The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-06-29
My Reading and Comments on The hor
risson Library.
BY J. NJ. w.

Pursuit of knowledge under Difficult
tics Illustrated by Memoirs of Emi
nent Men, in two vols.
This work was published in 1910, by
Harpcrs and Brothers, small book, each
containing less than three hundred pages.
No Author appears at the title. The
| object Of the work appears TO some As a
family Library, of which it is admirably
adapted for the young reader. Showing
how men have risen from poverty and
| obscurity to places Of eminence; demon
strating that triumphs over almost any
outward circumstances, are not solely
reserved for persons of extraordinary
| intellectual powers, and is not genius
alone that is passport to high positions
/ and usefulness in the world, but resolu-
| tion and perseverance to overcome all
! difficulties that are wanted.
The pursuit Of knowledge is not nee
| essarily confined to the study of books.
Will pass over many names that have
| been introduced, and briefly allude to
| Peter / of Russia, known in history as
| Peter the Great, who distinguished him
self by his ardor i'll his pursuits III
variety of ways, and was in all respects
one of the most extraordinary men that
ever lived. He was born in 1872 Ten
years of age found him i'll nominal pos
time all the actual power of the State re-
mained in the hands of his sister, the
Princess Sophia, who was about five years
older. His boyhood was scarcely eXpir-
his character by Kidding himself of this
domination in 1859 The Princess was
already removed from the Government
and immured in monastery.
From this epoch the young Car, now
absolute in reality as well as in name,
directed his whole efforts to the most ex-
traordinary enterprise, in which a Soy
ereign ever engaged, being nothing less
than to change entirely the most settled
habits aud prejudices of his subjects, by
not so much as to reform them as to
transform them, almost by main force
from barbarians into a civilized people.
For the Russians at this time-not more
than a century and a half ago, were in
truth little better than a Nation of saw
ages. Peter himself was born and reared
a savage; and TO his last days the pas
sions and propensites of his original
remained strong in his nature.
Near the close Of his life he exclaimed,
Il have reformed my people, but have
not been able te reform myself" Per
haps however, no man in any station,
ever did more than this illustrious mon
arch, to repair the mischievous conse-
quences of a neglected youth.
Peter the Great, died III 1925 in the
fifty third year of his age. His history
presents us with perhaps, rs remarkable
pursuit of knowledge, as it would be
possible to quote Few monarchs have
better deserved the title OF Great
Compare Peter the Great, with many
have filled the earth with the noise of their
exploits, and how high he must be placed
above them. Alexander's mighty en-
pire fell to pieces as soon as his own
hand had resigned its sceptre so did
nothing" But the Russian Government
that of Charlemagne so did that of
Bonaparte. Then says writer, after
moving verything, established almost
fruit more plentifully every year. The
reason may be obvious, that while other
builders OF empires have trusted for the
support of their institutions alone or
chiefly to the sword, he based his on the
moral strength of knowledge and civili-
Zation.
"Politeness and Good Manners. by
Miss Leslie.
This is popular and well written book.
Its style and circum stances of which
the assumed Author was surrounded may
be more adapted to high life, than to a
plain quaker city in the west Yet as
our city Ladies and Gents are beginning
TO assume some what of city airs. its
perusal would be likely to be of incalcu-
liable advantage to either gender.
Seven Stories with Basement and
Attic"
This is pleasing story book. Those
who are fond of light literary aliment,
though it may not stick to the ribs, and
hence will not be likely to breed III any
an Indigestion. will be pleased with it.