Upon the whole, there was in this man something that could create, subvert, or reform; an understanding, a spirit, and an eloquence, to summon mankind to society, or to break the bonds of slavery asunder, and to rule the wildness of free minds with unbounded authority; something that could establish or overwhelm empires, and strike a blow in the world that should resound through the universe.

Notes.—­Demosthenes (b. 385, d. 322, B. C.) was the son of a cutler at Athens, Greece.  By diligent study and unremitting toil, he became the greatest orator that ever lived.

Tully, Marcus Tullius Cicero (b. 106, d. 43, B. C.), was the most remarkable of Roman orators.  He held the highest office of the Republic.

XXXIV.  THE SOLDIER’S REST. (156)

Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1832, the great Scotch poet and novelist, was born in Edinburgh.  Being a feeble child, he was sent to reside on his grandfather’s estate in the south of Scotland.  Here he spent several years, and gained much knowledge of the traditions of border warfare, as well as of the tales and ballads pertaining to it.  He was also a great reader of romances in his youth.  In 1779 be returned to Edinburgh, and became a pupil in the high school.  Four years later, he entered the university; but in neither school nor college, was he distinguished for scholarship.  In 1797 he was admitted to the practice of law,—­a profession which he soon forsook for literature.  His first poems appeared in 1802.  The “Lay of the Last Minstrel” was published in 1805, “Marmion” in 1808, and “The Lady of the Lake” in 1810.  Several poems of less power followed.  In 1814 “Waverley,” his first novel, made its appearance, but the author was unknown for some time.  Numerous other novels followed with great rapidity, the author reaping a rich harvest both in fame and money.  In 1811 he purchased an estate near the Tweed, to which he gave the name of Abbotsford.  In enlarging his estate and building a costly house, he spent vast sums of money.  This, together with the failure of his publishers in 1826, involved him very heavily in debt.  But he set to work with almost superhuman effort to pay his debts by the labors of his pen.  In about four years, he had paid more than $300,000; but the effort was too much for his strength, and hastened his death.

In person, Scott was tall, and apparently robust, except a slight lameness with which he was affected from childhood.  He was kindly in disposition, hospitable in manner, fond of outdoor pursuits and of animals, especially dogs.  He wrote with astonishing rapidity, and always in the early morning.  At his death, he left two sons and two daughters.  A magnificent monument to his memory has been erected in the city of his birth.  The following selection is from “The Lady of the Lake.” ###