Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-13
Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Oue July morning, 10 1928, BABY was boru
in the schoolmaster's house in the EogIish sea-
coast village of Plymton Earl. The school
master had ak children already; the news
therefore produced 10 great stir among the
ueiphbors. Yet, although the village was nigh
a thousand years old when the baby was born,
and more than huudrod and fifty years have
passed since then, it is only known to the world
a. birth place of this boy, who was chrsteoed
Joshua, and grew up with his eleven brothers
and sisters, noticed by nobody. coarse|y dressed
and poorly fed. The children we're fond OF
drawing as all childaeu are but were too poor
to own paper and pencils, and used charcoal
instead on the cellar. walls. We have the name
of the lady who gave them their fret pencil, 80
great possession did they hold 1t. Joshuas
drawings were different from the others 10 the
scrupulous care with which they were finished.
MANY OF the boys who read this can dash you
off tiger or ship on blackboar so ettec
tive that their mothers are sure they Will 0e
great artista Little Joshua did not work
in that way. Before he was eight years
old be had found book on the rules OF
Perspective, and studied it. There Is
still to be seen Latin exercise, de lahore on
the back of which is drawn book case 10
panels. Beneath it his father has written:
"Drawn by Joshua in school out of pure idle.
oess." But the idleness was paiosaklDg, most
faithful work, for critics assure US that 10 his
drawings are to be found the same conscientious
care aud delicacy which marked the great pic
lures of his later years. His brothers as they
grew older sketched and daubed away vigorous
" but Joshua Uolked at drawing. Before he
was ten years old, he had studied so sothoroughly
Richardson's Treatise on Painting, that its
theories worked like leaven In his MUD all
through his life.
He copied faithfully, too, such books of en-
craving as fell iu his way; studied, as other
bows do Latin and arithmetic the combination
Of rules and color. Hlspencil I'VE hope money
was given without grudgiug for his pencils them
was seldom out OF his hand. 1t he had 40 pa
per near he sketched Oh his thumb-nal some
face that struck him. One of these faces THAT
OF Latin MASTERY he copied from hls nall 10 q
boat house upder the cliff, using piece OF old
sail for canvas, and the wheelwright's coarse
paints. The portrait still exists-a forcible
and remarkable drawing, according to Cotton.
A VALUABLE SECRET.-lt is related OF
Franklin that from the window of his office 10
Philadelphia be noticed mech anic, among a
number of others, at work on house which
was being erected close by, who always ap-
ncared to be in merry humor, aud who had
a kind and cheerful smile for every one he met.
Lit the day be ever so cold, gloomy, or suu-
less, the happy smile danced like sunbeam
on his cheerful oouDtenance.
Meeting him one day, Franklin requested to
know the secret OF his constant happy how OF
spirits. ITS no secret, Doctor, the man re-
Piled 1--we got one Of the best Of wives. aud
whe0'I 20 10 work he always gives me klud
word OF encouragement aud blessing with her
partiug kiss, aud when 70 home she is sure
70 meet me with smile and kiss of welcome;
and then tea is sure to be ready; aud as We
chat 10 the evening find she has been doing
50 many little things through the day to please
mc that cannot find it in my heart to speak
au uakiud word or give 90 uukDd look to any
body
And Franklin adds "What 90 influence,
theu, hath woman over the heart OF man to
sot,en it aud make it the fountain of cheerful
and pure emotions. Speak gently, then; a
happy smile and kiud word of greeting after
Tie tolls Of the day are over cost nothing and
60 far toward making home happy and
peaceful
The FAIR LADIES who revel in seal ski0 jack
cts know very little Of the animals which had
prior right to their possession. Seals are found
everywhere except inthe tropics. They swim with
wonderful swittness, pursuing their hnny prey,
aud besides fish, crustacea. aud mollusks, they
often surprise sea fowl, and have been known to
devour scaweed. Their young are born on un-
inhabited islands, barren rocks, and III caVerns,
aud are at first covered with short wool, In
which dress they do not enter the water but
the mother seals, who are very atfectlonate and
attentive, bestow immense pains 10 gettlog
them down to the sea, and 10 teaching them to
SWIM, Tor they do not take readily to the water.
Without these little animals the wandering
tribes oi E>Qulmaux could not exist. vi their
skins they III Ike warm clothing, covering for
Their boats aud lining tor their couches; from
their bubber they extract oil for food, for light
i"r warmth aud cooking; from their booeS they
make harpoons, fish hooks aud other useful
articles from their entrails they form water
proof cloth, aud substitute for glass to light
their summer dwellings. Therefore, seal hunt-
eTS show extraordinary perseverance and endur-
snce IN pursuit of their prey. They are as
sisted by dogs OF wonderful sagacity, working
tNe Hround over like pointers till they catch the
scent OF the seal holes through the suow. Ii
an h>qu'maux gets between seal and its hole
nS edIately trans6xed by the barpoon with
" "Sunulng blow.