The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-26

Far be 1t from me 10 reflect on the in
telleotual achievements of the sous of the
wealthy. But history aflirms that great
men usually fight their way up from abso-
lutte or comparative poverty. Mahomet
saw more poor men than rich ones in Par
adise, and the same is true of colleges.
More in number than the stars decking the
dome Of night have been the prOfcssional
men who have secured culture and rank
by great sacrifices Homer, Demosthenes,
Shakespeare, Haydn, Angelo, Burritt,
Beethoven, Luther, Melancthon, aud Mil
ner were poor youths. Moral heroism aud
a relentless purpose to win Artiam Bac-
ealaureus will put through college any
young man of average intellectually.
Swollen purses have transformed promis-
ing young men Into college fops. Monied
students rarely excel in their classes.
Their thoughts fly from the gods Of clas-
sic lands to the goddesses whose shrines
are proximate to the Alma Mater Venus
and Adonis become their favorite classical
characters. The trains that followed Ca-
sar, Anthony and Pompey lose their i'm
portance beside the charms Of those trains
that noiselessly sweep behind the blondes
and brunettes of the neighborhOod. Keep
a students exchequer abundantly supplied
and his collegiate standing becomes sapped
and mined.
Before our thougas rises another dis
tinguished American, Webster's junior by
a single year. The name Of Irving is as
conspicuous on the shaft Of literature as is
that Of Webster on the column of states
menship. He was as eloquent aud mag
netic with his pen as was Webster with
his voice. He laid on the altar of our
national honor garlands from the fields Of
literature as green aud fragrant as those
secured by Webster at the forum and in
the cabinet Surveying his remarkable
career how impressive is solitary lesson,
Wills maructous achievements IL au.
Morship illustrate Me possibilities Mat
stretch before scholarly young men iuiLued
,1ih enthusiasm 10 succeed IN tie realm Of
literature.
lie was but nineteen when he wrote his
first famous essays. He was magazine
editor at twenty Thereafter for a
half century the largest presses of Great
Britain and the United States were con.
stantly supplying the English.speaking
world with his polished compositions Be,
fore he died a million copies Of his books
graced the shelves of European and Amer.
lean libraries. From his youth a passion
for authorship burned in his breast like a
yestal lamp. An ardent devotion Ia
scholarly achievements kindled in his SOU
wherever he put his name on the snowy
page lie was the earliest great classica
author his country produced and among
those who have followed none have out
ranked him. The cautious English pub
Usher, Murray gave him over thirty-sover
thousand dollars for four manuscripts
Oxford conferred on him Legunl Doctor
George the Third presented him the mas
sige royal medal for historical composition
His attainmenis in Spanish literature CAV,
him the national ambassadorship to Spain
He stands among American authors a
Mount Blanc among surrounding noun
tains. He continues the central figure il
that group of prose authors among whom
are Bancroft, Motley, Prescott aud Cooper
His biographies Of Columbus aud Wash
ington are standards lie holds an honor
able position in the vanguard Of grca
writers. His charmed pen magnetic,
gold for his purse, honor for his country
and renown for his name.
The fields Of literature are whittier to
day for the sickles of genius and industr,
than when Irving touched them with hi
polished blade. Science, art, theology
fiction, poetry aud political economy al
invite the gifted pen. Invaluable literar,
helps multiply around students. STANDARD
works are being sold at one-eighth of OLD
prices. An Encyclopedia costs less than
years supply of cheap cigars. Funk offer
six works Of celebrity combined for les,
price than lady pays for pair of ki(
gloves. Not such were the surrounding
Of such eminent students as Newton
Black, Wollaston, Southland, Furguson
Rittenhouse, Clifford, Watt, West, ant
others Of fame. 1t is a rare thing for ,
man TO attain distinction in later life VIII,
does not rank high in early manhood
Pascal, Calvin, Raphael, Grotius, and Ma
poleon represent large class of iluslrioul
ones who took rank in liie's morning. III,
who in his prime stands loftier than the
average man, usually has promising statur,
in life's springtime. Master CONDENSED
literature. Use the inkstand freely. Pur
chase pens by the box. Waste little tim.
perusing bulky volumes. Many a pom
derous book has resemblod the large heaG
of the Cambridge freshman that had little
inside. Elaborate productions sometime:
have narrow riyulets Of thought winding
through vast typographical meadows.
/ Let us transfer our thought TO the sur
vey Of splendid woman, Elizabeth Bar
rett Browning, the queen of intellectual
poetry. Throughout forty years, with per
tipped with Promethean fire, she gave The
world of letters her immortal productions
The wales between her thought and theme,
she bridged with silver. Her poetry is a.
much superior TO artistic verse as Is the
fragrance Of conservatory, richer thar
the perfumes of the chemist. Not less !
profound scholar than a brilliant genius
Nucu Hht Nufeu ncI WHuu over any SnU
| ject it budded and blossomed like Aaron
rod. At her call came waiting genii more
wonderful than any in Arabian story
Her beautiful life is freighted with beau
tiful lessons for young ladies pursuing cul
ture. Permit me to emphasize too. Sold
studies constitute The stroagest aud bes
foundation on iohich tho structure Of fe
male education can repose
From girlhood she was an invalid
Early in her womanhood she was mistress
of philosophical, mathematical and classi
cal text books. Back Of her composition
lay brimmed reservoir of learning. Sh,
successfully grappled masculine range Of
studies. Tho solidity Of her songs ha,
won the eneomiums of the most distin.
guished poets. In eompaetness of thought
she is the crowned empress Of female writ
ers Of verse. The atmosphere Of her in
ner life was as golden as that Of her adop-
ted Italy. Its renowned native poets
would have united with the litcrati Of
Florence in binding bays around her hot
II