Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-04-29
A REAL BOY WONDER
The PHENOMENAL EARLY CAREER OF
WILLIAM PITT.
Although siei<Iy and Delicate, This
English Lad Was intellectually One
OF the Most Remarkable Youths the
World Has Ever known


world Has Ever known
One Of the most remarkable boys the
world ever saw was William Pitt lie
astonished folk with his Iearnin, at the
age OF seven. He became prime min
lister OF England when he was twenty
four
He was a sickly boy. but he took all
the out OF dooS exercise his delicate
frame could bear and was as eager to
study as most boys are 10 play. He
would not let bis weak body stop his
work. and lie was reading ancient his
tory At an age when most children are
reading stories written In words OF
one syllable.
His father was tile great Earl OF
Chatham. and the boy was brought in
20 contact with all the great men OF
the time i'm England. When he was
thirteen years old he wrote a tragedy
which he called "Laurentine. King Of
Clarinium."
At this age. too. be was able TO read
Greek and Latin almost as well as he
could English. He also was we'll in
formed on the politics OF the day and
y
only men of learning are supposed 20
know anything
At fourteen he was able 10 take the
works Of Thucydides. written I'm Greek.
and read page after page. turning IL
into excellent English as he read. and
this of hand translation Of his is said
10 have been almost without n flaw.
His father spoke of him as eager
Mr. William. the counselor. the philos-
ophcr." At the age Of fourteen he en-
tered the great University Of Cam
bridge i'm England and at once. I'm spite
Of his youth. took n high place among
the students at that celebrated place
OF learning
When he went TO Cambridge. the boy
was I'm such feeble health that he had
TO be accompanied by a nurse. and all
through his course there ne was I'm so
poor condition. physically. that it was
doubted If he ever would be able TO
finish the course.
But hard study seemed to agree with
him. and when he was graduated. at
the age OF seventeen. be was much
stronger than WIEN De entered the uni
vcrsity.
At an age when most boys are pre-
pairing TO enter college. or. il they are
p very clever. have just become fresh
men. young Pitt won the degree OF
master OF arts from one Of the great
est universities I'm the world and began
the study OF law
At tvcnty-one he was admitted 20
the bar. and the same year was elected
member OF parliament. 70 become
prime minister three years later.
While he was yet a law student and
only eighteen years old he attracted
the attention OF prominent men by his
clear views on the questions Of govern
mcnt. which then were pcrplexing the
rulers Of England. The boy was in
vited everywhere. and men holding the
most important offices listened 10 his
advice and asked his opinions.
His friends wanted him 20 60 into
parliament when he was twenty and
oil predicted FOR him brilliant career.
1t was curious 10 see this delicate strip
ling. boy In looks and years, meeting
+ the great and wise men OF the country
us an equal and conversing on even
terms with the most learned scholars
OF the day.
Young Pitt used TO like 20 listen 70
the debates in the British parliament,
and Mr.. Fox. the great statesman
meeting him once after u debate. was
nstoniShcd AT the manner I'm which the
boy criticised the eminent men who
had spoken and pointed out where they
could have made their argument
stronger.
one Of the hardest works 10 under
stand that ever were written is a book
called "Cassandra." written by 4 man
named Lycophronis. II is written in
Greek. y learned man placed the book
in the hanGs OF young Pitt when the
boy was sixteen years old. and he read
IL At first sight. translating into Eng
liSh rs lie read and explaining 1t in 4
manner which made the learned man
declare that had he not seen it he
would have believed il TO be beyond
/ the power Of human intellect"
When Pitt was sixteen. his father de-
clared that he would be Il great states
man and was the hope Of the country.
/ Other folks soon became Of his fathers
way of thinking. and that is why they
put him into parliament when he was
so young anu made hii. prime minister
\ so soon fter.
He fulfilled all that was expected Of
him and ruled England during thirteen
of the most eventful years Of her his
/ tOry.-DetrOit Free Press.