sELEcrED. D
{"newspaper_name": "The Washingtonian.", "edition": "01", "page": "p2", "byline": "From the Western Spectator."}
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MISFoRTUNES OF EMINENT MEN.


The misfortunes of eminent men form Gu
rious, and at the same time an interesting
matter of speculation. In this day of theorie:
and extensive induction, perhaps there could
be selected no wider field for their operation
than is here presented. The proposition tina
physical inability is absolutely requisite to dis
tinction in the higher walks of life, and espe
cially of literature, would at first seem will
and unreasonable; yet when we consider the
numerous instances that might be cited to in
proof of such proposition, we are convinced
that nothing more is wanting than the oily
tongue and suasive manner of some aspiring
Yankee, to settle at once its establishment.
Examples, indeed, are numberless. Scarcely
a literary man has lived but has, in some way,
been afflicted. 1t may not be physically, but
mentally; and the affection may not operate
directly upon himself, but some connected
closely and intimately with him; still he is
afflicted. There may, indeed, be cases where
this would seem to be untrue, yet minutes
examination of their private life and character
will, in almost any case, verify it.


Homer and Milton it is useless to mention,
poverty and persecution augmented in them
the misery of blindness. Gallileo is parallel
example. Lyctio Brabe, when but young
man, was deprived of his nose in duel by
the rapier of his antagonist; he afterwards
substituted in its place one Of brass, and con-
soled himself with the reflection, that it an
swered much better purpose in his astro-
nomical observations. Kepler died Of disease
which produced vacuum in the head, and
which had afflicted him years before his death.
Ossian was blind, Byron reel-footed, Johnson
groaned through life victim of St. Vitus'
dance and the scrofula. Shelby, the unfortu-
nate Shelby, was SO afflicted with spasms, as
at times to be entirely helpless Such was
also the case with Schiller.


Misfortune drove Chatterton to suicide. Sc
we're criticism only hastened the death of
Keats. Close application to study killed Kirk
White. The fate of Pollock was almost SIM
liar. Southey was unable to move his upper
eye-lids, and during the last three years of his
life was deranged. Our own famed Hoffman
was deprived of limb while yet boy. Miss
Landon accidentally killed herself by poison.
If we leave the literary world, examples yet
abound. Bonaparte died Of a cancer in the
breast. Hannibal and Lycurgus had each but
one eye. Pope was hunchbacked. Faust died
ofintemperance while yet middle-aged. Dante
was SO wofully melancholy as to be almost
deranged. Such was also the case with Com
ley. In France examples increase, and will
be afterwards cited to if opportunity occurs. Il