FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127  
128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>   >|  
tion, and having now the desired leisure to continue his studies, he gave himself up wholly to that object. His active mind now found time also for occasional diversion to other lines than mathematics. It was about this time that he made the calculations showing that the locust plague was recurrent in cycles of 17 years each. He also wrote a dissertation on bees which has been favorably compared with a similar contribution by Pliny on the same subject written nearly 1800 years earlier. Banneker's nature seemed tuned also to the softer notes in the song of life. He loved music, and often, as a relaxation, he would sit beneath a huge chestnut tree near his house and beguile the hours by playing on his flute or violin.[174] The disastrous war waged in 1793 so disturbed Banneker that he devoted much time to the study of the best methods to promote peace. To this end he suggested that the United States Government establish a department in the President's cabinet to be in charge of a Secretary of Peace. He then made a strong appeal to the authorities of his government to take a broad stand based on humanity and justice and in that spirit to formulate a comprehensive plan by which _A Lasting Peace_[175] might be substituted for the wars that were then disturbing the world. During these years his home was frequently visited by people who sought him because of his intellectual gifts, and who were in no wise abashed by the fact of his racial connection. To them he was merely an honored citizen in the field of achievement.[176] "During the whole of his long life," says Benjamin Ellicott, "he lived respectably and much esteemed by all who became acquainted with him, but more especially by those who could fully appreciate his genius and the extent of his acquirements. Although his mode of life was regular and extremely retired,--living alone, having never married, cooking his own victuals and washing his own clothes, and scarcely ever being absent from home,--yet there was nothing misanthropic in his character; for a gentleman who knew him thus speaks of him: 'I recollect him well. He was a brave-looking pleasant man, with something very noble in his appearance.' His mind was evidently much engrossed in his calculations; but he was glad to receive the visits which we often paid him." Another writes: "When I was a boy I became very much interested in him, as his manners were those of a perfect gentleman: kind, generous, ho
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127  
128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Banneker
 

gentleman

 

During

 

calculations

 

respectably

 
esteemed
 
Ellicott
 

Benjamin

 
studies
 

extent


genius

 

acquirements

 
Although
 

continue

 
leisure
 

acquainted

 
sought
 
intellectual
 

people

 

wholly


frequently

 

visited

 

honored

 

citizen

 

regular

 

achievement

 

abashed

 

racial

 

connection

 

living


evidently

 
appearance
 

engrossed

 

receive

 

pleasant

 
visits
 

perfect

 
manners
 

generous

 
interested

Another
 

writes

 
victuals
 
desired
 

washing

 

clothes

 
scarcely
 

cooking

 
married
 

retired