River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-13

Smeaton, the great mechanic, when
boy, disdained the ordinary pls ythings Of
boyhood He collected the too of work
men, and bothered them with questions.
One day, after having watched some mill
wrights, he was discovered, to the eat
distress of his family, in a situation o. ex-
IRENE danger, fixing a windmill on the
top OF the barn. His father sent him TO
London to study law; but he declared
that claw did not suit the bent of his ge-
MUS and addressed memorial TO his
father 10 show his utter incompetency
for legal pursuits. His father finally
abandoned him TO the bent of bis genius,
and il was he who built the
Eddystone Lighthouse in the midst Of
the waves, like the rock upon which
il stands.
Able la Gallo, one of the first astrono-
mers of his time, when ten years cid, was
sent by LIS father every evening TO ring
the church bell, but always returned home
late. His father was angry and beat him
and still the boy stayed out an hour after
his task was accomplished. His IA
ther went and watched him one
night; saw him 90 into the steeple and
ring the bell, but never come down for an
hour. When he made his appearance,
and was questioned, he confessed that he
had been looking at the stars. His ia
rher was not born astronomer, therefore
he fiogged lis son severely, and Lett MIN
to come home By himself. He met man
of science on the way, who, seeing his
tears, made kindly inquiries, and when he
discovered that boy Of such tender age
possessed passion for watching the stars
By the hour together, and had improvised
an observatory in q steeple, he investiga-
ted the matter, and placed the child
in position to study what be most de-
sired.
/. One of the greatest naturalists of mod
ern times, began as soon as he could walk
to CATER hideous bugs and reptiles. and no
punishment, however severe, on the part
of his parents, could cure him of this pro-
pensity. The next morning, after having
received a castigation for some offense of
the kind. he would come toddling in.with
hornets nest in his arms, more delight
edthan ordinary children with beautiful
! toys.
Instances multiply as we pursue the
subject. We have cited extreme cases
/ Our boys will not all be leading painters,
mechanics or astronomers; but every one
of them should have the benefit of the
/ possibility. 1t often happens that men
Of talent waste long period OF their
| lives under the shadow of an unsettled
impulse, unable to decide upon the object
of its aptitude. 1t is most unfortunate
when thirst and fever in the temper
ament must be endured year after year,
and the occupation to which only that
disposition can attach itself is beyond
reach.
| Which brings us back to the boys
For a little fellow to be distinguished by
( his equals. is one criterion of talent. At
this peculiar period of life, with no flattery
! on one side, and no artifice on the other
all emotion and norefection, the boy who
has obtained a predominence has been sue
cessful simply by native powers. And il
/ this boy has any restless and impetuous
propensity for particular pursuit, twill
/ be great wrong to throw any obstacle
/ in his way.
/ The natures of men are as various as
+ their fortunes. Some, like diamonds
must wait to receive their splendor from
/ the slow touches of the polisher, while
+ Others, resembling pearls, appear at once
/ born with beauteous luster. The charac-
/ teristic disposition does not in all cases re-
veal itself early.
/ The celebrated Fabius Maximus was 50
meek and mild in his boyhood that he was
called in derision, .'the little sheep" He
was lazy, indifferent to juvenile amuse-
ments, slow in his studies, and, altogether
what in this day should quality as stupid
And yet in his manhood he displayed
the opposite of all such uninteresting
qualities.
The boyhood of many men of mark
in our own time has been attended By
/ seeming and deceitful dizziness. There
/ fore let good sense and discrimination
guard the boyhood Of our future states
men, merchants, poets and philoso
! pliers. We know not where we shall
! find them, but most assuredly from
among the boys of our country
/ B0zdr..