Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-17

Nor his knowledge less clear or minute respect
ing emigrants from the Oil World to the New, from
the earliest settlement of the colonies who in any
capacity. shed distinct influence those parts of
the country where they either sojourned or dwelt.
To converse with him these subjects was to be
pleased and surprised at the variety and breadth of
his knowledge, while the browning glory of it all
was the modesty of his discourse about matters in
which he so much exceed.
But Mr.. Jennison was not only man of business
and of learning; he also held the pen of a ready
writer-a pen whose illusions, well as more care
full lucubrations have slid before the public eye for
more than half a century, with only now and then
a knowledge of their author. They have appeared
in prose and verse in sparkling wit in good humor-
ed satire on reigning or rising foes-generaly felt
| to be just, by those who felt them most. and in
graver articles of less transient interest That he
was a chaste and correct writer, might be inferred,
perhaps from the scope and character of his reading
and the simplicity of his life and manners; but
his skill and schoarke style would be proftably
seen in an article from his pen, communicated in
the year 1866 to the American Antiquarian Soci-
ETY.. We refer to his biographical notice of James
Ralph-an article which serves to illustrate his
knowledge of a foreign American, about whom
most of his well-educated countrymen know but
httle-perhaps nothing, except wicked lampoon
by Pope, which had nothing to preserve it from
oblivion, but the ingenious spite and venomous sar-
casm of its author.
pairing work on American biography but, after
having gathered rich materials learning that Dr.
William Allen was about to enlarge his earlier work
ON the same subject, he transferred them to his
hands--a favor which, among Others the doctor
gratefully acknowledged in the preface to his second
edition, dated July H. 1892 saying that he was par
uculary indebted to the biographical collections of
Mr.: Samuel Jennson Jun, of Worcester
Having given to our readers the foregoing imper-
sEa Of Mr.
life the question is naturally and not unwisey ask
ed Hoo he TO be tChat he 1odS and do lchat he
dtdf This question comes with more eager curl
osity, when considering the difficulties he had to
contend with. We have already seen the end of his
education by others-hs education in the "district
school" How meagre! how Insignificant of the fu-
ture, in its rich Developments The question is per-
picked, and none can fully answer it. Who has not
felt the mysterious leadings of Divine Providence?
an agency unseen, yet ever about us! Mr. Jennison
was quick and constant to acknowledge and adore
its supremacy.
hidden even from him in whom its progress clearly
developed. And yet, to estimate justly the life Of
any man OF marx II is deemed useful to I'M
derstand what helped or hindered its forma-
ton and its growth. What seems to be acct.
dent often springs from the himself. But,
not less frequently, what appears to come
from him. is but the Illustration of his own predilec-
ton and purpose. In many, perhaps in most cases
the man and his circumstances work out together
both the dark and the bright problems of his life.
"Great Julius, on the mountain bred,
flock, perhaps or herd had led;
he that subdued the world had been
But the best wrestler on the green.n
What seem untoward influences are only surer cir
cults to the wished for end. Disadvantages make
the character which ease and opportunity confident
ly promise, but only to beguile We often mourn
over the disadvantages of the poor, but seldom of
the rich forgetting that felt necessity is the oudest
call to effort and that effort is the price of success
1t is not the province of him who pens this hearty
but not unmeasured notice of Mr.. j., to determine
what events circumstances formed that fertilizng
current ofhis mind which grew broader deeper, and
flowed nd
yet it may not be well to refrain from intimating
few occurrences which may naturally be suspected
to have helped in shaping his mind and directing the
| pursuits OF his life.
