Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-22


enumerated qualities, than the following Passag-
es selected from that department OF the work
entitled Causes of drunkenness:
aMen Of genius are unfortunately addicted 10
drinking. Nature, as she has gifted :hem WIN
greater powers than their fellows, seems also 10
have mingled with their cup Of life more bitter.
ness. There is melancholy which Is apt 10
come like cloud over the imagnations OF sach
characters Their minds possess suscep'iDi-
lity and delicacy of structure which unit them
for the gross atmosphere of human nature;
wherefore high talents have ever been dislin-
euished with sadness and gloom. Genius lives
in world Of its own: il is the essence OF SUI
perior nature--the loftier imasinations OF the
mind, clothed with more spiritual and rehned
verdure. Few men endowed with such iacul-
ties enjoy the ordinary happiness OF humanity.
The stream Of their lives run harsh and broken.
Melancholy thoughts sweep Perpetualiy across
their souls; and il these be heightened oy MIS-
fortune, they are plunged in the deepest mise
ry. 10 relieve these feelings, many plans have
been adopted. Dr. Johnson fled Tor years 10
wine under his habilual gloom. tie found That
the pangs were removed while It's immediate
influence lasted, but he also found that they re-
turned with double force when that influence
passed away. He saw the dangerous precipice
on which lie stood, and by an unusual effort OF
yoli,ion. gave il over. In its stead he substi-
tu,ed tea, and 10 this milder stimulus had re-
course ia his melancholy. Voltaire and Fon-
tenele, for the same purpose, used coffee. The
excitemenis of Newton and Hobbies were the
fumes of tobacco while Demosthenes and Hal
Ter were sufficiently stimulated by drinking cold
water. Such are the differences OF constitution,
And again under the head "Pbenomena Of
drunkenness:"-
"What are the sensations Of incipient drum
keuness? First, al unusual serenity prevails o.
YER the mind, and the soul Of the votary is filled
with placid satisfaction. BY degrees he is
sensible Of soft and not unmusical humming
in his ears, at every pause OF conversation. lie
seems, 10 himself, TO wear his head higher
than usual upon his shoulders. Then species
Of obscurity, thinner than the finest mist passes
before his eyes, and makes him see objectsrath-
err indistinctly. The lights begin TO dance, and
appear double A gaiety and warmth are felt
at the same time about the heart. The imagi-
nation is expanded, and filed with thousand
delightful images. He becomes loquacious,
and pours forth in enthusiastic language. the
thoughts which are born, as it were, within
him. .ow comes spirit OF universal content
ment with himself and all the world. He thinks
no more of misery; it is dissolved in the bliss OF
the moment This is the acme the ht-lhe
ecs,acy is now perfect. As yet the sensorum
is in tolerable order 1t is only shaken, but the
capablity Of thinking with accuracy still re-
mains. About this time the drunkard pours
out all the secrets of his soul. His qualities,
| good or bad, come forth without reserve; and
now, il at any time, the human heart may be
seen fnxs,~I,, Pe-;-- he -s~;sAA ,ri,t,
a most inordinate propensity TO talk nonsense,
though he is perfectly conscious Of his doing
so. He also commits many foolish things know
ing them to be foolish. The powers Of Volt
ton, the faculty which keeps the will subordi-
nate TO he judgment seems totally weakened.
| The most delightful time seems to be that i'm
metliately before becoming very talkative.-
When this takes place, man turns ridiculous,
and bis mirth, though more boisterous, is not
quite so exquisite At first the intoxication par
takes Of sentiment, but laitery, becomes merely
animal. After this the scene thickens. The
drunkard's imagination gets disorderly with
the most grotesque conception Instead mod
Grating his drink he pours it down more spd-
ly than ever: glass follows glass with reckless
energy His head becomes perfectly giddy.-
The candle burns blue, or green, or yellow, and
where there are perhaps only three on the table,
he sees dozen According to his tempera-
ment, he his amorous, or musical, or quarrel
some. Many possess a most extraordinary wit;
and great flow Of spirits is general attend
ant In the latter stages, the speech is thick,
and the use of the tongue in great measure
lost. His mouth is half open, and idiotic in
the expression; while his eyes are glazed ,waver-
ing, and watery He is apt TO fancy that he has
offended some Of the company, and is ridcu-
lousy 2rofuse with his apologies. Frequently
he mistakes one person for another; and mag
ines that some of those before him are individ-
uais, who are, in reality, absent or even dead.
The muscular powers are, all along, much az
fected, this, indeed, happens before any great
change takes place in the mind, and goes on
progressively increasing He can no longer
walk with steadiness, bur totters from side to
side. The limbs become powerless, and mad
equate to sustain his weight He is however
not sensible of any. deficiency in this respect;
and while exciting mirth by his eccentric mo-
tons, inasines that he walks with the most
perfect steadiness. In attempting to run, he
conceiyes that he passes over the ground with
astonishing rapidly. The last stage of drunk
enness is total insensiblity. The man tumblss
perhaps beneath the table, and is carried away
in state Of stupor to his couch. In this con.