"
Buffon set Newton above all other philosophers, and admired him so
highly that he had always his portrait before him while he sat at
work. So Schiller looked up to Shakspeare, whom he studied
reverently and zealously for years, until he became capable of
comprehending nature at first-hand, and then his admiration became
even more ardent than before.
Pitt was Canning's master and hero, whom he followed and admired
with attachment and devotion. "To one man, while he lived," said
Canning, "I was devoted with all my heart and all my soul. Since
the death of Mr. Pitt I acknowledge no leader; my political
allegiance lies buried in his grave." (11)
A French physiologist, M. Roux, was occupied one day in lecturing
to his pupils, when Sir Charles Bell, whose discoveries were even
better known and more highly appreciated abroad than at home,
strolled into his class-room. The professor, recognising his
visitor, at once stopped his exposition, saying: "MESSIEURS, C'EST
ASSEZ POUR AUJOURD'HUI, VOUS AVEZ VU SIR CHARLES BELL!"
The first acquaintance with a great work of art has usually proved
an important event in every young artist's life. When Correggio
first gazed on Raphael's 'Saint Cecilia,' he felt within himself
an awakened power, and exclaimed, "And I too am a painter" So
Constable used to look back on his first sight of Claude's picture
of 'Hagar,' as forming an epoch in his career.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124