The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-06
Miscellaneous.
l)Ilnccs.

Ounces.
Fisher Ames entered Harvard at
the age of twelve, and Edward Everett
at thirteen; Bishop Heber translated
"phmedrus" into English at seven
Anna Seward repeated from memory
the ilrst three books of "Paradisc Lost"
at nine; aud Lord Brougham wrote on
philosophy ut eighteen.
But oil eminent men have not been
remarkable for early attainments.
Some of the grandest spirits that the
world has ever known-men whose
works and momory arc enduring-were
regarded In youth as ounces. They
flowered late, but bore the rarest fruit.
II is somewhat discouraging for q boy
Of moderate abilities, who aims to do
hia beet, to be told that others accom-.
pli5hed in childhood what he can do
only Ivy hard study in the best years Of
his youth. But such boy should not
relax his efforts He will succeed, If he
gives his mind to the work. That dis
tiDguished teacher, DR.. Arnold, of Rug
by, after speaking of those who zeal
ously cultivate inferior powers of mind,
said of such q pupil: "I would stand to
that man hat In hand" lie once spoke
sharply to a dull boy, who replied
why do you speak so angrily, sir
Indeed, | am doing the best / cau."
DR.. Arnold said he never so felt q re-
buke in his life. Sir Isaac Newton was
pronounced Ounce in his early school
days. He stood low in his classes, and
seemed to have no relish for study.
Ono day the Upright boy" of the
school gave him kick in the stomach
which caused him severe pain. The iu-
suit stung young Newton to the quick
aud he resolved TO make himself felt
and respected by improved scholarship.
lie applied himself rosolutely to study,
and ere long stood in his classes above
the boy who had kicked him, and uiti-
mately became the first scholar in the
school. Newton owed his pre.eminepCe
in his philosophical studies more to
perseverance, and application than to
any marvellous natural cndowmapt5. s
Oliver Goldsmith, than whom no boy
could appear more stupid, was the butt
OF ridicule at school. a school dame,
after wonderful patience and perseve-
rance, taught him the alphabet-a thing
which shO deemed creditable 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 He was n sore trial to
his ambitious mother, who made many
frpitless efforts to quicken his wits by
her sharp words. His relatives, teach
ers and 5choolmates,all told him that he
WAS u fool, which verdict he did not
dispute, but took good humoredly.
Even when he had produced the "Trav-
eler,' an eminent critic said to friend:
"Sir, 40 believe that Goldsmith wrote
that poem and that, let me tell you, is
believing Il great deal.p
Sir Walter Scott was O dull boy, and
when attending the university at Edin-
burgh he went by the name of 1.-THE
Great Blockhead.r But he wasted no
time on trihes, and, in pursuing a study
that he loved-as, for example, history
or the clas5ics-he was persevering and
methodical. He was one of those whose
knowledge on subject that interested
him increased until it lay like a great
volume in his mind. WhenWalter Scott
began to make use of that knowledge
society gave him another name, some
what different from the Edinburgh ap-
pelation. 1t was "The Great Magi-
cian."
Hutton, the antiquarian, whose
knowledge of books was doomed re-
markable, was slow to learn when a
boy. lie was sent TO school to q certain
Mr.. Meat. He thus tells his experiences
my master took occasion to beat my
head against the wall, holding it by the
hair, but he never could beat any learn
ing into it"
Sheridan found 1t 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 Clarke was pro-
nounced by his father to be ia grievous
Ounce" and DR.. Chalmers was pro.
nounced by his teacher as an incorrigi-
bte one. Chatterton was dismissed from
school by his master, who, finding him.
self unable to teach him anything in a
satisfactory manner, settledit that the
boy was q fool"
Teachers are apt to 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 to do
well. A certain Edinburgh professor
once pronounced upon student his
severe opinion "Dunce you are, and
Ounce you will ever remain" That
student was Walter Scott. If q dull
boy feels an inspiration stirring within
to DO something worthy in literature,
science or art, let him set his face as
flint toward his object; let him bo pa
tient, hopeful and sell-reiiant, unmoved
by laughter, undiscouragod by evil
prophecies.