The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-17

History u ths Famous Scholar and 40.
saADltshsd C0urttAS,

Histery ~ ths vsusous Scholar = 40.
sanpltshsd COWvttAp,
believe, says WAlter Bssant. What TN
only authority for the lie Of AdmisabIs
Cyishtou la certain tract BY the ingenious
Biz Thomas Urquhars, who translated
RabeIata. Tbs tract u called 'sThs Dis
eovsry Of . Mort Exquisits Jewel In the
Aud." No one man can understand what
. miracle OF ! man WAS this Crjohton unless
be roads The tract, which II written In .
fine scholarly kabslaisiAn spirit Of sxtrava-
Gance. Let mi tell the story. though the
beauty Of tho narrative cnnnot BE- trans.
latsd into Coderu Jousnaisss. CHiohton
was one Of the many scots Of good family
who took service In foreign courts. thsiS
poverty sharpening their wits to an inersdi-
BILE extent.
Crichton was IN The bervics Of ths duke OF
MHntua. whose son was pupil. He was .
great linguist.. knowing twelve languages
9Th = to speak or write. Ha was ready to
disruts in Latin on any theme concerning
theology o. jurisprudenos with any scholar
who should venture. He was q master OF
svety hin Of sport and pnstimr. and In the
tiltyard hs had NO rival. Lastly. he was
an excellent actor. Ono evening. fer in
stance, hs played before ne court Of Man
uAUt ~ " AsA0 VI .
show, . dozen characters in succession.
His skill OF fen0s WAS exhibited in his
duel with q certain Italian gladiator or SOL
der Of fortune who lived by challenging all
comeSs at various courts to fight for large
sums OF money. fome he killed. winning
the stnkss; some he wounded and gave them
their lives in exchange for tho money. On
his arrival ~ Aantua he posted on tho
gates n challenge to all Corners 70 engage
him with the single farisr for 800 Spanish
pistoles. TO DO laid Town by either aide.
The gentlemen Of the coutt accepted tho
CHALLENGE. The hrst was thrust through
the throat and fell lead. The second was
thrust through the heart and was carried of
ths field dying. Then 9 ichton stepped for
va d.
Observe the manner Of the professional
here. He might have been first. but then
he would only have tho glory Of Kidding the
! world Of q nuisance. He allowed throe to
ster ped forward and placed 1900 p~istoles az
the stake. The event you know before
hnnd. but Urquhart makes tho scene to
live. Crichton wounded his enemy in three
PLACES. viz. the three places where he had
wounded the three men killed. The duel
ist. who had the tue artistic feeling. ex-
!resssd his extreme satisfaction at being
Z killed BY 20 mastery a hand. C.ichton
gave the 1000 pistoles to the widows Of the
tn 30 men and 90 everybody was pleased
and the Eenown Of tho "eximious".-Urqu-
hart calls him ''eximious'-Cfichton was
waited to the stars.
The name OF his death was tragic. II
Wa shrove Tuesday. Ho Wal at the house.
of a princess OF tho court. A troou OF
~evelers in disguise and masks came to the
house and demanded the right of the day to
enter. The page who stood at the door 10.
inonstratsd. They e%ndsavored TO push past
him; he called ont and Crichton appeared.
sword In hand. The others drew and the
unequal combat began. There wots ten
assailants.
In . moment six we're on their backs.
Crichton pressed forward upon the other
four. He WAS just about to thrust at one
more forward than the rest, whom another
called out:
Hold Wound not the princev'
It was the prince. his v pupil. who was
Leading these drunken revelers. Cfichton
stopped, and. kneeline on his left knee. pre-
sented tho hills of his sword to ths prince.
Whether In the madness of rage or OF
drink, one. knows not, the prince seized the
sword and plunged il into Criohton's heart.
thus fell the admirable Crichton. When
the rinos recovered he wished to kill him
self. This could not be allowed, but his
life was embittersd and his years were few.
-Lordon Times.