The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-02-18
An Alphabet of se,f.made Men.

An Alphabet Of Seifmade Men.
Nothing that we could give in our edi-
torial columns will be perused with great
er prof.. and perhaps interest, than a
brief record-which we find in House
hold Words"-of eminent living charac-
ters, who have, by their own exertions,
elevated themselves from humble and OBJ
scure life, and achieved position among
men that will ensure their fame being
handed down through coming ages.
To begin with the letter A, and dash
hastily and skippingly on through the al
phabet, We find that Anderson, the popu-
lar Danish novelist, was the son of cob
bler and educated at a charity school, and
that he tried to gain a living by handi-
craft trades, being frequently on the brink
of starvation. Beringer, the celebrated
French lyric poet, neglected by his vaga-
bond father, who was poor tailor. and
was gamin on the streets of Paris till
promoted to the dignity of potboy. Eli
hu Burritt, as we all know, was q black
smiths apprentice. Carleton, the Irish
novelist, who now enjoys pension ofl
$4,000 year. as the son of a peasant, beg
ged his way to knowledge. Rafael Car
rera, President of the Republic of Guate
mala began life as drummer boy and a
cattle driver. Mr. Golden is the son of
a small farmer, and entering a warehouse
in London when boy, rose through its
varions grades of service. Sir William
Cnhit WASH working miller. then Joiner,
and then q miliwright. Dumas, the great
Epench novelist aud dramatist, is the il
legitimate son of a. farmer and negress,
aud was ilraA but starvation in Paris till
he hit upon away to distinction. Farady,
the eminent chemist, is the son of q poor
blacksmith, aud began his career as the
apprentice to bookbinder. Millard
Fillmore Ex-Presideut of the United
States, and late candidate of the Ameri.
can party for that Office, was FIRST a plough.
boy, then tried the trade ola clothier, and
was then apppentieedi to wool carder.--
Herring, the. animal painter, began the
professor Of art with sign-boards and
coach-panes- Jesmin, the Bnrns of the
South of France, was the son of tailor,
and the grandson of common beggar.--
Mr.. Lindsay, NJ p the great ship own
er, left his home with IS. Cd. in his pock-
ct to push his fortunes as shipboy; he
worked his passage to Liverpool by as
sisting in the coal-hole of o steamer--and
for part of the time after he arrived,
begged during the day, and slept in the
sheds and streets at night. Lough, the
distinguished sculptor, began the world in
capacity of ploughboy. Minnie, the In
ventor of the well-known rife, was a pri.
waite soldier. Robert Owen, shop-boy
to agrocer, and then draper. Johannss
Ronge, the leader of the German Catholic
movement, tended sheep when boy
S.anfield, the distinguished landscape
painter, was cabin boy, and the ship
master was his first patron. Theirs, thu
well-known historian and ex-minister o
France, is the son of blacksmith, AMI
was educated gratuitously at the public
school of Marseilles. Thomas Wright
the Manchester philanthropist, was
weekly worker in an iron foundry for for
ty-seven years, till large sum of none
was raised by subscription to enable hin
70 carry on his philanthropical laborS
There is encouragement here, We fancy
for the downhearted, and likewise rebuk
for those who are continually harping Q
the wrongs of the INDECENT, and the impas
sible barriers between high and low.