The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-09-30

SSusoiaNuh anu encouragement IN the Nlgl
LIANT affection Of his sister Ii has been 10
marked by a great critic that most of ths
men who have distinguished themselves in
after years, had in their youth, as an inteln
gent and devoted companion, good and
Kind sister, showing, in smaller way, the
same aptitudes and genius Is their brothers.
During these painful days, Prescott was for.
tunate enough TO have his sister Elizabeth
Prescott as companion and confident En-
tertaiuing for her brother the most uu-
bounded admiration, she deemed herself very
happy TO be his reader and secretary Brother
and sister used to shut themselves up In the
library for days, and while Prescott, his back
TO the light, listened atteutiyely, the indefati-
gable Elizabeth would read Tor six or seven
hours, historiraI r~~si~-s WIN
the help of that discreet companion, Pres
eott grew bold enough to send an article
which he had composed, to the director OF
one Of the most renowned periodicals Of the
United States. More than two weeks passed
without bringing any bad news, and our
two conspirators were already sure of sue
cess, and Elizabeth was already faucying that
she was seeing the nimbus of immortality
round the great writer's head, when, alas :
one day the manuscript was sent back, with
pitiless refusal. Prescott endured the
shameful blow with philosophy, but Eliza
beth was indignant for many a day
Repulsed in that quarter, Prescott tried an-
other. He started, in association with few
young friends. under the name OF the "Club
Review" the publication of series of arti-
cles, which appeared at irregular intervals.
The first number appeared in February, 1870,
but the publication as he himself says pleas
antly, "was stopped at the fourth number
for want of subscribers" 1t must be con-
fessed that it WAS not Preseott's fault He
had written for the Review three articles,
two of which were novels-one of the SEN
timental, and the other of the historical
kind.
After these successive disappointments,
Prescott grew somewhat discouraged. lie
was then twenty-four years of age, and the
bad condition Of his sight prevented him from
following his fathers vocation. He would
have born his infrmity well enough if his
family, who were desirous of finding employ
ment for him, had not always been interior
ing with his own ideas. They wanted the
future historian to be shopkeeper. He hap
ton, young girl named Susan Armory, who
had some years before inherited large for
tune from her father, a very wealthy mer-
chant. He fell in love with her graceful per-
son, and they were married some months
later Thanks to that good fortune, Prescott
not only became independent as far as money
was concerned, but also happy man, for
Susan Arnory was devoted wife to him to
the very last day of his life Under these
new circumstances, PreseotFs parents, see
ing his future safe and secure, left him free
TO follow his own inclination, and he resolv-
ed to become-one of the illustrious writers
of his country. As soon as he had taken that
resolution, it became the fixed idea of his life,
and he worked accordingly. We shall see how
eonseientiOusly be prepared himself for the
noble profession he had chosen. Poet laureate
ofthe University of Harvard, he could believe
that his education there, as far as the classics
and English literature were concerned, was
a sufficient stock to start with, and that he
did not need any new initiation But he had
a different opinion of the case, and under
the date of October S0th, 1921, he made an
entry in his journal and wrote programme
of studies, including grammar, English and
Latin literature. He had the perseverance
to adhere to it literally, and he was seen
compiling, as young scholar, the books of
rhetoric used in the Universities. That task
being accomplished, he then turned his atten-
tion to foreign languages, comprising besides
the French and Italian literatures, with which
be was partially acquainted, the German lit
erature, which he was not eonyersant with.
"This will be sufficient" he modestly said,
''as general preparation" The Spanish Ian
guage, which was to be some time later the
main occupation of his life, was not then in
eluded in his programme He spent one
year reading the French authors, from Frois-
sart to Chateaubriand, and one year also in
the study of italian works. Having master
ed Italian, he undertook the study of Ger
man, but his viii, strong as it was, failed him
in presence of that difficult language So
far, he had been able with the assistance of
aseeretary, toachieve his great undertakings
without much fatigue to his eyes, but it could
r,of - - with the Gar-,ar Tho st co..d5
tion required was to get accustomed to the
gothic characters so completely unknown to
hiri, and his eyesight was lot strong enough
to resist the efforts imposed upon it. After
i few months of vain attempts he gave it up,
but it was not without deep feeling Of re-
gret and sadness. For the first time he was
made aware that his infrmiiy was not only
an Inconvenience, but also a real obstacle,
aud he had tangible proof Of insurmount-
able difficulties that his viii itself could not
conquer. After that failnre be sunk into a
profound encouragement which caused a
great neglect of his daily labors- Mr. Tick
nor now interviewed and caused him to shake
of his melancholy, and he showed his friend
what was the course he had better pursue,
and so brought him into the road that was to
lead him so rapidly to fame and celebrity.
OBSERVATIONS BT JOSH BuLISGs.-If q
man wants tew get at his aktuzl dimensions,
let him visit q grave yard
If any man wants tew be an old bachelor,
and get sick at boarding tavern, and have a
back room il the fourth story, and a red-hair-
ed chamber-maid bring his water Cruel to
him in tin wzsh-basin, have alWus sed,
and stick to it yet, he has got perfek right
u do