The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-08

himself assumed the forsname Edward. By
which most Of his friends came to know him.
When Edward Foumsns was six months old,
his father who was a wagon max or and black
smith by trade. moved to Greenfield. Sara
toes county. New York, where he eventually
eked out the scanty earnings OF his craft by
cultivating q farm. But narrow as the means
ofthe household we're. there was always enough
for the purchase Of books and newspapers.
and what mental training Edward gained
In youth was acquired quite a. much by
listening to Intelligent talk as through
the instruction obtainable at . district
school The trend OF his mind soon showed
itself. At the age Of 10 he persuaded his father
to buy him q copy OF Comstock's Natural PHI
losophy. and he subsequently procured Buff
fon's Natural History from a circulating libra
~. Even at that early time he bad learned
something about the attitude OF scientific
thought with reference 10 the origin OF the
earth. and used to urge geological objections
to the so-csllsd Mosaic account Of the creation.
He also expressed skepticism about miracles.
as infractions OF the order OF nature. requiring
much more evidence to make them credible
than has ever been produced.
The boys persistence in reading and writing
when his eyes needed rest did m UGH to agRrs-
vate an Inflammation Of the eyes By which he
had been attacked in the autumn OF 1885. In
1893 he entered an academy as the FIRST step
toward a liberal education. but twice during
the FIRST term he had to go home with innsmed
eyes to rest In the following winter he found
himself compelled to go to Bsllston Spa for
treatment BY physician who had some repu-
tation as an ocuist. After suffering cruelty at
the hands OF this practitioner. young You
mans had to be brought homo In the spring
Of 1889. lie now awakened to the fact that
the peril OF blindness hung over him. and that
II might be his fate to be shut out from the
chief joys Of life and never to be able to study
or even to earn . scanty livelihood. As the
autumn Of 1870 arrived without bringing
the desired Improvement. and as a neiehbor
happened to DO going to New York. Edward
was placed In his care and escorted to the eye
infirmary. where DR.. DelaHeld took charge Of
his case. Learning presently. however. that
DR.. Delafeld considered his eyes incurable.
young Youmsns. under the pilotsge OF fellow
patient less afflicted than him SELF made the
round OF the more eminent New York physi-
clans. aud received from DR.. Samuel N. Elliot
an amount Of announcement that ultimately
turned out we'll founded. DR.. Elliot expressed
a belief that q cure could be effected in
six months. no doubt thinking that q
less hopeful view might prevent the
patient from undergoing the necessary
treatment As Il was. the young man felt that
the doctors fec Of S160, besides the cost OF
board In the city for six months. would be q
heavy burden for his father. IL gradually be-
came evident that years rather than months
might be needed to effect . euro but after the
first instsllment Of $50 had been paid. the doc-
tor would not accept any further payment
until the cure should be com plete: and 90
many years passed before this result was
reached. and so many occasions had here been
for mutual good offices. that further payment
was never thought Of