THE WEST SHORE.
151
teacher was based on the fact that he enthusiastically
believed in practical education. He believed it was
the duty of the state to give to pupils receiving in
struction at the expense of the general public a thor
ough and practical understanding of the fundamen
tal branches of an English education. He believed
that a pupil who was able to read with readiness, to
write a clear and legible hand, with every word spell
ed correctly, to solve any practical example which
might arise in the mathematics of everyday life, to
understand the geography of his country and the his
tory connected with it, was fitted for the duties and
responsibilities of citizenship. With such practical
instruction in the ordinary branches of an English
education, he believed that pupils would be fitted for
all the ordinary requirements of active business life,
and if, after having received this education, they de
sired a course of instruction in the higher mathemat
ics, sciences or languages, they could, and would get
that education from the private schools. In 1878,
Mr. Mason was united in marriage, in Bloomington,
Illinois, to Miss Libbie L Lawrence, who is a class
ical graduate of the Illinois Wesleyan university.
They have been blessed with two interesting children.
His sister, Lettie A. Mason, now Mrs. Dr. William
E. Quine, of Chicago, was the first medical mission
ary in Central China. She was sent out by the Wo
man's Foreign Missionary Society, and established
the first medical dispensary at Kinkiang. In June,
1881, Mr. Mason was admitted to the bar of the su
preme court of the state of Illinois, standing second
in a class of over fifty, which passed examination at
that term of court Believing that the West offered
greater opportunities for a young man than the East,
Mr. Mason resigned his position at Jacksonville, 111.,
and early in the year 1883 removed to Tacoma, with
the determination of making it his home and becora
ing a factor in the growth and development of tho
place. He engaged at once in the real estate and
loan business. During the time he has resided in
Tacoma his business has extended generally through
nnt whnU nf thfl territory. By means of his ex-
tpnftivA ftpntiflintancG in the East, and by the care and
attention he bestows on business entrusted to him, he
has placed loans on Washington Territory real cs
Afft nmnnrinfr tn nvpr a million dollars, in upwards
of twelve hundred loans. Daring tho time he has
had but seven foreclosures of
mortgages, and in every case the property brought
more than the principal, interest and costs of fore
closure. No one who has made an investment through
i, im i... io . ,U1r in principal or intercut
Mr. Mason's offices are located in the south ba ol
nA f M nmn block, of which an lllas-
tration is given in this issue, He has, perhaps, tne
most handsome and complete offices of tho kind to bo
found in Washington Territory. In looking after
the details of his extensive business, Mr. Mason is
assisted in his offico by seven clerks.
The high estimation in which Mr. Mason is held
by tho business community is evidenced by the fact
that ho is expected to tako a prominent part in all
movements for the general welfare. Ho is ono of tho
trustees of tho American District Telegraph Co,, of
Tacoma; is vico president of tho Tacoma Street Kail
way Co., and at tho last meeting of tho stockholders
of the Bellingham Bay & British Columbia lUilroml
Co. was elected ono of tho trustees of that corpora
tion. For a short timo Mr. Mason engaged in jour
nalism, and conducted tho business with tho snme
prudent zeal and persistent energy which aro his
chief characteristics. From February, lkSfl, until tho
fall of that year, he published tho Tacoma Ihiihj
News, and daring that period moro than trebled tho
circulation of that influential journal. A man of such
sound judgment, strict integrity, careful attention to
tho details of business, with a liberal and broad edu
cation, and endowed with great forco of character, is
invaluable to a growing community. His services,
also, aro very valuable to those seeking an investment
for their means, and who desire to placo thera in ex
periencod and safo hands. Nono safer than Mr. Ma
son can found. All who have invested through
him have mado monoy, somo of them trebling their
money within twclvo months, Mr. Mason will clwr
f ally answer all inquiries addresHod to him by Strang
ers soeking information about Tacoma and real es
tate in tho surrounding country, and intending in
vestors are assured that all statements emanating
from him may bo fully relied upon.
THE SEEDTIME OF LOVE
Iuwn in tin inflow a lololiik'a lrirlii,
Tim tall Kr 'I'lf'' over;
Only i mlriulw !' Wvi- olf liU iiii(ln;
To k out tltrt hi art of rl i i lovir.
UiUm aro wr)toiilnK-fovr an ro.ln;
A blw jy I" ",at" ,n u,,)'
Koftly tUf vtviu to In r own wi'Mritf
A ilarifitf aii'l rl nt lovi-r U li.
Cuiloo b'l'l In U iiwa'low Kra"'"
Tin- cu. ko U Wriin from ti)v m l lraki;
!i.rth tin- m allow low II Itfl Hiw
A Ion, fofkrl li4low ifii'U In lU wik.
Out In tin r liar'l IM fruit UU ar IlifV,
Tin' tli"M tr U wlit i'l it lfilt"l ;
Ix an iu li to li In tl farl-fi Ul-iw.
faury n l Uiiili- l"-ly
Tli k-liw fuk o tli H a'vr ;
Wliat 1 it iutt f ? II ki'i n U ni t ;
TV cMnlni 'i 'fifti U tr,iuut of vr.