The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-17
ABOUT GREAT MEN.

ten aoOut the weakness OF great men,
The anecdotes of Archimedes viii be
remembered; he rushed through the
streets OF Syracuse, al fresco, crying
Eurekal" and at the taking Of the
city he was killed by a soldier while
tracing geOmetrical lines on the sand.
Socrates, when filled with some idea,
would stand for hours, fixed like a
statue. II is recorded of him that he stood
among the soldiers in the camp of PUti-
dea. in rooted abstraction, listening to
his "prophetio" or supernatural
voice.
Democrites shut himself up for days
together in little apartment in his
garden. Dante was subject to fits Of
abstraction, in which he often quite for
got himself. One day he found an in
teresting book, which he had long sought
for, in a druggists shop at Sienna, and
sat reading there till night came on.
Scaligor only slept for few hours,
and passed whole days without thinking
Of food.
Sully, when his mind was occupied
with plans of reform, displayed extraOr-
dinary fits of fOrgetfulness. One day In
winter, when on his way to church, he
observed, "HOw cold It is tO-dayl"
" Not more cold than usual, said one
of his attendants. "Then l must have
the ague," said Sully. Is it not more
probably that you are too scantily
dressedY" was asked. On lifting hi
lunic the secret was discovered; he h.
forgotten all his underclothes but his
breeChes.
Mrs. Bray tells q somewhat familiar
story of the painter Stothard When
invited on one occasion to dine with the
poet Rogers, on reaching the house in
st. James Palace he complained of cold
und CHANGING TO put his hand on hi
neck, he had forgotten to put on his era.
vat, when he hastily returned home t.
complete his attire. -
Button was very fond Of dress, II.
assumed the air of a grand seigneur
spor.ed jewels and fnery, wore rich laco
and velyets, and was curled and sCenls.
10 excess, wearing his hair sapdptl0d,
while at his studies; Pope too, was O
little dandy in a bag wig and sword ano
his crooked figure envelOpediin fashion
able garments gave him the appearance
Of an overdressed monkey. Nolaii'
also, was fond OF magnificent attire, an
usually dressed in an absurd manner
DiderOt once travelled from st. Peters
burgh to Paris in his morning-gown an
night cap, and in this guise promenade
the streets and public places OF the town,
on his route. He was often taken for
madman. While composing his work,
he used to walk about with rapid strides
and sometimes throwing his wig in tho
air when he had struck out happy idea
One day friend found him in tears
Good heavensl" what is the matlerg
~ am weeping" said Dlderot, at
story | have just composed"
Young, the poet, composed his " Nigh
Thoughts" with skull before him, II
which he would sometimes place
lighted candle; and be occasionally
sought his sepulchral inspiration by
wandering among the tombs at night
Mrs. Radcliffe courted the horror
with which she filled her gloomy roman
ces by suppng on half raw beelsteak
plentifully garnshed with onions Dry
den used to lake physiC before settinl
himself to compose "a new piece. Kant
the German philosopher, while leoturnl
had the habit of fixing his attention upol
one Of his auditors who wore q carmen
without a button in a particular place
One day the student had the button ser
on. Kant, on commencing the Lecture
fixed his eye on the usual place. Tn
button was therel Fancy the ConsteIna
lion of the philosopher, whose ideas ha'
become associated with the buttOnles
garment. His lecture that day was Dc
lestable He was quite unhinged by til
circumstance.
Too many authors have been fond 0
the bottle. Rabelais said, Eating an
drinking are my true sources Of inspira
tion. See this bottlel 1t is my true an
only Helicon my Cabalistio fountain
my soul enthusiasm. Drinking, dc
liberate; deliberating, drink" Ennius
Hschulis, and Cato, all got there in
spiraton while drinking. Mezerai o.
ways had a large bottle Of wine besid
him among his books; He drank Of
at each page he wrote. He turned th
night into day, and never composed e1
cept by lamp-light, even in the daytime
All his windows we're darkened, and
was no unusual thing for him to show
friend to the door with a lamp, lhoug
outside it was broad daylight.