The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-10-21
Our Young People
MADE UP FROM THE BEST CLIPPINGS
About Ounces.


tran slated Phedrus into English at
seventeen; AIDA Seward repeated
from memory the first three books
of Paradise Lost at nine; and
Lord Brougham wrote on philoso-
ply at eighteen.
But all eminent men have not
been remarkable for early attain
ments. Some of the grardest spir-
it's that the world has ever known
men whose works and memery are
enduring-were regarded iii youth
as ounces. They lowered late, but
bore the rarest fruit.
1t is somewhat discouraging Tor
a boy of moderate abilities, who
aims to do his best, to be told that
others accomplished in childhood
what he can only do by hard study
in the best years Of his youth.
But such a boy should not relax
his efforts. He will succeed if he
gives his heart and mind to the
work.
The distinguished teacher, DR..
Arnold, of Rugby, after speaking
of those who zealously cultivate
inferior powers of mind, said OF
sucH a pupil: 81 would stand to
that man hat in hand" He once
spoke sharply to dull boy, who
replied, ''Why do you speak angri-
ly, sir? Indeed, am doing the
best 1 CAM
DR.. Arnold said he never so felt
rebuke in his life.
Sir Isaac Newton was pronounced
a Ounce in his early days. He
stood low in his classes and seemed
to have no relish for study. One
day the bright boy of the school
gave him a kick in tAe stomach,
which caused him severe pain.
The insult stung young Newton
to the quick, and he resolved to
make himself felt and respected by
improved scholarship. He applied
himself resolutely to study, land, ere
long, stood in his classes above the
boy who had kicked him, and ulti
mately became the first scholar in
the school.
Newton owed his prominence
in his philosophical studies more
to perseverance and application
than to any marvellous natural
endowments.
Oliver Goldsmith, than whom 70
boy could appear more stupid, was
the butt of ridicule. A school
dame, after wonderful patience and
perseverance, taught him the alpha
beta thing which she deemed
creditable TO Aer school, and which
she lived to mention with pride
when her pupil became famous. He
made no progress in the exact
studies, but liked history and Lat
in poetry.
He was a sore trial to his ambi-
tious mother, who made many
fruitless efforts to quicken his wits
by her sharp words.
His relatives, teachers and school
mates all told him he was a fool,
which verdict he did not dispute
but took good-humoredly. Even
when he had produced the Gravel
err" fan emjn9nt critic SAID to a
friend, "Sir, | do believe that Gold
smith wrote that poem, and that,
let me tell you, is believing a good
deal"
Sir Walter Scott was a dull boy,
and when attending the university
at Edinburg he went by the name
of ''the great blockhead.'. But he
wasted no time on trifles; and in
pursuing a study he loved-as,
for example history of the classics
he was persevering and methodI-
cal He was one of those whose
knowledge on subject that inter
ested him increased until it lay
like q great volume on his mind.
When Walter Scott began to make
use of that knowledge, society
gave him another name somewhat
different from the Edinburg appel
lation-it was "The great magi
clan"
Hutton, the antiquarian, whose
knowledge of books was. deemed re
markable, was slow to learn when
a boy. He was sent to school to a
certain Mr.. Meat. He thus tells
his experience; my master took
occasion to beat my head against
the wall, holding it by the hair.
but he could never beat any learn
ing into it,"
Sheridan found it hard to &C
quIre the elements of learning.
His mother deemed it her duty to
inform his teacher that he was not
bright to learn like other boys.
Adam Clarke was pronounced by
his father to be grevious Ounce,
and DR.. Chalmer was pronounced
by his teacher as an incorrigible
one. Chatterton was dismissed
from school by his master, who,
finding himself unable to teach him
anything in Unsatisfactory manner,
settled it that the boy was n fool.
Teachers are apt to become i'm
patient over dull scholars, and pre-
dict of them that they will never
come to anything. Such uncalled-
for prophecies ought to discourage
no scholar who tries to DO well.
A certain Edinburg professor once
pronounced upon a student this
severe opinion: Ounce you are
and Ounce you will ever remain"
That student was,Sir Walter Scott.
If dull boy feels an inspiration
stirring within to know something
worthy in literature, science or art,
ct him set his face as a flint to
wards his object; let him be pa
,icnt, hopeful and self reliant, I'M
moved by laughter, undiscour-
lged by evil prophecies.
Boy Inventors.
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