Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-18
A REAL BOY WONDER

Although Sick1y ard Delicate, This
English Lad Was intellectually One
OF the Most Remarkable Youths the
World Has Ever Known.
One Of the most remarkable boys the
world ever saw was William Pitt. He
astonished folk with his learning at the
lister of England when he was twenty
four.
He was sickly boy, but he took all
the out Of door exercise his delicate
frame could bear and was as eager to
study as most boys are to play. He
would not let his weak body stop his
work, and he was reading ancient his
tory ut an age when most children are
reading stories written in words of
one syllable.
His father was the great Earl Of
Chatham, and the boy was brought In
to contact with all the great lnen Of
the time in England. When he was
thirteen years old he wrote tragedy
which he called "Laurcntine, King of
Clarinium."
At this age, too, he was able to read
Greek and Latin almost as we'll as he
could English. He also was well in
formed on the politics of the day and
on variety of subjects about which
only men OF learning are supposed to
know anything.
A. n n n
works of Thucydides, written in Greek,
and read page after page. turning 1t
into excellent English as he read, and
this off hand translation OF his is said
to have been almost without a flaw.
His father spoke Of him as eager
Mr.. William, the counselor, the philos-
opher." at the age of fourteen he en-
tered the great University of Cam
bridge in England and at once, in spite
of his youth, took high place among
the students ut that celebrated place
of learning.
When he went to Cambridge, the boy
was in such feeble health that he had
to be accompanied by nurse, and all
through his course there he was in so
poor a condition, physically that 1t 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, ut
the age Of seventeen, he was much
stronger than when he entered the uni
versity.
At an age when most boys are pre-
pairing to enter college, or. if they are
very clever, have just become fresh
men, young Pitt won the degree of
master of arts from one of the great
est universities in the world and began
the study of law.
AT twenty zone he was admitted to
the bar, and the same year was elected
Il member Of parliament, to become
prime minister three years later.
While he was yet law student and
only eighteen years old he attracted
the attention of prominent men by his
clear views on the questions OF govern
ment, which then We're perplexing the
rulers of England. The boy was in
yited everywhere, and men holding the
most important offices listened to his
advice and asked his opinions.
His friends wanted him to go into
parliament when he was twenty and
all predicted for him brilliant career.
1t was curious to see this delicate strip
ling, boy in looks and years, meeting
the great and wise men of the country
as an equal and conversing on even
terms with the most learned scholars
Of the day.
Young Pitt used to like to listen to
and Mr.. Fox, the great statesman,
meeting him once after debate, was
,stonished ut the manner in which the |
bow criticised the eminent men who |
rad spoken and pointed out where they |
could have made their argument |
stronger.
One of the hardest works to under
stand that ever were written Is book
called "Cassandra," written by man
named Lycophronis. 1t is written i'll
Greek. A learned man placed the book
in the hands Of young Pitt when the
JOY WIS SlAitcA chlS Oiu, uiiNA AS iS.tN
It at first sight. translating into Eng
ish as he read and explaining it in
manner which made the learned man
declare that had he not seen it he
would have believed 1t to be beyond
lie power of human intellect"
When Pitt was sixteen, his father de-
,lared that he would be a great states
nan and was the hope OF the country.
Other folks soon became Of his fathers
way Of thinking, and that is why they
)ut him into parliament when he was
70 young and made him prime minister
20 soon after.
He fulfilled all that was expected of
lim and ruled England during thirteen
If the most eventful years OF her his
ory.-netroit Free Press,