The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-26
BOYHOOD AND MANHOOD.

His parents belonged to the nobility, and
were distressed at the idea of genius break
ing out and disturbing the proud line Of THAR
ancestry, consequently forced him to relin-
quish the pencil. Then the boy artist fsv
TO ths chisel-the art in his soul must have
vent.
An imperious impulse drove Murilo into
the world In pursuit of more knowledge and q
higher style of art. He was almost unknown
In the place of his birth. He was destitute
of the ordinary means of making q Journey,
M bought . piece of canva which be
divided into parts, and painted on each hR-
ures Of saints, landscapes and flowers. which
he sold by tho way. His sister, with tsars
and lamentations, triod in vain to turn him
from his mad and psrilous project. BE
reached Madrid, where the great Valesquez
was struck by the ingenious simplicity Of the
youth, who urgently requested letters for
Rome. When the former understood the
purport of the romantic journey, he said.
You need not go to. Italy to learn art, my
lad" And he opened the royal galleries to
Murillo, and assisted him in every possible
way. When Murillo returned to his native
city, where from his obscurity he had never
been missed, he made it the theatre of his
glory.
Under similar impulse, Callot, at the age of
twelve, disappeared from his fathers roof.
He wanted to be an engraver, and his proud
parents thought it was n degradation. He
was picked up in the utmost distress by a
gang of gypsies and returned to his home.
BE ran away again, and was found by his
brother and brought back. His father, losing
all patience, allowed him finally to become
the most original genius of French art one
who, in whose viyacious groups, the touch of
his graver, and the natural expression of his
figures, anticipated the creations of Hoparth.
Hanteuil hid himself in a tree to pursue the
destinations of his pencil, which had been
forbidden him.
Handel was ever at work at harpsichords
while being drilled for q doctor of civil laws.
andwould conveymusical instrumentssecretly
to his bedroom, and break forth into harmony
in the middle of the night.
Smeaton, the great mechanic, when a boy.
disdained the ordinaryplaythings of boyhood.
He collected the toolsof workmen and bother
ed themwith questions. One day, after having
watched some miIlwrights, he was discovered,
to the great distress of his family, in a situa-
ton of extreme Danger, fixing a windmill on
the top of the barn. His father sent him to
London to study law; but he declared tina
law did not suit the bent of his genius" and
addressed a memorial to hisfather to show his
utter incompetency for legal pursuits. His
father finally abandoned him to the bent of
his genius. and it was he who built the Eddy
stone Lighthouse, in the midst of the waves,
like the rock on which it stands.
Abbo Ia Gallo, one of the first astronomers
Of his time, when ten years old, was sent by
his 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 AZ hour after his task was 40
complished. His fatherwent and watched him
one night; sawhim 60 into thesteeple andring
the bell, but never come down for an hour.
When he made his appearance, and was ques-
toned, he confessed that he had been looking
at the stars. His fatherwas not a born astrono-
mer, therefore he logged his son severely, and
left him to come home by himself. He met q
man Of science on the way, who, seeing his
tears, made kindly inquiries, and when he
discovered that a boy of such tender age
possessed O passion for watching the stars 81
the hour together, and had improvised an OBJ.
ssrvatory in a steeple, he investigated the
matter, and placed the child in q situation to
studywhat he most desired. One of the great
naturahsts of modern times began as soon as
he could walk Ito gather hideous bugs and
reptiles, and no punishment, however severe,
on the part of his parents, could cure him
OF the propensity. The text morning after
having received q castigation forsome offence
Of the kind. he would come toddling in with q
hornets nest In his arms, more delighted than
ordinary children with beautiful toys.
Instances multiply as we pursue the subject.
We have cited extreme cases. Our boys win
not all be the leading painters. mechanics, "
astronomers, but every one of them should
have the benefit Of the possibility. II often
happens that men of talentwaste along period
Of their lives underline shadowof an unsettled
impulse, unable to decide upon the,,objsct Of
its aptitude. It is most unfortunate when
thirst and fever in the temperament must be
endured year after year, and the occupation
to which only that disposition can attach II
sell u beyond reach. ~ess
Which brings US back to the boys. For q
little fellowto be distinguished byhis EQUALS Ia
one ariterionof talent. At this peculiarperiod
Of life, with no fiattery on one side and no
artidce on the other, all emotion and on
reflection, the boy who obtained n predomf.
hence has been successful simply by native
powers. And if this boy has any restless and
impetuous propensityfor a particular pursuit
It will be o great wrong 70 throw anyobstacle
in his way.
The natures of men are as various as their
fortunes. Some, like diamonds, mnst wait to
receive their splendor from the slow touches
OF the polisher, whileothers, resembling pearls
appear at once born with beauteous fustre.
The. characteristic disposition does not in oil
cases reveal itself early.
The celebrated Fabius Maximus was so meek
and mild In his b~oyhood.that hewas called, In
~lerision, 'the little sheep" He was lazy, indif-
lerent TO juvenile amusements, slow in his
studies, and altogether what we in these days
should qualify as stupid. And yet in his man
hood he displayed theopposite of all such un-
interesting qualities.
The boyhood of many men of mark in our
own time has been attended by seeming and
deceitful dulness. Therefore let good sense
and discrimination guard the boyhood of our
future statsmen, merchants, poets and phil
osophers. We know not where we shall find
them, but most assuredly from among the
boys of our country.-ARdre1s Bazdr.