The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-04
Ounces.

I. - -lff-
| Fisher Ames entered Harvard at the ags
i Of twelve, and Edward Everett at thir.
teen; Bishop Heber translated "Ph@dfus'
i into English at seven; AEna Seward re.
1 peated from memory the first three b0ola
| Of " Paradise Lost at nine; and Lord
Brougham wrote on philosophy at eighteen,
| But NIL eminent men have not been re-
markab.e for early attachments. Some oi
the grandest spirits that the world has eve1
| knOwn-men whose works and memories
are enduring-were regarded in youth as
ounces. They Powered late, but bore tue
rarest fruit.
| 1t is somewhat discouraging for a boy OF
moderate abilities, who aims to do his best,
to be told that others accomplish in child
hood what he can do only by hard study in
4 the best years of his youth. But such q
boy should rot 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, 81 would stand to
that man hat in hand" He once spoke
sharply to a dull boy, who replied Why
d. you speak angrily sir . Indeed, am
DR.. Arnold said he never SO felt rebuke
| in his life.
Sir Isaac Newton was u 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
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 resolutely to study,
and, ere long, stood in his classes above
the boy who had kicked him, and ultimate
ly became the first scholar in the school.
philosophical studies more to perseverance,
and application than TO any marvellous
natural endowmcnts.
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 alphabet-a thing which
she 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.
lie was sore trial to his ambitious
mother, who made many fruitless efforts to
quicken his wits by her sharp words. His
relatives, teachers and schoolmasters all
told him he was fool, which verdict he
did not dispute, but took good humoredly.
Even when he had produced the "Travel-
Sir, do believe that Goldsmith wrote
that poem, and that, let me tell you, is
believing great deal"
Sir Walter Scott. was a dull boy, and,
when attending the University at Edin-
burgh, he went by the name of Z" The Great
Biockhead;;" But he wasted no time on
tribes, and, in pursuing study that he
loved-as, for example, history or the
classics-he was persevering and methodi-
cal. He was one of those whose knowledge
on a suffice that interested increased, until
| it lay like a Rreat volume in his mind.
far han ~, Ia Ia r,f
that knowledge, society gave him another
| name, somewhat different from the Edin-
burgh appellation. 1t was The Great
Magician"
Hutton, tho antiquarian, whose knowl-
edge of books was deemed remarkable,
was slow to learn when a boy. He was
sent to school to certain Mr.. Meat. He
thus tells his experience: "My master took
occasion to beat my head against the walt,
holding it by the hair. He could never beat
any learning into it.
Sheridan found it hard to acquire the
clement of learning. His mother deemed
it her duty to inform his teacher that he
was not bright to learn like other boys.
/ Adam Clarke was pronounced by his father
t. be "a grevous duuce;" AID DIR. Chal
merj was pronounced by his teacher as au
| 9 iacoirgibie' one. Chatterton was dis
inisSeI from school by his master, who,
tin1lns himself unable to teach him any
| thing in il satisfactory manner, settled it
| that the boy was "a fool"
Teachers are apt to become impatient
over dali 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
we'll. A certain Edinburgh professor once
pronounced upon student his severe
opinion Ounce you are, and Ounce You
will ever remain" That student was Sir
| Walter Scott.
If a dull boy feels an aspiration stirring
within to do something worthy in literature,
| or science, or art, let him set his face as
flint toward his object let him be patient
aud hopeful, and he will not fail of success
Exchange.
| DENTIsTRY.-In no profession is more deep
study, calm thought and constant practice
attain perfection than in that of dentIstrY also