
Governors of Pennsylvania, Simon
Snyder, who was elected in 1850, was
the first. After him came Heistler
Schulze, Rolf, Ritner, Skunk, Bigler
and, more recently Pennypacker.
His life has been filled with hard
struggles and big successes. After his
term as county superintendent he re-
|
ate School and the University of Penn
sylvania to better fit himself for the
| teaching profession. Some of his ca
reer may be summarized as follows:
Organized system of teachers insti-
tutes in Louisiana in 1S86-1889. Ad-
dressed county institutes in every part
1 of Pennsylvania.
! Head of department of pedagogy in
University of Pennsylvania before he
received his doctors degree in 1895.
Read law with Judge Bailey al
Huntington in order to prepare him
| self for broader service.
| First Commissioner of Education to
Porto Rico 1S99-190A. Acting Presi-
dent Porto Rican Senate. Helped or
ganize the administration of the island
Organized modern school system. In
creased number of schoolhouses from
| GA to 1000. Still remembered as the
greatest administration the island has
had.
Superintendent of Schools in Phila-
delphia 1906-1914. Head of school
system in city of 800, 900 population
with $4,000 pupils in the public
schools; 5000 teachers, 500 buildings
and plant valued at $30,000.00
| Organized school system on modern
efficient basis, 36 new fireproof build
ings erected in six years. All high
schools brought to first class. Physi-
! cal eQucaJlOn ana manual training or
ganiZed in elementary schools. Night
schools reorganized. Teachers sal
aries raised.
| Organized first playground associa-
ton in Philadelphia, 1907. President
| Philadelphia Board of Recreation ap-
pointed by Mayor. Head of system oil
| SO Fairgrounds, with an attendance OF
2,506.794. maintained at an annual
cost of $150,000.
! Member first State School Code
Commission. Member State Board OF
! Education. controlling $4,000 schools
I 100000 pupils, with a plant valued
/ above s103,000,000, receiving $780,
| 900 from the State each year.
American representative at Interna-
| tional Convention of Sunday School
! Workers in 1913 in Zurich. Author OF
Sunday school textbooks member In
! ternational Sunday School Association
/ Committee on Education.
| Member College and University
/ Council of Pennsylvania.
| President Division of Large Cities OF
Department of superintendent Ma
tional Education Association.
| President National Society for Study
/ of Education.
President International Congress on
Home Education.
| Governor Brumbaugh's early life
was one of such discouragement that
/ few men rarely face and emerge sue
IcessfulIy He virtually educated him.
self by working at the college table
land acting as tanitor. He shoulder