The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-07-05
PERCIvAL, THE POET.
- Nan Who Made WeDstsrss Dlctdoan,rv
and Died In Poverty.

Han Who Made WeDstsr's Dlct3ooasy
and Died In Poverty.
When the young and Accomplished
dow of Fairfield made the attempt to
apport herself and children by the
pubicatioa and sale of Percivars poems,
e pious effort was announced in an
egsn of the Boston iterati under the
tnding: Buy o Brooml Buy q
room! Come Buy of a Wandering
hvsrian Broom!"
The gentle, sensitive Percival barely
onped falling victim to this mode Of
tssck. Shortly after the first publica-
IN of his poems, and the criticisms
ION the same, he was found insensible
u . Stone quarry. wh2re he had sought
y nd himself of the brains which had
moved his curse by butting his head
spinst the rocky vs,lls. His literary
asassins represented that this attempt
aself-destraction was the result OF dis
#ppo;ntment in love, but there was not
u incident connected with his social
elations to Justify or give color to this
eunclusion. His was euinentlv an
thereal nature-Mind without passion.
He published no more, bat devoted
himself entirely to scientific pursuits,
~ which lie had q remarkable apti-
tnde, until his physical necessities com.
pelled him to become hack writer for
1stinguishcd literary men of more
Yractical ability. He was the sole au-
laor, compiler. and editor of the first
edition of Websteris Unabridged Die
6mMy, giving not only the definitions,
ut the root and history of over 5000
words derived from other languages. in
dldng ali the written languages of the
v0ld-thifty in nunber-of every one
which he must hal some critical
nswlstlge. Regarded in this light, it
the most wonderful literary labor
- performed>by one man. No other
icographer ever accomplished it. DR..
1ohnson was the literary wonder OF his
Eaea Horace Walpole saws Of him:
His dictionary is surprising work for
o1e man, but sufficient examples in for
#Ggn countries show that the work II too
Ennch for one man, and that society
talns pretend to publish standard die
6mary." Websters first dictionary was
ENly compilation from standard au-
horities, with the addition Of purely
AMerican idioms and ctymolcgy, exhib-
ing neither originality or research, be-
ing adapted only to the use OF schools
Ito the learners and rot to the learned
land was rejected ~ standard by the
British institutions Of learning on ac-
count Of the slang phrases. with only
1ocal signification, which it attempted
% Introduce into the common English
language. In regard to deriva.ive
words, which comprise so large q share
Ex our language, the dictionary edited
BY Percival, and published in the name
OF Noah Ma.ster, is now adopted as
highest standard authority by all of the
universities If Great Britain and
America. The great fortune Of Noah
Webster in life, and his worldwide
lame as the greatest photographer of
any age, are based solely upon the un-
requited labor OF James q. Percival,
Who died in poverty in o miners cabin
m Western Wisconsion, "unwept, un-
aonored, anu unsr:s."
The only remuneration which Perci-
M ever received for this unparalleled
work was bare subsisteuce-which
feobably did not exceed $500 . year-a
pace to live in and his necessary work
@ng tools, books OF reference. That he
nved IN garret, after the manner of
|tae old poets, was probably true of his
!udent days, but when he undertook
hs work OF tie dictionary his employ
IN built him a study after his own
Aodel. Ii WIS o small building, with
g window or door facing any public
Aoroushfare. lighted from the top; q
surt OF monkish cell, in which, sur
eunded by his books. he could pursue
iabors without attracting attention
om idle curiosity. It was reported,
"a what truth I cannot vouch-that
= study and the library which had
"a furnished him, when he had
shed the work. were reclaimed by
employers. They were not ''nomi-
I'D in the bond."-Hosa. Beriah
sr,a IN the Seattle, Washington
sstcry, Herald.
Sharper Than Q Razor.
The Wall Street NetCs saws that a