ELISHA KANE KANE. 139 



assert that he merited in this view an appellation 

 which is as rarely deserved as it is honorable in the 

 possession : he was a Christian hero. 



Proceeding from the contemplation of this quality, 

 which is doubtless one of the most commendable 

 which any man can possess, to the consideration of 

 other features of Dr. Kane's character, we readily 

 observe, by scrutinizing his history and his deeds, 

 that he was confessedly ambitious of distinction. 

 Conscious that in all probability his life would be 

 sh-ert, he desired to achieve something during its 

 brief span which would render his name eminent 

 among his cotemporaries, and would transmit it un- 

 forgotten to the succeeding generation. This dis- 

 position displayed itself at an early age. He could 

 never, indeed, completely overcome his repugnance 

 to the study of languages, and seemed to be but 

 little emulous of excellence in that department ; but 

 in mathematics and the natural sciences he possessed 

 not only superior capacity, but a desire and a de- 

 termination to excel, even during the earliest portion 

 of his residence at the Virginia University. Had 

 not sickness prematurely terminated his career in 

 that institution, it is probable that the bright pro- 

 mise which he gave, by his progress under Professor 

 Rodgers, would have been amply realized. And 

 afterward, in every important event of his life, in 



