Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-10-01
3 Remarkable Man.

We mentioned, in a bret paragraph, few
DAYS ago that Col. Sarmiento, recently elected
President Of Duenos Ayres, had been duly iu-
stalled in that position. His name is familiar
70 public men in this country, and particularly
in this city, where he resided for some time as
Minister Of the Argentine republic. His career
has been O most remarkable one. From his
biography prefxed by Mrs Mann to her trans
lation Of Life in the Argentine Republic we
learn that Don Sarmiento was born at San Juan
the capital OF the province Of that name, on the
eastern skirts OF the AuGes. IN 1911. His tam
liz vas descended from a Saracen chief OF the
twelfth century, and when in 1916 he visited
Aigers for the purpose of seeing Arabian lite,
he found his family name familiar to the peo-
p!e and was himself mistaken for an Arab.
He was early initiated into the knowled dge of
military tactics and man0uvres, and was
scarcely eighteen when he threw himself into
the midst Of campaign, fighting With demo
mac fury. At the same time he pursued his
studies with untiriug vigor, learclng French
from soldier of Napoleon with such SUCCESS
that In six weeks from the beginning he had
translated twelve volumes. - =. .5 :-----
Soon after he emigrvted to Chill, In order to
escape the fearful tyranny that then prevailed
in San Juan At first he tried los hand at
keeping school, then opened country store
with small capital which. had been raked
and scraped together by his family was after
ward commercial clerk at Valparaiso, and
then major domo of mines at Copiapo While
in Valparaiso earning an ounce IN month, he
paid half OF it to Rickard, the English protes-
sor and two reals a week to the watchman OF
the ward to wake him at two IN the morning
Tor his English studies. Saturday nights he
70 OH ont 10 leIS Gt
Sunday. During this period he translated at
the rate OF avolume day the sixty volumes OF
Sir Walter SCOTS novels, besides other works.
When the labor Of the mining day was over,
he met in certain kitchen, where they par
took of refreshment, other Argentine major
d0mos, ioremen and laborers, cxlIeS Ike him
SELF, to discuss politics
In 1886 he returned to San Juan, with iu-
paired health, destitute of resources, and scar
cey known to any one, as his old friends were
still 10 exile. His superior intel!lg ence soon
brought him into notice, and he took his place
among men of mark and education. His liberal
IDEAS soon GOT him into trouble with the Gov
ern,nent, and he was compelled again to emf
crate to Chill His took the editorship of the
Valparaiso Mercury, the only Journal in Chill,
which he carried through the political camgalgn
of that year He eagerly devoted himself to
the improvements OF popular cuuCaCOu, anu
founded the first normal school that was open
cd on this side the Atlantic. After gu ex1sn-
sive tour in Europe he came to the United
States BY the cid of Mr. Mann he studied
the common school systemof Massachusetts,
and on his return to Chill, introduced it there
with great effect. -. ~.
La 1851 he left Chill and joiayd the army of
General Urauiza, who was about to open the
campaign against R,sas, but soon became dis
truslul of Ureuiza aud, abandoning the cause
OF that ambitious chiettain, returned to Chill.
In 1854 he took up his residences 10 Buenos
Ayres as private citizen, but was soon made
Director of the Department of Schools and
Councillor of the Municipality, and succeeded
in Introducing the Massachusetts, system OF
common schools into Buenos Ayres, obtained a
liberal grant for its support from the Govern
ment, and erected a splendid building tor a
Model School, which was SAID by Mr.. Banvard,
he architect of school houses in France, to be
superior to anything in France n architecture,
apparatus and luxury OF appliances for the ed-
ucation OF the people. The furniture aud ap-
paratas were procured in the United States.
10 1860, when Saymianto LETT Buenos Ayres,
there were more than 1900 children IN the
schools. Nor were bis Iabors con6ned to the
cause Of education. In 1858 he was elected
Senator, and since then has taken an active
part in political life - Wash Star.