Middletown transcript., 1916-06-24

thrill upon reading in an English mag.
azine a series of articles on the Briii, 81
parliament, presenting in graphic Ian
guage the dramatic scenes enacted IN
the British legislature. He never for
got the picture. He hunted up ev"ry-
thing in the library he could find bear
ing upon this subject and deyourel r.
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 Citing hin.
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 tae
history of government and be leader
| In the affairs of his country.
No man ever subjected himself to
sterner discipline or worked more
steadfastly toward a fixed goal. He
first taught himself to write Shorthand
in order that he might make rapid d.
gests of what he read and heard He
also practiced composition assiduOusjg
and extemporaneous speaking that he
might be skilled and ready in ol'haad
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 c. Pitney, who later sat on the
bench of the United States Supreme
court.
When Mr.. Wilson left Princeton be
had come to the conclusion that the
most direct avenue into public life vas
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
teachings of DR.. John D. Minor
Almost at once he became a signlf-
cant figure at the Virginia university.
He won both the "OratoricaI" and
Writing" prizes, and under the infu-
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
waiting game, and during the follow
ing year, 1888, he entered Johns Hop
kins university, studying history and
political economy under Herbert B.
Adams and Richard Z. Ely.
Professor at Bryn Mawr.
His next field of activity was at
Bryn Mawr, the famous college, which
lad just been opened. But as a sort
If preparation for his Bryn Mawr pro-
he jOurneyed to Savannah,
where he married Miss Ellen Louise
AxsOn, one of Savannahs fairest
daughters. She died at the White
House August 6, 1914. December 8,
-915, Mr.. Wilson married at Washing
on Mrs. Edith Boiling Gait of that
,Ity.
The president has three daughters.
Mss Margaret Woodrow Wilson.
Irs. Frances Bowes Sayre and Mrs.
William Gibbs McAdOo.
Mr.. Wilson remained at Bryn Mawr
hree years teaching history and econ
my. His work had won him an en-
liable reputation as a college instruc-
or, and his services were next Sc
ured by Wesleyan university. at Mid
letown, Conn. While at Wesleyan
Doctor Wilson published
mother book, "The State"
He again Joined his fortunes with
'rinceton when in the fall of 1890 he
OOk the chair of Jurisprudence and
olitics at that institution. He held
his chair at Princeton for twelve
ears. writing during this period his
amous work, ga History of the Amer
,an People"
Made President Of Princeton
In 1902 he was called to the presi-
ency of Princeton.
He was holding this office when the
'emocrats of New Jersey chose him
5 their candidate for the governor
nip. He accepted, and was elected
fter a sharp campaign.
Within six months after assuming
lie governorship he had induced the
gislature to pass a series of laws Of
lie most advanced type, such as the
rimary election law. the corrupt
'actices act, the employers liability
It. public utilities act, a municipal
)mmisSiOn government law and
erilization or anti-prOcreation act.
The Wilson's in America date about
century back, when James Wilson,
'andfather of the president came
yer from Scotland and settled In
From there he went to
O., which was then on
e frontier He published newspa-
n and practiced a little common
W and was known as Judge" The
father, Joseph R. Wilson
is born in Steubenville and grew up
MD the hardy and Misunderstanding
rroundings of the pioneer country
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