The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01
For the National Era.
IVUNULUsIUN'J
Y0RTUITIES OF GREATNESS.
BY L. A. HINE.

FUkfUlTlES UF GBEAfNES.
BY L. A. HINR.
Nearly cotemporary with Shakespeare, we 6ud
Richelieu commencing a career of glory with q
lie on his tongue. He obtained the bishopric Of
Lucon, which his melsncholic brother had absn-
doned, by deceiving the Pope as to his age But
as the intoxication of his ambition subsidized, be
found himself the greatest sufferer by the false
hood, and, confessing his sin, begged absolution
of his spiritual master. But the Pope called him
a clever fellow, and let him pass Thus was com.
menced the acquisition OF that influence and pow
er before which kings trembled and princes
bowed in meekness.
In the middle Of the seventeenth century there
was an English boy Of mean and diminutive ap-
pearance, and hshind all other bOys o. A.s sve
He was constantly at the foot Of his class, and
verify it was believed thsts Uey would become
only cobbler, or bungler Of some other kind,
for surely the soul Of learning was not in him
But at the age Of twelve a change was wrought
in the character and fortune Of the youth, that
had never obtained reward Of merit and was
regarded by teacher and schoolmste as an inferior
At this time an alteration took place between
this backward boy and the one above him in the
class-whereupon the latter gave him very I'M
pleasant kick in the stomach. Enough The
pride of the boy was outraged revenge is
sweet-but he was too weak to cope with his OPP
ponent, physically. How, then, shall he be hum
bled? All, an idea-a splendid conception-he
resolved to surpass him In study, get above him
in the class, and there remain to look down upon
his enemy, and clip from him the laures he now
so vainly wears. This will be a triumph worthy
Of mention-peaceably got, none the less glo-
rious--a revenge that physical giants might envy
He resolved, and accomplished; became most
devoted scholar; commenced a career Of glory
and Sir Isaac Newton appeared with the key to
unlock the mysteries of motion, and to draught
truer chart of the stupendous Universe
In 1910, there appeared in the British Parlia-
ment rustic of most unprepossessing appearance
Totally destitute Of grace and refinement, harsh
of speech, rude in manners, and ugly Of counte-
nance, his colleagues were disposed to keep at a
to indulge, without interruption, his own rehec-
tions. How came such an half-civilized looking
man in such an important position2 Why, h
had lived over there in Cambridge very quietly
and honestly, and the people loved him for, how
ever ungsnial he looked to be, nevertheless h
he'd most upright heart. This man had been
gambler in his youth-but he reformed, and wa
known to have restored much money thus wrong
ly obtained Well, such honesty, together will
the natural modesty Of his social intercourse, ant
the unpretending demeanor Of the man, securet
the esteem of his neighbors, and they sent hin
down to London to assist in allaying the troubles
of the times. He appeared in his seat as legis
lator, and was described to be bankrupt, beg
carly fellow, entering Parliament with thread
bare, torn cloak and a greasy hst-with perhaps
neither of them paid for" Such were the auspi
ces under which the man appeared In public, who
in the space Of thirteen years, by the murder o
one king and the Punishment OF another, ascend
ed the throne, and was invested with the roya
robes Such was Oliver Cromwelll But OF
such slender thread once hung the loyalty o.
Britain and the glory Of the man Oliver! In
1887, three years before his appearance in Par
lament, we find a ship lying In the Thames in
which Oliver and his family had taken passage
to America, in the hopes Of securing, In the new
world, an independence for his children. He had
no dream Of ambition--he simply desired to be g
good parent, and render his children happy. But
this unpretending man, who possessed large
share of Natures freedom Of spirit, found the
Government lining her strong arm against him,
In the shape Of q proclamation forbidding his de-
parture from the realm without license. This he
knew could not be obtained, and he took his bag
gage and his babes from the ship, resolved to
abide such fortune as was In store for him and
them. From this moment, he felt himself strong
man; there was q mighty power opposing his free
dom and his manhood, and, under the pressure,
be grew into self conscious giant. The result
we know. The Government had profted by let
ting Oliver have his own will that time for doubt
less Charles ] would have kept his head, and
Britain had the honor Of preserving an unbroken
succession Of her kings. But Cromwell over
turned the throne, substituted his own greasy hat
for the crown, and ruled the nation during the
remainder Of his life under the simple title Of
Protector. What he would have done had he
come to America, We know not; perhaps our In
dependence would have been sooner achieved.
But this Is not the first time that the fate Of
Britain was suspended by thread. Alfred the
Great was spurred TO wider views Of ambition
and glory by the precipitate action of the Romsn
Cardinals and the accidental delay Of carrier,
thus defeating plan Of reconciliation, which
would have retained the Engish monarch In con-
nectiou with the see of Romes Alfred knew
Of his own strength and II the Cardi.
nails would not provide place adapted to his tai
ents, he knew he could provide for himself
About one hundred years ago, there hourished
in Germany q philosopher Of vast learning ana
extensive research. His name was Heyne an
idea Of whose mental achievements may be OBJ
tanned from a glance Ut the list OF his WORKS
These were his Libullus, his Epictetus, his VIZ
gil, his Pliny, his Apollodorus, his Pindsr, his
Conon and Parthenius, his Homer, ten or twelve
thick volumes Of miscellanies, and seven or egh'
thousand reviews OF booksi His miscellauies en-
brace his more philosophical and most valuable
productions And who was Heyne1 ne was
,on Of poverty and doomed TO ell Its seventies IN
IL he vas enabled 10 make himself esteemed and
honored In the public head, and felt and loved In
The human heart. His father was mechanic,
md could not pay the least educational expense
After the son became ten yesrs OF age. the pa
rents thought he should be at home assisting 70
gain . livelihood, instead Of ct school pursuing
The bent Of his genius But the son could not
endure the thought Of sacrificing himself He
the other boys whenever he could get
INTO school, and obtained much praise Tor ns
proficiency. There was one Sebastian, the VII
age minister, who WAS godfather 70 the young
,spirsnt, and he promised TO stand BY him IN MS
struggle. But old Sebastian was always promis-
ing and never performing Consequently, young
Heyas often found himself In most wretched
condition. Sebastian promised TO send him TO the
academy 1t Leipzig, and one day be sent SER
rant 10 show him the way. Heyns Wa mus
BsnnsVs History Of the Reformation, Part !, Book 2,
Pass l3I.