, 1922-09-13

Away back in I~njeanna where the
Wabash ~percolates merrily onward to
the beautiful Ohio. about midway on
the line of demRrcation separating the
gas belt from the literary belt. Rob
ert S. Ellison first saw the light of a
perfect June morning. The birds
were singing. flowers were blooming.
green grass was growing all round
and there was much other evidence
of JOY over tho arrival OF the little
Godsend from Heaven.
It vas not long before the youth
full Robert was running barefooted.
hoeing corn and going to schoot.
Later on he devoted some attention
to corn husk,ngs. apple cuttings and
spelling bees. One of the legends OF
the Wabash is that Robert was pro-
ficient in all OF the endeavors men
toned. and took high rank anon the
fellows OF his generation.
One Of the early ambitions to find
Judgement in tn esystem or the now
rapidly growing Robert was a four
year course at the University OF In
diana. Nothing could eradicate it.
Tho folks knew the futility OF any
attempt. There was no known treat
ment in that day. and SO, in time
everybody acquiesced and the ainbi-
tioa was permitted to have its way
and become permanent.
Just previous to a realization, now
ever. Robert, having advanced in
years end come to know the full
meaning of store clothes and pink
percaie shirts. and having in his
brief contact with an unfeeling world
managed to accumulate sufficient
erudition TO pass the county exa;ni-
nation; and there being in the coin
ty at least two farmers whose peach
orchards and waermelon patches es-
capped the raids Of Robert and his
gang in the earlier years OF his his
tory. he was, by the skin Of his eye
brows, bile to file with the board q
certificate of good moral character
and become the preceptor Of a rura
school.
It was a great day for Robert and
IL was a great day for the school,.
That was the first day. The sec
ond day and every day thereafter
were different. The business of that
school was education. Styles had not
changed In the time Robert had spent
growing up. and he readily recalled
his own experiences. Instruction in
that temple OF learning was impaired
not alone by application to text
books, but by the application OF the
weIi-known second growth hickory
rods grown in Posey county and
made a part of the curriculum of the
rural schools OF the commonwealth.
And It IS recorded that discipline in
the school presided owe by Robert
Ellison was one hundred per cent.
plus. perfect. There are today grown
men. leading citizens of Indiana. who
could. IL occasion demanded show
the marks of education on their
backs and legs that would instantly
convince you Of the thoroughncss Of
the work of the professor and HE
devotion to the cause OF learning.
Having carried out his design OF
absorbing about all there was TO learn
at the University of Indiana IN the
line OF higher education and having
been awarded a square OF %sheepskin
e~mblazoned with a gilt seal the size
of the face of the old family clock at
home. and tied with a very blue rib
bon, our hero Robert, seized himself
by the hand and led himself west-
ward to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Being now a fun fledged barrister he
did not hesitate to swing n shingle
10 the mountain hreezes and Haunt
the fact IN the face OF Mr.. Pixies
peak. He specialized in corporation
work and in less time than It takes
to tell st, he being very smart. was
the leading corporation attorney OF
thai and adjoining bsgwieks.
He could 10: hide his wisdom and