The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-09-12
a COOP woRp ron DULL nors

Fisher Ames entered Harvard al the
age Of twelve, aud Edward Everett at
thirteen Bishop lIcber translated Phw-
dns into English at seven. Anna Sew
ard repeated from memory the first three
books Of Paradise Lost, at nine; aud
Lord Bruugham wrote on philosophy, at
eighteen.
But all eminent men have not been re-
markable for early attainments. Some OF
the grandest spirits that the world has
ever known-men whose works and mcm
ory are enduring regarded, in
youth, a Ounce. They lowered 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 boy should not relax his el-
forts. 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
zealonsly cultivate inferior powers of
mind, said to such pupil, | would stand
to that man hat in hand. He once spoke
sharply to duh boy, who replied
Why DO you speak angIily, Sir? In
deed, am doing the best can.
DIR. Arnold said he never so felt re-
bukc 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. One day, the brighter
boy Of the school gave him a 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 scholar
ship. lc applied himself resolutely to
study and ere long stood in his class
above the boy who had kicked him, and
ultimately became the first scholar in the
school. lie owed his preeminence in his
philosophical studies morei to perseyer-
ence and application than to any mawe-
) lous natural endowments.
Oliver Goldsmith, than whom no boy
| could appear more stupid, was the butt
| of ridicule at school. A school-dame,
4 after wonderful patience and pcrsever-
: ancc, taught him the alphabet--a thing
Q which she deemed creditable to her skill,
7 and which she lived to mention with
pride when her pupil became famous.
lie made no progress in the exact studies
but liked his history and Latin poetry.
lie was a sore trial to his ambitious moth
er, who made many fruitless efforts to
quicken his wits by her sharp words.
His relatives, teachers, and schoolmates
t all told him that he was fool, which YER
diet he did not dispute, but took it good
humoredly. Even when he had produced
the Traveller, an eminent critic said to a
friend; Sir, do believe that Goldsmith
I wrote that poem; and that, let me tell
| you, is believing a great deal.
/, Sir Walter Scott was dull boy, and
= when attending the University Of Edin-
burg, he went by the name Of The Great
Blockhead. But he wasted no time on
trlfles; and in pursuing a study that he
t loyed-as. for example, history and the
j. classics, he was pcrsevering and metho-
( deal lie was one Of those whose knowl-
edge, on subject that interested him,
5 increased until it lay great volume in
a his mind. When Walter Scott began to
make use of that knowledge, society gave
.. him another name somewhat different
y from the Edinburg appellation. 1t was
S The Great Magician.
4 Hutton, the antiquarian, whose knowl-
edge Of books was deemed remarkable,
= was slow to learn when boy. lie was
sent to school to certain Mr.. Meat. lie
t tells his experienced "My master took
4 occasion TO beat my head against the
= wall, holding it by the hair; but he never
5 beat any learning into it,"
e Sheridan found 1t hard TO acquire the
elements Of learning. lTis mother deem
ed it her duty to inform his teacher that
he was not bright to learn like other
boys
4 Adam Clark was pronounced by his
i father to be a 'grieyous Ounce and Or.
c Chalmers was pronounced by bis teacher
: a. an "incorrigible one. Chatlcrton was
: dismissed from school by bis master,
who, finding himself unable to teach him
i anything in a satisfactory manner, settled
r IL that the boy was a fool.
. Teachers are apt to become impatient
r over dull scholars, and predict OF them
a that they will never come TO anything
a such unealled for prophecies ought not
q 10 discourage scholar, who tries 10 do
= we'll. a certain Ediubnr2 professor once
pronounced upon a student this sever,
! opinion: Ounce your are, ana Ounce
: YOU viii ever remain. That was Sir Wal
: ter Scott
/. Ifa dan boy feels an aspiration stirring
within to do something worthy, IN liiera
\ ture, science, VI art, let him sct bis faos
~ a flint toward bis object. let him be
~ patient, hopeful, and seifrelient-unmoy
Cd By laughter, and undiscourgel by
evil prophecies.
Tho slaa,
sa1 process of the rein, alstiiing down
The great s4asl q the seA IL uegessssH