West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-01-01
TOLD OF GREAT MEN.
Curious Incidents landed Down
by Biogrnphors-
The Duke Of ws'ii"Eton's Nap on tho Ess
OF - Force tsttie-s1ozart's Remark-
sbte rreeoo ~ - Lord chester
Geld aud u.s 500.


Some OF the great Generals whose
names are familiar 10 w. bad a wonder
fui power Of sleeping for few moments.
even on tho battlefield. The Duke of
Wellington. just before the attack on
81 Sebastian, In Spain. found that tho
preaching batteries would not be ready
70 open the attack for two hours.
THE best thing Wa can do" no said.
sis TO Sleep" and slipping OF his horse
into trench hc was aslcop IN an In
slant.
Napoleon. ct the very crisis OF the i'm
portant battle OF Wagram. ordered up
his reserve. which he mover did except
In great emergencies. Confident that
tho movement would be carried out and
would insure the victory. he ordered his
bear-skin 70 BIO spread ON the ground and
In o moment be was g. deep sleep. Ito
slept for twenty minutes and his staff
began TO BIO alarmed, but waking be is
sued further orders without asking any
questions. as IL he had not slept.
Lord Chesterfield was universally rc-
gardcd as one Of tho most polished gen.
tlemcn In the English court In the last
century. His manners were faultless
and the grace OF his bearing was inim-
liable. hut he gives couical account
OF the first party he attended. lie was
thoroughly uncom Portable, knowing nci-
thor what 10 do or say. At length,
growing desperate aud feeling that .ome-
thing must be done. he addressed n
beautiful lady near by. and added force
to the question by encrgetically clasping
both hands.
Madam, don't you fnd It very warm
to-night?'
1t was not promising beginning for
tho man who became tho first wit of his
age.
Historians always stop 70 describe the
dying Of Wolf and Montcalm. tho two
opposing commanders in the baltic OF
Quebec But their deaths were simply
heroic compared with tho Christian
death OF Stonewall jackson.
About l:S0 on the day OF his death he
was told that he had two hours TO live,
and he answered feebly, but firmly:
Very good; IL is all right"
few moments before bo died he
cried ont in his delirium: .Ortier A. L.
llill 70 prepare for action. Pass tho in
fantry TO tho front rapidly Tell Major
HAWKS" then stopped, leaving tho SON
terco unfinished.
Presently smile of ineGable swcet-
ness spread itself orcr his pale face and
then hc said quietly AMI with an exprcs-
zion OF relief: lot us cross over the
river and rest under tho shade OF the
trees" And then, without pain or tho
loast struggle, his spirit passed.
Probably Mozart was tho greatest
musical genius tho world ever saw, and
somo OF tho stories OF his precocity
seom almost supernatural. At four he
could retain in memory tho brilliant
solos in tho conccrtos which he hes ri. and
his father began half in sport u give
him lessons. Tho musical faculty seems
to have been intuitivc In him; for In
learning TO play hc learned TO compose
ct tho Same time, his own nature dis
covering TO him some important secrets
In melody. rhythm. symmetry. and tho
art Of setting bass.
To learn minuot no required half an
hour. for longer piece an hour. and
having once mastered them no played
Thorn with perfect neatncss and In exact
time. His progress was so great that at
four years OF age, or earlier, ho com
posed little pieces, which his father
"sOsN oOWh iOi tShltFs III MUSIC
he astonished his teacher. not SO much
by on avidity for information rs by tho
impossibility of telling him any thing
that BIO did not know before. At tho
ago OF six Mozart knew tho effect of
sounds az represented by notes and had
overcome tho difficulty OF composing un-
aided by an instrument Having COM
menccd competition with recourse to
tho ciavier, his powers in mental music
constantly increased and he soon i'm
agined effects OF which tho original
type existed only in his brain"
The Earl of Chesterfield was called
the fast gentleman OF his ago. 1t was a
cardinal point of etiquette with him
never to exhibit Ill temper in company
or be romiss in courtesy TO any guest.
But be was sometimes soreiy tried by
tho rude and awkward manners OF his
son. Philip StaDhopc, whom be tried in
vain TO educate 70 gcntlcmanly habits
Philip was great glutton and could
not restrain his appetite even in com
pany. On ono occasions. when his father
had invited large number OF titled
guests, an elegant entertainment was
provided. Ono of the rare dishes was q
platter OF baked gooseberries, showed
over with rich cream. Philip had boon
helped bountifully by Lady Chesterfield.
who knew his weakness. But whom a
servant was taking out tho dish in clear
ing the table Philip bcckonod TO him,
and taking II in his hand began to lap
up grecdily tho rich cream Lord Chos-
terrified was disguised, but without n
change of face or voice 70 indicate the
tempest within said in calm tone 10
bis servant:
John, why do you not fetch a strop
and razor. you see your mastcr is going
70 shave bimsclf?''
Philips grccdiness was checked for
that meal