james otis the pre-revolutionist-第27节
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They were the nurseries of a true democracy。 In them the men who played the most important part in the Revolutionary period received their early education。
The Adamses； Chancey； Cooper； Cushing； Hancock； Mayhew； Warren； and the rest breathed their bracing atmosphere。
ENGLAND AND AMERICA。
I have already dwelt on the significance of the way in which the Pilgrim Fathers； driven out of England； begin this compact； with which they begin their life in this new world； with warm professions of allegiance to England's King。
Old England； whose King and bishops drove them out； is proud of them to…day； and counts them as truly her children as Shakespeare and Milton and Vane。
As the American walks the corridors and halls of the Parliament House at Westminster； he pays no great heed to the painted kings upon the painted windows； and cares little for the gilded throne in the gilded House of Lords。 The Speaker's chair in the Commons does not stir him most； nor the white form of Hampden that stands silent at the door； but his heart beats fastest where； among great scenes from English triumphs of the days of Puritanism and the revolution； he sees the departure of the Pilgim Fathers to found New England。
England will not let that scene go as a part of American history only； but claims it now as one of the proudest scenes in her own history； too。
It is a bud of promise； I said； when I first saw it there。 Shall not its full unfolding be some great reunion of the English race； a prelude to the federation of the world？
Let that picture there in the Parliament House at Westminster stay always in your mind； to remind you of the England in you。 Let the picture of the signing of the compact on the 〃Mayflower〃 stay with it； to remind you of progress and greater freedom。 That； I take it； is what AmericaNew England； now tempered by New Germany； New Ireland； New Francethat； I take it； is what America stands for。Edwin D。 Mead。
THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE MEN OF THE REVOLUTION。
You may perhaps remember how Wendell Phillips； in his great Harvard address on 〃The Scholar and the Republic〃 reproached some men of learning for their conservatism and timidity； their backwardness in reform。 And it is true that conservatism and timidity are never so hateful and harmful as in the scholar。 〃Be bold； be bold； and evermore be bold；〃 those words which Emerson liked to quote； are words which should ever ring in the scholar's ear。
But you must remember that Roger Williams and Sir Harry Vane； the very men whom Wendell Phillips named as 〃two men deepest in thought and bravest in speech of all who spoke English in their day；〃 came； the one from Cambridge； the other from Oxford； and that Sam Adams and Jefferson； the two men whom he named as preeminent； in the early days of the republic； for their trust in the people； were the sons of Harvard and William and Mary。 John Adams and John Hancock and James Otis and Joseph Warren； the great Boston leaders in the Revolution； were all Harvard men； like Samuel Adams； and you will remember how many of the great Virginians were； like Jefferson； sons of William and Mary。
And never was a revolution so completely led by scholars as the great Puritan Revolution which planted New England and established the English commonwealth。
No。 Scholars have often enough been cowards and trimmers。
But from the days when Moses； learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians； brought his people up out of bondage； and Paul； who had sat at the feet of Gamaliel； preached Christ； and Wyclif and Luther preached Reformation； to the time when Eliot and Hampden and Pym and Cromwell and Milton and Vane； all scholars of Oxford and Cambridge； worked for English commonwealth； to the time of Jefferson and Samuel Adams and the time of Emerson and Sumner and Gladstone； scholars have been leaders and heroes too。Edwin D。 Mead。
EARL PERCY AND YANKEE DOODLE。
Earl Percy was the son of the Duke of Northumberland。 When he was marching out of Boston； his band struck up the tune of Yankee Doodle； in derision。
He saw a boy in Roxbury making himself very merry as he passed。
Percy inquired why he was so merry。
〃To think；〃 said the lad； 〃how you will dance by and by to Chevy Chase。〃
Percy was much influenced by presentiments； and the words of the boy made him moody。 Percy was a lineal descendant of the Earl Percy who was slain in the battle of Chevy Chase； and he felt all day as if some great calamity might befall him。
STORY OF JAMES OTIS。 FOR A SCHOOL OR CLUB PROGRAMME。
