The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-06-22
George Wilson.

few years since, as Mr. Gailudet WAS
walking in the streets of Hartford. there
came running up to him a poor boy of
very ordinary appearance, but whose fine
intelligent eye fixed the attention OF MS
eye, while the boy inquired:
"Sir, can you tell me of a man who
would like boy to work for him, and
who would learn him to read 2
:" hose boy are you, and where do you
live?'
Il have no parents" was the reply,
"and have just run away from the work
house because they would not teach me
to read
The gentleman made arrangements with
the authorities of the town, and took the
boy into his familH. There he learned to
read. Nor was this all. He soon ac-
quired the confidence of his new asso-
ciates by faithfulness and honesty.
lie was al owed 10 use his friends libra
~. and made rapid progress in the tcqui-
sition of knowledge 1t became necessa
ry after a while that George should leave
Mr. Gallaudct and he became a. prentice
TO alb MT maker in the neigh borhood
There the same integrity won ior him the
favor OF his new associates.
TO crafty Lis inclination for study, his
maste.' had a room furnished for him in
the upper part Of the shop where he de.
voed lis leisure time to his fayorite pur-
suits. Here he made large astainments
in mathematics, in the French language,
a. d other branches. After bcin. in this
situation . few years, sitting at tea with
the family one evening he oil at once re-
marked that he wanted to go tc France
"Go t. Francc?' said his master, sur
mr. .-H hot .a1 I'D
h ,ppy youth should suddenly become
d ssati Fl d with his situation, - for what?
Ask Mr.. Galludet to tea 10 morrow
evening, continued George, and will
explain"
lis kind friend was invited accordingly
At tea time apprentime presented him
self with his manuscript, III English and
] French, and explained his singular inten-
/ ton 10 20 to France.
! In the time of Napoleon said he, "a
prize was offered by tho French, Govern
ment for the simplest ru!o for measuring 2
plain surfaces Of whatever outline. The
prize has never been awarded, and that
method / have discovered"
He then demonstrated his problenl, to
the surprise a I'd qualification of his friends
". o immediately furnished him with the
means OF d, frayins his expenses and with
lettsr re- OF lntI cductIon TO Hon. Lewis Cass,
then our minister to the Court OF France
He was intr )duced to Louis Philippe
a d the presence of the king MOBILES, and
plcnipotentiaries, this American youth
f'emonst ated hi. problem, received the
laudits Of the Co .rt 40 received the
4 prize, which he had clearly won besides
yeral prcseI.s from the king.
I lie then took letters Of introduction,
and then proceeded to the Cour. Of s.:
James and took up similar prize, offered
ty the Royal Society, and returned to the
United States.
I He was preparing to secure the benefits
Of his discovery by patent, when he re-
ceiscd letter from the Emperor Nicholas
himself, one OF whose ministers witnessed
his dcmonsta' ions at London, invitin. .
/ him to make his residence at the Russian.
7 Court, and furni.hed his ample means for
: his outfit
/ He complied with the invitation, repair
{ eli to st Petersburg, and is now professor
! of Mathematics in the Royal College, un-
I der the special i-otcct:on of the Autocrat
| Of al the Russias-.T9arngicf C,Ian,erct