FAMOUS DUNCES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2881, 20 June 1882, Page 3

FAMOUS DUNCES.

Many of our most celebrated men, whose names are conspicuous in the world of literature, were not renowned i in their youth for any mental brilliancy. Some, of the greatest dunces of the schoolroom, later on in life, shoot out far ahead of their brilliant mates and eclipse them entirely. The “ dull boys” who strive with all their might, long and earnestly, to achieve success, frequently bear away the honours from the companions who outshone them at an earlier day—and develop a mental and intellectual strength thatcarries them on till great heights are attained. The celebrated and eloquent Dr Chalmers was exceedingly dull aud stupid at his school tasks—so ready for play and prejudiced against study, that his master grew discouraged and lost all patience with him. At last, denouncing him as but an incorrigible dunce, he ordered him to leave the parish school, and prophesied that nothing could be made of him under the most favorable circumstances. It is related of Sir Isaac Newton, “that he stood at the bottom of the lowest form but one in the school,” though he afterwards went to work with a strong determination to outrival a boy above him with whom he had fop.ght, 'and was so successful that he soon won the head place in his class; showing what continued perseverance will do. The famous and brilliant sheridan showed so little brilliancy as a boy, that “ his mother, in presenting him to a tutor, declared in complimentary terms that he was an incorrigible dunce.” AHieri, the most eminent of tragic poets, gave promise of no talents in his early days. His outbursts of temper repelled .his friends, and he learned little or nothing in his youth. Yet ut 48 he mastered Greek, and trans latod several languages. He acknowledged that love made him a poet. Goldsmith, in his boyhood, neglected the golden opportunities offered him, and gave little enough heed to* study. Obedience to rules he detested, and ho become notorious for his improvidence and irregularities. At the University he exhibited no unusual genius. In after life he often spoke of himself *• as a plant that’flowered date.” Neither did Byron like the prescribed tasks assigned him. “ Dry intellectual food was not his ambition at school,” and the patience of his teacher was sorely tried—he proved such an unwilling pupil. Then ho passed “ from the first to lire fourth class, and was altogether too self-willed to take kindly to the necessary routine of study.” Robert Burns was not a precocious youth, ho excelled more in athletic sports than in his studies. Ho was not noticeably bright or brilliant; and Thomas (Jhatterton, whoso brief career waa such a melancholy one, was another youth who was sent home to his mother with the consoling compliment that “ he was a fool of whom nothing could bo made.” Even Walter Scott, whoso works arc a literature in themselves, cared little for text books. Ho much preferred desultory reading, and relished regular study so poorly' that the professors of the famous Edinburgh University declared he was a dunce and would remain so.

*i‘ Stuttering Jack Curran,” as he was

familiarly known at school, was akward .and ungainly as a lad, and started out to make something of himself, with the odds against him. A stupid scholar, he realised his imperfections and set to with a resolute will to overcome them, and most admirably succeeded in his efforts. Boswell, who gave to the world one of the best biographies ever written was distinguished in early life much more as au idiot, than being the possessor of even commons sense to help him along in the world. The Duke of Wellington showed no promise of future greatness in his early life, and gave his mother hours of uneasiness and worry. She felt no happy pride in her child, and it was far later on that he achieved fame and won her interest and admiration by his heroic deeds. She imagined him a dunce, but lie did not turn out according to her early anticipations. General Ulysses Grant was not a promising boy, gifted with quick perceptions or unusual talents of any description, and was considered so dull that his mother was wont to call him “useless Grant,” thinking he would never amount to much. Many are the men, famous in the grand walks of life, who have, as Goldsmith said of himself, “flowered late.” They have often distanced the brilliant companions who ridiculed and looked down,upon them, and the march of time has proved their right to immortal fame.—American Paper.