The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-11-11

sY PRzSncE xvLrokp.
From Overland Monthly November.

LAWYER He was more tie was, In embryo
universal Genius. In him were the ele
ments Of most attractive man. but not prop
erly ballasted by patience, and under httlS
control Chaos. ere earth crystalllzed int
form. seemed type of his mind. Love. law,
oratory, poetry, music. metaphysics, politics
every art and science-were dritted and
scud blown hther and thither through Jo'.
brain. Even so ais moods; all, in one day
savage. gay. fierce, depressed, taciturn, talk
alive. cheerful, sarcastic, gentle, and disa
greeable.
JOS tastes, powers, and capacities were
varied He craved universal requirement
but the grand power of patience seemed In
him almost lacking. His were ftful and
spasmodic attacks on the various tortresses. Of
knowledge, characterized by Gallo impetuosl
ty and enthusiasm. but wanting in the all
conquering Teutonic method and persever
ance.
lie attacked successfully all the strong
holds of learning. Six weeks was his max im-
um siege. At the expiration of that period
he came off, in his own estimation, a con-
queror-a proficient in the art. 1t was as il
a party of Bedouin horsemen charged against
Gibraltar's walls ana scampered off, exult-
ingly crying themselves masters of the for
tresS.
While 10 was master of our district school,
he, for time, taught principally English
grammar. Grammar. to every scholar, great
and small. capable of memorizing the defini-
ton of a noun, was dealt out largely in ex-
cess of other studies 1t was because 10 him.
self at that period was passing through an in
tense grammatical era. IN education, he
maintained It the one thing needful. Gram
mar was bis mistress. Suddenly, he tired
of her and cast her off. He deserted her for
mathematics, and 10, with the entire school,
became severely mathematical. This was
his system One branch of study at a time.
A "time" endured from three to six weeks.
Those were the early days, when the camp
schoolteacher was entire master of the situa-
ton, without hinderance from superintendent
or boards of education. Jc, at last, threw up
the peda gogical sponge in disgust. lie de-
clare3 that any man devoting himself to the
profession over two years, would dwarf intel
lectually into piemy, aspiring to nothing
higher than the compiling of new primers.
10 then applied himself to law. Nothing
for him like law. Before the great legal au.
thorities. he Frustrated himself in humility
and reverence. Il could sit at their feet
like child" said he. "and drink in their
wisdom" Because | smiled, he sneered
out "What can you comprehend OF the
grandeur, the conciseness, the clearness OF
the bald language Of law! You are no law
yer"
Suddenly, 10 shot into the classics. Latin
grammars, dictionaries, and readers filled his
table. He threatened himself with Virgil
ere he had mastered the declensions of the
nouns and adiectives. He skinned lightly,
for few days. over the coniugations. He
declared himself independent of the numer
Gus grammatical rules. and their still more
Numerous progeny of exceptions. Genius,
he said, was above rules for ordinary men.
He longed Immediately to graphic with the
translation. With it he did grappe. The
Latin reader he conquered in week. To
Virgil then be applied himself. with oil the
zeal of an enthusiast. JOS translation was
&C the freest possible order. 1t was riotous
in its freedom. The grammatical discipline
Of the language was irksome to him. lie
was not ameuable to any such drill. In two
months, he deemed himself fair classical
scholar. The man was miraculously quick.
and did catch enough OF the poetry and idea
20 render such labor for time pleasant.
He announced his intention of reading every
known Latin author. The list was made out;
but 10. with learning, was a c0quette. He
suddenly LEFT his classic mistress. His next
tangent was Juror for French The ac-
ouirement of that tongue was for him mere
hagatelle of a fortnight lie mastered Tele-
maque, reading it aloud to perfect himself in
the pronunciation according to his ideas OF
the French pronunciation.
There lived in camp one Monsieur Broche.
orr French baker. He was the embodiment
of the stage Frenchmau. His shoulders were
galvanic his forehead high. narrow, and
bald his ewes black and glttering: his hair.
in tumhling, black. hirsute torrent, fell
over his cnat-coliar. Tie was a Communists
transpanted During his ifteen-years' resi-.
dence in California. he had not acquired If
teen words of English. On SUNDAYS. attired
in his best. he teetered up TO pu9des of water
on his toes, and carefully lifted up his coat
tails as he stenped over them; while Billy
Burns, from Pine Log-who came into camp
once month, to scowl at clvilization-re'
gardei Monsieur Broche savsgelv, being
thoroughly disguised at such French airs.
He declared that "Broehe was within bailine
distance Of the insane asylum, and that hed
run muck vet. with long knife, through
the streets Of camp"
Jo tried his French on Monsieur Broche
lie read him sundry extracts from the Cour
rier Broche elevated his. eyebrows. they
essaved to converse. Both produced their
own STYLES of the Gallo tongue. They were
to each ether unintellisihle. They parted II
disgust. THE baker speaks the pato's O
the provincial" Quoth 10. land knows moth
ing of the pure Partisan accent"
A spell of melody came over him. liz
purchased two vinlins. Joined the singing
school, aud piled his table with music books
He lahored long BY himself with lungs and
bow during the silent nights. The neighbor'
were disturbed. Some complained. 1t was
not melody: for 10. with strained and husky
voice. turned all his airs at acute angles, am
his playing and singing. when combined
seemed to pull in opposite directions. il
heard of the fault-fnding. "Then I'll play
and sing bv night on my premises, said be
until they buy me out. propose, IN so7t
way. to make music profitable. How mnct
do they want me TO stop? Four hundred
dollars worth? This week I'll sell my house
and Lot for that amount. Next week l ash
Eve hundred. and buy another violin y
10 suddenly left music, declaring tha
abandonment to horn-tooting and singing wa'