Litchfield enquirer., 1849-11-08
BIOGRAPHY.


u
ter lesson Of what unpatroa;zed and in
aided genius, when directed by industry
and noble aims, may do. than the liz of
Carlos D. Stuart. His father was poor
but intelligent mechanic Of Verlnont.--3
And young Carlos first began his stud
les at night, in og-cabin, snugly be-.
slowed upon a dye-tub, in the chimney
corner, where lie read G;oboa and the
Poets By the light of the fire.
When he was eleven years cid, his Eath-
err moved from Vermont into the State
of New York, and took up his abode ul-
tlmasely IN mountain, On the shores of
Lake Champlain and Lake George
Here, for four years, young Stuart's en-
ployment was driving oxen in the log
glng business, where, touse his own words.
he went whistling about, barefooted,
ragged, away from schools, and soc;ety,'
At the expiration of this time, he be-
gan to feel his nature forcing him out in
to some larger plans Of life. That is, he
says himself, he was willing to black
boots or so before the mast. if SC he
could get out of the mountain.
So he came down to the nearest Will
age, Fort Aun, to seek out a chance for
himself. And, as he got near the place.
he began to look about his person 10 see
if he could determine in his own mind
about what hiad of a figure he would cut
in the streets. All was quite well ex-
cept his jacket, has omIyjacket, which was
worn out, and had been torn to pieces
under falling tree besides. So, under
the momentary influence of that philos-
ophy which teaches that it is better to
have no jacket at all than ragged one,
he literally tore it from his shoulders and
arms, and dashed it off of the BRIDGE in
to the mill-pond, and went on jacketless
into town.
In this place he obtained employment
as salesman and hook keeper in store
where he remained several years, grow
ing in the confidence and favor of lis en-
ployers. and growing also to be a mar
vel to the old ladies of the village. By
the latter he was Familiarity called the
potter And from the q, my anecdotes
we have heard, in that place, Of his boy
ish tricks, we conclude that innocent 1un,
and good, hearty laughter masss up
for him The Ben Ionson reputation of a
tom v;t.
When he was twenty years of age, he
came to New York CITY, with tie re-
spectacle sum of twenty dollars in
his pocket, to begin life with. Here he
received his first impressions of city life
from negro, who stole his trunk and
umbrella from the steamboat wharf,
And the next morning he obtained his
first ideas of city maIaers while wander.
ing down Wall Street, gazing at the signs
and wonders which met his eyes, while
a crowd OF men and boys we're gazing st
HIM with the same astcnishnaent and de-
light. lie was thorough Canadian il his
dress; gray paats. gray coat, gray vest,
Prodiglous gray evercoa:, and the whole
mounted with ar enormous Canadian gray
fur cap, which measured nearly four feet
in circumference. The appearance of a
live moose, from Lake Umbagog, in the
middle OF Wall Street, would not have
CIcatSu aAOfe e1c;sC!nenE.
In this mornings walk, he attracted
the attention of Duncan G. Pell, ESQ.,,
who, after sounding hin while, invited
higa to his house, and became his friend
and adviser. And, through this gentle
mans kindness, Stuart obtained a stua-
ton as salesman and book keeper in
mahogany ware store, where he remained
two years. at a salary Of forv dollars per
week; and out of his wages he sent home,
annually, thirty dollars to his mother
While he was in the mahogany business.
he wrote q good deal Of poetry, which
had what is called "a popularrun' through
the newspapers. And, fred by this sue
cess, he fell to writing poetry by the
rood, and actually completed book of
22s pages Of original poems in less than
six weeks. This book bears the uamis-
taxable marks Of Austc and youth but it
bears also the unmistakable marks of gen.
ius.
At this time, he travelled extensively in
the United States, Canada, West Indies,
and Europe. While in Europe, he wrote
several series Of letters for the Tribune.
Sun, and SONS other papers, which at
tracted an unusual degree of interest. and
added ve'y much to the literary reputa-
ton of their author.
Since his return from Europe he has
been the editor Of the New York Sun.
in the place of Major Noah, who has so
long occupied that chair. And under
Stuarts direction. the paper seems to
have obtained. as from Heaven. . new
soul. The stiff, grim. chat:ering. unprin-
cipled conservatism. that of old marked
its pages, has been driven out. and
manly, progressive, but temperate tone
has come in It's place. When Horace
Greeley is not at hoaae in his own edi-
torial chair. Stuart is probably the ablest
eIitor of the new York Dailies. He has
clear. direct. and strong mind. driven
to unceasing action by warm and rest