River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-06-22

y
row remained at home during the next
twelve months, transferring to his
younger brothers part of the learn
ing he had brought with him from Da-
wilson.
This brings his biography up to the
year 1S15-a momentous year for
Woodrow Wilson and for Princeton
university. 1t was the year he en-
tered Princeton.
He had not been at Princeton long
before he found out just what he want
ed to do. And that thing was to be
a public man; to devote his life to the
service of his country.
This determination came with
thrill upon reading in an English mag
aZine a series of articles on the British
parliament, presenting in graphic Ian
guage the dramatic scenes enacted in
the British legislature. He never for
got the picture. He hunted up every
thing in the library he could find bear
ing upon this subject and devoureG 1t,
and from that day to this has never
wavered in his determination to play
an active part in the stirring scenes
on his country's political stage.
Mr.. Wilson began his preparation at
once. He subOrdinated his regular col
lege work to the task of fitting him
self for public life.
! He devoted all his energy and every
faculty he possessed to the furnishing
of his mind to the end that he might
be an authority on government and the
history of government and be a leader
in the affairs of his country.
No man ever subjected himself to
Sterner discipline or worked more
steadfastly towards a fixed goal. He
first taught himself to write shorthand
in order that he might make rapid di-
gests of what he read and heard. He
also practiced composition assiduously,
and extemporaneOus speaking that he
might be skilled and ready in offhand
debate.
Graduated With Famous Class.
He graduated in the famous Prince
ton class Of 10, on whose roster were
many names destined to become more
or less famous. Among these was
Mahlon G. Pitney, who later sat on the
bench of the United States Supreme
court.
When Mr.. Wilson left Princeton he
had come to the conclusion that the
most direct avenue into public life was
through the law. Accordingly, during
the following year he entered the Uni
versity of Virginia, becoming versed in
the rudiments of the law under the
| iT1o nf n1s Tnh II
Almost at once he became a signif-
cant figure at the Virginia university.
He won both the "OratOrical' and
Writing" prizes, and under the infiu-
ence of his ardent classmates of the
South he took a more active interest
in college athletics than he had taken
at Princeton, although he was never
what might be called an enthusiast in
| these matters.
After two years study at the Uni
versity of Virginia, Mr. Wilson select
ed Atlanta as the field of initial prac-
tice at the bar He joined a young
man named Renick, and the two went
to the Georgia capital and opened law
offices under the firm name Of "Renick
& Wilson," Young Wilson soon dis
covered that he was sitting in at a
waiting game, and during the follow.
ing year, 1883, he entered Johns Hop
kins university, studying history and
political economy under Herbert b,
Adams and Richard T. Ely.
Professor at Bryn Mawr.
His next field Of activity was al
Bryn Mawr, the famous college, which
had just been opened. But as sort
of preparation for his Bryn Mawr pro.
| fessorship he jOurneyed to Savannah,
where he married Miss Ellen Louise
Arson. one Of Savannah's fairest
daughters. She died at the White
House August 6, 1914. December 8,
| 1915. Mr.. Wilson married at Washing.
ton Mrs. Edith Boiling Gait Of that
city.
The president has three daughters
Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson
Mrs. Frances BOwes Sayre and Mrs
William Gibbs McAdoo.
Mr.. Wilson remained at Bryn MawI
three years teaching history and econ
omy. His work had won him IN en-
viable reputation as college instruc'
tor, and his services were next Sc
cured by Wesleyan university, at Mid
dletown, Conn. While at Wesleyan
university Doctor Wilson published
another book. "The State"
He again joined his fortunes with
Princeton when in the fall Of 1890 he
took the chair Of Jurisprudence ano
politics at that institution. He hello
this chair at Princeton for twelve
years, writing during this period ms
famous work, "A History Of the Amer
lean People"
Made President of Princeton.
| Tn 1000 he was called to the presi.
dency of Princeton.
He was holding this office when the
Democrats of New Jersey chose him
as their candidate for the governor
shin. He accepted, and was elected
| q flor q sharp campaign.