The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-08
Written for the ADVOCATE
SAMUEL DREW.
BY O W. RICHARDS.

] - wy PAOPpAbiO4 VI Tue names
that justly stand high On the roll Of fame,
have climbed to their hardly won eminence
with the most incredible toll and the most
untlrlng perseverance. These ardent
workers have, moreover, the consolation Of
knowing that to themselves and the talents
with which they have been adorned by the
Great Creator, that they are indebted for
their triumphs A cOronet may glitter on
the brows Of the unworthy, and it may, too
often have been acquired by fraud, violence
or chicane. Well has the great master
of human nature truly remarked, +" that
many man sleeps in cottage, who, if
he had his just deserts, should dwell in a
palace"
Learning, now ever, is opeL to no such
objections, its possessor has revenue and
countless sources of pleasure, which the
rudest frowns of fortune can scarcely de-
prive him. Nor is this desire or love of
letters limited to any particular condition
OF life, it is shared by all, from the mon
arch on his throne to the humblest laborer
in his dominions, and not even the bitterest
poverty can repress. All trades and pro-
fessOns have been represented in the
great republic of letters. The Judges, who
sit at the tribunal, to which authors trem-
lblingly submit their productions, are
Strictly inPartisly and posterity commonly
sanctions their verdict, though perhaps at a
period when the anxious heart has long
ceased to beat after i" lifes ftful dream is
over" and the dull, cold ear cannot be
soothed by tlattery. This truth was per-
'aaps neter better exemptified than in the
case of the gifted and unfortunate Sheridan.
His last hour was rapidly approaching, the
terrors of the law disturbed and threatened
him, and he was greatly in need of the ne
cesslty his situation demanded, yet but a
few, and those untitled, felt sympathy and
extended relief The closing scene soon
came, and earth, with all its struggles, anx
cites, joys and notifications was nothing
to him. Scarcely mad that restless spirit
quilted its clay when the proudest Of the
English peers contended as to who should
act as pail bearers. A few guineas from
each some days before, if it would not have
prolonged the existence of the great orator
would, at least, have smoothed his pas
sage to the grave. These mobiles, when
Sheridan was in his bitter extremity, little
thought Of the brilliant conversational
power, great wit and dazzling eloquence of
their former associate, and boon companion;
yet who does not now read the p" School for
Scandal, enjoy its sparkling sentences,
and the Just blows dealt at scandal and all
Its circulators. Such is fame, after death
eternal, in life, nothing. SO long as the
English language is spoken in any part Of
the world, so long will the Rivals, and the
School for Scandal, those great domestic
masterpieces, be read and admired. But
were We q dwell longer on this theme, it
would be endless, anc not dninstructive
or understanding. Our present duties
compel us to pass to other topics.
The sons Of St. Crispin have not been
without votaries to the muses., and the
higher walks of literature Sachs, Of NJ
remberg; Bloomfield, of England, and
Holcrott, the translator, dramatist and
novelist, had all worked on the shoemaker
bench. Second to none Of those was Sa-
muel Drew, an humble shoemaker, whose
perseverance In self-Improvement was
crowned with success that has placed him
In the front rank Vi the profoundly eminent
men Of the first quarter Of the present cen
tury."
This individual was born in the parish of
St. Ansteil, in England, in the county Of
Cornwall. This part of Great Britain abound
ing in tin, is perhaps the most interesting
of the empire 1t has been for centuries
the abode OF the Oldest untitled gentry Of
the kingdom there the Trelawnies, who
We're great before the conquest, have re-
sided for many centuries.
Samuel Drew's parents were extremely
poor, and their energies were sorely taxed
to provide for their family. The father
father spent has time, when not engaged in
agricultural pursuits, i'll searching the
mountain sheets, and carefully separating
the ore from the running streams. The oc-
cupatlon was toilsome, but in the course Of
time the elder Drew realized enough to
purchase some horses, and carry the pro-
duce OF dlstillery in the vicinity to mar
ket. For a season, all went on well. but
the man with whom he had contracted pre-
terred pleasure, neglected his trade, and
bankruptcy soon followed The poor
carrier Jared like the rest of the creditors.
and the few pounds on which be relied to
meet his family expenses vanished like
the baseless fabric Of vision, leaving not a
wreck behind" and the poor man found
himself compelled to begin life anew.
Meanwhile The family had emerged from
early infancy, and the elder Drew, who
was naturally superior man, anxious to
afiofd them all the educational opportuni-
ties which the place afforded, sent them
to school where the charge was only
penny weekly. But Samuel did not take
kindly to literature. He was not fond of
books The confinement of the school room
was hateful to him and he had strange
love of nature. He would spend hour az
ter hour in the woods, satisfied with bis own