The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-31

foreign languages, embracing III MS PEOleoIs
with the French and Italian literatures, which
he knew little, the German literature, which
he did not know at all, without negleeting,
however, to read at the same time in the traus-
lation. If his ewes could not endure the fatigue
of the original text, his old Greek authors.
"That will be sufficient" he added, modestly,
las a general preparation" Spanish, which
was to be later the principal occupation Of his
reading did not then enter into his plans. He
conseoTated year to the reading of French
authors from Froisssrt to Chateaubriaud, with
out much relish for any of them; and year
likewise to that Of Italian authors, of whom he
was always great admirer. Once familiar
lied with Italian, he undertook German; but
his will, in spite of its frmness, failed before
this difficult work. So far he had been able,
thanks to the help Of secretary to accom-
plish such vast undertakings without making
much use of his eyes, which moreover seemed
to grow stronger; but it could not be SO with
German. The first condition was to habituate
himself to these Gothic characters, which were
completely unknown to him, and his sight
was not sufficiently strong for the task which
he imposed on it. After some months of use
less efforts he abandoned German, but it was
not without strong sentiment of regret and
sadness. For the first time his infrmity became
for him no longer an inconvenience but a
complete obstacle, and he could touch with
his finger the nnsurmountable limits which
the weakness of his body opposed to the
strength of his will. As the result of this
trial, he fell into a profound encouragement,
which had on his daily labors rapid reaction.
How he was drawn from this state of intel
lectual marasmus is what Mr.. Ticknor can
tell us better than any one; for he can assume
the credit of having shown to his friend his
true road, and of having brought him to the
entrance of the way which was to conduct him
so rapidly to celebrity.
Mr.. Ticknor is in foreign languages what
our neighbors call distinguished scholar
He has specially occupied himself with Spanish
literature, and he has published history of
that literature, which has placed him in the
rank of the most distinguished critics of
America. At the epoch with which We are
concerned he had just prepared a series of
lectures on this subject for the students of
Harvard University, and he proposed to him
self to collect them in volume. To distract
his friend, who was both sad and ill, he Of
fered to give him his manuscript to read. The
proposition was accepted; soon Prescott took
a passic nate liking for this language, and he
resolved to replace the study of German by
that of Spanish. Without losing a moment
he borrowed from Mr.. Ticknor grammars,
books, dictionaries. BY singular accident,
the History of the Conquest of Mckee, by
Soils, was the first work on which he cast his
eyes. At the end of some months he had so
mastered the idioms, that he wrote to Mr.. Tick
nor letters in Spanish, in which he appreciated
the literary value of the authors he was read
ing. At the end of year, this new course
of study was terminated, and as he wanted to
have always before him some vast project,
and as he could without vanity believe him
self well prepared, he began to occupy him
self seriously with seeking some subject for a
work. He remained for long time uncertain.
Spain appeared to him with reason an mex
FAr| |ba ~,
of conscience stopped him. He feared that
material obstacles would prevent his bringing
to the work he would undertake the indispen
sable measure of care and exactness. Ambi-
tion ended by carrying the day, and, after
some final hesitation lac fixed his design on
the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Twenty
yoare aftor, on the margin of tho jour
nal in which he had recorded this reso-
luton, he wrote with pencil, "Happy
choice -
Happy choice, without doubt; but might
one not also say singular choice Is it not
strange to see a democrat and Protestant
make himself the partial historian of two
sovereigns, in whom the traditions of monar-
chical and Catholic policy were incarnated in
the Middle Ages, in that in which they are
most absolute? We would understand him
better devoting himself to relate, as he for a
moment thought of doing, the last days of the
Roman republic and the last combats OF lib
erty against C8sarism. Prescott was to remain
not less faithful to his first inclination. To the
end he was TO celebrate the xploits of this great
and strong Spanish race, which has sustained
everywhere desperate struggle in favor of
the principles the most opposed to the tenden-
cies and sympathies of citizen of the New
World, and the most bitter, or even the most
odious, of these principles had never found in
him aught but an impartial and intelligent
iudpa. Prescott ia not the only AVamDlA of
this singularity, and one knows with what
scrupulous equity one of his compatriots has
not long ago caused to pass before our eyes
one of the most agitated epochs of the history
of Spain, the revolt of the Netherlands. Must
we not conclude from this, that to relate with
out passion and without prejudice the quarrels
of our old Europe, the children of young
America have a natural superiority? For US
these struggles are of yesterday, the battle
is hardly gained; victorious or vanQuished,
no one is sufficiently sure of his vic
tory or defeat not to prepare in secret
the arms for new combat. For them, on the
contrary, the phantom Of dreaded past does
not coms to haunt their minds; the gauces
which they throw back awake no irritating
memory; they have nothing to fear and moth
ing to wish for. What is there astonishing
! that they do not become excited at the recital
of our bloody disputes? They awake in them
| but an interest of curiosity one might say o
archaeology; they have no difficulty in relat
ing them without emotion. That is not one o
the least advantages which the complete and
assured liberty which they enjoy gives them
over us. May God grant that We may one
day share it with them
The history of Ferdinand and Isabella, the
appearance of which was saluted with so deeI
an enthusiasm, is certainly work of great
merit. Prescott exhibits in it wonder u
SrYs. IL.