- I 5. ZL . : : '; J3j CRIPPLED LAD, DECLARED INCURABLE, W INS FAME SB , ,, sffl V7, AS ALL-R 0 UND ATHLETE AND LITERARY GENIUSi I w never walk again. That was mere than ten years age. The lad had fallen from n swing In his back yard. Fer menthH he suffered and then he dovclepcd a fe ver that left him still mere frail and weak. Months of struggle te overcome this weakness stretched Inte yearn. Gradually he sained strength te be up and te learn haltingly te walk again. One leg was several Inches shorter thun the ether and much weaker. But what mattered that, f he could only walk 7 In these years of suffering Brutus Hamilton learned patience. He read, studied and thought n great deal. Ills parents and two elder brothers petted and humored him, but the only result; was te make him want te be of service te some one. Other folks were se geed te him he learned the value of service and when he finally came te the Uni versity of Missouri already strong from high school athletics he had framed and hung en the wall of his room the lines from Rablndranath Brutus Kerr Hamilton, University of Misseurt Star, Dragged Hts Tortured Bedy Frem Sick Bed te Embark en Course of Physical and Mental Training LOVES POETRY AND BOOKS i AND INSPIRES TEAM-MATES B Y EXAMPLE AND TERSE Helder of Many Records Toe Modest te Have Leve Affairs, but Commands Liking and Admiration of Thousands of Friends EROM an Invalid's chair te the pinnacle of athletic accomplishment in ten years I Frem the quiet of the sick room te nation-wide acclaim as America's neatest all-around athlete. That is the astonishing feat of Brutus Kerr Hamilton, whose read te access has been beset with mere handicaps than ever fell te the let of a Jgure in the world of sport Little mere than ten years age he was a crippled and invalid child whose parents feared he' would never be able te walk again. Hew he recovered his strength and his morale Is a story that all Missouri, his native State, knows and is proud of. He has made physicians and sur geons point out his case as an Inspiration te cripples and invalids all ever 'the country. But it is only a limited few the athletic coaches, his fraternity toethers and pals, his professors at the University pf Missouri, where he Wde his recent records who knew that "Ham" is a literary genius Net many people would admit that a literary genius could, ever be a Weed athlete, or vice versa. But Hamilton overcame this handicap, tee. All the time he was piling up Records in pole vaulting, sprinting, discus throwing, hurdles and foot feet tall, he was quoting Shakespeare and Byren by the yard and what is feere, he was writing poetry, tee. He has set a new standard for kellege athletes a scholarship stan dard that few men who starred in track or football or baseball have jver attained. The coaches, pro fessors and students who knew him lest at the university say that while his sports records may held highest place for years, it is Hamil ton's scholarship and high ideals that will live longest. Went Through College Without Leve Affair Despite all the here worship that a star athlete always inspires, Ham ilton went through college with out having a love affair and without dancing. While his mere frivolous pals were dating and dancing, you Would be most apt te find "Ham" With his nose in a book, hip ear te a phonograph or in the midst of a jalaxy of varsity literary lights quoting and discussing poetry and philosophy. It isn't that Hamilton is net at tractive. He is a tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed boy with bread shoulders and a delightful smile. There are plenty of ce-eds who would gladly have made a fuss ever him and he could easily have been a social Hen. But that sort of life has never ap pealed te him. His twenty-one years have been tee full of serious things for his mind te harbor a frivolous quirk. Probably no man was ever grad uated who had mere friends and ad mirers. Net just casual acquain tances and folk who remembered him because of his feats en the ath letic field. But young men and women who have pal-ed with him who have discussed science and lit erature and philosophy with him nd who have benefited by his wholesome influence. Teung Hnmllten has left behind him 1 remarkable record. Ills plece en next Tear's track team will be one of the wdeat te fill In the history of track athletics nt the University of Missouri. But aside from that he has left an Ideal 'or ethers te strive for. It was his t"t desire te influence young athletes te train their minds as well as their ferties: te Inspire them te become Jinking