The liberal and professional education of his faith
and the parentage of his mother allow to pre-
sumo that the opening mind of their eldest was
| where books were looked upon and talked of as
| treasures of entertaining and useful knowledge. No
other fact than this has cast image the infant
mind that has only been more developed in progress
sive life. But besides this, for perod-how long
| we know not-but at period when the mind is
wide awake and surrounding influences strike their
deep impressions the heart, that eldest son lived
| with his grandfather, studous minister and mis-
celaneous author in Brookeld then by far the most
popuous as it was, also, the wealthiest town in the
county OF Worcester. AT that period perhaps no
town in the county contained more professional men
OF talent skill and distinction in their calings. To
verify this statement as to the legal profession,
other names will be needed than those of Foster,
| Merrick, Upham, Crosby, and Hitchcock.
| In those days, when men lived more at home than
now, they were more neighbors than now. Social
life, too, was more select-more aristocratic. The
men of culture sure to be often at the parson-
age, where culture and hospitality lived together
The cheerful, intelligent conversation of such neigh
bors their talk of men, of book, and deeds, of pIn
cples OF religion, of affairs of state and of ''the
great globe itselt,n though not fully understood,
might shed their sure influences the youthful
mind, to flow onward, along the whole current of
life.
Soon after the death of Rev DR.. Fiske, the grand
son. as has already been told, made his home at his
uncle's in Worcester, and was employed there TO do
what discreet boy might find to do. But what did
he find? Some business, and much leisure, both of
| q he Sh a rs IN
toners and its visitors. "Dr Fiske," as its owner
was called, was man of liberal education, man
OF considerable classic taste of wit and enterprise,
who had no passion either for the practice OF physc
or for standing behind the counter. He loved to
| take care of his grounds his garden, and orchard,
| and to dip into politics at a safe distance.
OF the visitors at the shop, who dropped daily in
to exchange news with each other to tell the old,
which was often far BETTER there were gentlemen
| who had not all given up the colonial and revou-
| tonary costume-the cooked hat the broad silver
shoe-buckles, polished every morning, the sparkling
| knee-buckles and stock buckle, the powdered locks
and the ribbon-bound queu. Intelligent, wise atfa
Bile, practical, decorous and scholarly, their CONVEX
sation was sure to be impressive the young and
ingenious mind. Jennison both coveted and enjoy
ed it. He listened to their moral and political say
ings, and their miscellaneous remarks He heard
with giad ears their anecdotes Of men whom they
personally knew, or had known-some of the most
Distinguished OF them, Intimately; The names and
deeds OF men who served in the French and revolu-
tionary wars; the names of distinguished wings and
tories of men in church and state the eminent for
skill IN all professions and occupations Such
and deeds the young ears of Jennison drank in with
no doubtful zest; nor is it hard imagine that such
discourse had much to do in shaping his intellectual
and moral life, giving special vent to those tastes
and habits Which most individualized him.
But how often was there neither business nor
company in the shop, where but few goods were to.
be cared for. How, at such times did the young
masterapprence dispose OF his leisure and solitary
hours! They were not spent in drowsy laziness
He read, he wrote he ciphered he iotted down items
OF the discourse he had listened toacs to be inter
Ss I Mo%G 5nd and which but
human knowledge. In that humble SHOP too he
acquired special skill in chirography not merely by
keeping IT'S day-oook and ledger, but by careful
study and imitation of the handwriting of Others
This he did for the double purpose of acquiring
good hand himself, and of detecting spurious bills
then SO vexaous and dangerous to the small profits
OF what would now be considered almost nomI-
nal store of goods. This exercise proved fruitful
experiment to the young man. must now call
him. He became expert and oracular beyond all
other men i'll town in detecting counterfeit money
and IN determining what was genuine. This impor-
tant accomplishment, together with his rapid yet
sure manipulations and calculations of paper mon
ey-these and above all, his character for seadiness
and integrity, were his passport to the Worcester
Bank, connecting him ultimately with so many pc
cuniary trusts and transactions.
As a child, man, husband, a father, a brother
q neighbor, and friend, he was exemplary beyond
most good men. His virtues shone distinctly from
early life to its close. But he had no virtues to
boast of. He was conscious of being a frail erring
man, needing the forgiveness of his sins. But was
he Christian! Ask his life Inquire of duties
done in every sphere and calling of his visible life
God reads the heart itself Man reads it only
through the life "By their fruits shall We know
themn This is the MASTERS rule to all his disci-
pies, the world over and time through. Yet how
few thus judge! How many unwilling to be SO
judged!
Skepticism never made Mr.. Jennison what he was,
nor moved him to do what he did. He was early in
structed in, and impressed by, revealed religious
truth. The power which moved him early moved
him late 1t formed the child; it made the man it