The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-10
ALEARNED BLACKSMITH.

N recent meeting OF the friends of Education in
nFsso county, Mass, held at Taunton, among others
Mr. " ebster and Gov. Everett addressed the meeting
subsequently to the able address Of Mr. Mann. Gov.
Everett introduced into his speech extract Of most
interesting letter from Learned Blacksmith" illus
aratng the truth which he repeats that every one may
lind leisure for reading and study We think read
will peruse with interest the following extract from
Coy Everetis speech
1T is great mistake to suppose that it is necessary
to be professional man, in order to have leisure to in
dulge a taste for reading. Far otherwise. | believe
the mechanic, the engineer, the husbandman the trader
have much leisure the average Of in the learn
ed professions. know some men busily engaged in
these different caings Of active life, whose minds are
well stored with various useful knowledge acquired
from books. There would be such men, If educa-
ton in Common Schools were, it well might be,
of higher order and if Common School libraries well
furnished were introduced into every district trust
in due time they will be. II is surprising, sir now
much may be effected, under the unfavorable
circumstances for the Improvements of the mind, by
person resoutey bent on the acquisition Of knowledge
letter has lately been put into my hands, bearing date
the 9th of September interesting in ITSELF and so
strongly illustrative Of this point that will read por-
ton OF il though written am sure without the
least view to publicity.
was the youngest, says the writer of many breth-
rem, and my parents were poor. My means Of educa-
ton limited to the advantages Of district school,
and those again were ciTcumscribed by my fathers
death, which deprived me, the age Of fifteen of those
scanty opportunities, which had previously enioyed
few months after his decease, apprenced myself to
blacksmith IN my native village. Thither carried
ndomitable for reading which had previously
CURED through the medium of the society library all the
historical works in which, had at that time perused
AT the expiration of little than half my appren-
tceshp, suddenly conceived the idea OF studying La
tin. Through the assistance Of elder brother, who
had himself obtained collegiate education by his
tons, completed my Virgil during evenings Of one
winter. After some time devoted to Cicero and few
other Latin authors, | commenced the Greek this
time it necessary that should devote every hour
of daylight and part Of the evening the duties Of my
apprenticeship. Still ] carried my Greek grammar in
my hat, and often found moment, when | was heating
large iron, when could place my book open before
against the chimney, OF my forge, and go through
with mpto npfes, tupci, and unperceved by my fellow
apprentices, and to my confusion of face, with detr
mental effect to the charge in my fire. At evening
sat down unasssted, to the Had Of Homer, twenty
books of which measured my progress in that language
during the evenings OF another winter | next turned
to the modern languages, and much gratiied to
learn that my knowledge of the Latin furnished me with
key to the literature Of most Of the languages Of Flu
rope These circumstances gave new impulse TO the
desire Of acquainng myself with The philosophy, deri
walton aud affinity of the different European tongues
could not he reconciled TO limit myself in these nvest
cations to few hours after the aruous abors of the
day ] therefore laid down my hammer, and went to
New Haven Whcre Teclted 10 native teachers IN
French Spanish German, and Italian | returned at
the expiration of two years to the forge bringing with
such books in those languages | could procure
When had read these books through, commenced
the Hebrew with an awakened desire of examining
ther field. and by assduous application was enabled
in few weeks TO read this language with such facility
that allotted it to myself, task, to read two chap
tiers in the Hebrew Bible before breakfast each morn
ing this and hour at noon being all the time that
could devote to myself during the day After becoming
somewhat familiar with this language, looked around
for the of initiating myself into the fields Of
Oriental literature and my deep regret and concern,
found my progress in this direction hedged in by the
of requisite books began Immediately to devise
means Of obvialng this obstacle and after many plans,
j concluded to seek place sailor on board some
ship bound for Europe thinking in this way to have OPP
portuntes of collecting at different ports such works
the modern and oriental languages found necessary
for this object left the forge at my native place to
carry this plan into execution. travelled on foot to
Boston, distance Of more than hundred miles, to
find some vessel bound TO Europe. In this was dis.
appointed, and while revolving in my mind what steps
next TO take, accidentally heard Of the American An
tquarian Society in Worcester. | Immediately bent
my steps towards the place visited the hall of the
A. S and found there to my infinite qualification such
collection Of ancient modern and oriental languages as
never before conceived to be collected in one place and
sir you may imagine with what sentiments Of gratitude
was affected, when upon evncng desire to examine
Of these rich and works. was kindly invited
to unlimited participation in all the benefits Of this roble
institution. Awaiting myself Of the kindness Of the d.
rccors spent about three hours daily at the hall,
which with an hour at noon and about three in the even
ing made up the portion Of the day which appropriated
to my studies, the rest being occupied IN aduous ma