New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE IN TIE ARcENr1NE REPrBLIC.


The name OF Colonel Sarmiento IS famlliar 10 the
pubic men of tins country from his leading position
IN Soutb American politics, and his residence IN
WASHINGTON os Minister from the Argentine Repub-
lie His zeal in the interests of education led him
into intimate relations with the late eminent philan
tbropist Mr.. Horace Mann. aud the editor OF this
volume has availed herself Of the personal knowl-
edge thus obtained to present an instructive memoir
of his public career and his romantic history
Don Sarmiento was born at San Juan, the capital OF
the province Of that name, the eastern skr'S Vi
the Andes in 1911. His family was descended I'oin
saracen chief of the twelfth century, ana when
In 1916 he visited Algiers for the purpose o seons
Arabian life, he found his family name I'iiiiar "
the people and was himself mistaken LOT an Arap'
"Ue was On ambitions as to emulate them IN the
wearing of their national garment the oorhoz; ana
IN the exbaraton of the ride into the interior, I'M
der the Arab escort that the French commander had
furnished him with, boosted that he could ride to
the pyramids without hating They took him at his
word. and though the pyramids not the goal
sought the feat nearly cost him his life; but the
vigorous habits of his youth saved him. When ne
found himself in the tent of q Saracen Chief ana
looked about him to the characteristic marks oi
Arab life. he was struck with amazement TO ma NM
self in the midst of surroundings so precsey Ike
those of his native wild plains, that the eohNc'on
was brought forcbly home To him. that the gauchoS
of South America and the Arabs of Africa were one
and the same people, He was early initiated INTO
the knowledge of military tactics and maneuveIs ana
was scarcely eighteen when he threw himself INTO
the midst Of a campaign fighting with such demohac
fury that his superior officer took away his rifle, t
he conld learn to exercise more discretion in the field
At the same time he pursued his stndes with untIr-
ing vigor. learning French from soldier OF Napo-
Will ri
beginning he had translated twelve volumes
lie kent his books upon the dining-tabe ut was
the sight of French library in the place that had
awakened his ZEAL. removed them at meal times, eX-
tnguished his candle at two in the morning. or when
the reading absorbed him entirely, passed two or
three DAYS in succession seated with his dictionary
by his side Fourteen years afterward, on visiting
France he learned to pronounce the language"
Soon after he emigrated to Chill in order to es
tape the fearful Tyranny that then prevailed IN San
Juan. His life at this time exhibits somewhat
particoered aspect. At first he tried his hand at
keeping school, then opened a country store with
lmall capital which had been raked aud scraped to-
yerher by Instantly was afterward commercial clerk
ri Valparaiso and then majOrdomO ofmines in Copia-
po "Wh.le in Valparaiso earning an ounce month
he paid half of it Richard the English professor
and two reals a week TO the Waterman of the ward
q wake him nj two III the morning for his English
studies. Saturday nights he passed without sleep
TO ke out the leisure of Sunday. After he had taken
lessons six weeks. Richard told him that he only
wanted the pronunciation, which he dld not acquire
however, till very lately"
During this period he translated at the rate OF
volume day the sixty volumes of Sir Walter SCOTS
novels beside other works. His reading IN various
languages was extensive, and as he expresses IT,
"he opened the pores of his mind to mOlOe ideas,
"When the labor of the mining day was over, he
met. in certain kitchen where they partook of re-
freshment, other Argentine majordomos, foremen'
and laborers exlles like himself. to discuss politics,
and in the evening assembled at the house of another
the only one who had family establishment there,
thus keeping MP their habits of civilized life. At
these reunions in his miners dress-whch consisted
of doublet and hose striped drawers, red cap and
q broad sash, from which depended purse capable
of holding twenty-five pounds of sugar, but III
which he always kept several bundles of tobacco,
a dress he hal assumed partly from fancy and
partly from economy-he was always the oracle
to which all appealed for points Of bis
terry, geography, or other book learning" III
1896. he returned to San Juan, with impaired
health destitute of resources and scarcely known to
any one as his old friends were stll in exile His
peror intelligence soon brought him into notice, and
he took his place among men of mark and education
Villemain and Schlegel; in literature, JouirOy, Ler-
menner GuizOt Cousin; in philosophy, Tocquevle
and Pedro Leroux; the Encyclopedia Review, as
svnthess of all opinions Charles DidieT, and bund-
red other authors whom he devOured with ayidty.
For two years these books furnished material for i'm
passoned discussions between the friends, and in this
school Of philosophy he considered it, they talked
over the new doctrines attacked, defended, resisted
and were at last more or less conquered by them"
His liberal ideas got him into trouble with the
Government. and he compelled again 10 emigrate
to Chill. He took the editorship of the Valparaiso
Mercury" the only journal in Chill, which he car
red through the political campaign of that year. his
bold vigorous articles exciting strenuous opposition
and calling down upon him violent abuse. But his
zeal and activity carried the day. Every interest Of
society responded to his touch He eagerly devoted
himself to the improvement Of popular education.
No one in Chill had dreamed Of primary nstrnc
ton for the people, but in spite of the novelty of the
idea. ne put it into actual operation. He wrote him
self the first spelling-bOOk which gave the correct
sounds of the Spanish language, banished from the
schools the miserable prestly trash which was in
ficted OIL the pupils, and established periodical
treating Of the most difficult questions in the science
of education, and founded the first Normal School
that was opened on this side the Atlantic
After an extensive tour in Europe, in which he be-
came acquainted with Theirs, GuizOt, Humboldt, and
other men Of distinction in the scientific and polit
cal world he came to the United States By
the aid of Mr.. Mann, LIE studied the common
school system of Massachusetts, and, on his return
10 Chilli. introduced it there with great effect.
In 1851, he left Chill aud joined the army of Gen.
Urouiza, who was about to open the campaign
against Rosas but soon became dstrustful of Urquza
and abandoning the of that ambitious chief
tain returned to Chilli In 1854. he took mp his resi-
dence in BuenOs Ayres a private citizen, but was
soon made Director Of the Department of Schools,
and Councillor of the Municipality Here he exerted