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Gorge Wilson

Gorge Wilson image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
July
Year
1861
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A few years since, as Mr. Gallaudet was walking in the streets of Hartford, tliere came running to him a. pooi' boy, of vory oriiraary appfiarance, but whose fine intolligent eye fixed the atteiilion oí the gentleman, as the boy inquired, " Sir can you teil me of a man who would like a boy to work for him, and learn him to read ?" " Whose boy are you, aud where do you üve ?" " I have no parents," was tho reply, "and have just run away irom the workhouso because they would not teach me to read." The gentleman made arrangement with the authorities of the town, and took the boy into his own family. There he learned to read. - Nor was this all. He soon acquired tho confidenco of his new associates, by ííiithfulness and honésty. Ho was allowed to use his friend's librar}', and n;ade rapid progresa in the acquisition of knoVledge. It beoame necessary after awhile that Gfcüi'gC should leave Mr. Gallaudet, and he beeame appren tioed to a cabinet maker in the neighborhood. There the eamo integrity won for him the favor of his new aesociate?. To gratify his inclination ior study, his master had a little room furnished for him in the upper part of the shop, where he devoted hia leisure time to his favorito pursuits. Hero he made large attainments in tnathematics, in the French language, and other branches. After being in this situation a few years, sitting at tea with the family one evening, he all at once remarkod that ho wanted to go to France. ' Go to Franco !" said his master, surprisod that the apparently contented and happy youth had thus suddenly becorae dissatisfied with his situation ; "for what?" " Ask Mr. Gallaudot to tea to-morrow evening," continued George, " and I will explain." His kind friend was invited accordingly. At tea timo the young appientice presented hirnsolf with his inanuscripts, ia English and French, and explamed his singular iatention to go to France. "In the time of Napoleon," said he " a prize was offered by the French government for the siraplest rule of mea8uring plane surfaces, of whatever outline. The prize has never been awarded, and that raethod I have discovered." He then demonstrated his problem, to the suiprise and gratification of his friends, who immediate'y furnished him with the means of defraying his expen ses, and with letters of introduction to tho Hon. Lowis Öass, then our minister to the Court of France. He was introduced to Louis Phillippe, and in the presence of tho King, and nobles, and plenipotentiarios, tho American youth demongtrated his problem, and roceived tho plaudits of the court. He received the prize, which he had clearly won, besides several presents from the king. He then took letters of introduction, and proceeded to the Court of St. James, and took up a similar prize, offered by the Koyal Society, and re turned to the United States. He was preparing to secure the benefits of his discovery by patent, when he reoeivod a letter from the Emperor Nicholas himself, one of whose ministers had witnessed his demonstrations at London, inviting him to his residence at the Russian Court,and furnishing him with ampie means for his outfit. He oomplied with the invitation, repaired to St. Petersburg, and is now Professor of Mathematies in the Royal College, under the special protection of the Autocrat ot all the Russias. -

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus