Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-05-15
SELF.TAUGHT MEN.

LII Iue uluerenG mOnaTcnleS OI Europe,
where the means of early education are lim-
tied; where the inhabitants are divided into
classes, and power is exclusively vested in
the hand of the wealthy or the noble, where
in word aristocracy rules and the mechan-
ic is too often regarded in the light of ma
chine, intended to increase the comforts of
the favored few who inherit wealth and dig
nifty. Honor and distinction, those stimu-
lants to high-souled and enterprising deeds,
are presumed to be beyond the reach Of the
man who gains his livelihood by honest in
dustry-yet even there, where immortality,
imbecility and property are too often sensid:
ic and the lowly serf, undaunted by the
cheerless prospect before them-havein many
instances struggled successfully for fame and
distinction against the tremendous tide Of
prejudice and by the force of energy and
enterprise alone, have attained the summit
of eminence and wealth, and gained immor-
tality, by increasing the knowledge or ad-
ministering to the comforts and happiness Of
their fellow men.
Richard Arkwright passed the earlier part
of his life in the humble occupation of bar
ber-but he was fond of reading, and what
proved of more value to him, he had early
acquired habits of reflection. He conceived
the idea of spinning cotton by means Of ma
chinery, and Notwithstanding he was misera.
bly, poor and friendless, Notwithstanding be
was everywhere ridiculed, as visionary pro.
jector, who deserved q cell in a mad house,
by the force of energy and application he
succeeded in carving his design (Which has
proved so beneficial to the human race) into
effect-and afterwards reveled in all the lux
uries of wealth, and was knighted by his
sovereign.
John Leslie was the son of an humble far
mer of Largo, in the Lowlands Of Scotland,
and when he had attained his sixteenth year
he had made considerable progressin all the
branches taught at the village school. He
was then employed az a herdsman-and as
the pastures in which he tended his cattle
were for the most part hedged in, his atten-
dance was more a necessity of being in the
fields, than an employment. This gave him
leisure, and he sought to improve his mind.
By some means he became possessed Of a
copy of Simpsons Euclid, upon which he
commenced his career as a mathematician.
He powdered the foot-paths Of the hedge
with sand-delineated his figures thereon
and closing his book, went through his de-
monstration. 1t so happened that one day
the Minister of Largo was taking walk
which led him by the other side Of the hedge,
and he was startled by hearing muttered
sounds, and listening he could hear distinct
ly the words angle-trfangle-perpenascu
lar, and hypothsnuse-and A, B, C,-min-
gled with words and sentences. "This must
be the mathematics" quoth the minister of
Largo-and he was truly astonished to find
John Leslie overcoming that in solitude and
without instructions which the minister him.
self had never been able to overcome amid
all the science and stimuli of St. Andrews
University. Suffice it to say that by his
means Leslie received a University educa-
tion-became afterwards distinguished tor
his scholastic attainments and grasp OF In
tellect-and succeeded the lamented Play
fair as Professor of National Philosophy in
the Edinburgh University.
William Clifford was the son Of dissipa'
ted mariner, and at his fathers death was
left friendless and forlorn he was put on
board a coasting vessel by his godfather, as
cabin boy, where he remained until he was
fourteen years of age. He was afterwards
apprenticed to a shoemaker, and continued
at this trade until he was nineteen years old
During his apprenticeship, he devoted every
leisure moment to study, and without any
instruction made himself master Of Algebrs
and Geometry. Being destitute Of paper,
pens and ink, he hammered out pieces Of
leather as smooth as possible, and wrought
his problems on them with blunted awl.--
His perseverance and industry were reward
ed. The fame of his literary pursuits reach
ed the ears of a gentleman, who interested
himself in his fate-he was the means o