The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-04-14
Ruasehula aFntds.
From the Christian Inteligencer.
THE BOX OF BOOKS.
A STORY FOR BOYS.

You of seven or eight years old who have
begun to study Latin think you are brighter
than some of the other boys. Not that you
say so, but it is very evident you think the
other boys ought to recognize the fact
Well perhaps you are right; but am 60
ing to tell you of one who wrote very re-
spectacle Latin verses when he was at your
age. He was not, however, one of those who
are prOdigies at eight years old and are new
er heard of after, for he wrote many books
which are highly valued to this very day
When at the age of eleven years he entered
the great University Of Leyden he was ad-
dressed as Magne PWer magnt dignissime
cura PARENTS. What does that mean? You,
our young Latin scholars, must translate
If 1 were to tell you what wise and learned
books my hero wrote as he grew older, l an
afraid you would skip that portion of this
story, for boys are not found who are as
fond of reading as was this great scholar
You deny it? Well, then 60 to Mr.. Mot
leys last history and there you will find a
lengthy account of some twenty-five pages
or more of this story which l am about to
tell you. I shall feel happy if 1 have in
duced you to study the works of that great
historian. For the rest of you, who perhaps
do not possess a copy of the book, or if they
do would tire of reading so many pages, l
have condensed the following incident in the
life of the great HUGO GROTIUs.
Ihave told you that he was wise and
learned scholar. You shall now hear how
his books saved his life. If story must
have moral you will find mine here. Yer
bum sat saPienti.
AT the age of thirty-six, for some offence
which in our time would be triaing, this great
Dutch scholar was condemned to perpetual
Imprisonment in the fortress of Loevestein.
This prison was situated on the river WAL,
the largest of the three branches into which
the Rhine divides itself on entering the
Netherlands; and so strongly was the castle
fortified that there seemed to be no hope of
escape from it. While in prison he spent
nearly all his time in study, and for exer-
else he procured huge top which he en-
plOyed himself in whipping for several hours
each day.
The great scholars in Holland did not for
get him in his captivity, and they obtained
permission to send him from time to time
chest full of books which were a great solaee
to him in his confinement Thus in spin,
ming his top, studying his books, and writing
his great works, which were to be read and
quoted for ages after, Grotius managed to
spend comfortably the first two years of his
prison life.
But one cannot be contented in captivity,
even with plenty of books, and Hugo Gro
thus and his noble wife who shared bis home
in the castle had long been brooding over
some means of escape. Madame De GrOOt,
as she was called, often looked at that chest
of books as it came and went to and fro
Alas it was only four feet in length, and
her husband was very tall and stately gen.
tleman; but they talked the matter 'over,
and she did not easily yield to despair. Oae
day they tried an experiment; Grotius got
inside the chest and his wife sat beside it
with an hour glass in her hand; for two
hours at least he could lie there with the lid
fastened down. The risk was great, but
liberty is very sweet, and they resolved to
try the dangerous experiment Of gaining
liberty for the captive by means of the book
chest.
Madame De Groot was not a close prison
er as was her husband; while she and her
children shared his captivity, she could 60
when she liked across the river to the town
of GOrcum to purchase provisions for the
family. One day she stood in the doorway
of the house to which the chest of books was
consigned before it was sent across the river
to the fortress, and jokingly sounded the
mistress of the house as to the reception her
husband would meet if be, instead of the
chest, were to appear.