New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-03-30

BoYHooD OF DISTINGUISHED MEN.--Dly den
displayed no evidences of more than ordinary
intelligence until he reached mature manhood:
and johnson says Of Goldsmith, that he was "a
plant that Powered late Schiller was very
idle scholar, and much fonder of ball and leap
frog than of books. The most interesting thing
told of him as a child by his biographer is, that
once, in the midst of q storm of thunder and
lightning, he climbed a tree, and when asked
by his parents why he did SO, replied, whisper
ing: &c That the lightning was very beautiful,
and he wished to see where it was coming from. z
This story, if correct, furnishes an illustration
Of the manner in which the young mind delights
to seek information for itself in its own way.
Perhaps still more characteristic anecdote is
that told of Smeaton, the architect of the Eddy
stone Light house, who, when a boy in petit
coats, was one day discovered on the top of his
fathers house, in the act of fixing the model of
windmill, which he had constructed.
But the great majority of the most distin-
guished men-especially of those distinguished
for their power--have been altogether undistin-
guished in their boyhood. Sir Isaac Newton,
perhaps our greatest man, stood very low in his
class at school, though he was fond of meehan-
ieal pursuits, and of drawing various natural
objects Sir David Brewster says of him, that
.swhen he arrived at Trinity College, he brought
with him more slender portion Of science than
falls to the lot Of ordinary scholars; but this
state of his requirements Continues his biogra-
| pherl was perhaps not unfavorable to the deyel-
opment of his mental powers. Unexhausted by
premature growth, and invigorated by healthful
repose his mind was the better fitted to make
those vigorous and rapid shoots which soon
covered with foliage and fruit the genial soil to
which it had been transferred.
| The distinguished Sir Humphrey Davy said
Of himself: 81 consider it fortunate that | was
left so much to myself when child, and put
upon no particular plan of study; and that
enjoyed SO much idleness at Mr., Coryton's
| school / perhaps owe to these circumstances
4 the little talents that have, and their peculiar
application. What am | have made myself
| say this without vanity, and in pure simplicity
of heart" And it is SO in fact, Every man who
achieves greatness does so, not through his ae-
| quirements under teachers when a boy. hui
through his self-education after he has become
| q man.
We might adduce an immense number of in,
stances OF positively stupid boys who have be.
| come distinguished and highly useful men. Fol
instance, Isaac Barrow, the great divine, was il
his boyhood chiefly distinguished by his pro
| pensity for fighting, in which he got many
| bloody nose and his father used to say, that i
it pleased God to take from him any of his chill
dren, he hoped it might be Isaac, who was tbs
least promising Of them all. And that prodig,
of learning, DR.. Adam Clark, when boy, was
never happier than when ssrolling large stone
about caring nothing for learning or reading
of any sort But at this kind of work he be-
came unoommonly hardy" though his father
proclaimed him to be most "grieyous Ounce
Thanks 10 Adam Clark's power Of rolling abou
the large stones, in his boyhood, he was after
wards able to roll about large thoughts in hit
manhood
Napoleon and Wellington were both dull
boys, The former is described by the Duchess
/ d Abrantes, who knew him intimately when i
! child, as having good health, and in othel
respects he was like other boys" And sht
! adds: "My uncles have thousand times
; assured me that Napoleon, in his boyhood, hat
none Of that sipgularity Of character attributed
Il o. b;u,-p !