Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-06-29


ton too plainly denied. But, as the au
thor observes, there is certain state of en-
durance, forced elevation Of the spirits
which cannot be sustained beyond stated
period, without shaking the intellectual fab
ric 10 ITS foundation. The reason of the
accompanying partner of the Drunkard at
last becomes unsettled. Her mind was
sometimes evidently not mistress of itself
and her yivaciiy became, at intervals. when
she was strongly excited, SO misplaced and
ungovernable, as TO indicate too evidently
that the springs which regulated the fine
machine were dcrsnGcd or worn out by per
'petual eNcriion.", The dclineation Of this
poor and bhghted creatures condition is
given with painful strength and accuracy
OF touch that cannot but Ia Ike deep hold
OF the readers sensibty. But we must
not dwell ON it. During this wrecked and
shattered condition of her intellect, her
husband conceives the diaboiical thought OF
making her participant i'll his cxecraole
practices, and thus pollute her soul, as he
had already forever destroyed her happiness
"Yct from the bottom Of ny soul, (savs
the narrative) believe my poor Amelia, had
she been herself Notwithstanding her mis-
taken lenlty, and miscellaneous Iujulrences of
my excuses, would never, in her rational
moments, have degraded herself b. parii-
Cipation i'll my orgies. at Hast, however,
and by mperceptihle degrees, she fell from
her high estate, and sUnk-not indeed to my
dead level OF measureless brutality--but
low enough to lose herself and all she once
had been. | will not describe the scenes
which my home n.w presented, almost ev-
cry day. Husband, wife, father, mother,
children, all nad-now singing and laugh
ing; now cursing and swearing like the i'll
mates Of a mad house." The dreadful issue
of these courses could not long be DELAYED,
and we shall copy the account OF the catas-
tfophe from the volume itself
''One day--it was an ominous tiay-the
anniversary OF our marriage-n IL fit of say
age hilarity, | swore | would celebrate il
with more than usual splendor got up at
twelve the preceding night, and intoxicated
myself before sunrise, when I went TO bed
and slept myself partly sober again before
dinner. AT dinner | drank and enticad my
poor Ameta 10 follow my example, till the
little reason left Us began to stagger on its
throne. proposed & toast--"Our wedding
day, and MANY happy returns oft" A sud.
den pang seemed TO cross her mind, and pro-
duce train Of bitter recollections.- WAS
II not happy day, Amelia" said l, tauntine-
~. She burst into tears, and covered her
lace with her hands for minute; then SLOWLY
removing them, she replied, with a look of
agony that still haunt me day and night
~ s, II was happy day-Lut-.' The
tone and look Initiated ray already infatuated
spirit, burning as II was Ia loud flames. But
WhatF replied !: Come, speak out: le; Us
have 10 secrets on this happy day.' We
have paid dearly for IL she said-'you with
The loss OF fortune. fame and goodness;
with broken heart and shattered reason
And alone an | 10 blame for al tins.
suppose
had had M warnings, but they came too
late; or rather. as rny conscience tells me,
added she. wtinging her hands, before ,hat
miserable day
IL laughed aloud: Poor SOUL cried /.
does 1t mean to say l deceived itl Pish,
who would ever believed that her weak and
silly sex was match for men-of the world
linen Of experience. Pshaw! q wife is
mere plaything---a-----'
"a victim sighed my poor wife. But
what do you charge me WITH
'''Y ouE fortune is gone said l.
"'Who was it wasted il for mel'
"'Your beauty is turned 10 deforInity; YOU
have grown as ugly as the
Who spoiled it by robbing me Of rest by
night, of happiness by dayl'
on are no longer tie gay, spiight,y,
animated, witty thing that won my heart
"'Your hearth replied she, scornfully:
but who was it that robbed me of my gaic.
ty; that wrecked nv heart, and turned my
brain? Do you know the man, the monster
/ would sayl' Her eyes now flashed Gre
as she continued, Do you know the mon
ster, say? he who deceived my youth; was
led my fortune; destroyed my happiness
degraded the modesty of sex and station;
poured liquid fire down my throat, and heap
r1 Goals OF ire on the heads OF my cl4;ldrcnq
Who rendered the past areconcction ofhor.
Ior; the present yet worse; the future. o
my Godl'
g i, whom you promised to love aud obey
a,I your life. Come give nc an example of
obedIenSe,' CRED J. pouring out glass Of
iilthy hquor-~coma, one bumper more to this
happy dly---ccr,ep