The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-19
CHIMNEY SWEEP
As AN AUTHOR
Walter Hunt, a Member of
the Sooty Profession in
England, Publishes Book
HANDLES BIG PROBLEM
He Works by Night in Order
That He May Study by Day
in the British Museum
Special Dispatch to The Call.


LONDON, June 18-There have been
learned blacksmiths besides Elihu Bur-
rift, the famous American one; and
learned masons and cobblers even, and
various other humble callings have been
associated with scholarly fame, but until
Walter Hunt was discovered the other
day one never had heard of a learned
chimney-sweep. Certainly Hunt can
claim to be the first member of the sooty
brotherhood who ever published a book.
1t was that which led to his being found
out. Are We a Declining Nation?' is
the title of the work.
There can be no doubt that much learn
ing and patient research have been in
volved in its composition. 1t Is brimful
of quotations from and references to
Latin and Greek authors and modern
physiological experts and bristles with
statistics and figures. But 1t is not the
sort of book that attracts the average
reader. 1t is hardly likely that copies
enough will be sold to justify Hunt In
abandoning chimney for author
ship. However, that does not bother him
much. Such devotion as he has shown
to learning is never inspired by the mere
desire to make it pay.
He is 4S years old, short OF figure, gray
haired and gray bearded, but still strong
and agile. For thirteen years he was
sailor in the British navy. Then he came
ashore and for few years was attached
to the London fire brigade. all the MEM
bers of which are required to be ex-
sailors, because that is supposed to az
ford a guarantee that they are spry on
their legs and good climbers.
1t was while in the fire brigade that
the thirst for knowledge seized upon him
Up to that time, as he acknowledged, he
had not differed much from the ordinary
man who earns his living by manual toll
But when the thirst had once gripped
him he found that there was no getting
rid of it. He had to crafty 1t or submit
to having life made a grievous burden
to him. 1t was that he might find oppor-
tunities for study that he turned CHM
ney-sweeper.
AT first glance it would seem that he
could hardly have selected calling more
i'll suited to the cultivation of scholarly
tastes. But Hunt knew what he was
about He had his eye on the treasures
of the British Museum They are ac-
cessible only to those who can conduct
their researches by daylight. At night,
which is the only time when most folk
who have to work for living can find
leisure for study, the great reading room
is closed Therefore Hunt decided that
he would earn his living by some work
which would give him plenty of daylight
leisure. Because it is such unpleasant,
a chimney-sweep is Objectionable to them,
most folk insist on having their CHM
neys swept before they turn out of bed.
AS rule the chimney-sweep's days
work is done before that of the average
business man begins. 1t was that con-
sideration which made Hunt turn CHM
ney-sweep.
He settled in a back street of Streat-
ham, one of the districts of London where
most of the inhabitants are fairly we'll
off and don't neglect their chimneys- AS
soon as his work was done he would
change his CLONES, give himself a thor
ough washing and HE away to the British
Museum. No one ever recognized in the
neatly-clad, keen-eyed, clear-skinned vo-
racious devourer of books the SCOT
begrimed individual who devoted the
early morning hours to cleaning Streat-
hams chimneys.
When in the navy, voyaging in far
away seas, Hunt had noticed how con-
tact with Europeans caused deterioration
among savage races, and in random
fashion had speculated upon it a great
deal. When he began reading for pur-
pose the subject again attracted him. but
along much broader lines. For years he
devoted himself to study of the rela-
lions between national morals and ma
tional vigor and vitality. Finding that
much valuable data could be obtained
from French scientific works which had
never been translated into English he at
tended an evening continuation school
until he had acquired sufficient mastery
of French to be able to read the French
books dealing with the subject He is
now setting about mastering Greek thor
oughly that he may read Plato and
Homer In the original.
This chimney-sweep scholar is far from
being a mere bookworm. Nature attracts
him as much as does the British Museum
In the slack season for his trade, the
summer time when people need fires only
for cooking, he mounts his bicycle and
wanders far over the country content
with plain fare and humble lodgings and
not above doing an OCCASIONAL odd job for
his bed and board. He has acquired a
good philosophy as well as scholarship
and has entirely escaped that complaint
which spells so many self-made men, the
"swelled head He sees nothing extra
ordinary In what he has done.
with perseverance" he says, ANY
one can get knowledge in these days. It
Is only question of getting started"