The weekly Butte record., 1863-04-11
Eccenuicities of Great Men.


l, is tri,e saying. that uo man is hero 10
bis VI ct; and the greatest men that history
records have had their little weaknesses. fiat
tering to humanity, because proving them
mortals and not demtsods. Sir Walter Ra-
leigh in his best days had a strong dash of
dandyism When he appeared at court he
wore six thousand dollars worth Of diamonds
in his shoes; his armor was solid silver and hlS
sword hilt and badric were studded with pre-
cious stones of incalculable value. Pass or.
splendid shadow, The great philosopaef.
Descaries. had a passion for wigs, ard Sir
Richard Steel would sometimes spend forty
guineas on black peruke. Goldsmiths peach
colored coat is immortal. According 10 Sam-
uel johnson, Pope had such high opinion at
himself as TO think be was one Of the pIvotS OF
the system of the world. Napoleon prided
himself on the smallneSs of his hands and feet.
SIR Walter Scott was prOuder of being sheriff
of Selkirkshire than author OF Wavery.-
kotzebue was 50 vain and envious tina, be
could not tolerate any celebrated personages
near him, even when represented by portrait
or statue. Byron was vain TO eXceSs-vaiu
of bis genius his rank, his misanthropy, aud
even his vices. Spiuoza took particular De
light in seeing spiders fight. The Count de
Grammont once surprised Cardinal Rchelieu
jumping with his servant 10 see which could
leap highest. Salvador Rosa often played in
mpromptieu comedies. and Travelled the streets
of Rome dressed as mounte- bank Antonio
Maghabecehi, the famous librarian of the grand
duke Of Tuscany, was passionately fond of
spiders, had his room filed with them, aud
would not allow his visitors 10 disturb them.
Moses MendelssChn, surnamed the Jewish Soc
rates, sometimes sought relief from his medita.
tions by sitting at the window aud counting
the tiles on the opposite roof. Cowper bred
rabbits and made birdcages. Doctor Jensen
made an especial pet of his cat Mind, the
famous Swiss painter, always bad a room full
os cats, and one perched on his back when he
was drawing. Goethe had tame adder, but
held dogs in aversion. Thomson's greatest de-
light was to saunter in his garden and eat ripe
peaches off the trellises with his hands in his
pockets Gray said be would like 10 pass his
life on sofa reading French novels. 1t IS
said that Oliver Cromwell sometimes laid aside
his puritanic gravity and played at blindman's
buff with his attendants. One of the most in
nocent amusements of Charles H., of England,
was to stroll in St. James Park, surrounded
by a troop of those dmnutive spaniels which
bear his name, and feed the ducks. Beethoven
loved to paddle in cold water, and carried his
passions TO such an extent, that the floor Of his
room was flooded, and the water would filter
through to the lower stories. Sometimes, at
morning and evening, he would scamper bare
foot through the dewy grass meadows. Shelly
was very fond of sailing paper boats. 1t is
said that he came to the Serpentine River
once, and having nothing in his pocket but a
ffty-pound note to make boat, gave it at
once the desired form, launched it on the stream,
watched his venture with paternal anxiety, and
finally ran round to the other shore to receive
his money when it came to land We mighi
easily extend our list, but have said enough to.
prove the proposition with which we started.
AL1IGAroR's NEsTs.-These nests resemble
haycocks. They are four feet high and five in
diametersat their basis being constructed with