New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-23
SCRIBNER.

A biographical sketch of Jules Michelet, by
J. d. Osborne presents variety OF interesting de'alIs'
probably utittle known. concerning the unhappy e
of prominent French man OF letters, whose c"iee'
seems to have been perpetual struggle Wild uo"p
pointment and suffering His father was prinei III
reduced circumstances whose fortunes had peeh ruo
by the Revolution Until Young Micheet was hiteeh
years old he ate meat. drank no wne hsd 10 re'
On lucky DAYS he had bread and boiled vegetables Win
no seasoning but SALT and many day he had not even
bread TO eat All long he showed marks OF these
years of privaion. He attained full CROWN lis
extremies were almost dwarfcd, and his race renaneu
upcommonly delicate. He was then shy ana a"k-
ward, winch he continued 10 be during MS "hoe io'
He feared the company OF other children, lest tney
should laugh at him, devounng the few books that lei
into his hands He had cOmrade no amusement 10
toys. His sole pleasure was to 90 TO lonely cosc' ~
spend hours there in revcrie As he grew little ooe'
he became q selftaught printer ana set type' hut MS
parents had faith the brilliant destiny OF their son.
and had sure from his infancy that he woua
make great man. because he had so very large heau
He was accordingly sent at the expense OF great sell
denial on their part to high school, when ne went W
with fear and trembling. The first day passeo away
quietly But when called upon soon to read an EXERCISE
which he had prepared at home, he D'came utterly
abashed aud his voice trembled so violently that Tie
whole class burst into bosterous horse-laugh FROM
that hour he butt of the school, and suffered tor
lures from the rudcncss OF his comrades Thus deprived
Of companionshp fell back his books which ne
poured solitude. He graduated at college al the
age OF eighteen and it became necessary for linn 10 earn
his bread He would consent TO depend upon his pe
aud took TO teaching for his support After SIX years OF
this life he obtained professors chair. He was as
cnating lecturer though facts not always ser
ling; MS theories had glitter than gold he had no
methods be was tickle his ideas: without scenhuo ac
curacy thought statement or language; but 20 iu OF
enthusiasm and sympathy that he excited more interest
than any other lecturer His whole appearance gave
authority to his lectures. He as whie-haired al
twenty five as lie at seventy pale, thn all nerves.
he seemed the experience OF age with the rc OF
youth. His marriage sIngularly unhappy. lie
chose his wife from compassion. She belonged 10 a
family Of rank but had fallen into poverty and distress
Her life had constant struggle for money, mat
she felt value of farthing Books she regarded
as costly and useless uXuries. Her tongue Is SAID TO
have been as foul as Vucan's smithy" and her tenn
per like cayenne pepper such marriage outlawed
Mchelet He could take bis wife into society and
lie would not 80 into company without her. as she was
EMIT his respect let her deficiencies be as great as
they might. remainder OF Michelets career is de-
scribed in singularly interesting narrative, with
judicial estimate of his literary character and position
Mr. E. p Roe concludes his valuable series OF papers
on the Culture OF Small Fruits" and there are at
tracive articles on Wood-Cut Printing" by Theodore
L. De vnne Eighty Miles In Indiana Caverns." by
II. C. Hovey Rocky Mountain Mules" by Ernest
IngersOll, and others