Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-25

I
hand, head and heart. His was no pampered
appetite in his boyhood, leading TO life OF
| mad indulgence. Acquainted with the res
traint OF christian household, his young
heart quickened in every generous feeling by
| the kindly influences 3t home, he became at
an early age quick in perceiving, clear in
judging. prompt in deciding, and firm in MAN.
tanning the right.
He was educated at common school. 1t
was his ambition to gain admission to West
| Point. But that arstocratic establishment is
closed, for the most part, to such as he, and l
for one, (said the speaker am thankful that
in common with SO many brilliant military
men, from our great Captain-Gen. Scott
downward, he never enjoyed the Wanted
privileges of that pampercd Institution. He
| graduated at the poor mans college, the pub
lie school. Untrammeed by any system'with
TO tight drawn ligatures of red tape about him,
he was by the force of his own genius to work
his way to knowledge of his favorite science,
and link his name imperishably with an arm
OF the service which he may be claimed to
have created.
Elmer, the poor Yankee boy, early left his
home, and entered on the battle OF life among
strangers-a bravely ordeal brayely sustained,
He maintained strict temperance and unswerv-
ing moral principles. These moulded and
shaped his life. Without the moral qualities
which he possessed, and without his undeviat-
ing temperance, Ellsworth might have been
"hail fellow well met with young compan-
ions in business pursuits; he might have been
registering comrade in some lashing military
corps he might by native power have made
himself their commander. But that corps
could never have attracted to it the gaze, and
won for itself and lis leader the admiration, of
the whole land.
This is what temperance did for Col. Ellis
worth. 1t gaze him sOundjieSS and strength Of
muscle. In the use Of liquor young man be-
comes a wreck il the springtide of his early
strength. He soon will have palor in the
cheek, a ack-lustre or bloodshot eye, a trem-
bling hand an unsteady sfnn. r''i"9 i~--e~-,
WEAKNESS.
Contrast with this the physical benefits of
their young leader, for example. The body is
braced as with iron sinews. The blood goes
leaping along joyous circuit, every pulsation
of which is health and pleasure Is there
work which calls for sudden exertion? Ev-
cry faculty is within call, and ready for the
summons. Is endurance demanded? With
what enacity d es every muscle hold TO its
appointed service Every motion reveals the
elasticity of the system. Fatigue brings with
it nothing like exhaustion. The temperance
man has recuperative powers that almost set
decay at defiance. His youth is renewed like
tie eagles. The muscular development of the
temperance athlete is marvel to the uniniti
ated. Massive volume is coupled with nery-
Gus elasticity. Strength and agility are at
tanned, well nigh miraculous. OF Col. f.,
writer in the Atlantic says 81 have. seen
photograph OF his arm, taken at this time. The
knotted coil of thews and sinewS looks like the
magnificent exaggerltions OF antique sculp-
ture."
The mind still more Sensiby feels its pOtcer.
Tentold more dreadful than any physical evils
are the mental pr0stratOu and imbecility that
intemperance induces. Temperance clears
the MIND and opens the way for its healthtul
activity and rapid Improvement. 1t reaches
every department of our being. The percep-
tive faculties are quickened and strengthened.
The eye OF the drunkard sees double disor-
der OF mind thus cheats him with optical il
lusions, Temperance gives single eye, so
just and steady is the poise OF every part. Col.
e. always had hand as true as steel and an
eye like a ger falcon. He used TO amuse
himself by shooting ventilation holes through
his window panes. Standing ten PAGES from
the window he could fire the seven shots from
his revolver and moi shiver the glass beyond
the circumference Of half dollar"
With clearness OF vision and steadiness of
| judgment, wonderful in one so young, yet ac-
counted for by his early discipline Of temper
ance and privation, he surveyed the field of
| honorable effort opened to him-or rather
| which he opened for himself-and then with
pertnacity of purpose that would not say
die, he broke his way by slow but sure adj
vances into that field, till he occupied it fully.
| His reputation seems TO have burst full-orbed
| upon us in The wonderful evoutions of his
Zouaves but, like those evolutions, it had
been long maturing by persistent, intexibe
discipline, in secret, buoyed up by his indomi-
table will.
| A letter from his parents received two
/
| book which he gave his mother but a short
| time before his death, find this motto
| Nothing is impossible to him who Wills
This motto was ever with hinl-he retained
it to the end"
1t is not strange that Ellsworth became
leader among his fellows. His sobriety Joined
with his innate modest, and genial temper,
above all pervaded by hearty earnestness
amounting TO enthusiasm, gave him a won.
derful power over young men. He was their
beau ideal OF a man, their acknowledged head
their pride. His rare beauty and symmetry
OF person, muscular strength, readiness and
dexterty, GOODNESS and courage his voice. his
| eye, his posture, his address, each had charm
for some, their combination gave him a magi-
cal power over his men. Whether among his
| select corps at Chicago or with the rougher
and seemingly untamable mass of New York
| firemen, his word was law.
And making due allowance Tor the fascina-
ton of his personal qualities, we claim that
the steadiness of his temperance principles
was essential to this. Many yielded to his Sc
verify AS disciplinaran when they saw that
their leader was az severe to himself as to
| them. When he visited West Point last sum-
mer in company with several officers, it is said
| that he was the only one who refused to par
take OF wine or some other liquor. How few
military men could stand this test, or exhibit
| courage so invncible.
Closely allied TO this was his hdbitudl reuer-
enceJ of Gods name, his adherence of proiane-
ness. Swearing is one OF the vices supposed
! to be lnseparable from the camp II is closely