The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-09-24

Three II amous boys
William Caxton. the first English printer.
was horn ABOUT ne in Kent. IL was here
hi spent his boyhoOd days. His father. who
was the owner of some land. gave him the
hest instruction Obtainable at that time.
Caxtou. suea king of these early days of his
life. says Il was born and learned mine
English in Kent in the weald, where l
doubt not j. spoken rs broad and rude
English as in any place in England IL
Is always pleasant 10 read Of the gratitude
OF children for the kindness and wisdom
shown them BY their parents. William
Caxton speaks in his quiet way Of the love
his parents had for him during his school
DAYS = have specially reduced Uranslatedl
Az ttha life OF Charles the Great after the
simple cunning that God hath lent 10 me
whereof / humbly and with all my heart
thank Him. and also am bounden TO pray
for my fathers and mothers souls. that in
my youth set me TO school, by which, by
the sufTerance OF God. get my living. 1
hope truly"
The disregard that boys have OF the value
OF schoOlbooks IN these days would not
have been thought possible by boys OF the
sixteenth century.
Great value was then attached 20 them.
in Lincolnshire in 15ss the corporation
records show that IL was agreed that "a
dictiouarye shall be bought for the scollers
OF the fire scoole. and the same boke TO
be tyed In cheque. and set upon desk
in the scooIe. whereunt0 any scOller may
have acCcsse as occasion shall serve"
Alas now we see dictionaries and even
prize books lying about anywhere but in
the right place. BY our Careless boys and
girls
our boys DO not seem TO realize fhe diff
cuIties that lay in the way OF learning a
few years ago. Some Of the worlds great
est men have had TO overcome obstacles
THAI would cause many modern aspiring
youths TO despair. Today see boys and
girls with elegantly bound and neatly print
al books ami nicely framed states. But in
the time ~ QUEEN Elizabeth the pupil when
he entered school was handed the Horn
book" and from that he learned his first
lessons
The .Iiornb0ol'' was one leaf ON which
was printed ia black letters tn alphabet, a
large cross. then the yowels and combina-
tiOn II v0wels ami consonants, followed by
the Lords prayer and the Roman numerals.
This leaf was mounted ON wood ami
protected from dirty fingers by a transpar-
snt horn. This sheet OF horn was secured
by border Of brass ana tackled to the
wooden Ds-cS. The large cross or ''criss
cross" on the page was 10 show that the
emu Of learning Is piety-
Admirable Crichton was simply James
CrichtJn. Admirable was only a title given
him by the ladies Of the French court. who
on account Of the variety OF his talents.
his youth. the gracefuness OF his manners
and the beauty Of his person named him
L'Admirable- IL is sad TO think that this
talented boy died quite young and
has lest Us nothing in the way OF proof of
his cleverness except the testimonials of
undUubteI and extreme admiration on
several distinguished Italian authors who
were MS eotemnoraries and associates. He
was born in Scotland in 1851 1t fourteen
he was master of arts he became third
reader in his college. then master Of phi
lOsOphy and languages OF which he knew
ten At seventeen he went 10 France Here
ne gave lectures in twelve different Ian
guages- Besides possessing such wonder
full learning he was remarkably clever at
outdoor sports and excelled in fitting. hunt
ing. sword practice. lie Travelled TO Man
tua, where at the age Of twenty-seven III.
was assasstnatCd by yincenzo Gonzag.i
son OF the duke of Mantua il is supposed
through JEALOUSY.
Sir Thomas More who was born in
Milk street. Cheapside. London, England i'm
1850 was one OF the brightest scholars at
81. Antony's free grammar school. Thrtad-
needle street lie outstripped all his young
companions and was first class at Latin
Creek was not taught in English schools
at his time.
Like most boys OF that period. as soon
as he was fourteen hs was removed from
school TO Oficiate in the mental work I'm
some great family. in order that he might
learn implicit obedience. and stern discip-
line, and profit by the words OF his elders
IL was not thought at all degrading FOR
boys TO submit to mental work. More had
the fortune to gain admittance To the pal
ace Of Cardinal Morton. archbishop OF
Canterbury and lord high chancellor.
The archbishop soon noticed that he was
q bright. cheerful boy and willing At all
times to do the most mental things, and
often said to his friends: That child wait
ing at table whosOever shall live TO see it,
will prove a marvellous man." Dean CoIet,
visitor at the cardinals. said: There Is
but one wit in England and that is young
Thomas More"
At thesage of seventeen More went TO Ok
ford. England, and here he composed the
greater number Of his English poems which
Ben Jonson speaks of as some OF the best
IN the English language.