South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-05-19
OUNCES.

FISHER AMEs entered Harvard at the
age of twelve, and Edward Everett at
thirteen; Bishop Heber translated Ph9drus
into English at seven; Anna Seward
repeated from memory the first three
books of " Paradise Lost at nine; and
Lord Brougham wrote on philosophy at
eighteen
But all eminent men have not been re-
markable for early attainments. Some of
the grsndest spirits that the world has
ever known-men whose works and
memory are enduring-wereiregarded in
youth as ounces. They fowered late, but
bore the rarest fruit.
1t is somewhat discouraging for boy
of moderate abilities, who aims to do his
best, to be told that others accomplished
in childhood what he can do only by hard
study in the best years of his youth. But
such a boy should not relax his efforts.
He will succeed, if he gives his heart and
mind to the work.
That distinguished teacher, DR.. Arnold,
of Rugby, after speaking of those who
zealously cultivate inferior powers of mind,
said of such pupil, ~ would stand to
that man hat in hand" He once spoke
sharply to a dull boy, who replied
"Why do you speak angrily, sir? In
deed, am doing the best / can"
DR.. Arnold said he never so felt rebuke
in his life.
Sir Isaac Newton was a pronounced
Ounce in his early school days. He stood
low in his classes, and seemed to have no
relish for his study. One day the "bright
boy p" of the school gave him a kick in
his stomach, which caused him severe
pain ....-r 81
The insult stung young Newton to the
quick, and he resolved to make himself
felt and respected by improved scholar
ship.
He applied himself resolutely 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 m ore to perseverance,
and application than to any marvellous
natural endowments. .s..
Oliver Goldsmith, than whom no boy
could appear more stupid, was the butt of
of ridicule at school A school dame, after
wonderful patience and perseverance,
taught him the alphabet, thing which
she deemed creditable to her skill, and
which she lived to mention with pride
when her pupil became famous. lie made
no progress IN the exact studies, but liked
history and Latin poetry.
He was a sore trial to his ambitious
mother, who made many fruitless efforts
to quicken his wits by her sharp words.
His relatives, teachers and schoolmates all
told him that he was fool, which verdict
he did not dispute, but took good humor-
edly. Even 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 believing great deal"
Sir Walter Scott was dull boy, and,
when attending the University at Edin-
burgh, he went by the name Of The
Great Blockhead." But he wasted no
time on trifes, and, in pursuing study
that he loved, as, for example, history or
the classics, he was perseVering and meth
Odical. He was one of those whose
knowledge on subject that interested
him increased until it lay like great
volume in his mind. When Walter Scott
began to make use of that knowledge,
society gave him another name. somewhat
from the Edinburgh appellation,
1t was "The Great Magician"
Hutton, the antiquarian, whose howl-
edge of books was deemed remarkable,
was slow to learn when boy. He was
sent to school to a certain Mr.. Meat He
thus tells his experience: my master
took occasion to beat my head against
the wall, holding it by the hair, but he
could never beat any learning into il"
Sheridan found it hard to acquire the
elements of learning. His mother deemed
it her duty to inform his teacher that ne
was not bright to learn ike other boys.
Adam Clarke was pronounced by his
father to be a grievous Ounce" and DR..
Chalmers was pronounced by his teacher
as an fncorrigible" one. Chatterton was
from school by his master, who,
finding himself unable to teach him any
thing in a satisfactory manner, settled II
that the boy was fool" .-.r 80.
Teachers are apt to become impatient
over dull scholars, and to predict OF them
that they will never come to any thing.
Such uncalled-for prophesies ought to dis
courage no scholar who tries to do WELL
a certain Edinburgh professor once pro-
1ounced upon a student this severe opin-
on: Ounce you are, and Ounce you viii
ever remain" That student was Sir Wal
.er Scott. -
Ifs dull boy feels an inspiration stirring
within to do something worthy in htera-
.ure, or science, or art, let him set his face
IS flint towards his object Let him be
patient, hopeful and selfrelant, unmoVed
by laughter, undiscouraged by evil proph-
estes.
"The slow,
still process Of the rain, distilling down
The great sweat of the sea, is never seen
In the consummate spectacle flashed forth,
A snow-hued arch upon the clouds Of heaven;
so never sees the world those energies.
Strong effort and long patience, which have stirred
In le.g obscurity, and slowly heaved-
IN darkness M. till sudden glory springs
Forth from it, arching like perfect rainbow
-Ths Youths Companion.