The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-01
Sir HUI mphrey Davy.

Davv's personal appearance was sug-
gestive of anything but mental power.
His face was the reverse of comely. He
was small and insignificant, and even in
the morning of his manhood stopped and
was round-shouldered. He was uncouth
and clumsy in. his manners; and when he
first began his career as lecturer at the
Royal Institution, there was smile of
dissatisfaction on his face, which sug-
gested that he was on the best terms with
himself, and which predisposed his audi
ence rather to hiss than cheer. He was
somewhat dogmatic withal, and once re-
ceived snub which must have been gall
ing to his self-esteem.
A London publisher whose habit was
to entertain the literati of England at
his table once a week, invited the
assistant lecturer on chemistry among
them, a half-formed nebula among
the fixed stars. The worthy pub
Usher was doubtful about Davy's
right to sit down with men of
European fame, and apologized to the
company for venturing. to introduce to
them one whose name had vet to be
made, and whose looks promised so little.
The raw, ramshackle, awkward young
man, however, was quite able to hold his
own, and prepared to assert his right to
contribute to the literary and philosophi-
cal discussions; and being just at that age
when young men think all men fools and
"fogies' who are older than themselves,
he even ventured to pose as an oracle
and instructor. The conversation turned
on the poetic beauties of Milton. In the
middle of defamation of one of the
poets finest passages by an enthusiastic
admirer, Davy interposed with the in
felicitous remark that che could never
understand Milton"
Here was an opportunity for which the
great men were wistfully waiting to sit
on and quash this obtrusive, beardless
dogmatist. every likely, sir" said one
Of them; nothing more likely; but you
don't mean to blame the poet for that"
His STOPPING gait, discordant voice, and
bovine countenance produced SO unfa-
vorable an impression on Count Rum
ford that that gentleman expressed re-
gret that he had SO hastily invited him
to .become lecturer in connection with
the institution. He refused to allow
Davy to lecture in the theater till his
qualifications had been tested in the
smaller lecture-room. 1t is needless to
say that he passed the ordeal triumph
antly. The Counts first exclamation
after the lecture was, ''Let this lad have
free access to ali the arrangements and
helps the institution can afford"
On the succeeding day he discoursed
in public. His subsequent career is a
record of triumphs. His lectures were
a new dissipation for the frivolous; a
revelation to the wise. The sensation
they created and the admiration they OBJ
tanned can hardly be realized. Men of
the highest genius and of the most ex-
alted rank, the literary and the scientific,
the practical and the poetical, blue
stockings and butterflies, the fresh in
mind and the faded-all crowded to hear
him. :. Ever untrayeled, his.thoughts
returned to his laboratory; and though
he did set up as man Of fashion, he
never forgot to keep his ambition subor-
dinate to that of scientific fame. He
would remain calmly conducting his ex-
periments till he left himself no time to
dress for dinner; and in his haste would
"clothe himself upon" with white and
clean linen, without "unclothing himself
of" that which had ceased to be sweet
and fresh.
One day he would be of aldermanic
proportions, wearing wardrobe of five
shirts on his back and five pairs of stock
ings on his calves, till he is able to
snatch an hour from science and frivoli-
ty, and then he would appear, to the
CONSERVATION of hisfriends, but shadow
of his former greatness. These altera-
tions of physical bulk were matters of
sore perplexity and alarm, till the cause
of them was discovered. His day was too
short for the service of the two opposing
deities. He would serve science till the
hour to present his offering to fashion ar
rived; and then he would dart out of his
laboratory and run neck-and-neck race
with time. When the solemnities of
folly were over he would return to his
laboratory and remain in it till or A in
the morning, and the servants Of the in
stitution often found him at his post
when they arrived next day.
ED -sS