Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-11-07
George Wilson.

A few years since, as Mr.. Gallaudet
was walking in the streets of Hartford,
there came running up to him poor boy,
of very ordinary appearance, but whose
fine intelligent eye fixed the attention of
the gentleman as the boy inquired:
ssSir, can you tell me of man who
would like Il boy to work for him and
will learn him to read ~ !
+ "Whose boy are you, and where do
you live %
81 have no parents" was the reply,
" and have ust run away from the work
house because they would not teach me
to read" fe
The gentleman made arrangements
with the authorities of the town, and
took the boy into his own family. There
he learned to read Nor was this all.
He soon acquired the confidence of his
new associates by faithfulness and hou-
esty. lie was allowed to use his friends
library, and made rapid progress in the
acquisition of knowledge. 1t became
necessary after while that George
should leave Mr.. Gallaudet, and he be-
came apprenticed to a cabinet-nIaker in
the neighborhood. There the same ill.,
tegrity won for him the favor of his
new associates. To crafty his inclina-
tion for study, his master hid little room
furnished for him i'll che upper part of
the shop, where he devoted his leisure
time to his tavotile pursuits. Here he
made large attainments i'll mathematics,
in the French language, aud ether BRAN
chcs. After being i'll this situation a few
wears, sitting at tea with the family one
evening, he all at once remarked that he
wanted to 90 to France.
'' Go to France (" said his master sur
prised that the apparently contented and
happy youth should thus suddenly be-
come dissatisfied with his situation ''for
what z" aH- o." .r be-.
"Ask Mr.. Gallaudet to tea tomorrow
evening"" continued George, "and | will
explain"
His kind friend was invited accord
ingly. At tea time the apprentice pre-
sented himself with his manuscripts, in
English and French, and explained his
singular intention to go to France.
'.In the time of Napoleon" said he, "a
prize was offered by the French Govern
ment for the simplest rule Of measuring
plane surfaces of whatever outline. The
prize has never been awarded, and that
method I-have discovered. rg
He then demonstrated his problem, to
the surprise and qualification of his
friends, who Immediately furnished him
with the means of defraying his expen-
ses, and with letters of introduction to
the Hon. Lewis Cass, then our minister
to the court of France. He was intro
duced to Louis Philippe, and in the
presence Of the king, mobiles, and plenipo-
teutiaries this American youth demon
strated his problem, and received the
plaudits of the court. Ho received the
prize, which he had clearly won, besides
Several presents from the King. .5s.r.
He then took letters of introduction,
and proceeded to the Court of st. James,
|'and took up similar prize, offered by
the Royal Society, and returned to the
United States. Here he was preparing
to secure benefits of his discovery by
patent, when be received letter from
the Emperor Nicholas himself, one ol
whose ministers had witnessed his dem
onstrations at London, inviting him tc
make his residence at the Russian Court
and furnishing him with ample means tol
his outfit.
he complied with the invitation, re
paired to st. Petersburgh, and is now
Professor OF Mathematics in the Roya
College under the special protection o
the autOcrat OF all the Russias. -