New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30
HENRY SCHLIEMANN.
LETTER FROM MISS KATE FIELD.

SIR A child's first impressions remain for life, ana
umry Schliemann may fairly claim that his pickaX
.oa shovel were both forged and sharpened in the
/ Htle village of Ankcrshagen, i'll Mecklenburg, where
be was born in 1922, and where lac passed his early
,onth. His father Lutheran clergyman made the
discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum frequent
sabiects of conversation, and almost daily recited
verses from Voss's German translation OF " Homer"
Inspiring young Schliemann with enthusiasm Tor
the exploits of Hector Achilles, Agamemnon' and
other beyoes Of the divine tragedy. The fathers as
snrance that Troy had entirely disappeared filled
the SOP with regret Fancy then his sensations
Which, at seven years of he received Christmas
presentSl Jerrers Universal History" contain
lug a fantastlcal picture OF burning Troy
with its huge walls aud its lofty Sc@an
gate from which emerged Kneas, carrying Anchises
on his back and leading Ascanius by the hand! From
that moment young Schemann disbeeved i'll Iroy's
annihilation In vain did his father assert that not
one stone of Ilium's walls remained on the ancient
site The boy retorted that the houses might be
partly DESTROYED but the huge walls could not be
that the latter were covered with the RUNS and dust
Of ages, and that ne would dig them out!
On his mothers DEATH which occurred when Schlie-
mann was years old, the boy went to live with an
unclc clergyman of KalkhOrst. Here he remained
two years. At 10 he wrote for his father IN bad
Latin. description of the Trojan war, and was sent
10 school at Neustrelitz, but at II his studlous
pirations were cruelty crushed. Schliemann peye
lost his parish became miserably poor, aud could no
longer pay for his sons schooling. Apprenticed to
small grocer in the little town of Fiirstenberc,
Schhcmann for five years and a-half rotalled her
uugs butter, and the like, coming into perpetual
contact with the lowest grades Of society," and for
getting the little book knowledge he had previously
acquired. In the fifth year his salary amounted
10 80 thalers, the lad working from in the
I ;t,bf will 1 AT ~ n
strange chain of circumstances the dream of Troy
should be realized. Being on one occasion III the
cellar with his master. Schliemann broke a blood
vessel in the breast while attempting 10 lift bar
rel and was discharged rs useless. Som thing had
10 be done so ne walked barefooted TO Hamburg, a
distance of 1870 miles, begged as he walked, and on
arriving told his story TO relation shipbroler,
who at once secured him the situation Of cabln-boy
OF board the D0rothea, bound for Venezuela
OFF FOR yENfzUELA.
Leaving Hamburg Nov. %, 1s41 the Dorothea
encountered q storm the same day and for fort
NIGHT was beaten about most terribly. Schlienann
suffered both from sickness and from the brutality
Of the mate, who drove him with a whip up the
mast. On Dee - the vessel stranded on tho shoals
of rexci. and two boats were lost in launching.
Schliemann escaped with the in third boat,
which, after tossing about all night, reached the
mainland ut 9 o'clock next morning. Thence schlIe-
mann walked to Burg Texel where the MecklenbuIg
Consul paid his fare by sea to Amsterdam, in the
streets of which town he wandered destitute
Oh Dec. 10, 1871. In despair, Schemann
went to the Mecklcuburg Consulate for relief.
Surprising the wretched youth TO be pro-
fcssioual bcggar, the servant slammed the door in
bis face Back went the poor fellow to his ship,
wrote a letter TO the Consul, and, thus fortified,
again presented himself before the irate maid, who
bore the communication TO her master and brought
back an answer IN the shape of two forins. This
small sum was soon exhausted, and, after being two
day, without money, Schcwanu feigued sickness
in order TO gain admission to the hospital where he
renamed a week. during which time me wrote TO his
relative i'm Hamburg, impouug help The letter
arrived ON Christmas Eve while the shipbroker was
entertaining party Of friends, led to a collection of
90 A0rus, which was forwarded TO the care Of the
Myckionburg Consul, who at once sent for ScblIe-
mann. presented him with the welcome gift, and Oh
tanned for lin "a situation with merchant named
7. c. Qucu, for whom he copied letters, turned the
Ithoruphc press, and cashed money on exchanges
NO longer pressed for bread, Schlicmann began
10 build castles and one night Inc dereamed Of
tho number 111,G41. Not devoid of supersti
ton. be wrote to Berlin, and nclosed 10
thalers 10 be invested in this number Of the
coming lottery. IS HIGH had already been
taken, another number was sent IN IFS place Schlie-
mann lost his 10 thalcrs. while the figures of his
dream drew the great prize of 10000 thaieIs!
Til, coincidence did not serve TO cure Schlemann
OF hi. suprrtitilu and when an Old tailor gave him
advice as q the best way of attaining fortune he
listened eagerly. Look here" said the eX-tall0r.
ave an iuiailible receipt for getting rich. l was
auoor brokcu-13wn man until my ffty-seyenth
year. ! hal hardly bread enough to eat All at
once l found myself in good circumstances. Whyf
Because began 10 put my left stocking, my left
Shoe, ny left everything first! opened a wafer
cure, and have been prospecting ever since" 80 I'M
pressed was Schi.mann by this confession that lie
at once began to follow his friends example To-
day the habit OF putting ont his left hand and foot
first has become second nature, and it is not little
comical to note the eano,tness with which he begs
others to do the same. 1T does no harm' he says,
"and assure You MY luck changed from the mo
ment needed the Old tailor"
LEARNING THE LANGUAGES
The merchant Quien was so pleased with Schlie
MAINS energy as to allow him time for study. Ian
guages were the young clerks passion. He be-
leyed that his fortune lay in their mastery, that
Withthemhe could storm the heavens. When he came
aGoss man who promised to teach him English
in SIX months, he seized upon the offer with avidty.
His teacherproyed 10 be good, and he made excellent
Progress. Learning "Ivanhoe" and "The Vicar of
Wakefield by heart greatly improved a naturally
bad memory. He wrote from dictatiOn, aud paid
great }senton to his chrography, which was sadly !
az fault. To-day Schemann can repeat long eX- |
tracts from Scott and Goldsmith, and declares that
the beauty Of their English has been of incalculabie
advantage to him. Though constantly running |
about the streets, he always had his grammar and |
dictionary under his arm and at the end of the six |
months his teachers promise was fulfilled. Neces- |