Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-12
WILL Is POWER,

WILL Is POWER.
How frequently we hear doubts ex-
pressed as to the possibility of acquiring
knowledge without assistance And vet
there arc many instances upon record in
which knowledge has been acquired,
not only without aid, but III the face of
many apparently insurnountable difficult
ties. We will not now speak OF those
artists, who, after struggling for years
with poverty, the opposition of friends.
the difficulties of their art itself, and
many other obstacles, have at length, bv
the eXertlon of an undaunted will, arrived
at the summit of their ambition. Neither
will we speak of those children of the
poor who have, by their own unaidcd
efforts become mathematicians and me-
chanlcs, and who have succeeded, with
out receiving any kind of instruction, in
resolving the most difficult mathematical
problems, and in producing wonders in
mechanism for we would then be told
these were men of genius, and that ge-
MUS is not given to all
One morning in the year 1919, young
peasant girl obtained an interview with
the great vlcalre Of the cathedral of one
OF the western cities of France. In a
manner that was az once modest and firm,
she told him that having heard of his
Kindness ln procuring situations for
governesses, she had come to him in the
hope of obtaining some employment.
g But my child, replied the venerable
able, you cannot teach without diplo-
ma; and III order to obtain diploma you
must go through an examination. What
instructions have you received 2"
"In my childhood, Monsieur Able,
[ learned to read and write, and then I
served my apprenticeship to mantua-
maker. am now constantly employed
with my needle, and earn about three
pence day; but this does not do, and so
L wish to become goyerness."
My poor child, to read and write is
something it is true, but it is not enough.
You must know how to spell, and you
must know grammar, geography, and
something more than the first four rules
of arithmetic, all thoroughly; and you
must also have some idea of compost
| tion."
a think, Monsieur Able, that
could pass an examination in these things
tolerably well; for when my days work
was over, have always devoted part of
the night to studying the books which I
cont,ived to buy of my savings. On
Sundays, too, l could read. I have come
on purpose to beg that you will be so
good as to examine me, and tell me wheth-
| to oh to,, Il of
the first degree" "
"The first degree! but do you not
know what it is, my poor child; it would
| be impossible. The examination is very
| difficult; you must know arithmetic per-
fectly, also something of geometry, and
cosmography: you must understand mu-
sic, both singing and playing on an in
strument 1t is not likely that you have
learned the piano or the harp"
| 81 have not: but l'Abbe, does the law
say positively the piano or the harp?"
"No; the law says simply that it is
necessary to know enough of music to be
able to play on an instrument. Those
mentioned are most usually learned at
schools, that is the reason named them ::
but think that perhaps they might be
satisfied Nth the guitar"
"Well, Monsieur, as the law does not
name any particular instrument, am
satisfied, for have taught myself to play
on one instrument"
"And what is that"
Here it is;" and the girl took from
her pocket tiageolet.
At this sight the Able burst into a
peal of laughter. She colored deeply;
but imagining, no doubt, that he did not
believe in her musical powers, she raised
the instrument to her lips, and the Able
stood amazed.
The excellent priest, who had himself
been one of the people, Judged rightly
that peasant, who had taught herself
not only to play, but to play so we'll, !,
could be no ordinary person. He asked
her age. She was twenty-five.
"1 will examine you now, said he."
The replies of the young peasant were
astonishing: and he wondered, but in
silence, at the knowledge which this poor
country dress-maker had obtained by her
own unaided effort,
=" You may" he said, "with perfect
| confidence present yourself before the COM