Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-01-16

shop"
"ln a tallow.chandler's shopl" screen.
ed tho Governor.
"Yes. sir, my father was poor. old
tallow. chandler, with sixteen children,
and l. the youngest Of them ell. At
eight years Of age he put ME to school,
but finding ho could not spare the money
Il, keep mo there, he took me home into
the shop, where assisted him by twist.
ing candle. .wicks and filing the mculds
all day, and at night read by myself.
Al twelve, my father bound mo to my
brother, a printer in Boston, and with
him worked all day at case ana press,
rand again read by myself at night"
Here the Governor clspped his hands
together and gave loud whistle, while
his eye. balls, wild with surprise, rolled
about in their sockets, as If half inclined
to hop out.
"lmpossible! young man! impossible!''
he exclaimed; "you are only sounding
my credulity. ] can never believe one.
half Of this" Then turning to the Cap.
tain, he said, "you are an intelligent
man, and from Boston; pray tell me, can
this young man be aiming at anything
but to quiz me?"
"No, indeed, please your excellency,'
seid the Captain; "Mr. FrankIir is moi
quizzine you; he is snying what is really
true, for am acquainted with his father
and family"
swell, my dear, wonderful boy" said
the Governor, al ask your pardon fol
doubling your word; and now pray tell
me, for feel stronger desire than ever
to hear your objection to learning the
dead languages.
81 object to it principally on account
Of the shortness Of human life; for taking
them one with another, men do not live
more than forty years. Plutoich puts Il
at three, but say forty; and of this
full ten years are spent in childhood
before any boy thinks Of Latin Gram
mar. This brings II down 10 thirty.
This leaves US but little time; and tc
spend five or six years in learning tht
dead languages, especially when all th'
best books in those languages have beer
translated into ours, and, besides, w
have more books on every subject thar
such short.lived creatures can ever &c
quire, seems preposterous."
"But what will be done with thei
. great poets, Virgil and Homer, for ex
ample; I suppose you would not thinl
of iranslatins Homer out Of his rich
native Greek, into oar poor, homespu
n English, would you?"
= "Why not, sir?".
n 81 should as soon think Of trans
j planting pineapple from Jamaica
;. Boston,"
d "Well, sir, a skilfull gardener, wit
his hot.house, would give us nearly a
h rood pineapple as any in Jamaci'
e and Pope, with his fine imagination, ha
|. given us Homer in English, with MOI
q Of his beauties than ordinary scholar
+. would find in him, after forty year
g, study OF tho Greek. And besides, sir,
]. Homer were not translated, | am fl
from thinking it would be worth spen'
n. ing five or six years, to learn to rea
r; him in his own language"
10 "You differ from the critics, NJ
ye Franklin, for they tell US his beauti
III are inimi!ablo."
:Yes, sir, and the naturalists tell
v. that the beautie: Of tie basilisk are il
! imitable."
a "The basiisk, sir! Homer compare
tx to basilisk! really don't understal
you, sir"
r. 81 mean, sir, that as the basilisk
|. the more TO be dreaded from the beau
full skin which covers his poison, SO
Homer, for the bright colorinss
10 throws over bad characters and pa
sions."
81 don't think the beauties Of poe,
are comparable to those Of philanthl
IS. ny, nor thousana,h part SO importa
!, 10 human happiness; and ! must conft
that dread Homer, especially as col
panion Of youth.
ur The humane and gentle virtues q
the greatest charms and sweetenefs
"a. life; and | suppose, sir, you would hard
Of think Of sending your son to the Ach
he les TO learn these"
4. "Tagree with you in saying he has
ia. much revenge in his composition.
ate "Ye., sir, and when painted in
os. brilliant colors which Homer's glow
Of fancy lends, what youth but must
YER The most imminent risk Of catching
for spark Of bad fire, from such blaze
,gh he throws upon his pictures.
in "This, though an uncommon view
an. the subject, is, l confess. an ingen
one. Mr., Franklin; but surely It's o'
fer drawn ltf.,--., ,.et.s
1ou "Not at all, sir, we a:e told, BY. 8
an; su,hority, that the reading Of Hol
first put It into the head Of Alexan
'om the Great TO become hero; aud Q
hen him, Of Charles the Twelfth.
me What millions Of creatures y
9 is slaughtered by these two great butcl
ave is mol known; but probably il was n
nee 1.-THE Of what have perished in duels
tween individuals, from pride and
sur. yenge nursed by reading Homes."
.sWell, sir" replied the Governor
an. neves heard the prince Of baris tye
.--.- i.- - 4. 80. l.co.n Va, .nv.x oa,s a