PLAN No. 371. THE WAY A BOY FROM INDIANA WENT THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
He was full of energy and not afraid to use it. He had no money, but he felt it was necessary for him to take an engineering course. How could this be done without money?
He was half convinced that there was a way, and one day there were two men from the University of Michigan selling books in his home town. He became acquainted with them and found that they had no money and were spending their vacation in his town raising money to complete their courses. It was too late for him to go to work with them that season, so he asked their advice. He was told there was no record of a young man starving to death at Ann Arbor while working his way through but that there were many thousands from all parts of the United States who had worked their way through. They told him to go up to Ann Arbor about two weeks before the college opened and get a job waiting on table. This would take care of his board, and it was not considered a disgrace to wait on table at the university. At the same time they advised him to call at some houses and get a room where he could arrange to do odd jobs for the landlady in payment. This advice he followed, obtained the jobs, entered the Engineering Department, and got into the band, as he played a horn, which gave him admittance to all games and affairs of the university. He finished his first year O. K., and the next summer he sold books and saved more than $300 for his next year’s schooling. Each summer he sold—sold—sold, and put out other agents, who sold for him until he had completed his college course with credit to himself and no debts and a cash reserve.
Plan No. 371. A Word to the Wise is Sufficient
Any young man can to-day do as well as he did a few years ago. Don’t let anyone tell you the high cost of living makes it impossible.
PLAN No. 372. A STUDENT’S WAY THROUGH COLLEGE
He was a quiet going young fellow and always had a smile but had very little to say—as a matter of fact he had no gift as a talker. I remember he had a very pretty girl at school and she had one wish and that was, for Charlie to talk more. But when it came to class work, Charlie always hit the “bull’s eye.” He knew bluff and enthusiasm did not count there but the right answer went a long way.
Charlie was without funds and could not sell, so his case seemed hopeless, but he found work which just suited him and there were few who could do it so well as he.
Professors at college and universities are always writing books, so Charlie, who could brief cases and write on law subjects almost as well as the professors, worked for a couple of these professors and made his home with them. His board was unsurpassed at the college and his home accommodations far excelled those of the best student’s, and he had their intimate companionship, which meant a great deal to him at college as well as to his subsequent career.