A Womans Way Through Unknown Labrador | Page 7

and unceasing activity. In
his studies history, literature, psychology claimed his special interest.
He was an enthusiast in athletics, and found his field in running and
boxing. The contest was as the wine of life to him. He was active in the
literary and debating societies, and prominent in the Student's Christian
Association, attending and taking part in the work of the local branch
of the Church of Christ. His first newspaper work was done as an
amateur on the college press. Then came assignments from the local
dailies and correspondence for the Detroit papers.
He possessed the "news sense" to an unusual degree, delighting to take
"beats" from under the very feet of his brother reporters.
In 1897 while he was still in Ann Arbor, just before Dr. James B.
Angell, President of the University, left on his mission to Turkey, a
telegram came from a Detroit evening paper directing him to see Dr.
Angell and ask why he had changed his date of sailing.
Dr. Angell was not in the habit of telling reporters what he did not wish
them to know, and when asked the question replied: "Haven't a word to

say. I really don't know anything new at all." Then with a smile which
he fondly believed to be inscrutable, he remarked: "Why, I don't even
know whether I'll go to Turkey or not."
A few minutes later those last words of the President were reported
over the wires, without the sarcasm and without the smile. That very
evening, in big headlines on the first page, it was announced that there
was some hitch, and that President Angell might not go as Minister to
the Court of the Sultan.
The correspondents of the morning papers hastened to see President
Angell, who insisted that if he had made such a remark it was in fun.
But it was unavailing. The despatch had stirred up the officials in
Washington, and the morning papers that printed the President's
explanation printed over it the official statement, that the Porte was
objecting to Dr. Angell, on account of his close relationship with the
Congregational Missionary Board.
After his graduation in 1897, he took a position on the staff of a Detroit
evening paper. Much of the two years of his newspaper work there was
spent in Lansing covering State politics. In this line of work lay his
chief interest, though he by no means confined himself to it.
His work made it possible for him to indulge his bent for dipping into
the by-ways of human life. Utterly fearless, resolute, persistent, there
was yet in his manner a beautiful simplicity, a gentleness and interest
that rarely failed to disarm and win admission where he desired to enter.
Added to this equipment were a fine sense of humour, a subtle
sympathy, and a passionate tenderness for anyone or anything lonely or
neglected or in trouble. So, as only the few do, he learned "Why."
Here amidst the struggles and temptations, the joys and
disappointments, the successes and mistakes of his busy life, one hero
rose surely to a place above all others, a place that was never
usurped--"the man, Christ Jesus," worshipped in the years that were left,
not only as the Redeemer of the world, but as his ideal hero.
This was his manliest man, so grandly strong and brave, yet so

inexpressibly sweet-spirited and gentle, with a great human heart that,
understanding so wholly, was yet so little understood; that in the midst
of overwhelming work and care and loneliness hungered for human
love and sympathy, giving so generously of its own great store,
receiving so little in return. Here he found the strong purpose, the
indomitable will, the courage that, accepting the hard things of life,
could yet go unfalteringly forward, to the accomplishment of a great
work, even though there was ever before Him the consciousness that at
the end must come the great sacrifice.
In 1899 he decided to launch out into the wider field, which journalistic
work in the East offered, and in the summer of that year he came to
New York. Many were the predictions of brother reporters and friends
that he would starve in the great city. It was a struggle. He knew no one,
had letters to no one, but that was rather as he wished it than otherwise.
He liked to test his own fitness. It meant risk, but he knew his own
capabilities and believed in his own resourcefulness. He had thoroughly
convinced himself that the men who achieve are those who do what
other men are afraid to do. The difficulty would be to get an opening.
That done, he had no fear of what would follow.
He began his quest with a capital of less than five dollars. There were