Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-08-03
ELinU BuRRITT.
arns lsassrp BLACKSMITH


Ia xbo !. Fliha Burriui me,hinks is asked by
N .. Of cur readers who have NJ, interested them
,,e, ia the biographical details Of eminent schol
4, WHY vas Eiihu Bufru selected 10 deliver the
~ course Of lectures at the Tfemou, Theatre al.
q, ID, sudden and wonderful translormaiioni We
! ID .n5ssvuf TO answer the question.
4 Tllha Barriu Is one Of the most extraordinary
o. his age, and the history Of bis lie furnishes
H. o. the striking illustrations Of The great re-
IA, which viii auend industry aud perseverance,
ysfssl Of kno~ledge. The incidents Of his life
~ fepsis with Instruction., and presents a noble
Stlnpis Tor the emulation Of the mschsnic or tic
ksaser Who has been debsrrcd by poverty, or other
rcsns,ances, from acquiring an education in osrlv
ssh Elihu Bsrfiu was born 10 New British.
~. In the wear 1871. OF honest and respectable
tsszs. lie enjoyed tho privilege OF attending the
*aasnst School for some months, every year, until
J. "a. 10 yesrs old. and by his diligence and at.
ksnion 10 his studies. he became we'll versed In the
Elementary branches Of an English education, and
D. cUliivahng taste for reading, he acquired much
y auabie information, When he arrived at the sg.
i6, his aIber died, and he was appren,iced to the
Isde Of bisoks,asih; and when the term o. his in.
keniure bad expired. and he had STAINED his legal
buIlonty, he had gained tho reputation of being a
oVae mao OF good moral aud religious character, q
Dsiliv workman ~ his vocation, and who cherished
d ujeni auachmen, for books
d The BisLE was The first book which he thorough.
! sudied-and at very early age. he was familiar
ih almost every passage IN the Old and New Tes-
meni. lie next avsiled himself Of the opportun-
! OF reading, afforded by the Social Library 10 the
pm in which he lived, and afterwards was Deepen.
n the kindness OF his fficads Before he reach
the age OF 81 he was convetsznt with the Eng
~ classics both IN prose and poetry, and passed
fghtfuliy many OF his leisure hours In porting over
pages Of Milton. Shakespeare, Young. Thomp-
b., Cowper, &c. Ia the winter of the year in
hch he attained his majority, he CONNIE need, IN
the direction OF a brother ln.law, who was an
teonplished scholar, the study Of naaihemaiics-a
1Udy which, perhaps, exceeds all Others in a ten
fucy 10 strengthen and disc pline the mental pow
&,. Abou, the same time, he commenced the stu
Of the Latin language. for the purpose Of reading
n fil IN the original. lie soon after turned his at
4n,ion to French, which he mastered with wonder
/ facility. lie then acquired the Spanish, and az
rwards the Greek and the German Languages
|uung two winters he devoted nearly all his time TO
Dndy-bUi he was occupied large portion of his
he during Spring aad Summer ia working at his
|ade - blacksmith, and in this exemplary way
POURING the means Of subsistence.
When about 20 years old, he accented an invita-
10 teach grammar school, but this employment,
not suit his convenience or inclination. lie
as then enga ed for year two as an agent for
nnufacturing company, when he returned 10 his
and has since been industriously eng aged in
aoarprsblr occupation OF q blacksmith, 10 which
was SppfcniCcu IN MS yOutn, Dut cevOteS his
sure hours to literary pursuits.
lher having mastered the Latin, Greek. and He
~ languages, and all the languages OF modern
nope, be turned his attention To oriental
IN order to avail himself OF the facilities afford
BY the valuable library OF the American Antigua
Society al Worcester, he removed TO that place,
asre be has ever since rcsided-and been regard.
As an useful and exemplary citizen. By dlnt of
q labor, he has become proficient in the most
heut languages OF Asia, and in many of those
lhcuages Of Europe, which are now nearly disused
ooseleie-among them are Gaelic, Welsh, Gel.
Saxon Gothic, Icclandic, Russian, Scalvonic,
nsaian, Chaifaic, Syriac, Arabic, Sanscrit, and
'aIoi' Indeed it was stated as long ago as 1888
Governor Everett in an address before the Me-
'aic Association in Boston, that Mr. Burriu at
hi lime, BY his unaided industry alone, had made
A'e1 acquainted psh WITTY LaSouAoEs
And Mr.. Burrit shows no disposition 10 relax
n his lsbors. lie usually devotes eight hours TO
r. sigh, hours to study. and eigh, hours to phys
nduigenoes and rfPose-and by pursuing this
s,s. he enjoys tho advantages vaialy coveted by
my literary men, those connected with "A sound
ad IN a healthy body Nor does he conhnc his la.
= To The mere acquisition Of literary wealth. He
!" dauses 1t with a liberal hand. lie has written
pay valuable articles for periodicals Of high stand
snd he has delivered many lectures, which have
IN repeis with interest and valuable Information
Ia. been repeatedly list ned to by large and
hi' respectable audiences. in New York, Phila-
paia, and other places, with edihcaton aud de-
lie has not yet reached the meridian OF lfe
We ,tus, that many years Of usefulness are be.
him. for he is q man Of whom New England
~ well he proud
u s'eh Is Elhu Burriit. the hard ,cork,ng mechan-
Who Is well known by tho sppellalion Of the
|FA'sssD BLACKSMITH. Boston Journal.