Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-05-08
JUDGE OF. +"


street in which stands the column of King
Sigismund, round whose pedestaLm gener-
ally be seen seated number Of women sell
ing fruit, cakes, and a variety Of eatables, to
the passers by. The young paused to
look at a figure whose oddity attracted their
attention. This a man apparently be-
tween fifty and sixty years Of age; his coat,
once black was worn threadbare; bis broad
hat overshadowed a thin. wrinkied face: his
form was greatly emaciated, yet he walked
with firm and rapid step. He stopped al
one of the stalls beneath the column, purchas-
ed haf-penny worth of bread, ate part Of it..
put the remainder into his pocket and pursu-
ed his way towards the palace Of General
ZaIonezek, lieutenant Of the kingdom, who,
in the absence of the Car, Alexander. exer-
cised royal authority in Poland.
DO you know that man asked one stu
dent Of the other.
i do not; but Judging by his lugubrious
costume, and no less mournful countenance.
should guess him to be an undeFtaker'
Wrong, my friend he is Stanislas Stas-
z;c.'
.Staszic = exclaimed the student, looking
/ after the man, who was then entering the PAL
/ ace. How can a mean, wretched- looking
man, who stops in the middle Of the street to
buy a morsel Of bread, be rich and powerful!
Yet. 50 it is replied his companion.
It nder this unpromlsing exterior is hid
den one OF our most influential ministers,
and one Of the most illustrious Scans of Eu-
rope
The man whose appearance contrasted 50
strongly with his social position, who was as
powerful as he seemed insignificant, as rIcn
as he appeared poor, owed all his fortune to
himseif-to his labo $, and to his genius.
OF low eXtraction-he left Poland, while
young, In order 70 acquire learning. He pass
ed some years IN the Universities of LeIpsic
and Gottlngen, continued his studies in tile
j College Of France, under BrsUn and D'Au-
banton; gained the friendship of Button;
visited tie Alps and the Appennines and,
finally, returned to his nat ye land, stored
with rich ard varied learning.
lie was speedily invited by nobleman to
take charge Of the education of his son. At
terwards. the Government wished to profit by
his talents; and taszic. from grade to grade,
/ was raised to the highest pests and the great
est dignties. His economical habits made
him rich. Five hundred serf cultivated his
lands, and he possessed large sums Of mon
ey placed at interest. When did any man
+ ever rise very far above the rank in which he
was, without presenting mark for envy aud
detraction TO aim their arrows against? Ee-
dlocrity always avenges Itself BY calumny :
and S >taszic found It, for the good folks Of
Wursaw were quite ready to attribute it TO his
+ sinister motives.
a group of idlers had paused close 10 where
the students We're standing. All Hooked at tie
minister. and every one had something to say
against AIn.
'Nh would ever think, cried noble.
+ whose gray moustaebes and old fashioned COS
tame recalled the era of King >igismuad
'that he could be a minister of State For
meriy, when a Paiatin trayersed the Capital.
a troop OF horsenen DO preceded and /. .ow-
/ ed him. Soldiers dispersed the crowds that
pressed to look at him. But what respect
can be felt for an old miser. who has not the
heart TO afford himself coach, and who eats
a piece q bread IN tile streets, just as q BEG
gar you'd do =
Ills heart said priest IS as hard as the
iron chest IN which lie keeps his god a uocr
man might die Of hunger at his door, before
he would give him aims
He has worn the same coat fof the last ten
years. remarked another.
He sits on the graund for fear Of wearing
out his chairs, ehluued ia a >aucy locking
lad, and every one Joined Id mocklug laugh
4 young pupil q one Of the public schools
had listened ID lHdiCHat siIeuce Il these spec
ches, ohIch cut him to the heart; and al
length. unable to restrain himself, lie ,urucd
towards the priest and said
a man distinguished for his generosifv
ought to be spoken Of with more respect -
hat does il signify 70 as how he dresses 81
what he eats, it he makes a noble use Of his
fortune
And pray what use does he make Of it 2
The Academy Of Sciences wanted place
for library, and had not fnnd~ to hire one
" no bestowed on them magnificent palace
" as il not Staszic 2
oh! yes, he is as greedy Of praise as Of
gold
Poland astaarns .e bar cb;af ~r1,-,- a.,
man who discovered the laws Of the sidereal
movement. " ho was il that raised to him a
monument worthy Of his renown-calling the
chisel Of CanoYa 70 honor the memory Of Co
pernicus ?!
1T was Staszic, replied the priest, and 50
all Europe honors for it the generous senator.
But, my young friend, it is not the MONDAY
sun that ought TO Iliumine Christian charity
Il you want really 10 know man, watch the
daily course Of his private life This osten-
tatious mIser, in the books which he publish
e, groans over the lot Of the peasantry, and
IN his vast domains be employs FIVE hundred
miserable serls. Go some morning TO his
house-theTe you will find poor miserable
woman beseechJng, with tears, a cold proud
hearted man who rePulses her. That man IS
StasZlc-that woman his sister Ought not
the naughty giver Of palaces, the builder Of
pompous statutes, rather 10 employ him self
IN protecting his oppressed serfs, and Telie-
wing his destitute relative 2
The Young man began to reply. but no one
would listen to him. Sad and detected at
herring one who had been to him a true gen
er3us friend. so spoken Of, he went 10 his
humble lodging
Next morning he repaired. at an early hour
TO the dwelling of bis benefactor. There he
met woman weeping. and lamenting the in
humanity Of her brother.
This confirmation Of what the PRIEST had
said, inspired the young man VIII fixed de-
termination. Il was Staszlc who had placed
him q. college, and supplied him with the
means Of continuing there. Now be would
reject his gilts-he would not accept benefits
from a man who would look unmoved at his
own sisters tears.
The learned minister, seeing his flvorite
y - A.