Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-02-04
morHE RS OF MEN.
influence upon Agassiz, Die"0"''
Leigh Hunt and Others

r,anv ~ these women the world Knows
mneb but of tho majority II is ignor-
amt The mother Of Louis AgassIH, 'he
scientist was the wife of Swiss fro'-
estant clergyman, and lived to a very
old ace. Louis was her favorlto son.
and She trained him with greatest care
Whom in 1851, Prof, Silliman OF iale
College visited her. he found her al
four score 'lall. erect and dighihou
woman" with animated address anu
cultivated manners. When she was as
sured By her guest that her sons adopt
ed country loved him aud was prouu
of him, her strong frame was agltateu'
her yo co tremblel with emotion, anu
tho flowing tears told the story oil
mothers heart.
The day that Prot. Silliman lett sue
walked long way in the rain 10 o'a
INN and his wife farewell. Presenting
them with little bouquet OF pansleS'
she babe them tell her son her PEN
sees were for him. )" "Pensee III
French means both pansy and thought
On the 5Olh birthday OF AgassIz the
Saturday club of Boston celeDrateI II
with II dinner ut which LonSietloW'
Holmes and Lowell read poems. IN
the poem OF the former allusion was
made to the natural mother as mourning
over the fact that the great mother ma
ture, had drawn her son from the hre-
side and wished to keep Inn:
And the mother at home says "Harkl
For his voice listen aud yeaFui
II il growing late and dark.
And nv boz does not return"
Agassz head was bent during the
reading of the poem, but when the al
Ius on to his mother was made MS
ruddy face flushed W tn restrained feel
ing, tears gathered in his eyes. AS the
last line was uttered they dropped slow
~ down his cheeks one after another.
The mother Of Alphouse and Ernest
Daudet, French noyeists, was an intel
lectual woman. She was constant
reader. and her children were early
impressed with her superiority over
other mothers, anil were profoundly
greatful to her in after life for her care
ful training OF their minds. The father
was rich silk weaver and had only an
ordinary mind Loss Of fortune soured
him, and ne seemed 10 have little iuilu-
cnce over his gifted sons. But the
mother was their inspiration and de-
light.
The childhood Of Dickens was so
Swallowed by poverty. and his sensitive
and imaginative mind was So keenly
alive to his position. that hr could draw
au absolutely impartial picture Of his
parents. III ! mother had keen APP
prec alton of the lrDll and OF tho pa
thetic, and likewise considerable dram
attic talent. She was cOmely little
woman with handsome. bright eyes,
and genial. agreeable person. From
her Dickens undoubtedly inherited his
temperament aud intellectual gifts.
She possessed an extraord nary sense
OF the lud crous, and her power Of inn
agination was something astonishing
Her PERCEPTION was quick. aud she un.
noted everything that came
under her observation. ~ describing
ridiculous occurrences her tons and
gesture would be injm table. while her
was one Of the quainLest.
Dickens declares that 10 her he owed
his first desire for knowledge. aud that
his earliest passion for reading was
awakened by his mother who taught
him not only the first rudiment5 OF Eng.
sh. but also little Of Latin Power
ty saddened and darkened many years
of her life and her children were early
compelled TO leave her and earn their
own living but they nil honored aud
loved her rs she deserved.
Leigh Hunt thus writes Of his mother:
my mother bad no accomplishments
but two best of ala love VI nature
and Of books. DIR. Franklin offered 10
teach her tho guitar. but shn was too
basliful 10 become his pupil She re-.
GREETED this afterward. partly, no
doubt. for having so ilnstriuus a mas
ter. Her first child that died. was
named after him.
"Iknow not whether the anocdote is
new. nut have heart that when DIR.
Franklin invented the harmouica he
concealed it from his wife till the IN.
slrument was fit to PLAY. aud then
woke her with II one night, when SHE
took i for the music OF angles.
80. Having been born nine wears later
than the youngest Of my brothers. |
have no recollection OF my mothers
earlier aspect. Her eyes were always
line. and her person laivlike; her hair
also attained it, color for long pertod;
but her brown complex on had been
'xchangcd for n jaundicod one. which
she retained through life; her cheeks
we're sunken and her mouth drawn
Town with sorrow Mt tho corners. She
retained the energy of her character on
great occasions, but her spirit in ordin-
,ry affairs was weakened, and she Innk.
ID ut the hustle and discord of tho nr,s.
ant slate OF society with friVhtpned
version Never shall | forOst
ler face ms it used tn appear 10 ma
'om ng up the cIotsters with that weary
rang Of the head on one side and that
smile.
Zone holiday in n severe winfer "a
he was taking me home. she was ne,i.
loncd for charity by q woman sick aud
u clothed. II was in BIackfrlar's ro,,J
think about midway. NV mother. with
ears IN her eyes turned M n gateway /
'r some such place, and bcckorinV Tia |
woman TO follow took off her flannel
Ietticoat aud gave il to her. II Is au,.
,osed that cold which ensued fixed The |
heumat SIN upon her for life. Act on.
ke this have doubtless been often nor.
ormed. and do not Of necessity implv
my great virtue in the performer; bnt
hey do II they are q piece with tho rest
4 the character. Saints have been
made for charities no greater" - Wo. |
aan's Argosy. "
MECHANICAL SPIDERS.