Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and PerseveranceSmiles, Samuel
Philosophy
Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance
Smiles, Samuel
Conduct of life
We have been informed of an equally striking instance of perseverance and
application in learning on the part of a French political exile in
London. His original occupation was that of a stonemason, at which he
found employment for some time; but work becoming slack, he lost his
place, and poverty stared him in the face. In his dilemma he called upon
a fellow exile profitably engaged in teaching French, and consulted him
what he ought to do to earn a living. The answer was, “Become a
professor!” “A professor?” answered the mason—“I, who am only a workman,
speaking but a patois! Surely you are jesting?” “On the contrary, I am
quite serious,” said the other, “and again I advise you—become a
professor; place yourself under me, and I will undertake to teach you how
to teach others.” “No, no!” replied the mason, “it is impossible; I am
too old to learn; I am too little of a scholar; I cannot be a professor.”
He went away, and again he tried to obtain employment at his trade. From
London he went into the provinces, and travelled several hundred miles in
vain; he could not find a master. Returning to London, he went direct to
his former adviser, and said, “I have tried everywhere for work, and
failed; I will now try to be a professor!” He immediately placed himself
under instruction; and being a man of close application, of quick
apprehension, and vigorous intelligence, he speedily mastered the
elements of grammar, the rules of construction and composition, and (what
he had still in a great measure to learn) the correct pronunciation of
classical French. When his friend and instructor thought him
sufficiently competent to undertake the teaching of others, an
appointment, advertised as vacant, was applied for and obtained; and
behold our artisan at length become professor! It so happened, that the
seminary to which he was appointed was situated in a suburb of London
where he had formerly worked as a stonemason; and every morning the first
thing which met his eyes on looking out of his dressing-room window was a
stack of cottage chimneys which he had himself built! He feared for a
time lest he should be recognised in the village as the quondam workman,
and thus bring discredit on his seminary, which was of high standing.
But he need have been under no such apprehension, as he proved a most
efficient teacher, and his pupils were on more than one occasion publicly
complimented for their knowledge of French. Meanwhile, he secured the
respect and friendship of all who knew him—fellow-professors as well as
pupils; and when the story of his struggles, his difficulties, and his
past history, became known to them, they admired him more than ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account