Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-11-23

over hundred miles. o. arriving in Bos-
ton he could find no ship bound to Europe,
and weary and disappointed and only q dol.
la' in his pocket, and among strangers, he
accidentally heard of the American Antigua
ri1u Society at Worcester, and before an
hour passed., he was on his way thilher.-
Here he found such collection in the var-
Gus languages as he never before conceived
to be collected in one place.
He engaged situation to work, spending
what little time he could at the Hall. Al
the expiration Of year, he engaged to work
for ten cents an hour and board himself,
with the condition that he might woyK s'2h
hours as best suited him. He prolonged his
visits at the Antiquarian Hall. A little inci-
dent occurred about this time whian gave
him some pleasure. In looking over the
books in the Library, he hit upon Grammar
and Dictionary of tie old Celtic language,
ana thinking it would be quite q curiosity to
the Antiquarian Society of Paris, 10 receive
a letter from an American Mechanic written
IN such a lang1age, he sat himself down to
Inc task; Gevoting about one hour each day
to 1t until at length it was accomplished and
forwarded. One day while working a: the
anvil, a bundle was put into his hands, con.
tanning the printed transactions of the Anti
qnnrian Society of Paris, and his Celtic let.
ter, and complimentary letter to him.
About this time, thinking that if he could
obtain some German work, just published,
that he could translate it, and might perhaps
ct something for it, and earn q little in that
way; and, with this intention, having re-
ce;vcd kind treatment from Hon. VIM. Lin
cola, he addressed him note of inquiry land
annexed short account Of himself. A few
days after, while in the Antiquarian Hall,
his friend, The librarian, handed him paper
ina = hot nod r,l IF
GOV. Everitt's delivered at Taunton. He
examined the paper and found there his let
ter. He was so astonished and overcome
and shocked that his first impression was to
leave the hall, without going home for his
great coat, and start off for the north west
where he was unknown, and then change his
name!
II is modest tmidity is we'll illustrated
ny an incident that occurred about this time.
In ii religious meeting he had for some time
been in the habit of attending, and when on
ay Il few persons were present, attempted to
make few remarks, when he found his
knees trembling, and his teeth actually chat
serng from fear. He supposed he should
never be able to face an audience. 1t hap
rencd, however, that in the political cam.
Tnjgn Of 1910, when there was great en;husi-
sun at the Log Cabin in Worcester, after
erNerai persons had spoken, that he was CAL
Id ou', and unwilling TO disappoint his
friends he appeared upon the platform and
succeeded in making speech. lie was soon
AFTER invited to deliver a lecture before the
Lyceum at Lowell, and other places. He
attempted The task and succeeded. He was
invited to lecture in New York, and suppo
sing they had some curiosity to see and hear
genuine specimen of Yankee, he conclu-
dcd 10 accept the invitation since which
~, h,,t ~, H1nk, iF1l rinor Il
writing for the press. He one year edited a
monthly periodical of literature, half in En-
eIish aud haiti in French. lie wrote il large
amount Of matter for large religious paper,
in New York, under the reasonable eXpecta-
ton that he should receive pay, particularly
as many of his articles were published as
leading editorials, but wben he thought it
time 10 rNpCct sumclung, az to know what
he might Expect, he was met with great at
tcctcd astDaiShment that man should think
uf asking pay for giving his thoughts to the
pablo. Shortly after,he was asked pay the
subscription price to the periodical that had
heen sent to him while he thus furnished
matter! He is now n pail correspondent
for some periodicals in the country, and will
soon commence the publication Of weekly
newspaper at Worcester, and will resume
his labors at the forge.
Mr.. B. gave it as his opinion that the stu
alton of an apprentice to the mechanical bu
sincss is one Of the most favorable for maxi
ing intellectual progress; and if he had his
life to live over again, he should prefer to be.
gin as an apprentice. The labor of the day
secures health and gives keen relish for
study in the hours of relaxation. The
means of the apprentice for acquiring habits
of reading, and taste for study, are alrea-
dy respectable, and are constantly increasing.
Application-thc right use of spare minutes
are the great secrets of success in the moral
and intellectual enterprises, the pursuits of
which is the perogative OF man.
What he has accomplished, has been by
constant acquisition, atom by atom, as the
little ant builds its hillock. Mr.. B. is yet
young man only lhirty.two, and when we
consider that he has mastered more than f'-
" languages by his personal efforts. thvs
showing 4 vast amount of acquisition, while
his eloquent and able lectures, his literary
productions, and his versatile and polished
conversation all prove that his sphere of
knowledge is extensive, and that his mental
machinery possesses power and complete
ness showing in his acquisitions and charac.
ter, an instance OF Standardization without
parallel in the history of mankind.
We have thrown together here certain
facts and impressions gathered from what
we have been able 10 learn from his remarks,
from frequent conversations, and from what
has been written. We have performed this
with the greater pleasure, from the hope
that young men would find in this example,
new encouragement to persevere in self-cul.
turc. The question has often bcen.asked u.s.
whether Mr.. B. has a family, and rs every
thing relating to him is of interest, we will
conclude by saying that the only thing we