Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-22
FoR THE RICHMOND WIG.
THE WOES OF ROMANCE.

FoR TIRE RICHMOND WIG.
THE WOES OF ROMANCE.
"Iideo n'eiora probo 9uc defer;ora sequor.'
Mcssrs. Editors: Actuated by tic generous wsl
Tor the worlds Improvement, peculiarly character
stic OF modern authors have condesccndcd to write
the history of my adventures. Like others, my bre-
thren OF the quill course profess utter indfcr.
cnce to the reception they MAY meet with
throw them from me, with little for their utter
destiny, as Gceth the philosophical eugic for his
young, when he has once kicked thom from his nest
blt mark you, If YOU do Eoi print tein i'll like conior-
mty to the practice of my respected brotherhood
shall consider you mortal foes aud cgregous asses
Instead ofmy special friends and moderately clcye,
fellows. BY no manner off means, however, would
have you exclude the communications OF your adyer
t'sing friends, to make for the good patrons
aforesaid doubtless pay; whereas. author par,lU
with sixpence, rather having it to part with is
phenomenon wIici the world has yet TO wonder at
30 much tor preface, without which no composition
may be atJudged complete Ny earliest rccoIlections
place ME IN the country, at considerable distance
from our great metropolis. Although | have often
understood that sngulariiy the untaing attendant
OF infant genius, the most painful inquiry has resulted
an total failure 10 eVnce that remarkable
Tor any thing but most undue share Of obsnacv
winch beng common to with the mule, uniortu.
hatey cannot render my claims 10 genius Ineueston-
able The funr first years OF my life passed away
Ike those OF other children, i alternately ,evisiag
mischief and getting logged for my pains. NV two
next years, however, opened scene and formed
KIND oil era, TO which still look back the com-
mencenient OF my troubles IL may astonis some
that attribute all these 10 being Taught read But
most aeVouty do 1 believe tins to be the. genuine.
source. shall endeaVor to explain.
The first book which laid hold Of after getting
beyond Moan Webster, was the Arabian Nights. In
7iess than month had every story by ileart-no
urk ever studied the description of Mahomet's ARA
disc more zealousy than did the gorgeous accounts of
palaces more splendid than the sum- and princesses
whose charms bore the same relation to the palaces
as the pearl to the oyster she'll know not whether
hog dol rfohln t,,i,,,
trs as they have done on me: but in my existence
they wrought revolution to which all the Methodist
camp meetings since Wesleys time can scarce afford
parallel. The first effect inspire rn;; with Il
sovereign contempt for my fathers humble dwcllinn
saw there neither diamond, nor pear nor IVORY nor
chandelier with thousand lghts-nothipp in short
sat resembled Aladdins palace; and that was su;f-
cent to create disgust. Elegance, beauty and pro-
Iropriety were now weighed by the standard of the
Arabian Nights 1t cannot have escaped the readers of
his great work, that in every tale, love forms dis
fnguIsling feature. Till the Arabian Nights pourcG
Acjr vast flood Of wisdom my SOUL do not rccoI-
= ct mat had any, the most distant conception of
IoVe, except as applied to gingerbread and sweet
meats III which sense my ideas OF it were perfectly
clear. But Of that overwhelming and absorb,ng pas
SION, whose tremendous effects found described in
my invaluable Textbook, had been consurnmatcIv
15nUrant AT the present moment, after an interval
OF fifteen years and more, recall in unnuoired
Viv'lness. the bewildcrcd establishment with which
received my first lessons III the great mystery love
nc dphIe5 o! tiie novice, Just lDated In thc flei-
Snn mysteries OF olden time, must have Uccn faint
and weak IN comparison with mine. had reached
a new and uneXplored region, where every step pre-
5cnscd some phenomenon that imagination had never
before pictured, even in its widest fights So en-
crossing was the charm Of these enchanted and en-
chanting histories, that became ntoleraby jealous
nrcading that some fortunate adyeuturer shoHld be
conducted to this golden tree of knowlcdpe should
aste Of lis scducing fruit and like myself, should he
come even as god, knowing good from evil. Like
The dragon of the Hesperades, guarded it with un-
watcuness. secreted the book and for
JcaTs, never for moment resigned the possession !
I have been thus particular in describing nv intrn-
duction 60 Don Cupid, because and from this De-
Rod, my adventures may be said to commence The
mariner in bis voyage to the most opposite parts of
he world, isstgl guided bg the same saa9. Nv MOLE
star was lcyc--ard vet continues t. be- an the
events o. IVY life, aj the fcatures Of NV character
nave, T"lqtcy or Immediately, in greater or less
degree. received from love their colour and tone rfl
.arrsc my experience has been unfortunate: dsap-
uoulncrt 5as constantly tracked ny steps and ds,oo
;SlIcd all air CasieS, ConsuInrnate as claim 10 he
~ The art OF erecting such structures This com
plant, however is b;;t exrmDicaticn of Tho
ruth Of Shakcspearrs hncaneyed sentiment rcsrec-
fiIg The c,u-sG Of trne love But each individual
links that m1XimS always gather new strength from
Standing the test OF his experience 7 consider
t'ic history M love as sufficient to remove every
d'ub' ~ regard :" The maxim in question. If tic |
20 dlppGrs OF Cupid ever CIDOnjsc those Cf their
nrethrou Who nave been dlstlpz ushed By tncir woes
a'n Confident ut my i;ardsi,ys will entitc me IN /
saM'SIi3.
The first dl-aDDoinneut was peculiarly and ieenlv
f-t7ssiar: aln uulhl" II how j, faDpons but Ger
-,inv a. hnrc Ig SAID % b. nothing BIKE 1yss vounr
less pbhga ion, tln MT wios puts orr dream 10
.I'uih. AMI awakeas Us to tic Ill. reaIiie5 of this
World repeat That love bag heu &c c3D1tor mont
- .sy days, aid ;ne 'lsioo IN nights iioG :hc age