The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-08-20
Oliver Goldsmith.

UOldSmltn was man OF genius tnat
acquired some literary fame cannot be
denied. He was good writer but
wanting in common sense. With all
his learning he never learned to sus-
pect mankind and exercise prudence
and economy. He lived and died the
slave of debt. He was man of jo-
vial and indolent disposition, easily
imposed on and needed squirting up to
action. He was by birth an Irisman,
born on the 10th day of November, A.
D. 1928, in the county of Langford, in
Ireland. His father was poor
preacher with large family and
small salary, and as the historian says,
starved along on forty pounds year."
Of course he could do nothing toward
educating his son Oliver as he should
be. Oliver, though early evincing evil
dence of genius, was indolent, prone
to idleness. The first lady that under
took to instruct him said, she was one
of the dullest boys she had ever dealt
with" She was mistaken; he was not
naturally dull but indolent. His father
soon died, leaving him a penniless,
ignorant boy. His uncle, the Rev.
Thomas Castarim, kindly gave him
food and shelter and offered some
means toward his education. He was
much indebted to his uncle for his
kindly assistance. After leaving COL
lege with emo high distinction as a
scholar, his friends wished him to en-
gage in some useful occupation for
living. Under the advice of friends he
concluded to study for the Christian
ministry, position he was totally dis
qualified for. After he was, as he
thought, fully qualified for the minis
try he applied for ''orders'' and was
rejected. Failing in that attempt he
decided to read law and enter the legal
profession. To further his views his
uncle advanced him some money which
he lost among gambling thieves. His
next aim was to become a doctor and
practice medicine. After obtaining
his diploma he hung out his sign as a
practicing physician but found it I'M
profitable and took down his sign and
quit the business. He found it not
congenial with his views. We next
find him a strolliug pedestrian going on
foot over the countries with no money
in his pockets, performing on his flute,
with motley crowds around, him, to
catch a penny with which to supply
his wants. What a business for the
talented Goldsmith to be engaged in!
Returning to England penniless, with
his friends doubling his success in life.
"a mere writer for bread,'' he en-
ployed his time writing for the journals
of the day over a fictitious signature.
Finding his writings were making a
favorable impression on on the minds
of the public he launched out into a
brUat101 flvla ,,rd ouInnIonUUu ".itiuS
books, the copyright of which his ne
cessities compelled him to sell at a
sacrifice. It is said "The Vicar of
Wakefeld'' made the publisher rich
but not the writer. He wrote many
books which failed to relieve him from
debt but made him famous. Had he
possessed the means to publish his
writings and reap the benefits derived
from them he might have been in cosy
circumstances. AS it was, he died with
heavy debts hanging over him, not
leaving enough money to pay his burial
expenses. He owed at the time of his
death, the 4th day Of April A. D. IVA,
about ten thousand dollars, which has
never been paid.
Johnson, speaking of his indebted
ness, says: "Was ever poet so trusted
before.' He was an able and fluent
writer and left many works behind him
to enrich the literary world. A fund
was raised by his friends to place a
monument to his memory in Westmin-
ster Abbey. How many travellers
pause to think Of ''poor Goldsmith"
and to read the inscription to his men,
DRY from the pen of his friend Johnson?
r. w. H.