Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-27

t communications OF personal character VIII De charg
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communications must be accompanied by tho names OF
@ authors rejected communications returned
----- East Snvnnt.
Probably not one in hundred of our readers
ba, ever heard of William Small. In many
rosnects be resembles Elihu Burritt, the learn.
ID blacksmith. He is the son of a poor far,
mer. was born, | believe, in Auburn, Maine,
and and now, farmer himself, lives there. Grow
inc 4up as all poor farmers sons grow up, inI
constant toll, he was generally regarded by his!
acouaintances as q stupid, inert fellow, who!
wopld never amount to anything. But the
hunger for knowledge was gaawing his. mind
ncessantly. At the age of nineteen he bought
his first book, copy of Legendre's Geometry, },
having earned the money for the purchase by
hoeipc, at one cent per one hundred hills, at
ter his regular days work was done. Before
he reached the age of Is he had gone three
times through Mechanque Celestic. At the
ace of 81 he could read 81 languages, and
sneak Auently seven or eight; it is his rule to
learn one language per year. He is one of tho
yery few Sanscrit scholars in America.
Some ten or dozen Of years ago he went
abroad and travelled extensively. At Palis he
attended the sessions of one Of the Institutes,
(I am not sure which, and went with class of
students through course of pure mathema-
tics. Coming home to his lodgings from these
exercises, dripping with persplratlon, he used to
say; -,
work as this. His mind seems to have been
originally mathematical but his proficiency as
q linguist shows that he has not neglected other
departments of learning. And in addition to
purely scholarly requirements, he has mastered
The science of law. His industry is almost like
that of a machine there is no intellectual diff
Guilty that can appal, no mental labor that can
He is thirty.six years old, six feet two inches
in height in his stockings, and weighs two
hundred and thirty pounds. In the field he
leads the crew." and his physical strength
NAV be estimated from the fact that he lifts five
hundred pounds with ease He sleeps not
more than five out of the twenty-four hours,
and is strictly temperate in all respects, using
no LIQUOR nor tobacco 1t is common ques-
ton by his friends, What is his object in life ?
10 this as to most other interrogatories he re-
turns no direct answer, but says he has an
object in life, which will appear In good time.
He is married and has one daughter, nine
years old, who speaks French, German, Italian
and Spanish. a EE.#.
BARNUM AND THE LAWYER.--In Court, at
Bridgeport, the other day, the great Barnum
being witness as to the ownership of some
land, standing in the name of his wife, "Chari;
ty," the opposing lawyer undertook to gain In
formation under the following difficulties
Counsel-Mr. Barnum, are you sure that
81, hu Jpn
money? !
Barnum-I had no money at that time; my
wife had all there was In the family; was a
subject of Charity
Judge (smiling)-Charity sufereth long.
Mr.. Barnum- Charity l was moth
ing, in those days of Jerome clocks.
Counsel-Mr Barnum, you are now worth a
million of dollars? -
Mr.. Barnum (gravey)-l am glad to hear
Counsel-Are you not worth it?
Mr.. Barnum-You so inform me, sir.
Counsel-You are worth million and q
half? a.~
Mr.. Barnum-Better yet
Counsel-Is not this true?
Mr.. Barnum-I shall tell you if the court SO
directs. 'i.s4.;sst.s .I-
Judge-What is the object of the inquiry /?
COUNSEL wish to know how he has made
Sl,50O,O0O within few years. /
Mr.. Barnum-I am not aware that l am
obliged to give the gentleman lessons in the
art of money getting. r. as.
Counsel Ito the Judge )-Shall not the wit
ness answer my question aN
Judge-Mr. Barnum may do as he likes
about it. ! If he has no objection to telling you
how he has. made money, be may do so. ~
Mr. Bsrnnm (taking a pencil and a large
sheet of paper IL certainly have not the slight
est objection, commencing to make hgures,
rapidly but it will involve some little delay to
the court. ."W hat Is It, then the gorlilas
the mermaid, and enter into some pretty nice
calculations regarding the net proceeds, OF the
woolly horse shall also be compelled to re.
write out catalogue of the museum, and IN
the course of about five days we shall proba-
6lEbegin to get some faint CLEANS OF light on
the subject. DO. sTga .G +
The court informed the witness that the an
SScr might be waived. 1aa
DEATH OF A MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER :
An old hermit, who lived solitary and alone for
thirty-fve years near Albion, Mich, was found
dead in his hut few days since. A cores
pondent Of the Chicago journal writes THE
greatest mystery has always surrounded him.
through since his death the following story has
been circulated by those who claim, to- know
lttlssaid that years ago he was wealthy mer
chant in New York city, and was engaged to
ss.Oeautiful and accomplished young lady; but
his brother who was in business with him, be-
came bis rival and secured the hand Of, the
l1ady in question, upon which, this man betook <
himself to the wilds of Michigan, bought some
land, built a small hut and here he lived in the
Utmost seclusion. He raised his own produce.
I tor clothing ne used nothing but cotton bags,
TThich he put on in every shape imaginable.
!a the winter he wore neither boots nor shoes,
arrays going barefoot, and always slept in his
oomn, IN which be was found dead. .",.zas.
w .3fT~T REMOVALl