The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-16
CREIGHTON A WONDER.
How Scotch Lad Chanlleged Universe
~ Professor to Intellectual Duel.

whenever we pick up modern
novel in which the sturdy hero is the
paragon Of all the virtues we often
speak OF him as being a regular Ad
mlraDle Crichton. This, it must be
admitted. Is very high praise, for the
real Admirable one was a phenomenon
whose equal is seldom found outside
the covers Of "Graustark" or a
Fred Fearnaught." Mentally, as
well as physically, he had all his con-
temporaries gasping for help: he
made all the university professors
look like simps and boneheads, and
the ancient hopes for dueling honors
threw up the sword.
CrichtOn's real name was James.
and he was the son Of the lord advo-
cate of Scotland in the reign of Queen
Mary and James vi. He was born
about 1857 or 1900 at Eliock House
on Eliockburn. Drumfries- shire. His
mother was descended from the
Scotch royalty. Crichton received his
early education at Perth school and
completed his studies at the University
of st. Andrews. where he took his M.
"A. degree at the age of IA.
Before he was 20 years old Chrich-
ton had mastered all the sciences and
could speak and write ten languages,
| in addition to his own. Not being
satisfied with such puerile attain
ments as this he exceled in riding,
dancing. fencing, painting, singing
and playing on all musical instru-
ments OF course, it was just his luck
that football hadn't become really ia
nous. On leaving college he went
abroad to improve himself by travel
ing. His biographers fail to say in
what respect he would improve him
self. He seems to have fairly well
covered the ground.
Anyway he went to Paris and, ac-
cording to the custom of the high
brows he placed large placards on
the gates Of the university. challeng-
ing the professors and learned men of
the city to dispute with him in all
branches of literature. art and science
and offered to give answers in any of
the following languages: Hebrew,
Syrian, Arabic. Greek. Latin, Spanish,
French, Italian. English. Dutch,
Flemish and Slavonic and either in
prose or verse, at the option of his
antagonist This was rather a large
assignment for the Admirable to give
himself, but he didn't seem to be wor-
ried. He spent the time Intervening
before the day in amusement, kind
not stated, which would be an inter-
esting fact. His idea OF amusement
may have been deciphering ancient
hieroglyphcs
All the professors and wise men
thought this was fruit, and that they
would show this young upstart up
On the day appointed more than three
thousand persons assembled to see
mis- discontinue. Fifty masters dug
out all the musty old volumes they
could find and asked him the most
Intricate questions imaginable. But
Crichton answered them all with sin
gular accuracy without batting an
eye and in the language required.
Four celebrated doctors Of the church
then venturcd to dispute with him on
religious topics, but he refuted every
arGument they advanced.
| sentiment Of terror mingled with
admiration at this remarkable exhibi-
ton In vain the schoolmen tried to
trip him up. but they had no luck.
The performance lasted from 9 o'clock
in the morning until o'clock at
night. AT it's conclusion, instead of
getting back at him by crying fake.
ana branding him as fraud, the
professors all showed that they were
good sports by giving Crichton a dia
mond ring and purse of gold and
saiuted him with the proud title Of
| The Admirable Crichton!"
Just To show that he wasn't a
| grind and nothing else, he went to q
fitting match in the Louvre ,and in
the presence Of the princess of
france and a great many fair wo-
men, he bore away the ring fifteen
'lihes' ana 'broke away as many
| lances on the Saracen." After this
| afternoons recreation he went to
Rome and disputed in the presence Of
dience on it's back by his wonderful