Individuals, net just perfect ,chnnKmi. &e Started Hall of Fame for Athletes in University Before he was graduated this spring, started at the University of Missouri Hal of Fame for athletes. As the fH picture te be put In this ball, he u framed a hantlsome photograph or 'Wuett Blmner, Missouri's star feet- XL"""1; In tlle fl-ni"c. beR'de the W'OKranli, Is u neatly lettered record 01 Bluiner's high scholarship, inures hung In this Hall of Fame ""I DO ntllv nf r.. ...I... I 1- 1.11. ihln T?ibeUi '" nthletlcH and in scholar n;;. unVJ wna " Phi Beta Kappa man. M... .x """ert Bunker and Geerge fJMseiigale probably will be added this men te go from .Missouri. Missouri was ene of but two schools In America te place three men. Leland Stanford, Jr., wan the ether. ' Hamilton wen the national pentath lon championship for Olympic tryout at Brooklyn- en July 4, 11)20. And en July 10-11 he wen the decathlon at Trever Island. 'N. Y. Ha mada n new American record In that meet, J scoring 7002.Ua points out of a possible 10,000. The decathlon consists of 100-mctcr dash, running bread jump, sixteen-pound shetput, running high Jump, 400-meter run, 110-meter high hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500-meter run. Tims, In his first year ns n Tiger, Hnmllten wen unheard-of honors and placed en the Olympic team te go te Antwerp. He placed second 'Hamilton was Missouri Valley champion in the pole vault in 1021 and high point winner In the Western Con ference. He wen the pole vault nt 18 feet at the K. 0. A. A. meet nt Kansas City and breke the record In the all round "event nt Illinois by 250 points. He Scored mere than 5000 out of a possible 7000 points. "Last winter he wns captain of the track team and heaped up his own and Missouri's lnurcls still mere. Fer the first time in his athletic career he went n for football and Immediately starred there, tee, winning his 'M.' He said he Just wanted te satisfy himself that he could make the team. He mere than satisfied the sport fans by some of his splendid kicks. ' An Injury te his leg In the Thanks giving game against Knnsns laid him up for Berne time, and It was thought for n whlle It might affect his ability en the track. However, this years competition disproved this fear, al though the Injury bothered him during the first part of the season. best fellows I ever knew and I grew te like him as I would an own brother. 'He came te Missouri University a tall, lank youngster, se shy and modest yOu could never get him te talk about himself. He has never get ever that modesty. He's a wholesome sort of boy net yet twenty -two years old with a hankering for books that doesn't usually go with the lore of outdoor sports, ''He had made geed records In high school, where he was a consistent win ner In the high Jump, pole vault and weights. I wanted te see him keep going up. Mighty few who ever Baw him In action ever dreamed that he was handicapped by one short leg. He kept himself in form both mentally and physically. He Is five feet eleven and a half inches tall, and when In best form weighs nbeut 172 pounds. "In 1018 he broke the State record In the pole vault, making 11 feet G inches, and also the high jump, leaping 5 feet 10 Inches. These both steed until 1020. His First Big Test Came at the Illinois Meet "Hamilton's first big test meet wns at the Illinois relay carnival In 1020, after he had entered the university. There he wen the all-round champion ship his first year out. The seven events included in this contest nre : Sev enty-five-yard dash, 75-yard high hur- (lies, naif-mile run, pole vault, shot put, running bread jump and the high jump. The Tiger entry was a decisive feature. "At the Penn relays he wen second in the pentnthlen. This event consists of 200-meter dash, bread jump, javelin threw, discus and 1500-meter run. The 200-meter dash corresponds te the 220- ' t ' Xu L&&&MZ w?& r.z " ?J ''lMfytZi. 'iTT' vaapj fcv-.J'vM,j.$ KM t? t Jk A. L .UiA' .. . -,,- O silly lever!' BRUTUS K. HAMILTON :.; . X i i ' i- V, jl I M?l 1 ".fc . 'i. !?C-'' -Cv-S.7 m .3& i'il'Jil W1' y0 ':v,i yiL '-Phil s X Jw .,' j Aa a bread jumper, "Ham" waa one of the best in the country. Pict '!!. Hamlltnn'. .,.;..:. .'