FIG. 198. THOMAS YOUNG. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



PHYSICS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY LIGHT. 



THOMAS YOUNG (17731829) was born at Milverton, in Somer- 

 setshire. His earliest years were marked by the display of talents 

 quite extraordinary for his age ; and his maturity fulfilled the promise 

 of his infancy. At twofyears of age he was able to read fluently, and 

 even at this time his'"extniordinary memory excited the astonishment 

 of his elders. By four years of age he had learnt by heart many Eng- 

 lish poems, and he could recite several Latin ones, although as yet 

 he did not understand the language. Young was sent to school when 

 six years old, his teacher being a person of mediocre attainments, who 

 perhaps did not do much directly to develop the brilliant abilities of 

 his pupil. The boy's true intellectual vocation was revealed by his 

 accidental acquaintance with a land-surveyor, who took a great fancy 

 for him, and sometimes carried him into the country, where Young was 

 greatly interested by the operations of the surveyor. Those operations 



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