Litchfield enquirer., 1843-11-23
From The Bangor Wing.
ELTHU BURRITT

After pleasant. social interview, and par
taking OF a repast of fruits, Mr.. B. was re-
quested 10 favor the association with such
remarks as he deemed expedienl, particular
". upon the subject of his experience in men,
tai culture.
Mr. B. stated that he felt highly honorcd
with the attentions he had received from his
brethren, the members of the association
He was mechanic, and whatever station
ne might be called TO fill, he should esteem
II an honor that he was mechanic. Labor,
physical labor, he thought was wise APP
polntment for man; and even if we had
vegetable connection with the earth, so that
by slipping off our shoes we could draw sus-
tenance for the support Of our bodies from
the earth, even then physical labor would
be necessary 10 give energy and strength to
intellectual acquisitions. He expressed
himself highly gra:ificd with Mainc-its vast
resources were constantly opening, and the
intelligence and enterprise of her citizens
ness. He alluded TO the facilities for nanu-
featuring, and thought there was no State in
the Union aftordlng greater encouragement
TO the farmer and the mechanic than Maine.
lie had been requested 10 give some ac-
count of his experience and progress; but
he was sure he had not accomplished any,
thing that any mechanic might not have
done under the same circumstances, as he
always learnt very slowly. He felt, as yet,
that he was a mere boy in education, but he
hoped, by close application and constant ac-
| QUESTION to become man. But if he could
help any one-if il would do any body good
he would, however liable he might render
himself 10 the charge of egoism, give them
an account of his manner Of business and Of
study. But he had no advice TO give-he
! could not recommend any one 10 follow his
example-he could not consider himself
pattern-pcrhapshc nigh. suggest thought,
and, in hope Of this, he would venture to
speak of himself.
He was, he said, the youngest of many
brethren, and his parents were poor. His
means of education were limited to the ud
vantages Of the district school, where the
graduating point was fixed at cyphering as
far as the " Rule of three ;" reading, without
| spelling, and writing ones name. At the
age of sixteen, on the death of his father, he
apprcnticed himself to blacksmith in his
native village. New Britain, in Connecticut.
BY means of the Parish library, he had ac-
quired On indomitable taste for reading
The books from this library could only DO
taken out once in several weeks, and to the
circumstance Of not being able to procure
books when he desired, he thinks may be
attributed the keenncss Of his appetite for
them.
Al the age Of twenty one, he thought he
would lose one winter and attend school, as
his brother, who, by his own cxertions had
obtained Il collegiate education, had opened
a school in the village. His principal OBJ
ject was to acquire sufficient mathematical
knowledge TO become q surveyor. He
thought if he could measure field upon
trigonomical principles, and read Latin, he
should reach the summit of his ambition
| In ,1,x,
mathematical studies, and in the evening 10
reading Latin and French. In this way he
spent the winter, often feeling when he re-
tired to bed that what he had learned that
day cost him one dollar and fifty cents, and
when he arose in the morning, that what he
should learn that day would cost him one
dollar and fifty cents
On the opening of the spring, as he had
lost winters work, he undertook to per-
form the work Of two men at his trade. He
commenced work al the carly dawn and
worked until about eight o'clock in the cvc-
ming, and then threw himself into bed, aud
with Spanish or Italian book open before
him upon the window stool, would read ua-
til his eyes became heavy, when he would
exlinguish his light and drop TO sleep, leav.
ing his book open 10 be resumed the night
following. He found too, that he had n few
spare minutes while his iron was heating in
his furnace for brazing; and he carried his
Greek grammar in the crown Of his great
straw hat, and while waiting, he would study
out the conjugaion of some verb
Another winter came, and with il an in
creased desire for further acquaintance
with the languages which he steadily pur-
sued. AZ length he could not be reconcicd
to limit himself in the Investigations OF the
philosophy, derivation and affinity of the
diferen! European tongues, upon which he
had entered, 10 few hours each day, and
he accordingly laid down his hammer and
went TO New Haven for the purpose of pur-
suing his studies Here he stopped at tav-
ern Boarding house, ana in the morning us
soon as the fire was built in the setting room.
he would commence his studies in some Ian.
guagc, and continue them until breakfast
time While the boardcrs were in the house
he would be engaged in reading some Span
ish or Italian work. When they had gone.
and the room was quiet, he would take down
his books and pursue the study of the Greek
until nearly noon, when he would pack
away his books and as the borders came in
would happen 10 be there reading his Italian
book he had lain aside in the morning. In
this way he studied six languages. lie at
length returned to his work, but his brother
had procured Latin school for him to teach,
and 10 this he devoted himself for about
year. Al the expiration Of about Two years,
| he again returned to the forge with such
books in the languages he had studied as he
could procure. lie now entered upon the
study Of the Hebrew. and in few weeks he
allotted il 10 himself TO read two chapters in
morning.
4 INN hItsin