St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-06-30
=. For the St. Cloud Democrat.
90 FOSSILS"
FOllies of Great Men.

FOll1eS OF GrcAC MEN.
When looking at the bright sun, one sci
dom sees or even thinks of the dark spots
upon its surface Eis great glory dispels
every thought. than that of his greatness.
So it is with men When they are great
their very greatness covers their defects.
We are dazzled by the brilliancy of one
great quality which overshadoss and hides
all others. No man can be said to be great
in all things. Each one has his speciality.
Some are great in one thing-some in an
other. Some excel in oratory, some in
mechanism, and others in diplomacy. But
all have their weaknesses, their follies aud
foibles. Their greatness is always attend
ed d,by corresponding littleness- childish
ness one might say which is sovershadcw-
ed and hidden by that greatness, that. it is
ofteh scarcely, noticed J. The following ex-
amples will illustrate our meaning:
Tyco Brahe, the astronomer, who has
perhaps done more for the science of as
tronony than any other man, who sought
to unravel the. mysteries of heaven itself,
Changed colcr and shook with fear when he
met a hare or fox. DR.. johnson would
heyer enter room with his left foot first i;
if by chance it did get in first, lie would
retreat: and put the right foremost. One
would have expected more from a man who
las Said so taahhjy sensible things as Dr..
johnson julius Caesar uas almost con-
vulsed with fear at the sound of thunder,
and would run around frantically in search
of cellar or hole in the ground where lie
could escape the sound. 70 Queen Eliza
beth the ut,erance of the sin pie word
'sdeath" was full Of horror, and even Tall
lyrand, who lived in such bloody times
one might say in the harvest time Of death
and changed color when tie
word was spoken.
Marshal Saxce, who met and overthrow
armies, fed and screamed in terror at the
sight of a cat. Peter the Great could ncv-
sr be persuaded to cross a bridge, and
though he strove to overcome the weak
ness, yet failed to do so. Whenever he set
foot on one, he would shrek out in distress
and agony,
Byron would never help any one to salt
at the table, nor would he be helped him
self: If any arhc}e: of food happened to
be spilled on the table, he would rise and
leave his meal unfinished. 49,.
The story of the great Frcnshn.an Male
branche is curioussand well authenticated.
H. fancied he carried an er oriiious leg Of
mutton on the top, Of his nose: No enc
could convince him Of the contrary. One
day a gentleman who was visiting him
adopted the following plan to cure him Of
tie folly: He approached Malebranchc
with the intention Of embracing him, when
he suddenly exclaimed, "Ha! your leg, Of
mutton has hit me in, the face!'' at which
1Ialebraqctie expressed much regret The
friend asked him. '.if he should remove it
with Q arazor?''. ''Ah, my friend, 1 owe
you more then lifs.; Yes, yes, by sll.means
cut it off, IN twinkling the friend cut
the tip Of Malebranche's nose, and adroit-
ly taking f;om under his cloak leg, Of
mutton, raj i,elit in triumph. =" Ah!" cried
Malebranche, '1liye! | breathe! I am
saved My nose is free! my head is
free but-but-it was raw and that il
cooked" *'rru!y,, but then you have been
sitting near the FIRE that must be The
reason =. Ma]ebranche, the philosopher
was satisfied, and thenccforth made ne
more complaint about a mutton leg or any
other protrubeerancee being attached to his
nose. -. ...-....,,... -.