Smyrna times., 1872-11-13
Ounces.

Fisher Ames entered Harvard at the age of
twelve, and Edward Everett at thirteen; Bishop
Heber translated "Ph9drus in English at
seven; Anna Seward repeated from memory |
the first three books of . Paradise Lost at
nine Lord Brougham wrote on philosophy at
eighteen.
But all eminent men have not been remark
able for early attainments Some OF the grand
est spirits that the world has ever known-men
whose works and memory are endurlng-were
regarded in youth as ounces They howeTed
late. but bore the rarest fruit.
That distinguished teacher, DR.. Arnold, of
Rugby, after speaking Of those who zealousy
cultivate inferior powers of mind, said OF such
pupil Il would stand to that man hat IN
hand" He once spoke sharply to dull boy
who replied
why do you speak angrily, sir? Indeed
am doing the best | Can"
| Dr. Arnold said he never so felt rebuke in
his life.
| Sir Isaac Newton was pronounced a Ounce
in his early school 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 a kick in the stomach, which caused him
severe pain The insult sturg young Newton
to the quick, and he resolved to make himself
felt aud respected by improved scholarship.
He applied himself resOutely to study, and
ere long, stood in his classes above the boy
who had kicked him, and became the first
scholar in the school.
Newton owed his pre- -eminence in his philo-
sophical studies more to perseverance and ap-
plcation than to any marvellous natural en-
9 dowments :,
Oliver Goldsmith, than whom no boy could
appear more stupid, was the butt of ridlculC
at school. A school dame, aftes wonderful
patience and perseverance, taught him thu
4 alphabet-a thing which she deemed creditab'
y to her skill, and which she lived to mention
4 with pride when her pupil became famous
o He made no progress in the exact studies, bu
a liked history and Latin poetry.
r. He was sore trial to his ambitious mother
i who made many fruitess efforts to quicken hi
q wits by her sharp words. His relatives teach
II erS and school-masters all told him that he wa
! " fool, which verdict he did not dispute, bu
- took it good humoredly Even when he ha
IS produced the Traveller" an eminent crit
d said to friend "Sir, do believe tha
a Goldsmith wrote that poem and that, let N
a tell you, is believing a great deal.
A Sir Walter Scott was a dull boy, and whe
an attending the University at Edinburg he wei
70 by the name of 1.-THE Great Blockhead." b
es he wasted no time or trihes, and, in pursuir
~ study he loved-as for example, history
n the cassics-he was persevering and method
CAL lie was one of those whose knowledge {
m subject that interested, increased until 1t Ii
in like great volume in his mind. When Walt
nd Scott began to make use Of that knOwledg
es society gave him another name, sOmewh
yn different from the Edinburg appelation.
a was 1.-The Great Magician" :,
no Hutton, the antiquarian, whose knowIed
mt of books was deemed remarkable, was slow
,Iv learn when boy He was sent to school to
a. certain Mr. Meat He thus tells his expe1
m. ence: my master took occasion to beat II
oh head against the wall holding it by the ha
10 but he could never beat any learning into 1t.
lie Sheridan found it hard to acquire the e
ID ments of learning. His mother deemed it h
10 duty to inform his teacher that he was n
of bright to learn like other boys. Adam Clar
10. was pronounced by his father to be "a grievo
an. Ounce" and DIR. Chalmers was pronounced
his his teacher as an "incorrigible" one. Chattt
HE ton was dismissed from school by his mast'
n" who, finding himself unable to teach him ar
ms thing in a satisfactory manner, settled 1t Il
the boy was " fool. "
10 Teachers are apt to become impatient oy
|he dull scholars, and predict of them that th
no. will never come to anything. Such uncall
his for prophecies ought to DISCOURAGE no scho
who tries to do WE'LL A certain Edinburg p
;nv fessor once pronounced upon a student
severe opinion: Ounce you are, and dur
ma you will ever remain" That student was
Walter Scott.-MordUidn.