The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-07-24
Enrly Development OF CIlaracter--s
Remarkable Prophecy.

DR.. Robertson published an edition of Zen
ophon's Anabasis, in 1850. In the preface
he gives the following account of the youth
who was q member of one of his classes. 1t
is most interesting document and shows
how the character, which Col Fremont has
ever exhibited, was formed, and illustrate ,
the early development of the energy and tai
ent that have borne him through life '0.
"For your further encouragement, 1 will
here relate very remarkable instance of pa
tient diligence and indomitable perseverance
" In the year 1927, after had returned
to Charleston from Scotland, and Y classes
were going on, very respectable lawyer
came to my school, think some time in the
month Of October, with youth, apparently
about sixteen, or perhaps not SO much four
teen, of middle size, graceful in manners
rather slender, but well formed, and upon
the whole, what l should call handsome Of
keen piercing eye, and noble forehead,
seemingly the very seat of genius, The
gentleman stated that he found him given 10
study, and that he had been about three
weeks learning the Latin rudiments, and
(hoping suppose, to turn the youths atten-
tion from the law to the ninistry,) had re-
solved TO place him under my care, for the
purpose of learning Greek, Latin and Math-
ematics, sufficient 10 enter Charleston Col
lege, very gladly received him, for | i'm
mediately perceived he was no common
youth, as intelligence beamed in his dark eye,
and shone brightly on hia countenance, ndi-
eating great ability and an assurance of his
future progress. | at once put him in the
highest class just beginning to read Caesars
Commentaries, and although at first inferior,
his prodigious memory, and enthusiastic ap-
plicstion soon enabled him TO surpass The
best. He began Greek at the same time, and
read with some who had been long at it, 10
which he also soon excelled In short, in
tie space of one year be had, with the class,
and at odd hours with myself, read four books
of Cesar, Cornelius Nepos, Sallust, six books
of Virgil, nearly all Horace, and in Greek
all GIeca Minora, about the half of the first
volume of Grnca Msiors, and four books Of
HHucr's llIiad. And whatever he read he
retained. 1t seemed To me, in fact, As if he
learned by mere intuition. | was myself utter
ly aStonished, and at the same time delighted
with his progress. l have hinted that he
was designed for the church, bat when Icon
templated his bold, fearless disposition, his
powerful inventive genius, his admiration Of
warlike exploits his love of heroic and aI-
ventnrous deed., | did not think it likely he
would be minister Of tie gospel. He had
not, however, the least appearance Of any
vice whatever On the contrary, he was al
ways the very pattern Of virtue and muiesty
could not help loving him, so much did ie
captiyate me by his gentlemanly conduct and
extraordinary progress. It was easy 10 see
that he would one day raise himself TO emf
nence, Willie under my instruction. | dis
covered his eally genius for poetic compost.
ton 10 the following manner When the
Greek class read the account that Herodotus
gives OF the battle of Marathon, the bravery
Of Mllliades and his teu thousand Greeks
raised his patriotic feelings to enthusiasm,
and drew from him expressions which
thought were embodied, few days after
ward, in some well written verses in Charles
ton paper, on that farfamed, unequal but
successful conflict against tyranny and oppres
sion and suspecting my talented scholar to
be the author, | went to his desk and asked
him II he did not write them, and hesltating
at first. rather bIushingy, he confessed he
did. then said: 81 knew you could do
such things, and suppose you have some such
pieces by you, which | should like to see, do
bring them 10 me-" He consented, aud in
day or two brought me a numb 7, which |
read with pleasure and admiration at the
strong marks OF genius stamped on all, but
here and there requiring, as thought, very
slight amendment.
IL had hired a mathematician, to teach
both him and myself, for | could no teach
il nj sri.ur. \ arJ 10 t1,is H., ia. IL
wonderful progress that at the end of one
year he entered the Junior Glass ia Charles
ton College, triumphantly, while others who
had been studying four years and more were
obliged 10 take the Sop omore Glass. About
the end of the year 1923, left Charleston.
After that, he taught mathematics for some
time. His career aftelward has been one of
heroic adventure, Of hair-breadth escapes by
food and field, and Of scientific explorations
which have made him world vide nowned
In letter | received from him very lately
he expressed his gratitude to nae in the fol-
lowing words: Il am very far from either
forgetting you or neglec'ing you, or in any
way losing the old regard had for you
There is no tiTe to which | 90 back with
more pleasure than h It spent with yO1, for
there was no time SO thoroughly well spent;
and Of anything may have learned. re-
member nothing so well and so distinctly as
what acquired with you Here l canno
help saying that the merit was almost all his
own. I.ls true that encouraged and cheer
ed him on, but if the soil into which put
the seeds of learning had not been Of the
richest quality, they would never have sprung
up to an hundred fold in the full ear Such,
my young friends, is but an imperfect sketch
of my once beloved and favorite pupil, now a
Senator, and who may yet rise to be at the
head Of this great and growing Republic. My
prayer is that he may ever be opposed to
war, injustice and oppression of every kind, a
blessing to his country, aud an example of
every noble virtue to the whole world"