Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-05-10
One of the marke d Men of the Ace

The LEARNED BLACKsMIrH-ELHU BUR.
RIFT THE APOSTLE OF PEAcE--His parents wefe
poor and respectable, and they sent him to school
until he was sixteen years of are In that time
he acquired good English education, and hav-
ing taste tor reading, he gained great deal of
valuable information. AT sixteen he was appren-
uced to the blacksmith business. He persever-
ed IN his reading habits, and made himselfa thor
ough proficient in the Bible, a course of stndv
more valuable than any other. 1t is the founda-
ton Of all useful knowledge. From this he
passed into the study Of the English classics and
made himself master of the immense treasure
found In that department. At the age of twenty
one he studied mathematics, and then common
ced his astonishing career as linguist He
modestly said of himself some years ogo, 81 have
tired, by kind OF practical and philosophical pro-
cess, to contract such familiar acquaintance with
the head of family of languages, as to intro.
duce me to the other members of the same fami-
ly Thus, studying the Hebrew very critically
became readily acquainted with its cognate
languages, among the principal of which are the
Syrac, Chaldaic, Arabic, Samaritan, Ethiopic
&c The languages of Europe occupied nv
attention Immediately after had finished nv
classics; and | studied French, Spanish, Italian
and German under native teachers Afterwards,
pursued the Portuguese Flemish. Danish.
Celtic, then ventured on further east into the
Russian Empire; and the Sccvonic opened TO
me about a dozen of the languages spoken in
that vast domain"
Gov. Everett said, in 1885, that Elihu Burriu.
by his unaided industry alone, had made him
self acquainted with fifty languages Since
that time he has largely added to his acquisition
Mr.. Burritt says: "AIl that have accomplish
ed, or expect or hope to accomplish has been
and will be by that Flooding, patient persevering
process ofaccretion which puilds the ant heap
particle by partice-thought by thought fact
by fact; and if ever was actuated BY ambition.
its highest and farthest aspiration reached no
farther than the hope to set before young men OF
my country an example of employing those
fragments Of time called ''odd mompnts''
Louisville Courier.
Mr.. Burritt was born in the village of New
Britain, Conn, but III early lie he removed To
Worcester, where he could obtain access to the
Library of an Antiquarian Society. He devo-
ted himself to the treasures OF learning here O.
pened before hm--never, however, neglectng |
his shop and his sledge. He gave eight hours !
day 10 his anvil, and an equal length of time |
to book In lis way, he went on from day to !
day and from year to year, directing his alten-
ton more particularly to the acquisition of lam
guages, until ne surpassed. perhaps, all other
men IN the country as a linguist. The treas
urtS which ne met with in the literature of all
languages were carefully laid up in his phiIo-
pAic midland wishing an object commensu-
rate with tlc magnitude of his attachments.
Whcreo TO direct his ambition for good he re- |
solved 10 give the efforts and energies of his life
To the cause of universal peace and brotherhood
OF nations. 1t SEEMS very fitting dedication Of
himself. lie who has learned all languages,
ana can speak In the vcrnacuar tongue of all
people, may very appropriately rise up as an in
terpretcr between them in their misundarsland-
lngs, and perform the grateful services of
p'ace-naker As he raises his voice to address
one and then another of threatening comba,ants,
he VIII be NOR apt to arrest their attention, for
they Will BE- inclined to say Let us hear this
man. He is one OF us He speaks the lam
guag2 We speak.
Mr.. Burrtt has travelled much in the dis
charge o! his seit-assumeG but hcaven-born mis-
sion; and wherever he has gone, at home or in
foreign lands, he has scattered his olive leaves
and made deep impression on tie minds OF the
Eiruous. the thoughtful and good Philosophers,
Statesm II and phlianthrolists, in all lands, have
received him with honor, have regarded his mis-
sion ard us works with interest and admiration,
and bIlden him God speed in tie noble cause
There are lew non VINO have more exalted the
American name abroad, among those who do the !
thinking OF the world. and who will be the his
torans OF the present after ages, than Elihu Bar
rltt. Such man, rising upon advantages Of
wealth, conn Xions and educailon woud be de-
serving OF hgn and general COMMUNICATION, but
10 rist rom tie works op in spite of poverty and
tn necessity Of daily abory in pite Of all the
discourdg ments of The times not given to deeds
of hpro.sn in the intellectual world, entities the
victor to the homage OF mankind. Every Amer
lean must Be proud of EIihu Burritt, and should
delight to honor him.
Saint Louis Intclligcnce7.