THE SCORNING OF LIMITATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 72

THE SCORNING OF LIMITATIONS.

H c ie is one 3f those instances (not uncommon in history) of a man scorning *be "limitations" which humble birth, «wly calling, impoverished surroundings, and "untoward circumstanceis" generally aa'6 supposed to impose, and by dint of long toil in a given direction earning intellectual distinction, and the right to rank among the strong ones who achieve. "Walter Hunt is a chimney-sweeper by calling, and a thinker and ethnologist by choice. He has a wide knowledge of Egyptology and Syriology, and ha.s dipped deeply into questions l elating to the evolution of religion, etc., and ethnological Fiihjects, irhich have culminated in his publishing a book on ' Are We a. Declining nation?' which is brimful of quotations ■~7^w. and^Bferenres to Latin and Gieck aulhois and modern physiological experts, and bristles with statistics and figures, evincing a profound knowledge of and in terest in the subject. . . . He was •born at Mitcham in 1857, and was for 13 years in the navy, and a considerable period in the fire brigade. "It was during his service at sea that he cultivated his poweas of acute observation, 'especially in the Pacific Inlands and China. . . . Mi' Hunt used to come home from his work (which finishes early n<* a rule), and after a wash go straight 1o the reading room, and there remain until closing time. . . . Finding that he jsrould be able to obtain valuable data fiom French books, he so id 'after 40 yeais I went to school again, and attended the evening continuation schools, and mastered sufficient of the French language to read the books I wanted. i "Mr Hunt, is anxious to learn Greek ' p.nd read Homer, Plato, and others in the original,, ,P^ ifi ftft ,eitrword,inau.-ilj; \rell-

read mon. He attends the exlubitioTis, and rearte the publications of the Egyptian Exploration Society, and he is also well veised ia geology. . . . Besides being a sweep, he has also been a blacksmith., and worked 16 horns a day, but when not working he is reading or writing. Ho admits that it is perseverance that has given him the knowledge he now pos sesses, ' and' anyone can get it.' He attends any convenient lectures that are likely to add to his krowledge." In" answer to a question, Mr Hunt said he had "been, through thousands of books at the British Museum." If this is an a.ge of keen competitive struggle, it is ahc an age of "golden opportunities." Never before in his tor j were there so many avenues to attainment, so many and excellent advantages ki every department of life, for those who are willing to think, and to think with a purpose.