The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-10-03


ary." -. - = =
szs,,s.s@ s. The Secret. >s,r 49,
Roger Bacon was an English monk, who
taught in the, University of Oxford more than
six hundred years ago. He was man of great
learning, skilled in Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
but especially fond of chemistry. He used to
spend many hours each day in one of the Sc
cret cells Of the convent, engaged in some ex:
pertinent While thus employed, he had found
that sulphur, charcoal, and saltpetre, mingled
together in certain way, would make new
and strange compound !; indeed so strange and
dangerous did this new compound seem, that
the monk himself was almost afraid of it, and
therefore told no one of his discovery.
Among the pupils was a youth who was SO
fond Of study, and so prompt to obey his teach.
ers, that he became favorite with all, and
Roger Bacon would often ask his help in his
aboratory--,a large room where the students
were instructed in chemistry; but he never al.
lowed him to enter his private cell. This youths
name was Hubert de Dreux. -.
Sometimes as Hubert sat reading or study
ing, or mixing medicines in this larger room,
he was startled with sounds like thunder coming
from his masters apartment; sometimes a
hrisA. Light shane for a moment through the
chinks of the door, then an unpleasant odor
All these things excited his curiosity; but
whenever he knocked or strove to enter, Roger
Bacon would sternly bid him to attend to his
own affairs, and never again interrupt him. Inc
door was always kept locked, and every time
the bow vcnturcd to ask the cause, he was 81.
fenced by his teachers gruff words and severe
looks. !.
2 Months elided away, and still he eagerly but
vanity souSht to learn the secret AT length
an opportunity afforded. Roger Bacon was
widely known asa physician and surgeon
One cold November day he was called to at
tend on Walter de Losely, rich man IN the
next town, who had been. dangerously hurt
The monk gave all the necessary orders to Hu,
bert, and bidding him to be careful to put out
the fires and lock the door when he was done,
he started on his errand of mercy. -
Hubert soon finished his task, and was just
bounding up the oaken stairway, when an evil
thought came into his mind "Roger Bacon
is gone; he will not be back for several hours
can now find out what keeps him so much
in that dark, damp CELL" He looks anxiously
around no one is near, and with light step
and fast beating heart, he reaches the FORBID
den room. The key is not there, and so there
is no hope of entering, yet perhaps he may see
something through the Akey.hole, and kneellng
he presses his cheek against the heavy door
It openssat his touch, for Roger Bacon, in his
haste, had locked without closing it, and thu:
. the eager boy stands;where for months he had
! longed to be-. In vain he looks for any thing
4 new or strange, and with sad face is turning
away,swhen his eye falls on huge book, whose
open page is still wet>with ink from his teach
er's. pen 1t is4written in Latin, but that is as
plain to him as his own English, and in anoth
ersmoment he had read the secret. so long hid
.derSsfom him. Sss ~ - .,7Ea-s 49,
rs ,Now.hes try it for himself, to see if the
mixture is indeed so wonderful" Ah hi
: exclaimed, I" this yetiow powder is the sulphur
this hard, clear substance is the saltpetre, ant
this black: powder must be the other Here il
the very bottle my MASTER has used ! will
MKT in this and see sIhei fire issnot 2deat
Hin. the furnace; a few sparks will give hea
enough, and then Hubert de Drsgx:is, as ,sWis'
as his ,wsest teacher. ,...,zs, -sss3s
EAH that afternoon Roger Bacon had beer
blending over the sick mani sd he had done
ALI he could Ito relieve hissniferings, and a.
night wpaseeoming on, he bade him good.by'
land ssetsont for home. Thewind whistled owe
stle bleak hills, and the monk wrapped his cloal
l closer around him, and hurried his horse to
!. wards .thssc conyent's good shelter. As he reach
led the4op of the last hill, Oxford lay before
4 him WITH tights twinkling here and there, ant
ssIitsfail spires rising high. Suddenly a stream
4 cfsFfame rose from his convent shigh on tn,
,ldafkened sky, and in an instant roar loud a.
4 The heaviest thunder burst on the still night
and distinctly amid this fearful sound was beart
!. 4 sharp cry of distress. One moment and th'
4 whole convent was on fire. The, trembling
monk dashed down the hill side to the scene o
woe. As he sprang from his horse man drew
forth from the ruins the lifelesst form of Hu
/ BERT
The terrified crowd believed that Roger
Bacon had been practising witchcraft, and with
/ out utlstening to his defence, threw himsinto s
fgloomy dungeon. For many yearsihe remain
cd in prison, but at last he. was released,g anc