The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-12-03
MENTAL ABSTRACTION.

I MEN AL ABSTRACTION.
This power Of rerolectlng things that
are past, Is exceeding wonderful IN some
people on the other hand, there are some
whose memory is like a sieve it is the yes-
sci OF The Dan1ldes every thing enters,
nothing stays III it. Mi. Could, an Irish
Ihdrrister, In tile house OF commons, session
Jlol9,- could remember as little as possible
upon an eiectIoheerlng subject. These slips
OF me.lory were i'll peoples thinking, not OF
! Tue natural order nor was the follow ing
instance Of Count Grammout, who had at
tacAe'i, IT not engaged himself, 10 Miss
/ TAUNTON, ANA all on sudden went off for
france; Count George Hamilton, her
irother, pursued and overlook INN at Dover,
when he Thus addressed him: NV ueal
friend. | believe you have forgotten ID CIR
cumstance that should nave taken place he
fore your return to France" 10 which
Grammou Replied True, my dear friend ;
what memory have! quite forgot that
vas to marry your sister; but will IN
stantiy accompany you lack to London, ana
rectl1y that torgetlulness." 1t is needless
to add that Grammout's courage Was OF the
smallest calibfe. Thus, also, ClauuIus Ce-
sal, though no wiz, had a very trtacnerous
memory after he had his wife Messalina
murered, lie would ask why the Empress
dId not come IN to supper as Usual an,
many others, whom, after having gracious
ly pleased to put to death, ne the next day
invited to the councils, or throw dice anu
us they made but small haste, sent messen-
gers'to reprove them for their delay.
Bishop Bnrnet was very remarkable in
this Z; in the days of the great Marlborough,
he obtained an interview with him. ana " as
even asked TO dine, but continued to be OH
hlS guard and not commit himself. Among
other great company was Prince Eugene,
who, seeing dlgnlfed clergyman present,
asked who he was, and having heard he
had been in Paris in 1856, asked aim how
long it was since he LETT II. Burnet, huIter-
ing, answered with precipitation, lie coul,l
not recollect the year, hut 1t was at the
time that the countess of Soissons was Iul-
prisoned on suspicion OF practising con-
cealed mode OF poisoning people. Tins
lady happened to be the mother OF Prln e
Eugene, and both parties eyes being fixed
upon each other, then only he perceived
his mistake, stanlmeTe'i, apologlAed, ami re-
tired, in the utmost confusion. Upon a.
mother occasion, the bishop, dining one day
with Sarah, duchess OF marlborough, con
NtISdIlOH turned upon the lnpEduluup III
government tOe-..--.-s.~, - 49,
his place. Burnet aptly compaI Ell INN to
BeliSarlus, when her grace asked what Was
the occasion OF his dow mall? On mai
am, (sHys Burnet, poor Behsnrlus had /,
smoking birthstone oil il wife,
Whom the learned Selden's library was
brought into that Of the Bodleian, In IooY,
several pairs of spectaeles were lound m
the books, which Mr.. Seldenshad forgotten.
Dr. Thomas bishop of Salisbury lorgo,
the day he was to he married, ana Was sur
prised at his servants bringing him ii new
dress. A gnat singing him in tie leg, the
doctor stopped and scratched another gem
tleman's instead, who stood next.
Jacob Scaliger positively declared that he
knew nothing of the massacre of st. Bar
tholomew, though it took place all around
him in Paris. His close studies to the He.
brew tongue prevented his hearing the clash
ing of arms, the cries of children, the shrieks
OF women, and the groans of men.
LA Fontaine was so absent as to call and
visit friend whose funeral he had attended.
! He was much surprised at first, but recol
! lectug himself, said, at is true enough. for
was there" Nicias was so absent, as 10
often ask his servant if he had bathed or
dned.
Mrs. Vesey, lady IF great fashion, and
solt of rival to Mrs. Montague IN her ,lay.
once de"lalmed to IA lady of quality, in pub
| lie company, against second MARIA res the
! lady wnom she addressed hal heen twice
married, and Mr.. Vesey was her own second
husband. When reminded of this, she ex
claimed. Bless me my dear, had quite
forgotten It,"
I YANKEE TRIcKs. This is very sicnif-
cant phrase, aud one in very general use.
Il conveys to the mind of the hearer, AN
Idea of high depravity peculiar TO the
people of New Eng gland, from winch their
more upright brethren IN the middle ana
J southern states claim Il total exemption.
The latter are pure and immaculate, I'M
stained with any thing in the slightest de-
gree approaching to yankeelSm.
J Let us examine this point tearlessly. Lei
us ascertain, as far as we Can, on what
foundation the charge rests. II that he
solid, let it remain unassalled and he re-
relvcd without controversy. But If it rest
upon sandy AMI deluslve basis, let II lie
consigned to oblivion, with other prejndices
equally untcnabe.
National prejudices are very easily form
ed, and nicknames as easily applied. They
are, however, eradicated with great diff.
Guilty. When once adopted, every day
serves to corroborate them; because every
little incident that occurs, and affords the
smallest countenance to them, or will at al
admit of being strained to that effect, i,
tortured to prop and buttress them up
night or wong.
1t is not difficult to perceive how thi:
prejudice arose. The tide of migration ha:
generally directed its course llom New
England to the southern states, and very
little from the latter 10 the former. The
i renSon of this il ohvious The soil nj Nev