Throughout James Oliver Curwood’s short though illustrious and glorious life he often thought of the beautiful and kind Miss Boyce, and more than once he wrote her into his stories. It was through her that Jim learned that he might enter the university by taking special entrance examinations instead of the usual ones that other students would be required to take. From that moment on there was nothing on earth that could stop James Oliver Curwood. There was not an obstacle which he could not overcome in his climb to success. He was young and he realized fully that only God could keep him from realizing his ambitions.
“I was fully embarked on the project of becoming an author. Nothing but death could stop me.”
Summer arrived none too soon for Jim, and with its coming Central School was to see the last of its most ridiculed student. At last he was free. As soon as classes were out Jim sought out work and quickly found it. He clerked in a grocery store for several weeks, with the remainder of his summer being spent in the nearby forests that all but surround Owosso. He planned, he saved and he studied for those glorious days ahead of him. Actually he had been able to save the magnificent sum of One Hundred and Twenty Dollars, which also included the $5.00 received from the Gray Goose Magazine. He had never cashed the check.
At last came the fall of 1898, and Jim Curwood was ready for his trip to Ann Arbor and the University. There were no crowds at the station to bid him good bye and good luck. There were just his family, Fred Janette and his mother, Miss Boyce and a few others. Seemingly the friends of the family and even his own chums had very little confidence in his ability to succeed at the great institution of learning. In fact they all believed that within a very short time Jim Curwood would be back at home. But Jim’s family and his close friends had confidence in him and were firmly convinced that he would successfully pass his special entrance examinations. They were certain, however, that should he fail he would not return to Owosso for they knew of the confidence James Oliver Curwood had in himself at that youthful and momentous age of twenty. To fail would mean disgrace not only to Jim, but to his parents and friends, and they were sure that he would never come home until he had made something of himself.
With Jim when the train pulled out of Owosso were his lone suitcase carrying only absolute necessities, and of course his ever present typewriter.
It was a long, rough ride to Ann Arbor and throughout it all Jim wished that he were already there and had all of his connections made. Two weeks were still to elapse before taking his entrance examinations, but Jim had carefully planned his trip this way to enable him to have more time for study and to brush up on the necessary subjects.
It was at a Mrs. Gray’s that Jim decided to have his meals after he had arrived in Ann Arbor and had made inquiries. The prices were very reasonable and she served an excellent quality of food. In all there were fifteen college men who ate at Mrs. Gray’s, and each one took his turn at serving as cashier, waiter or dishwasher, thus receiving meals at far less than the usual prices.
Mrs. Gray treated Jim exceptionally well and almost instantly he felt as if he were at home. The food she served was plain, everyday food, but he paid little and still had all he wanted to eat. Jim Curwood soon learned that Mrs. Gray was respected and highly recommended.
It was here that Jim met Walter Parker, who later became the chief of staff of the Owosso Memorial Hospital, and Jim Greene, who became an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Michigan. Greene’s official capacity at Mrs. Gray’s was that of cash master.
After securing a place in which to eat his meals Jim went in search of a room, after spending the first night at Mrs. Gray’s house. The twenty year old did not have long to look for a place in which to lodge, for just a few blocks down the street he came across a room for just one dollar a week, which suited him well.