The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-16
.DAzzLEO THE WORLD
The Remarkable Career Of the
Admirable crichton.
A vERI1ABLE BOY WONDER.
This Marvel, q Master Of Arts at
Twelve, Died Whom Only Twenty
two by His Own Sword, Which He
Handed TO a Defeated Foe.

Handed TO a Defeated Foe.
On July 3. 1888, in night encounter
In Mantua there died boy of twenty
| two who in the last eight years Of his
life was the wonder and admiration OF
the chivalry and learning Of Europe.
This was James Crichton of Cluny,
best known by the title given him by
the French--the Admirable Crichton.
He was made master of arts by
the University of st. Andrews In his
twelfth year He knew all that insti-
tuition Of learning could teach him
| when he was fourteen. At the age of
fifteen he met In public debate on all
subjects many of the best minds In
| France and vanquisbed them all, He
knew all the learning of his day. He
was a master of twelve languages. He
had memory so wonderful that, hear
ing discourse Of any length, he was
able afterward to repeat 1t word for
word and duplicate every gesture of
the speaker He was poet, musi-
clan of excellence, an athlete, horse
man, n soldier Of trusted command be
fore he was nineteen. wonderful &C.
tor, swordsmap of extraordinary
skill.
Crichton's family was Of consider
nble Importance and wealth and claim.
ed royal descent. His father was lord
advocate first to Queen Mary aud aft
erward TO King James vi. His moth
er was the daughter of Sir James Stew
art. Members of both families were
eminent in Scottish history. The boy
james Crichton vas sent to grammar
school ut Perth. He emerged at the
age of ten and Immediately entered
the famous University of ST. Andrews.
The students there were divided into
what were called circles, according to
the talent they exhibited. Crichton ad-
vanced from one circle to another un-
til. when he was barely past eleven,
the university turned him out with the
degree of master of arts. 1t was the
custom of young men of the time to
finish their educations by making the
grand tour of Europe. Crichton, sup
piled with letters from his family and
, relatives to the mobiles of the French
. court, went to Paris first.
His first action on arrival was to
post challenge In all parts of the
city Offering to meet all comers at the
!, , College of Navarro IN debate In any
: one of twelve languages, ''in any sci
ence, liberal art. discipline or faculty,
whether practical or theoretic." Such
contests were common to the age, but
the challenge, coming from boy of
fifteen, aroused deep interest. An i'm.
! mense crowd was present on the day
: appointed. A dozen eminent philoso-
: piers and divines presented them
: selves. Crichton, without the sem
, blance of effort, defeated all who at
: tempted to cope with him. He was
congratulated by the faculty Of the
. college. and Henry H., then the gay
: est monarch IN Europe, carried him
Off to his court. The next day Crich-
ton appeared In the tourney and with
consummate ease remained victor I'm
. that martial struggle. The king gave
him an important command In the
army. He remained In France two
! years. dazzling the people with his
, accomplishments In every direction.
Crichton went next to Rome and
Venice. In the latter city his friends
D. were Sperone Speroni, one Of the most
learned names In Italian literature
John Donati and Lorenzo Massa, secre
tary to the republic of Venice. Sew
i eral of the Latin poems Crichton com
J. posed in this circle have survived
% He was introduced to the doge and
= the senate and In their presence deliv
20 cred an grafton so graceful and elo
|" quent that, according to lmperalis, "ht
was esteemed prodigy Of nature.
:. The Venetians were enraptured ovel
a his elegant manners, his learning and
20 accomplishments. Crichton went tC
y Padua to debate OH the philosoph.
Of Aristotle. then subject absorbing
T. the educated minds of all Europe
The argument lasted three days, ant
the handsome young Scotchman wal
an easy victor over all opponents.
10 At Mantua famous Italian duelis
IL lived who had vanquished many an
ot tagonists. Crichton sent him chal
ie lenge aud next day ran the ltalaI
"a through the body. The Duke of Man
* tua engaged him as tutor for his son
ID VincenZo di Gonzaza. The court o.
c. Mantua was celebrated for its patron
le age of the Italian drama. The fines
le troupe of actors IN Europe, denominat
to ed | Gelosi, was attached to II. erich
le ton composed a species of comedy TO
the company. satirizing the weakness
es OF the various occupations In life
then undertook to sustain himself tn
st most prominent and difficult charac
Ie tiers In the piece. Even the actor
,r were carried away with enthusiasm
ii so marvellous was Crichton's acting.
sr The young Duke Vineenzo, his pu
a Dill, was jealous of Crichton, VIII
y found favor In the eyes of beautift
young noblewoman whom Vlncenzo ha
II wooed In vain. One night Crichtor
walking home through the streets
III playing as he went along on his guitar
was suddenly attacked by six maske
~ nen. He lung away the guitar, dreN
~ his sword and quickly killed two o
~ his antagonists, put two more to fiigh
and disarmed the leader. The latter
mnsk fell off. 1t was the young Duk