Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-05-30
Fmm the y. Y. Post.
Col. John c. Fremont.

Anabnsis, published by him in 1850, takes
occasion to rcfcrCspecially IN the intellectual
and personal habits Of Fremont, while under
hi. charge, and to commend them to his pu-
pills. 10 whom the book is dedicated, as pre-
cmincntly worthy Of imitation. His state
mcnt cmbodics some personal details which
our readers will pcrusc with interest
For your further encouragement. ! will
here relate n very remarkable instance Of
patient diligence and indomitablc PcrscVer.
ancc
"Tn the year 1897, after had returned
10 Charleston from Scotland, and my 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 30 much, ga
Of middle sire, graceful in manners, rather
slender, but we'll formcl, and upon the
whole what should call handsome Of a
keen, piercing eve, and noble forehead,
seemingly the very scat Of grnius. The
gentleman stated that he found him given
10 study, that he had bccn about thrcc weeks
learning the Latin rudmcnts, and thoping,
suppose, 10 turn the youths attention from
the law to the mini'try,) had resolved to
place him under my care for the purpose u
learning Greek, latin, and Mathematics,
sufficient to enter Charleston COLLEGE. |
very gladly received him, Tor | Immediately
perceived he was no common youth, a. in.
tellgcncc hsamci in his dark eye, and shonc
brightly on his countcnancc, indicating
great ability, rs an assurance Of his future
progrc.. lat once put him in the highest
class, just beginning to read CTsar'' Com
mentaric-, and although at first inferior, hi.
prolIgiou, memory and enthusiastic appli.
cation soon enabled him To surpas- the best.
lie o~rnn Creek at the same time and read
with some who had hccn long at IT, in which
he also soon etccllcd. In short, m the space
Of one year be had with the class, and At
old hour, with myself, rad four hook. Of
Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, Sallust, six books
Of Virgil, nearly MI Horace, and two books
of Liyy and ia Grrck. all Grrca Minora,
about the half or the first volume u GrrcN
Mnjon, and four books Of IIomcr's lliai
And whatever h, read, be retained Il,
seemed to me, ia fact, n IL b. learned hy
mere intuition. was myself utterly as
toni.hci, and At the sane time delighted
with hI progress. have hlntcd that he
was designed f,r the Church, bat when |
contemplated hi, bold icarlcs, disposition,
his powerful inventive genius. his adnira-
ton Of warlikc exploits, and hl' love Of
heroic AMI Adycu.orous dccl', ! did not
think il likely hr would b. minister Of the
Gospel. IIc had not, however, tho least
appearance Of any vice whatever. On the
contrary, be was always the very pattern Of
virtue and moic.ty. could not help low
ing him, % much did he captintr me ~
his crntlcmanly conduct and extraordinary
progress. IL was easy 10 see that be would
one day raise himself u cminsncc. Whilst
under nv instruction, ! discovered hi' early
genius cor poetic composition in the follow
ing manner. when the Gr,rk elias. rad
the account that lIerclotus gives of the hat
lie Of Marathon, the bravery u MiItades
and hi, ten thousand Greeks raised hi. pat
riotic feelings TO enthusiasm, and drew from
him expressions, which thought were cm-
bodied in a few days afterwards in some
wcll.written verses in Charleston paper.
on that far.hnci unequal but successful
conflict agarus, tyranny and oppression ,
and suspccting my talented scholar TO b. the
author, went 70 his desk and asked him IL
he did not write them and hesitatins At
FIRST, rather blushngly, he confessed he did.
| then .aid, Il knew YOU could do such
things, and suppose you have some such
pieces by you, which | should like % $50.
DO bru: them TO me- lie consented, and
in day or two broughtme number, 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.
81 hired mathematician 10 teach both
him and myself, TOR could not then teach
that seiencc,l and IN this he alec made such
wonderful progress, that at the end Of one
wear he entered the Junior Glass in Charles
ton College triumphantly, while Others who
had been studying four years and more,
were obliged to take the Sophomore Class.
About the end OF the year ls2S | len
Charleston, but heard that he highly dis
tingushcd himself, aud graduated in 1880.
After that he taught Mathematics for some
time. Ills career afterwards has been one
Of heroic adventure. of hair.brcadth escapes
by hood and Geld, and Of scientific eHplora-
tions, which have made him worldwide re-
nowned. In q letter | received from him
very lately he expresses his gratitude to me
in the following words ! ava rery fa' from
afher forgetting you or nrgiechHg you' or IN
any rray losing The old regard had for you.
TA,re i, no hpi, 10 rrhieh goboek lr'h more
pleasure than that ,pent riih you, for there
,rd, no time 50 thoroughly ,r,R spent, aud Of
anything may hare learned, r'msmber
nothing so ,rcR, and so distinctly, as rhai I
acquired rih you' Here cannot help say.
ing that the merit was almost all his own.
It is true that encouraged and cheercd him
on. but IL the soil into which put theseeds
of learning had not been Of the richest quail