Each numbered paragraph is to be given to a pupil or member to read； or to recite in a clear； distinct tone。
If the school or club is small； each person may take three or four paragraphs； but should not be required to recite them in succession。
1。 James Otis was born in West Barnstable； near the center of Massachusetts； February 5； 1725。 2。 His ancestors were of English descent。 The founder of the family in America； John Otis； came from Hingham； in Norfolk； England； and settled in Hingham； Massachusetts； in the year 1635。
3。 His grandson； John Otis； was born in 1635。 He removed from Hingham to Barnstable； where he became a prominent man and held several important positions。 For eighteen years he was Colonel of Militia； for twenty years Representative； for twenty…one years member of the Council； for thirteen years Chief Justice of common pleas； and Judge of Probate。
4。 His two sons； John and James； became distinguished in public life。 James； the father of the subject of this sketch； was an eminent lawyer。 He； like his father； became Colonel of Militia； Chief Justice of common pleas； and Judge of Probate。
5。 James Otis； Jr。 thus by inheritance； derived his legal bent and love for political life。
6。 His mother's name was Mary Allyne； or Alleyne； of Wethersfield； Conn。； daughter of Joseph Allyne； of Plymouth。 She was connected with the founders of Plymouth colony； who arrived in the Mayflower in 1620。
7。 James was the oldest of thirteen children； several of whom died in infancy。 Others lived to attain distinction。
8。 He was fitted for College by the Rev。 Jonathan Russell of Barnstable； and was so industrious in his studies that he was ready in his fifteenth year to enter as a freshman at Harvard in June； 1739。
9。 There is grave reason for believing that his excessive devotion to study at this early period； had much to do with his nervous and excitable condition in succeeding years。
10。 〃Make haste slowly〃 is the translation of a Latin motto； which parents and teachers ought to observe in the education of children。
11。 Far better is it for the student to take time in making a thorough preparation for the great work of life； than to rush through his preparatory course at the great risk of health and strength。 Let him aim ever be to present 〃a sound mind in a sound body。〃
12。 James Otis was graduated from college in 1743； after completing a four years successful course。
13。 After graduation he wisely gave nearly two years to the pursuits of general literature and science before entering upon the law。
14。 In this； he set a good example to the young men of the present day； who are so strongly tempted to enter at once upon professional life； without laying a broad and deep foundation for future usefulness。
15。 James Otis was very fond of the best poets； and 〃in the zealous emulation of their beauties；〃 says Dr。 Magoon； 〃he energized his spirit and power of expression。
16。 〃He did not merely read over the finest passageshe pondered themhe fused them into his own soul； and reproduced their charms with an energy all his own。〃
17。 In 1745 he entered the law office of Jeremiah Gridley； in Boston； who was then one of the most distinguished lawyers in the country。
18。 He began the practice of law in Plymouth； in 1748； but soon found that he was 〃cabined； cribbed and confined〃 in the opportunity to rise in such a small place。
19。 In 1750 he removed to Boston； and there finding full scope for his powers； soon rose to the foremost rank in his profession。
20。 He justly won the high place so generally accorded him； by his learning； his integrity； and his marvelous eloquence。
21。 In acting successfully as counsel for the three men who were accused of piracy in Halifax； he received a well earned fee； which was the largest that had ever been paid to a Massachusetts lawyer。
22。 Like James A。 Garfield； he kept up a lively interest in classical studies during his entire professional career。
23。 James Otis married Miss Ruth Cunningham； daughter of a Boston merchant； early in 1755。
24。 The marriage was not in all respects a happy one； partly on account of political differences。 While he became an ardent patriot； she remained a staunch loyalist until her death on Nov。 15； 1789。
25。 Another reason for the want of complete domestic felicity was the peculiar character of his genius； which； so often glowing； excitable and irregular； must have frequently demanded a home forbearance almost miraculous。
26。 The elder daughter； Elizabeth； married a Captain Brown of the British army； and ended her days in England。 27。 The younger daughter； Mary； married Benjam
