The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-24
.DhlLEO THE WORLD
A vERITABLE BOY WONDER.

This Marvel. Master Of Arts a
Twelve. Died When Only Twenty
Handed 60 . Dsfsatsd FesS
On July 3. 1883. in night encounter
In Mantna there died a boy OF twenty
two who in the last eight years Of bis
life was the wonder aud admiration Of
the chivalry and learning OF Europe.
This was James Crichton Of Ciuny.
best known by the title given him by
the -French-the Admirable Crichton-
Y He was made u 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 Al the age Of
fifteen he met In public debate on all
subjects many Of the best minds In
France and vanQuixhed them all. He
knew all the learning OF his day. He
was master OF twelve languages. He
had a memory 50 wonderful that. hear
ing q discourse Of any length. he was
able afterward to repeat 1t word for
word and duplicate every gesture OF
the speaker. He was poet. q musi-
clan Of excellence. an athlete. q horse
man. a soldier of trusted command be-
fore he was nineteen. a wonderful ac-
tor. a swordsman OF extraordinary
skill.
Cr:chton's family was Of consider.
able importance and wealth and claim
q. ct
advocate first to- Queen Mary and 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 at Perth. He emerged Mt 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 I'D
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 artA 1t was the
custom OF young men Of the time to
finish their, educations- By making tho
grand tour OF Europe Crjchton. sup
piled with letters from his family aud
relatives to the mobiles of the French
court. went to Paris first
i His first action on arrival was to
post a challenge in all parts Of the
city Offering to meet all corners at the
College OF Navarro In debate In any
one Of twelve languages. lin any sci
ence. liberal art. discipline or faculty.
whether practical or theoretic." Such
contests were common to the age, but
the challenge. coming from q boy Of
fifteen, aroused deep interest. An i'm
'mense' crowd was present on the day
appointed. A. dozen eminent phiiooo-
piers and divines. presented them
selves: Criehton. without the SEM
blance OF effort. defeated oil who ut.
tempted to cope with him. He was
congratulated by the facuity Of the
college. and Henry Ill. then the gay
est monarch in Europe. carried him
OF to his court. The next day Crich-
ton appeared in, the tourney and with
consummates ease remained victor in
that martial struggle. The king gave
A14to az 1uksOIk0ulF COkuubS1uus III LIE
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
were Sperone Speroni. one of the most
learned names In Italian literature:
John Donati and Lorenzo Niassa. secre-
tary to the republic Of Venice. Sew
eral of the Latin poems Crichton CON-
posed in this circle have survived.
He was introduced to the doge and
the, senate and In their presence deliv-
cred an grafton 50 graceful and eio-
Quent that. according to lmperaIis. he
was esteemed a prodigy Of nature"
The Venet1aus were enraptured over
his elegant manners. his learning and
accomplishments. Crichton went to
Patlua to debate on the philosophy
Of Aristotle. then q subject absorbing
the educated minds Of all Europe
The argumsnt lasted tilree days. and
the handsome young Scotchman was
an easy victor over all opponents.
At Mantua a famous Italian dueIist
lived who had vanqulshed many an
tag0niSts. Crichton sent him . chal-
lenge and next day ran the Italian
through the body The Duke Of Man
tua engaged him Al tutor for his sou.
VincenzO di Gouzaza. The court Of
Mantua was celebrated for its patron
age OF the Italian drama. The finest
troupe OF actors in Europe. den0minat-
ed Gelosi. was attached to 1t. erich
ton composed species Of comedy for
the company. satirizius the weakness
es Of the various occupations In life,
then undertook to sustain himself the
most prominent and d;flicuit charac-
tiers in the piece. Even the actors
were carried away With enthusiasm.
30 marvellous was Crichton's acting.
The young Duke Vincenzo. his pu-
pfI was jealous Of Crichfcu. WIN