Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-19
@11 ,CEEEENX
[FRoM the BOSTON TOKEN FoR 1921
TIE RUsE.

BY NATHANIEL 4. WILLIS.
Philip Blondcl was universally allow
ed ~ be- the best fellow IN tie class.
lie was one Ol those rare Characters
whose virtues are so transparent that
they cast no shadow Oh those behind.
lie eXitod no envy-no, not a breath;
and when ne stood up 10 his modest way,
and made n brilliant recitation, there
was no coughing, or exchanging oil con-
tempiuuuS looks, as there would some
times be when u Hue scholar read well.
Every eye rested on his bright red lips,
for he was handsome as d girl and d
good Da,uied smile passed round the
division when the tutor with an unusual
emphasis on the adverb, stopped hun
VITA, very weii, BIondell very WE'LL"
| said he was handsome. DO not
understand ne that he was effeminate.
II you had ssen the strong, decided out
line OF the lower part Of his face, The
sIi2 ht, but nervous curl Of his under lip,
lhe masculine, but not too great promln-
ence OF his cheek bone, and, above all
the la.gc calm, collected eye that look
ed as n 1t could think, you would have
not yourself IN the presence of a man.
Blohdel was a popular fellow, but he
had not at all Tho character which one
VINO knows college lie would infer from
| the expression. In nine cases out Of
ten a popular man is made up OF mega
tive qualify. He must be no scholar-
for this would excite envy; not talented
for even his ldlcness would Outshine
Industry; not accommodation then he
must refuse his wardrobe and his purse
To the extravaganza; not sensitive Tor
he nuErt oraud Q%niZzrry; not slivalrous
Tor then h., must take sides with the
weak; not cOnscien,iOus-fOr then he
must discountenance the abandoned;
not careful of his reputation or his ha-
bits, or choice of his company-lor then
he must avoid half his c.ass, aud keep
oaly terms of courtesy with the remain
der. BIOndel's was a Just popularity,
aud there is now aud then a rare in
stance of it, where the character is 80
crowded with virtues tina! there is no
mark for hatred, and where superiority
is borne so unassnmingly, that, while
you remember it, you forget that you
are inf .riOr.
Philip was popular in society; but
there the scale IS different. 1t arose, in
that case, from his peculiar talents,
which ennobied him to make every one
appear to the best advantage; just as
the adroit player at battIedore makes
even All unskiliul opponent play well.
Conversation was, to him, like unseaIing
a fountain, it was perfectly natural and
spontaneous, and the thoughts sprung
in his we'll ordered mind, with a harmony
and proportion which every one felt,
though no one stopped to ask why It
was that he never was so cheated Of
time as when talking with Philip BIondel.
His mind had that power Of delicate
and subtle association which is the great
secret of Conversations superiority.
His general knowledge gave this natu-
raj talent play; and in remembering the
conversation you had had with them,
you wondered that you should have APP
peared so well yourself, and glided so
easily from II subject to another
In the course Of our senior year, Phil
ip left us suddenly, and we learned to
our surprise, that he had taken the place
of tutor to "a family in a retired village
of .Now-England lie hai never been
extravagant in expenditure, but we knew
by many generous tokens that his al
lowance wSs one Of the most liberal in
college, and he was the last person for
whom we had anticipated such a neces-
sity. We knew nothing of his circum-
stances, as he came from a part Of the
country with which rome Of us were ac-
quainted. There was however, an in
difference to miuuie circumstances, and
an elegance in the arrangement of his
room which the habits Of narrow econo-
my never produce. ! do not mean that
poverty influences materially the gene
rous feelings, l speak only Of that re-
fined disinterestedness in the tri1es OF
everyday intercourse among young men
which, in single instances, amount to
nothing, but which adds far more than
some important virtues to the comfort
and happiness of society. II is not a
virtue, for it is the spontaneous offspring
Of luxury; but, insignificant as il is, it is
the greut distinction between good bree-
ding and vulga'ity, and has more to do
with pieassutness Of a companion than
traits which staad higher in the calender
Of virtues.