. iu 7 .' "1. . .'" itkffi Mwvu friendship with ether la him e ifm,t u icnleua streult ttelJ!P1 n1,1 Hnmllten's records have " origin In the fnet thut for veurs much i,i. cr'PI,le LlK ether geniuses Zir t,m" ,,e' "llen he could no lettt. !n,ana P'ny out ' doers his ej In k '"? S0,",,t nn'l fel"d abserp- tt. hb00,!,R "nd, music. And through . alned tl,e mentH "d 1 "!I te carrv en. KaenH '"."""'wnvllle, Cass County, RWM, that a doctor told a dlscen- CrS' r'O'0T. lying in eed fMracAuredhlp, .that he. would Taeore'B "Gltanjall" which he has set as his Ideal: "This Is my prayer te" The, my Lord. Strike, strike at the root of penury In my heart j Glva ma the strength te maks my leve fruitful In service; Give me the strength never te disown the peer, or bend my knees be fore Insolent might Give me the btrcngth te raise my mlr high above dally trifles And give me the strength te surrender my strength te Thy will with leve." Brether Encouraged Brutus te Get Inte Athletic Games Brutus Hamilton's elder brother, Paul, was quite an athlete betli In the Harrisenvllle High Scheel and lnter In the State university where hu starred In football and served as captain of the team his senior year. Paul encouraged Brutus te try first one sport then un un ether. There werp try-outs In the back yard and then Iirutus grew strong enough te take part in high school events. In his junior and senior years he had almost forgotten thut ene leg was f-horter than the ether. Paul persuaded him te enter some of the Btnte high school meets held In Columbia, Me., and pretty seen Iirutus was winning high est points and putting bis high school above ethers. But It wns by sheer perseverance, will power, physical, mentnl and moral training that Iirutus Hnmllten nttnlncd world leadership in the most grueling of track and sports events. It was during these high school events that he first met Rebert I. ("Beb") Simpsen, who holds mere sports rec ords than the ordinary mnn con count. "It was partly because I liked Paul be well," said Simpsen, new track coach at Missouri University, "that I first get Interested In Brutus, Rut a fellow couldn't knew him long without liking him for hlrrsflf. He's net eniy a whl of eji ntlile.tfir"hu,i one of the ? v. '' x'V1 I :m V BK9h "Ham" was also a pole vaulter of exceptional ability iH M Breaking the tape in 100-yard dash yard sprint, while the 1500-meter run is uueut n mile. "The same year, 1020, the new-found ger stepped out and placed en the American Olympic team. He was only Tiger stepped out and placed en the nineteen years old and was one of three in the decntlileii there, losing by a unction of 11 point. "When he returned te Missouri Uni versity a handsome silver loving cup was presented, te him by the student beiy. "In the Onllfornlti-Miiseurl meet Inbt April Ilnin, by virtue of it first, two seconds nnd two thirds, wh high point man with thlrtppn tinlntfl." Ona of tha bhantlfnl thlnva ahnnt Hamilton's three seara at Missouri was his friendship for Dr. Jehn It. Scott, professor emeritus of the university. Dr. Scott wns a professor of elocution, that poem mere than a dozen times for him. Sometimes he would bring his young men and wen.cn friends out nnd and he is still proud of that title. His, ask me te read the ode te them wife died ninny years age, nnd since his retirement from teaching because of his age he has lived 11 lone in a small cottage at the edge of the town. But always he hni gntheied around him a group of youths fend of poetry nnd wortli-whlle literature. Humilteu join ed this group nnd seen becnii.e a fa fa fa vorite with the old, white-haired pro fessor. "I don't knew any bev who bus ever wen my nffectlen n9 Brutus Hamilton has," said Dr. Scott when nkcd nbeut tne athlete, "hven in my own boy heed when I had many cronies and I nau turee oreiuers, 100 1 iien t re- l.nst winter when I was crippled up with rheumatism Brutus came out every day and did my chores for me, carried in the weed and water, and helped me in many ways. I protested, but he just laughed and fcnid it wns geed ter him. After the chores were done we would read nnd tnlk." Fer hours nt a time Hamilton would sit In the cottage living room with its litter of books or join the professor ns he pottered nbeut his little gaiden. Often Dr. Scott read aloud te the boy niiu BuuicuiuvH Hamilton rem . i)r nau ruree oreiuers, 100 1 uen t re- u.nl, ,. ' " , , , ; , , "; member ene who get w. close te me ns Sf . he .? Hmh.'ti .A tew. w'10 le?rn.a Brutus has. ,..!i '"i s " , , " ' VrUe "'"! N'10 "lie Is very diffident. I don't be- ?'"'',' ,m ml "me of ,,is poems. Inspiration te Others IC T !.,,, ,.., c,,.. 1...1.. ,,w iiu i- vi ph-ii 11 viuuk imiy j se sny nnu retiring ns iirutus. lie. n 1 ... .. cnuse of this dliTnleiice it wns n 1,,-,' '"" i'Oem en ) alls time nucr 1 inui met mm nrfore Brutus ever eiinin te sep inn. He tnlkml lliih. of his record In nthletlcs. He is net' Jt Wl,s IJr. Scott, tee. who lettered in the least affected by niiMhiii'' hoi nnd Illuminated vaiieus favoilte verses ban done. 1 that Hamiltun had framed and hung "The hrst tin.e he came lie asked 1110 n the walls nf his room anil in the in reau 10 mm. 1 mil re.id several !