Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-01-06
A GENIUS.

lie was porn III tnlS COUNTY aDout VI
years ago. He lisa defendant, and bears
the name of an aristocratic house, illus
trious in the annals Of Scotch history
Ills American progenitors were prominent
and influential on account Of theiratfluente
solid worth, their Devastation of social
caste and their kindness to and familiarity
with all classes Of reputable people.
The subject of this brief sketch, who
shall be nameless for prudential reasons
possessed advantages. lie
was literally educated at one of the best
colleges in the country, and at the age OF
twenty>one was we'll versed ia "Belles>
Lettres," aud was master of the classics
He was also familiar with the histories OF
the leading men and nations of the world.
His social graces and culture were ac>
quired in the leading circles of eastern
society, known for extensive learning and
mastery intellect. His future was full
of promise, and grand possibilities. But
he had hardly EQUIPPED himself with the
rnor of the scholar, and was barely pre-.
pared to grapple with the stern resis-
tances of the world than he began to set
tie down into that psssiyity of ambition
in which many gifted minds devote their
energies entirely 20 sclf-gratitcations and
rob mankind of its due. This combina.
ticn of eccentricities was, by no means an
idler though as far money-getting was
concerned, he was extremely INDECENT,
careless in his habits and reckless in his
trade. He early developed a vagaboudish
disposition. lie detcsted physical labor
and became disgastingly sloven in his
dress. But be was a persistent book
worm, and bis grasping mind continually
searched for information on all subjects.
He read day and night and poured over
every volume that came in his way, with
the ~intensest interest. lie became as
familiar with the pages of Instinian, Coke,
Kent, Story and Blackstone, as IA school.
boy with the well-thumbed leaves OF his
illustrated primer; he was e%nraptured
with the philosophy aad wisdom OF Bacon
and soon knew this author almost by
by heart; he had hardly reached thirty
before he could repeat the flowing meas
ures Of the Aeneid and the lofty verse of
the Had. To-day, be is as familiar with
Cicero, TacituN. Herodotus, Xenophon,
Diodorus, aud a great many other elias
steal writer's and historians, as the learned
College Professor. He has, also, been a
close Bible student, all his life. Deeply
versed In the forces Of logic and meta>
physics, possessing an exhaustless fund Of
apt illustrations, together with a ready
command Of forcible language he is a
formidable antagonist in controversy
upon the different points Of scriptural
doctrine.
This scholarly Arab has always been an
earnest and attentive student Of the
science Of go7erpment, and no man Of
this day is more ~conversant with the pol.
itical theories and dogmas Of the old
school statesmen, who guided the des'
TIMES Of the Republic in the better and
more honest days Of its existence.
But this man. with his brilliant intel
~lectual endosments and rarely equaled
opportunities, is ? wreck of fortune aud
promise. Penniless and thriftless, be de-
ponds upon the charity Of friends to sup
ply min food aGd rNimcnt. He wauders