Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-05-10

uIuVI from tue leatneu world. winch Is
you know, decidedly in favor of the Ian.
guages."
81 would not wish wantonly TO differ
from the learned world" said Ben. "espe.
cially when they maintain opinions that
seem TO be founded on truth. But when
this is not the case, to differ from them
have ever thought my duty; and especially
since | studied Locke"
"Lockew cried the Governor with sur
! prise, "you studied Locke?'
eyes, sir, | studied Locke on the I'm
derstanding, three years ago, when I was
thirteen !"
"You amaze me, sir. You study Locke
on the Understanding at thirteen!'
eyes, sir, did"
"Well, and pray at what college did
you study Locke at thirteen for at Cam
bridge college in old England, where I got
my education, they never allowed the Sc
nlor class 10 study Locke until eighteen. %
"Why, sir, it was my misfortune never
to be at college or even at grammar school,
except nine months when ! was a child. -
Here the Governor sprang from bis seat
uiN S'dAI'IS al i)'l, Nllfu Out
"Never at college, well, and where
where did you get your education, prav %
"At home, sir, in a tallow chandler's
shop"
"In talow chander's shop - scream
ed the Governor.
eyes, sir, my father was poor old tai
low chandler with sixteen children, and l
was the youngest of all at eight years OF
age he put me TO school, but finding he
could not spare the money from the rest Of
the children to keep me there, he took me
home in the shop, where assisted him by
twisting the candle wicks and filling the
moulds all day, and at night I read by my
self. At twelve, my father bound me to
my brother, printer, in Boston, and then
| worked there all day at the case and
press, and again read by myself at night"
Here the Governor spanked bis hands
together, and put up loud whistle, while
his eye-balls, wild with surprise, rolled
about in their sockets as if in mighty
mind to hop out"
"lmPossi5le, young man - he exclaim-
ed, "lmpossibe, you are only sounding my
creduIity." Then turning to the Captain,
he said---"Captain, you are an intelligent
man, and from Boston pray tell me, can
this young man be aiming at anything but
TO quiz me 20
ono, indeed, please your excelency,"
replied the Captain, "Mr. Franklin is not
qulzzlng you; he is saying what is really
true, for | am acquainted with his father
and family"
The Governor then turning TO Ben, said,
more moderately; swell, my dear wonder
fol boy, | ask your pardon; and now pray
tell me, for l feel a stronger desire than
ever to hear your objection to learning the
dead languages"
"Why, sir, I object 10 it principally on
account of the shortncss of human life
Taking them one with another, men do not
live above forty years. Plutarch, indeed,
only puts it at thrty-three. But say forty.
Well, Of this, ten years are lost in child
hood, before any boy thinks of Latin
grammar. THIS brings the forty down tc
thirty. Now OF such moment as this to
spend five or six years to learn the dead
| languages, especially when all the best
! books in those languages are translated into
ours, and besides, we have already more
books on every subject than such short.
| lived creatures can ever acquire, seem.
very prepostcrous,"
"Well, what are you to DO with theil
great poets, Virgil and Homer, for exam.
pie; ] suppose you would not think. O
translatiGg Homer out of his rich native
Greek into your poor homespun English
would you %
"Why not, sir ?"
"Why | should as soon think Of trans
planting pineapple from Jamaica tc
Boston,"
"Well, sir, a skilful gardener, with hi
hot-house, would give US nearly as fine
pineapple as any in Jamaica. And St
Mr.. Pope with his fine Imagination, ha
given US Homer in English, with more 0
his beauties than ordinary scholars woult
find in him by forty years study Of tn
Greek. And, besides, sir, if Homer wer
not translated, am far from thinking
would be worth spending five or six year
to read him in his own language"
''You differ from the critics, Mr.. Frank
IN, LOT Tue CTlllCS all ttIl US MS UtdullS
are inmitable."
a "Yes, sir, and the naturalists tell us th5
: the beauties Of the basilisk are inimitable.
"The basilisk, sir Homer compare
with the basilisk l really don't under
stand you, SIR"
"Why, | mean, sir, that as the basilis
is the more to be dreaded from the beaut
: iul skin which covers its poison, SO is H,
mer for the bright coloring he throws ov,
l bad characters and passions Now, as
don't think the beauties of poetry are con
II parable to those of philanthropy, nor
thousandth part so importantto human haI
e piness, | must confess | dread Homer, e
'i pecially as the companion of youth. TT
e humane and gentle virtues are certain
l the greatest charms and sweetness of Iii
y And suppose, sir, you would hardly thin
l. of sending your son TO Achilles to lea
" these 2"
4 81 agree he has too much revenge in
Il composition"
% eyes, sir, and when painted in the &C