Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-08-24
Misfelfanfoils.
Ounces

Fisher Ames entered Harvard at the
age of twelve, and Edward Everett al
| thirteen; Bishop .Heber translated
"Phedrus" into English at seven,
Anna Seward repeated from memory
the first three books of Paradise LOST
at nine: the Lord Brougham wrote on
philosophy at eighteen.
But all eminent men have not been
remarkable for early attainments. Some
| of the grandest spirits that the world
| has ever known-men whose works
and memory are enduring-were re-
| garded in youth as ounces. They
| fiowered late, but bore the rarest fruit.
1t is somewhat discouraging for boy
of moderate abilities, who aims to dc
his best, to be told that others accom-
plished in childhood what he can do
only. by hard study in the best years OF
his youth. But such q boy should not
relax his efforts. He will succeed, ii
he gives his heart and mind to the
work.
O That distinguished teacher, DIR.
Arnold of Rugby, after speaking of
those who jealousy cultivate interior
powers of mind, said of such a pupil:
s'I would stand to that man hat in
11O OhOC Cl'OhO oAdl RAy W a
dull boy, who replied:
"Why do you speak angrily, sir?-
Indeed, am doing the best can"
DIR Arnold said he never SO felt re-
buke in his life.
du ce in his early days. He stood low
in his classes, and seemed to have no
relish for study. One day the "Bright
boy" of the school gave him q kick in
the stomach, which caused him severe
pain. The insult stung young Newton
to the quick, and he resolved to make
himself felt and respected by improved
scholarship. He applied himself reso-
lutely to study, and, ere-long, stood in
his classes above the boy who had
kicked him, and ultimately became
the first scholar in the school.
Newton owed his pre-eminence in his
philosophical studies more to persever-
ance and applicable than to any mar
velous natural endowments.
Oliver Goldsmith, than whom no
boy could appear more stupid, was the
butt of ridicule at school. A school
dame, after wonderful patience and
perseverance, taught him the alpha
beta thing which she deemed credit
able to her skill, and which she lived
to mention with pride when her pupil
became famous. He made,no progress
in the exact studies, but liked history
and Latin poetry. ri
He was a sore trial to his ambitious
who made many fruitlesS ef-
forts to quicken his wits by her sharp
words. His relatives, teachers and
all told him that he was
fool, which verdict he did not dispute,
but took good humoredly. Seven when
he had produced the Traveller" an
eminent critic said to friend: "Sir,
do believe that Goldsmith wrote that
poem; and that, let me tell you, is be-
lieving a great deal"
Sir Walter Scott was a dull boy, and
the university at Edinburgh
he went by the name of "The Great
But he wasted no time
on trifies, and, in pursuing study that
he loved-aS, for example, history or
the classics-he was persevering and
He was one of those
whose knowledge on a subject that in
terested, increased until it lay like a
great volume in his mind. When
Walter Scott began to make use of that
society gave him another
name, somewhat different from the Ed
lnburgh appellation. 1t was "The
Great Magician"
Hutton, the antiquarian, whose knowl-
edge of books was deemed remarkable. |
was slow to learn when boy. He
was sent to school to certain Mr., |
Meat. He thus tell his experience
My master took occasion to beat my
head against the wall, holding it by |
the hair, but he could never beat any
into it.
Sheridan found it hard to acquire the |
elements of learning. His mother |
deemed it her duty to inform his teach
er that he was not bright to learn like |
other boys. Adam Clark was pro-
by his father to be ga griev- |
eus Ounce" and DIR. Chalmers was pro- |
by his teacher as an ssincor-
rigible" one. Chatterton was dismiss |
ed from school by his master, who,
finding himself unable to teach him
in a satisfactory manner, set
tied it that the boy was "fool."
Teachers are aptto become impatient
over dull scholars, and predict OF them
that they will never come to ANYTHING.
Such uncalled for prophecies ought to
discourage no scholar who tries do well.
A certain Edinburgh professor once
upon student his severe