The Washington herald., 1916-11-08

Charles Evans Hughes, elected twenty
eighth President of the United states. mas
been prominent in the official life OF the
nation, In spite Of himself
OF him 1t may truly be said he was never
a seeker after office. His attitude OF nom
committal silence during the recent Chi
cago Republican convention was typical
of his whole career.
He was offered the nomintion for Mayor
of New York at time when 1t seemed
certain he would be elected-and refused
the honor because he wanted to complete
his valuable work investigating the life
Insurance companies.
He accepted the summons to be his
party's nominee for governor Of the En-
plre State only because he believed duty
called him to the place.
When he became Associate Justice OF
the United States Supreme Court, his
life5 ambition was realized and he De-
lieved his career had been rounded out.
But the events of the last two years In
American life moved him deeply and
when the Republicans, without any move
Of his hand, saluted him as their standard
banner last June. he again considered It
his duty to accept and run the best race
he was capable of for the greatest honor
which can be granted by the American
people.
Ignored Path to Wealth.
Equally with official places, Mr.. Hughes
has ignored the path to wealth. While
he was governor and was considering the
offer to enter the Supreme bench, his
friends pointed out to him that with his
recognized ability and immense prestige,
he could re-enter law practice at the
close of his term In Albany and soon
anass a great fortune. This argument
did not appeal to him. He had enough
money to support him and his family well
and did not greatly care for more.
Mr. Hughes was born in Glens Falls
New York, April H. 1852, and Is therefore,
now a years old. His father was
Baptist clergyman, the Rev. David Charles
Hughes, Of Welsh descent His mother
before her marriage was Miss Catherine
Connolly.
The future President got his first edu-
cation from his talented mother. He at
tended public school in oswego, N. Y.
Newark, n. J., and New York City.
where in June, 1875, he delivered the
sautatory address in Grammar School,
No. IS, at the age Of 1S.
When IA years old, he entered Madison
(now Colgate) College, at Hamilton, N. Y,
and two years later changed to Brown
University, in Providence, r. I. Here he
won the Dunn premium for the best
work of his class In English literature
and was q member of the editorial stan
Of the Brunoniap.
Graduated at Nineteen.
Mr.. Hughes was graduated for Brown
at the age OF 10 in the class Of 1881,
standing third in scholarship and de-
livering the class grafton. He also took
one Of the two Carpenter premiums. as
signed to the two members of the senior
class who shall, in the Judgment OF the
faculty unite In the highest degree the
three most important elements Of success
in life-ability, character and attain
ment." The other prize went to Charles
G. Munford, later Associate Justice OF
the Superior Court Of Rhode island.
For some months. young Hughes taught
Greek and mathematics In Delaware
Academy, Delhi, N. Y. The principal Of
the academy remarked that Mr.. Hughes
would have trouble maintaining discip-
line in his classes because he had mo
more beard than an egg" Mr.. Hughes
promptly corrected this lack Of facial
foliage. Such was the origin Of the ia
nous Hughes beard.
In 1852 he entered Columbia Law
School. New York City. He also studied
in the ONCE Of Gen. Stewart L. Wood
ford, then United States District Attor-
ney. Later IN his law school course,
he acted as clerk in the firm Of Cham
berIain, Carter q Hornbiower.
Mr.. Hughes was graduated from the
law school and admitted TO the bar in
1854 He kept on studying In Columbia
as a prize fellow from 1854 to 1857, I'm
which year he became q member Of the
firm mentioned above under the new name
Of Carter, Hughes q Cravath.