Evening star., 1915-04-04

under which he labored. The cousin who
came with him failed to pass for the sopho-
more year, and thereafter members of his
class would read aloud to the young student
in his room on the campus, vying with one
another to assist him.
During his first week at the college the
professor of mathematics was frankly un-
easy, fearing Swearingen would not be able
to do the work, yet reluctant to show any
spirit of favoritism. He shortly discovered
that his fears were groundless, as Swearingen
led his class, and at times made it difficult
for the professor to keep pace with him.
On one occasion another OF the faculty
found it necessary to reprove student for
his low standing in his class work. Look
at young Swearingen!" said the professor.
"He is blind, and must depend entirely upon
the assistance of Others for his knowledge.
Yet he is leading you, and you have two
good eyes in your head.
"That's just it,, retorted the student.
Its dead easy for John. He can't see the
balls on a billiard table, or the pretty girls
either. It's a snap for him to be grind, :
which was novel but not illogical way of
looking at it.
GRADUATING in 1899, Swearingen car
~ rcd off the highest honors of his class, and
received the degree of bachelor of arts. Popu
lar alike with students and professors, he
left behind him an enviable record as a
scholar and a gentleman. Years afterward
the evidence of this popularity in college
wss startingly confirmed. In his only po-
litical campaign it was estimated that at
least thirty thousand votes were influenced
by the lasting friendship of his old college
mates for the brilliant blind student.
Returning to the State School for the
Blind as a teacher, Swearingen remained
there nine years, devoting himself assidu
ouslv to his work for the afflicted children.
Then the unexpected happened. In a let
ter which Swearingcn refused to take seri-
o,1sly friend informed him that the State
Superintendent of Education was about to
run for the United States Senate, and sug
gested that he announce himself as candi-
date for the vacant office.
Shortly afterward he received other let
tiers making the same suggestion, and he
half jestingly requested the advice of his
mother, who had always been his guide and
mentor and upon whose judgment he relied
implicitly. From her speedily came the sur
prising answer, run, Son-and run hard!"
Two candidates were already in the field,
prominent, respected, "old school" gentle
men, both of whom had been closely associ-
ated with educational work in South Caro-
lima for many years. Each of them looked
upon himself as the logical candidate for the
high position, regarding it as a fitting honor
with which to round out his loyal service to
the State, and each resented the candidacy
of the other as a sort of unwarrantcd in
trusion.
To the late announcement of the young
blind teacher that he had entered the race
neither of the interested gentlemen paid the
slightest attention. Throughout the cam
paign that followed young Swcaringcn spoke
as often as his school work would permit,
treating his older opponents with extreme
courtesy and Difference from the stump.
His rivals, never conccding that his efforts
should be taken seriously, extended Swear
ingen the same unfailing courtesy, and the
race became famous for the amiability with
which it was conducted.
When the votes were counted the two
prominent gentlemen were shocked and
dumbfounded by the discovery that the
dynamic young man whose blindness had
seemed to them an insuperable obstacle to
success had won at the polls by majority
of many thousand votes.
DYNAMIC he was, is, and has need to be.
- The task of providing adequate educa-
tional opportunity for the children of his
State is a man-size job, as DIR. Swearingen
soon discovered.
South Carolina is rich in tradition, but
mighty poor in ready cash. When Swear