The daily gazette., 1877-11-19
ECgENTRICIFIES OF GREAT MEN
BY s.


1t Ia trite saying that no man is a he-
70 to his valet; and the greatest men his
tory records have had their little weak
nesses, fiattering 10 humanity, because
proving them mortals and not demigode
Sir Walter Raleigh in his best days had
strong dash of dandyism. When he ap-
peared at court he wore six thousand
dollars worth Of diamonds in his shoes
his armour was of solid silver, and his
sword-hilt and baldric were studded with
precious stones of incalculable value.
Pass on, splendid shadowi The great
philosopher, Descartes, had a passion for
wigs, and Sir Richard Steele would some
times spend forty guineas on black
peTuke. i4 .i so4H .Ul 400
Goldsmith's peach-colored coat is i'm
mortal. According to Samuel johnson,
Pope had such a high opinion of himself
as to think he was one of the pivots of
the system of the world. Napoleon 1
prided himself on the smallness of his
hands and feet. Sir Walter Scott was
prouder of being sheriff of Selkirkshire
than author of "Waverly" Kotzebue
was SO vain and envIous that he could
not tolerate any celebrated parsonage
near him, even when represented by a
portrait or statue. Byron was vain to
excess--valn of his genius, his rank, his
misanthropy, and even his vices. a Spin
oza took particular delight in seeing
spiders. fight. The Count de Grammont
once surprised Cardinal Richeheu jump
ing with his servant to see which could
leap highest. Salvador Rosa often played
In iInpromptu comedies, and traversed
the streets of Rome dressed as q mounte-
bank.
Antonia Magliabecchi, the famous Ii.
brarian of the Grand Duke OF Tuscany,
was passionately fond of spiders, had his
rooms filled with them, and would not al
low his visitors to disturb them, Moses
Mendeissohn, surnamed the Jewish So
crates, sometimes sought relief from his
meditations by sitting at the window and
counting the tiles on the opposite roof
Cowper bred rabbits and made bird cages
Doctor johnson made an especial pet oi
his cat. Mind, the famous Swiss painter
always had room full of cats, and one
perched on his back when he was drawing
Goethe had o tame adder but held dogs In
aversion. Thompson's greatest delight
was to saunter In his garden and eat ripe
peaches off the trellises, with his hands In
his pock IS. Gray said he should like Il
pass his life ON sofa reading French nov
els. 1t Is said that oliver Cromwell some
times laid aside his puritanic gravity anC
played at blindmants buff with his attend
ants. ll- vi .gIu sf vr..t f.|
One of the most innocent amusements O
| Charles II of England was to stroll in ~
James Park, surrounded by troop o
| those diminutive spaniels that bear hti
1 name, and feed the ducks. Beethoven Low
| ed to paddle in cold water, and carried hi
| passion to such an extent that the floor o
his room was flooded, and the water woulC
| filter through to the lower stories. Some
times, at morning and evening, he woulC
scamper barefoot through the dewy gras
OF the meadows. li Hus 81
| Shelley was very fond of sailing pape
| boats. IT is said that he came to the Ser
pentine River once, and having nothing IL
l his pocket but a fifty pound note to make
i boat, gave IT. at once the desired form
launched 1t on the stream, watched hi
venture with paternal anxiety, and finall
ran round to tho other shore to receiv
his money when it came to land. w
might easily extend our list, but have sal
enough to prove the proposition wit
which we started.