The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-09-26
PROMISING JOCKEY RUINED
TO MAKE A SENATOR
And Now Charles Curtis Of Kansas
Finds Weight No
Handicap

Handicap
E. B. Chapman in the Dearborn In
dependent.
A skilled rider of running horses
had turned 16. He had been riding
since he was nine. In those seven
years he had won many races. He
expected to win many more. Ills
employer owned two of the fastest
horses of the time. The lad was paid
$50 month and 10 per cent of the
winnings. 1t was lot of money for
those days. And the Jockey, int
mately acquainted with the distaste-
full side of poverty, already was saw
ing some of his pay, which helped
make him an unusual jockey.
His herents were dead. His moth
er had died when he was baby and
he still was small boy when death
relieved his father Of a disease, dat
ing from his service as captain in
the Civil war. The youngster then
had gone to live with his grandpar-
ents.
AS time for the racing season of
1875 approached, the jockey noted
his grandfather studying him silent
ly, several times. He didn't under
stand that, but gave the subject E
little thought. A few days later The
grandfather explained his actions.
"Charlie, you are getting big and
fat" the grandparent said. 'SYou
can't ride many years longer. What
are you going to do?"
The jockey didn't know just what
he was going to do. 1t never had
occurred to him that he couldn't al
ways ride.
you've saved a little money" the
grandfather suggested. "Why not go
to school?"
The jockey thought it over. A Gay
or two later he visited his employer.
1t was explained the boy wished to go
to school.
"But I'm under contract to ride, y
he said. '.I'd like to have you let
me off. If you don't let me off, I1l
ride, just as 1 agreed"
But the employer was more than
that.
.1f you'll go to school I1i do more
than let you off, he said. Here's
$50. Use it to help in getting your
education"
So a jockey entered nigh school.
At Christmas another 50 came from
the employer. In the meantime, an
ancient cab had been found in a liv-
cry stable. The jockey made all the
trains late in the day and until mid
night. He went to school mornings
and early afternoons. He studied be-
tween trips and as he had time, at
school and at home. The cab receipts
were divided with the livery man.
The jockeys share provided enough
to keep him in school.
A few weeks ago, after the death
of Senator Knox, a new chairman of
the rules committee, one of the i'm
portant committees of that body, was
sought. The senator chosen to sue
ceed to that chairpanship was Curtis
of Kansas. Curtis of Kansas was the
jockey and cab driver of the seven
ties.
It is long way from the chair
n.anship of the rules committee TO
the cab driver at the railroad stations
of Topeka. But the mode of travel
in making the journey is the same,
virtually, at all stages. 1t is work.
The cab driver worked his way
through school. He studied lessons
while waiting for the trains. Thus
he graduated from the Topeka high
school. But he did more than study
the lessons in his books. He studied
the people he hauled; he studied the
men who were in the public eye. He
made friends.
One of the two or three great law
yers of Kansas in those days was A
r. (Hib) Case. He appeared in vir-
tually all Of the higher courts of the
Middle West, particularly in Kansas
Ell had known the cab-driving stud,
ent when he was jockey. Return
ing from Journeys he usually rode
with the young man. They became
quite friendly. One day after grad
uation. young Curtis called at the of