Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-12
Two PT0diGies,

Francis Bacon, in his boyhood, gave
extraordinary prcsages of his future
greatness. He highly delighted Queen
Elizabeth with the smartness and in
telligenoe of the answers he used to
give to her questions on various SUBJ
jects. It is said that onos when she
asked him how old he was, his reply
was ingeniously complimentary; IL
am just two years younger than your
Majesty's happy reign" He was sent
to Trinity College Cambridge, in his
thirteenth year, and such incredible
progress did he make in his s.udies
that before the age of sixteen he had
run through the whole circle of the
liberal arts az then tadght and even
at this early period he began to per-
oeive those utilities and imperfec.
tions in the Aristotelian philosophy
which, for the service Of learning and
of mankind, he afterward 80 effectually
exposed and exploded. In the nine
teenth year OF his age, he published .
work, On the State of Europe y
which displays conspicuously the in
dustry, guided by deep penetration,
which characterized his youthful mind.
He places everything in tie light which
best shows its nature ~ political ele-
ment.4 He estimates the different
weights, in the scale of national import
ance, with an iEductive and philo.
sophie sobernsss-with business Of
discrimination, and . nicety of tact
and acuteness. which gives NJ perfect
knowledge of the subject.
James Crichton was another human
prodigy. Before reaching his twen-
tieth year he had run through the
whole circle of science, and was. . mas:
ter of ten languages which, from his
vast memory, were ~ familiar to him
as his mother tongue. Nor was his
fame confined merely to literary excel
lence he seemed to combine the most
disooraz1t qualities, and was without
q rival in all corporal exercises. Il ID
recorded of hlm that in fencing he
could spring at one bound tho length
of twenty feet on his antagonist, and
could use the sword in both hands with
equal dexterity. He had also . fine
voice, and great skill in playing. music.
al instruments.
His person and countenance were
alike eminentiy beautiful, which served
to set off all his accomplishments foz
oven virtue never fails to be still more
acceptable in graceful form. For the
4th of February, 1878, over the learned
men of tho University of Paris, he had
conferred upon him the title of "Ad-
mirable." The very next day he at.
tended q fitting match at Louvre,
where, in the presence of the Court oi
France, he bore away the ring fifteen
times suocessively. The last adven.
ture in which he was engaged display.
ed his extraordinary spirit and skill
in feats of arms. Rowing about the
streets of Mantua one night during the
carnival, and playing. .on tho guitar, ha
was attacked by slx men in masks.-
His courage did not desert him ON thia
critical occasion he opposed them %
stontly that they were glad to fly ]; and
their leader being disarmed, threw of
his mask and begged his life. How
must it have wounded the senIbility
of Critchton to discover in the sup
plant Vicente di 0onsaga, the son o
the Duke of Mautua, whose preoepto1
he had been chosen. Instead OF mere
" granting tho forfeited lite-whicl
was al that ought to have been 10
quired-he fell on his knees, apollo
gized for his mistake, and, presenting
his sword to the prince, told him ths,
his highness was always master of hi
poor existence, aud needed not to have
sought his death by tteachery. The
prince, either irritated by tbs afton
which he had received. or stung Will
jealousy, grasped the proaered instru
ment and plunged it inte his tutor''