-' mnuMtim things. U lien lie limited out 11 volume of Keats from the book cusps nnd asked ran te rend the 'Ode te n Greclun Urn.' He sat ns theugli fascinated, and I suppose after that I must have read "Ham" is shown here just getting off a long punt en the football field. And I wns tired and sick that all was ever, And because I, Fer all ni.v thinking, never could re cover One moment of the geed hours that were ever. And I was sorry nnd sick and wished te die. Then from the sad west turning wearily, I saw the plnea against the white north sky. Very beautiful and Hill, and bending ever Their sharp black heads against n quiet sky. And there wns peace in them ; nnd I Was happy, and forget te play the lever. And laughed, nnd did no longer wish te die; Being ulinl of jeu, O pine trees of tha vky!" Is Serious-Minded Chap and Liked by Every One Brutus Is a bcnmih-minded chap, but net solemn, according te hU Delta Tim Ddtn fraternity brothers. Kvery one knows him ns a geed fellow. There is usually a twinkle In Ills ejes ami a j hearty laugh ready en piuvucatluu. He j sings ami whistles nnd hums' 11 let. He I knows all the popular seuks, but he i likes best of all te sing Bebby Duma ballads, lie Is lunslu' of the bcetcll dialect and his singing of "Anhl hang; Sjiiu" and "Believe M If All These Kndeariiig Yeung Charms" lias many times delighted groups of students. "Hamilton was a general favorite with faculty and students alike," said Dr. Scott. "Their friendship did net fctep at icspect and admiration. It went further. They had a genuine affection for the boy and many ejes nre watch ing new te fee what he will make of himself since his college, career la ended." Hamilton was graduated this spring with the degree of Bacheler of Arts. He majored in history and political science hut nmile his highest grades in Kuglisii. And Ills idea just new of being of. Ham s npert cie.sl nnd, nctvlce Is te become piluclpal of soma pein ed out te ether ntlilptesi huutll town high school, where he can t"i 11 i t M 1" I will vim flftft. anil 4tv Ia Amiita f tTimttfJ ..... ..,.. ,., w .. IJjlT.tWS llten. 'J.he poem reads: TO$Al uid you fail in the race7 T4M mjiu fun mini in ine nprinc, iw 1 AVhcre the het dust choked and bnrneif l jwfjffij JJld you brenst the tape 'midst the fly--3Js ing mrt jVm xnnt tne leaner s sprint had spurned T viwtv I 11.1 n rln .n..M K..'3 ,vr"JTI I. .1 t-J. n, nijun veur nine was una; awjs But thn frninp Ik nnt In iIia rntinlnr laJ. vr'Ji The best of It, since the beginning, lad, J- Is in taking jour licking and grinning, lnd, If you gave them the best that you bad. Did your tackle fall short? Did the runner flnsh by, With the score that wen the game? Did it break your henrt when you J missed the try ; 1 Did you choke with the hurt and shama?" If you did your best j' Oh, I knew the score; I followed yOf J all the way through : And that Is why I am saying, lnd, That the best of the fight is the staying, lad, And the best of nil gemes Is the playing, lad, If you gave them the best In you. '' Whlle Shnl.-espearc and Byren and Keats nre prime favorites of Ham's, he has a great liking for some of the newer poets. His roommate says Hamlltea could recite mere poetry than any ether student en the campus, and lie was rec ognized ns one of the best read stu- , dents nt the university. ' He loved the poems of Ruper Breeke, Joyce Kilmer nnd Rebert W. Service. Often when he played golf be would walk across the links quoting choice verses from these poets. Among the -lines he liked best were these by Rupert Brebke : , "I watched the sorrow of the ertnlag ' sky, And smelt the sen, and earth, and tha warm clever, ( And heard the waves and seagull - mocking cry. And In them nil was only the old cry, ' That song they always sing 'The bast Is evers ' Yeu may remember new nnd think, and sign, I 5J fit the one lip as an ideal te live 1111 te Dr. Scott in tcred for him, It rcmnlns en the wall of the university gymnasium as an In- spirnuen -10 wg mier ncngungs who be a big brother te the be them te become wneiei worthwhile men fro; and moral Mag ya 1 aBTviW'' mi train s, ;' J, mm u , , ...jm.. " . m i m m J m M t - ' "Wt.Yl'V '4QBHkJ rmm&kmr tf:.rt?lw.fV.37 v' -Siy.p lf.te',fl nVV ' "H.. 1in..Wi"ti'H' 1 y.Wtiw1fr,wJi. J,. I A ...: 'M i it aswssfltf ; ' . y)K
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers