The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-01
INo9t.


y itHh WIN Hh interest AMI iftiHg when
, shall never forget, the braulilal story Of
Damon and pylhlas. About The same
tlmr, my attention was turned Ia the af-
leeiin2 Histories recorded in the Bible If
Naomi and Ruth, David and Jonathan. J
perrsed them oftcn, and sighed when !
hfeaihed the hopeless wish thai ! might
lind such fliends. do not know thai NV
lot las been Worse tinn that of other peo-
pie but yet have very often been griev-
onsly disappointed in those who promised
everlasting friendship. have found many
very good friends, when did mol stand ~
need OF their assistance, nr when their aid
could crafty pfidc, sanity or some other
selfish passions bit IN The hour of ex-
tremlly, they have SHOWN themselves dis.
! POSED 10 draw of aud take c.tre, as IL IL
said, of number one.
THIS has 50 often occurred, iint have
been brought seflDnsly to doubt whether
There u any such thing ~ thu world ms
friendship, according To the conception
which had FORMED Of II in tbe days OF my
! yonth-@lt has been suggested that thee
| gloomy doubts afe the effect of age creep
lng on me aud dafkcnng my prospects,
am not NJ very old either: bnt | had ap-
! prehcnsio0s thai this might be tho east,
until some recent occurrences entirely
changed my views ON this subject. now
admit, sir that there is tflendsh AZ ardent,
yea as enthusiastic II YOU please, rs any
which in the simple and uncorrnpted ayes
Of the world adorned human nature, and
iormcd the subject of the Poets song. aud
Blographer's panegyrie. There has heeu,
however, new aud very unexpected mo-
al A all
surprised rs much rs ii delighted me-.
ou may think II strange, Mr.. Visitor, that
my gloomy aud almost nlisanlhropic feel
ny have been dlapclled Ivy the LoNo Is
LAND RAeEs!!i But ii Is us true Ms that
you are man. Aud | will explain how
the thing happened
In many of ihr Newspapers leading
prints ton, whose Editors are men of high
standing III society i saw again aud again,
such expressions rs " Mt friends Of Eciipse,
aud " the hicnds of Ilenry"--tsurely the
ladies' must all have been on the side OF
Henry ll--"the friends of the Northern
horse"-~and the friends of the Southern
horse" &c. &c. Now, SIR, Lam not child
enough 10 believe all thai ser in the news
papers, however respectable they may be
but IN this cnse, the sincerity and nrdour Of
these f1{eBdS were manifested by such
substantial evidences, rs put the matter
beyond all possibility Of dobt. II Is "a
melancholy truth, that |, land II IL the easa
with great many other men believe ann
sorely pressed and tadly embarrassed by
want of money. do very much need at
thls time, four or five thousand dollars
! suppose thai have ut least five hundred
/ friends, such AS men are 10 their eilom,mtp.
Nov, were 10 apply 10 one and all of
/ them 10 show their friendship, and supply
my wants, they would think me The most
unreasonable fellow in the world. After
one application, should Gud them going
out ol the road or across The street 10 avoid
me. Aud ! tell you my friends are no
worse than Other =, ople's. FIAT mark tho
! difference between me and horse, A few
friends Of that worlds wonder Eclipse.
were ready, NJ a word, 10 back him IN
with fmenig tbousoud doliUSt The friends
III that interesting hofseiing Henry, were
equally devoted aud enthusiastic. Here
then, in these iron tunes, .Giendship for
tn0 horses fhmed To- the tune OF forty iholl-
sand dollars l. But this strong passion,
Ike all others, was contagious and a
thousand less conspicuous friends came
known amount Of money. The contag,on
spread from Maine To Georgia aud the
ltlcnds 81 The Northern * Southern horse.
lell Their business, iiindred they have any,
aud their wives aud children, and took
long Journeys Ia manifest the ardonr of
their affection Who can nov say ia the
language of Young Edwin,
Aud what is friendship but name
| | Al f. la. L.. L
men and horses, that some modern Pln-
tarch will write the biography Of these
ilnslrions human aud equine worthless.
aud hand down To immortal remembrance
T this distinguished act ofgcnerous affection.
propose too for the honour both of bipeds
+ aud q,tadrupedgs--il Is not for me To- saw
whether the men or the 5Futes deserve the
greatest glory--l propose that tho SUCCESS
| fnl friends, on this occasion, should erect n
. monument on ths Lung Island coure with
, suitable inscriptions, 10 perpefiiate this H.
lnstIions event. Aud by all means, it
ought In be surmounted by bronze statue
al Purdy, mounted on the northern horse.
Allow me faither to suggest that the toasts
drank IN honour Of the horses, with the
names OF the zealons friHnds who gave
, them, should be recorded on the most du-
: rable materials, as an example to future
generations. Aud If | may add one other
idea, would humbly propose that the
Y shoes with the nails worn by these most
$ noble and nagnanimous horses, should be
distributed among their most disi,ng uisheo
Y friends, as sacred relics aud when Eclipse
r and Henry shed their names and tails, |
/ really think that the hair ought to be- given
% the ladies who showed their affection
10 these noble beasts, to be formed into
o braids and bracelets 10 wear on lleirwrist.
e and bopnets, as keepsakes for their ia,
,, vouriteq.