PORTERIANA

Speranza

COLE ALBERT PORTER was born on a 750-acre farm in Peru, Indiana, on June 9, 1891.

His parents were Samuel Fenwick Porter and Kate Cole Porter.

By the time he was ten, young Cole had already composed two songs, a feat that so delighted his proud mother that she had one of them, "The Bobolink Waltz", published in Chicago.

This musical interest, however, did not please Porter's wealthy grandfather, J. O. Cole.

Cole, who had made a fortune in the lumber business in West Virginia, was anxious to leave his grandson a large inheritance, but only on the condition that the boy became a lawyer.

Porter's grandfather sent him to Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, and to Yale, with the hope that he would become interested in his studies and get his mind off music.

Porter still found time to write.

When he was seventeen, Remick published an early effort called "BRIDGET", and within the next two years, he created those immortal college tunes, "BINGO ELI YALE" and "YALE BULLDOG SONG".

Although music interested him far more than his regular studies, Porter dutifully entered Harvard Law School.

His obvious lack of interest in the law soon became apparent to the dean, who suggested that he might make a more impressive scholastic record at the Harvard School of Music.

Once grandfather Cole finally have his grudging consent, Porter enthusiastically began his study of music.