New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-08

and philologst, died at his residence III New
Britain at midnight last night.
Elihu Burritt. sometimes spoken Of as The
Learned Blacksmith," was born in New-Britain'
Conn. December 3, 1911. His father was shoe
maker. who is described as d" a man of ready ap-
prchenson and charitable sympathes and ae-
tom He had in all ten children. of whom the
eldest Elijah, exhibited remarkable talent for ma
thcmaics, which was developed by n college educa-
ton and produced a work entitled. Log Arth-
metic" and school-book called The Geography
of the Heavens" E''hI was the youngest of the
family. lie was ser 20 the public school, and
when his father dIcI ne was, at The age of seven
teen apprenticcd TO a blacksmith. lie had already
acquired taste for reading His brother
who is said to have been driven from
his career as scAoolmaoter al the
South returned 10 NcW-Brtain, and opened a
school, and in this ElAu. who had ended lis APP
premiership. studied and acquired something 81
Latin French and mathematics; but at the end Of
six months he returned to the anvil and forge,
learning the Greek grammar during the intervals OF
labor. He obtained some knowledge OF Hebrew,
and being greatly DESTROYS of oriental books, he
determined 20 embark from Boston rs
sailor and to spend his wages AZ the first European
port in securing the coveted volumes lie heard,
however, OF Inc library W lI' AHtitliIAh ''''i's
of Worcester the institution endowed by Old Isaiah
Thomas the printer. 10 secure al once hlacksmlths
work and books he removed to that town. This
was in 1887. Here be toilcd with arm and brain,
making such entries in his diary as the
fonowing Monday June i. headache;
forty pages CuvieTs Theory Of the Earth,
sixty-four pages Of French eleven hours forging.
Tuesday, sixty-fvc lines Of Hebrew, thirty pages of
French, ten pages Cuivers Theory lines Syrac,
ten ditto Danish, ten ditto Bohemian, nine ditto
Polish fifteen names Of stars ten hours forging
Wien headache came Of all this study, he worked it
oil by few hours of extra labor III the shop.
Looking ont for some Of support little less
wearsoine, he wrote to a friend, inquirlng for
employment as n translator from the German and in
this be narrated his experiences aud requirements
II happened to fall into the hands OF Edward Ever
ett who was then Governor Of Massachusetts,, and
who read the account at a public meeting. This
made Burritt pretty we'll known. aud excited
a generous interest in his behalf The way
would have been made easy for him
TO pursue his studies at Harvard College.
but he still preferred the forge. He found time,
however, to edit monthly magazine the object of
which was to facilitate the acquisition OF the
French language and to which ne gave the name
of The Literary Ge1nini. This was published in
1889 and continued for year.
In 1910 SIR. Burritt began to accept engage
mcnt5 as a lecturer In The EOlea'jc Rcri7r ne
printed TRANSACTIONS from the lccaudic SdgIs, and
papers from tho Samaritan, Arabic and Hebrew,
while he went on adding to his stock Of languages.
Always interested in phanthropic and social re-
forms and progress, and particularly 50 in the
propagation of the principles of peace, Mr. Burrtt
began in 1914, at Worcester, the pub
LEGATION Of newspaper called The thrjo-
tan Citizen. From the Office of this journal
he also issued a series Of tracts, entitled
OEre LCares. lie became very earnest N his deyo-
ton to the cause Of peace, and devised mutual
system Of addresses in il, behalf between England
and America. lie also circulated among travellers
periodical tract entitled " The Bond OF
brotherhood" In 1916 be was both pro-
prietor and editor Of The IeG'e Idroodi@.
I'm the same year he went 10 England,
where he was Hospitality received by men of oplu-
ions similar 10 his own. He lcCtuTcd, wrOts. for
Dougins Jerolds UekiB Newspaper printed and CIR
cuated tracts and IN 80 began ths distribution
Of a series OF friendly addresses" from English
men, through different parts OF France. In all tao
European Peace Congresses be took a prominent
part. For several years he occupied the position of
United States Consul At birmingham.
After q residence abroad OF nearly twenty-five
years, Sir. Burnt returned 20 Tire United
States. He always maintained ms interest ~
the different matters to which ho had devoted
hi, litc and of this IN TIBl NJ lad frequent
evidence in letters addressed TO It by hun upon
many important subjects. Two of his most notice
able letters were on the Eastern war and the ten
denotes of Lord BeacOnSielTs policy. He took
strong ground i'll relation To- the Geneva Award. and
during 1877 published IN these columns two earn
est appeals for international justice. The various
phases of the Labor conflict engaged his at
tentiOn, and he frequently took occasion to set
forth bis views. one OF his most striking CON
trlbutionS 10 IHE TRIBUNE related 10 that trouble
some parsonage, the tramp. In 1870 he wrote
sketch OF Or. j. Is. Niles and not long atterward
discussed the sectaran question with unwOntod
yiynr. Another theme which ne approached with
great spirit that OF war appropriations. His
latest contributions 10 these columns related to
" Englands War fanatlcIsm and Labor and
CAPITAL" lie continued TO reside at ew-Britan,
Conn, the place Of hls birth. ,....s,.
fugitive character, have been 80 numerous that 1t
is Impossible to record them All III tlIs place. lie
published M book -iOTm, Spdi h, from the Anvil"
ilA4NL Miscellaneous Writings usJOJ "Ohye
i-esIr, - Is5{l Thoughts and Things AT Home
and Abroad" QS54J, A Walk from John
O'Groat5 10 Lands End 1880, and Lectures
and Speeches 1861. I'm the department OF philo-
ogy, We believe Mr.. Burrltt has published nothing
Of IMPORTANCE, but he Will always be Iememb red
az the Blac ksmith learned IN the tongues There is
something IN his story similar to that of Hugh Mil
leI-bOth bred to mechanical enplOyueuts
both attained literary reputation, and both became
writers upon topics of controversy Mr.. BnTitts Is
another added 10 tho names OF those men of
nature, energy and lrrepresslbe aspirations, who
have pursued knowledge ana attained II under
early difficulties. The story OF such men, told by
themst Ives Is always interesting. Mr.. Burnt was
accustomed 10 say that, while the machinery of the
cotton factory and that Of the locomotive had no
power 10 make HIM hIuk less of ms anvil aud Of bIs
daily labor by the forge, the sight Of the press
printing thoughts" sent him home thoughtful
and determined upon the career winch he subse-
oueutIy and credItaby followed. lie has worked
we'll and wIsel'. lie might have been mere
sound grinder and extractor OF roots but what he
has accomplished, las real practical Importance
and human interest.
NATHANIEL GREENE CAGNEs.
Nathaniel Greene CarncS who was prOmi-
~ 1. rarII lnrI Nd