Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-08-04
From the Boston Journal.
E J. | ii U Blu X r | Il T


binary men of his age, and the history of
his life furnishes one of the most striking
illustrations ofthe great result which will at
tend industry and perseverance in pursuit
of knowledge The incidents of his life
are replete with instruction, and presents a
noble example for the emulation of the me-
chanic or the laborer who has been debarred
by poverty, or other circumstances, from
acquiring an education in early youth
Elihu Burritt was born in New Britain Conn.
in the year 1911, of honest and respectable
parents. He enjoyed the privilege of at
tending the District School for some months
every year, until he was is years old and
by his diligence and attention to his studies,
he became well versed in the elementary
branches Of an English education and by
cutivating taste for reading, he acquired
much valuable information. When he ar
rived at the age of Is, his father died, and
he was apprenticed to the trade Of bIa;k-
smith; and when the term of his indenture
had expired, and attained his legal, majority,
he had gained the reputation Of being u
young man of good moral and religious char
acter, skillful workman in his vocation,
uhu OHC WIN CnCItSn All diuOUl
ment for books.
The BIBLE was the first book which he
thoroughly studied-and at very early age
he was familiar with almost every passage
in the Old and New Testament. He next
availed himself Of the opportunity of read
ing, afforded by the Social Library in the
town in which he lived afterwards was
dependent on the kindness Of his friends.-
Before he reached the age Of twenty-one he
was conversant with the English classics,
both in prose and poetry, and passed de-
lghtluIly many of his leisure hours in poring
over the pages of Milton, Shakespeare,
Young, Thompson, Cowper, &c. In the
winter of the year in which he attained his
majority, he commenced, under the direc-
ton of brother-in-law, who was an accom-
plshed scholar, the study of Mathematics
a study which, perhaps, exceeds all others,
in tendency TO strengthen and discipline
the mental powers. About the same time,
he commenced the study of the Latin Lam
guage for the purpose of reading Virgil in
the original He soon after turned his at
tentlon to French which he mastered with
wonderful facility. He then acquired the
Spanish, and afterwards the Greek and the
German languages. During two winters he
devoted nearly all of his time to study-but
he was occupied large portion Of his time
during Spring and Summer in working at
his trade as blacksmith and in this exem-
plary way acquiring the means of subss-
tence
When about % years old, he accepted an
invitation TO teach grammar school, but
this employment did not suit his convenience
or inclination. He was then engaged for
year or two as an agent for manufactur-
ing company-when he returned to his an
0iI, and has since been industriously en-
gagged in the honorable occupation of a
blacksmith, to which he was apprenticed in
his youth, but devotes his leisure hours to
literary pursuits.
After having mastered the Latin, Greek,
and Hebrew languages, and all the langua-
ges of modern Europe, he turned his atten-
ton to oriental literature and in order to
avail himself Of the facilities afforded by the
valuable library ofthe American Antiqnari-
an Society at Worcester, he removed to
that place, where he has ever since resided
and been regarded as an useful and exem-
plary citizen. BY dnt of hard labor, he
has become as proficient in the most diff
cult languages of Asia, and in many ofthose
languages of Europe, which are now nearly
disused and obsolete-among them are Gaze
lie, Welsh, Celtic, Saxon, Gothic, Icelandic,
Russian, Scalyonic, Armenian, Chaldaic,
Syriac. Arabic, Elhiopic, Sanscript and
and Tamel Indeed it was stated as long
ago as 1888 by Governor Everett in an adj
dress before the Mechanic Association in
Boston. that MIR. Burritt at that time, by his
unaided industry alone, had made himself
acquainted Nth FIFTY LANGUAGES
And Mr.. Burritt shows no disposition to
relax from his abors. He usually devotes
eight hours TO labor, eight hours to study
and eight hours to physical indulgence and
repose-7and by pursuing this course he en-
Joys the advantages vainly coveted by many
literary men--those connected with "a sound
mind in healthy body Nor does he con-
fine his labors to the mere acquisition of
literary wealth. He also dilf'nses il with al
liberal hand, He has written many yalua-
bic articles for periodicals of high standing
land he has delivered many lectures, which
have been replete with interest and valuable
has been repeatedly lis
tened to by large and highly respectable au-
diences, in New York, Philadelphia, and
other places, with edifcation and delight
He has not yet reached the meridian of life,
and we trust that many years of usefulness
are before him., for he is man of whom
New England may well be proud.
Such is ELIHU BURRITr the hard gorking
mechanic, who is well known by the appel
laton of the LEARNED BLACKSMITH
When Harry was old, to Maria he said,
"My dear if you please, we will marry
Maria replied, with toss Of her head,
al w Ill ,ued the old Hnrr ~ !