The Unlettered Learned. 233 



them, and the world was fuller of meaning to 

 me because of them. They are still so vividly 

 impressed upon my memory that when wisdom 

 makes the world unlovely (no uncommon occur- 

 rence) I turn to those whose ignorance has 

 proved a blessing to them, and so full a one 

 that in no stinted measure they share their joy 

 with me. 



Uz Gaunt, the Humboldt of his township. 

 Miles Overfield, the Cuvier of Crosswicks Creek, 

 were the truly great men of my boyhood's days, 

 greater by far, to me, than the "intellectual 

 giants" I have met since then. I say this with 

 all due respect for those now living, for these 

 men of my days of hero-worship told me what 

 I wished to know, and what they told me be- 

 came then and there gospel that I have not 

 since learned to look upon askance because of 

 the higher criticism natural to maturer years. 

 And then, alas ! to-day's Solons are all at log- 

 gerheads about such things as have ever inter- 

 ested me the most. I greet with hearty laughter 

 now the thought that the simple explanations 

 of that unlettered yet really learned Uz Gaunt 

 stand the test of time and of hostile criticism. 



