Evening star., 1928-06-15

went to school and earned his board
by doing chores about the academy.
But about the time that he had
passed from the grammar grades to the
equivalent of high school, having abb
sorbed some algebra and Latin and O
little more thorough knowledge Of phys
ioiogy, he became tired of the routine
at the Quaker academy and jumped at
the chance TO become Office boy in the
real estate Office of his uncle In Port
land DIR. Minthorns affairs had begun
to broaden and he had merged his
Quaker development with the Oregon
Land Co.
1t was while working In his uncles
Office that an accidental meeting with
a mining engineer who had come In ON
business gave direction TO the whole
future career Of young Herbert. The
Office boy had been only mildly interested
when various customers had displayed
specimens, talked about drifts. leads and
prospects, but one day there appeared
this engineer. who had been engaged 10
develop one of the mines. Hoover can
not remember his name. nor just how
they happened TO talk together, but
they did talk, and the stranger asked
suddenly: Son. why don't you 20 In
for enginecring?"
They talked some more, and Herbert
became fascinated with the prospect oi
an engineers life. The stranger told
him about the new Leland Stanford
Junior University that Senator Stanford
was going 10 open In California the
next year. and which was 10 have a
splendid mining and geology depar,
tnent, with tuition free.
Cue3 Ia University
"Any ambitious boy can work his way
through" said the stranger
/ Young Hoover decided then and there
/ 10 try IL. He had difficuity pcrsuading
] hts uncle 10 let him go To the new uni
| versity. Not that any objection was
i raised 10 higher education, but his
| Quaker guardian thought he should 80
| 10 a Quaker institution. But Herbert
wanted the technical education that he
could get at the new university. and his
arguments finally prevailed. He studied
/ al night, principally mathematics. &c
| yet ready. and although he did not meet
all the requirements of the university
be was allowed 10 matrlculate In the
Pail.
Taking geology and mining as major
! subjects, Hoover made an admirable
record In science and still greater
| reputation for seeing things through
while his rare idcaligm, combined with
extraordinary practical sense gave him
a unique position among his fellow stu
dents, He interested himself In thu
student body finances business
/ management Of athletic games, dra'
! MATES, and the 1ikev~-puttinR these
matters on a solid and enduring basis
by various means, but especially ag per-
s0nai assistant Of Dr. John G. Branner
professor Of geology, he paid all his ea.
| Deflses through f0ur~year course, ailo
| Was graduated with the pioneer class
from the new university IN 1895
| During the Summers Hoover worked
| on geological surveys In California full
! flling whatever WAS assigned 10 him
With pronptness and accuracy. One nj
llis fellows spoke somewhat enyIouEI5
ot "Ho0yer's luck"
| What do you mean" asked Prof
| Bfanner, "hy talking of 'H0over'a luckf
/ TLs not luck; ips reward, II you would
/ work half M hard and half as intellls
| gently aA lac does, you would have hall
| his luck II / tell any one Of yol
others 10 do something, I have tn come
| around In half an hour 10 see II you
have followed my instructions.
but when set Hoover at anything
| know II will be done, And he doesn't
ask me how, either. II directed hin
tomorrow To go ta Kamchatka for q
waIrns tooth. I'd never hear Of II until
he got back with Lhe trophy. Then I'd
ask him how he did 1T"
| Hoover On leaving college got mod.
| nsb position IN mine AT Grass Valley
| In California, on ihe strength Of hii
degree In mining engineering and geol'
| 9gg and hts college reputation. In thu
egeceedpG 10 years, tlfgt AZ mine Ia