Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-22
For THE RICHMOND WING.
THE WOES OF ROMANCE.

For THE RICHMOND VINO.
THE WOES OF ROMANCE.
"pidto uaeliora probo que detcriora seguor.'
Mcssrs. Editors. Actuated by the generous Wis!
Tor tue worlds Improvement, peculiarly character
isfc OF modern authors have condesccnded to write
the history of my adventures. Like Others my bre
thren of the quill, of course profess an utter ndier
ence TO the reception they may meet with.
throw them from me, with little for their aft
DESTINY, as feeleth the philosophical eagle for his
young, when he has once kicked them from his nest
But mark you you do not print them in like colfor-
NIFTY TO the practice of my respected brotherhood I
shall consider you mortal foes and egrcgious asses
Instead OF my special friends and moderately clever
fellows. by no manner of means, however would I
rave you exclude the communications of your adyer-
Using friends, mike room for me: the good
aforesaid doubtless pay whereas, author parting
wsth eiXpence, or rsther having it to part with is
phenomenon which the world has vet to wonder Mt.
30 much for preface, without which no composition
may be adIudgel complete. My sarlest rccolections
pace ne IN the country, at considerable distance
from our great metropolis. Although I hdye often
Understood that singularty is the uniaing attendant
On fnfant genius the most painful inquiry has resulted
n total fa!ure TO evnce that was remarkable
tr any th:ng but a most undue share of obstinacv
Wnich oelng common to me with the mule, ufort.
uately cannot render my claims to genius auestion
able. The four FIRST years OF my life passed awav
IKE those of other children, in alternately dcvisinr
mischief and getting hogged for my pains. NV two
next years, however, opened new scene and formed
Kind OF era, to which still look back as the COM
mencetneDt OF my troubles. 1t may astonsl, some /,
that attribute all these 20 being taught to read But
most devoutly do believe this to be- the genuine .
source. shall endeavor to explain.
The first book which I laid bold Of after ccttino
beyond Noah Webster, was the Arabian Nights In !,
nss tnan q month l had every story by heart-no
aurk ever studied the description of Mahonlets para
dse more jealousy than did the gorgeous accounts of
p1laees more splendid than the sun, and prncesses
whose charms bore the relation to the palaces
as the pearl to the oyster shell. :aow not whether
these deectable volumes have ever operated on 9th
ers as they have done on ME: but in my existence
they wrought revolution to which all the Methodist
camp meetings since Wes!eys time can scarce afford
q parallel. The first effect was to inspire me with n
sovereign contempt for my fathers humble dwelling
saw there neither diamond, pearl nor ivory nor
cinanoeher WITH thousand lghts-nothing in short
I Tat resembled Aladdn's palace and that was suni
Client to create disgust. Elegance, beauty and pro-
proprlety were now weighed by the standard of tho
ARABIAN Nights 1t cannot have escaped the readers of
tMs great work that IN every tale, love forms dis
llnguishing feature. Till the Arabian Minis poured
Their vast flood of wisdom on my soul do not rerol
: FL mat had any, the most distant concpnton Of
foye, except ais applied to gingerbread and sweet
Hats, IN which sense my ideas of it were perfectly
clear But Of that overwhelming and absorbing mas
sion, whose tremendous effects found described j.;
my invaluable textbook, had been consummatcv |
ignorant. at the present moment, after an interval
VI hiteen years and more, can recall in unimpaired
vUdness the bewildcred establishment with which
received my inst lessons IN the great mystery oflove
Hhe raptures OF tue novice, Just initiated in the Elem
snian mysteries Of olden time, have been faint
and weak IN comparison with mine. ] had reached
a new and uneXplored regipn, where every step pre-
srnt0d some phenomenon that imagination had never
hrtore pictured, even in its widest fights So en-
crossing was the charm Of these enchanted and en-
chanting histories, that became ntolerably ,calon
dreading that some fortunate adventurer shogd be
conducted to this golden tree Of KNOWLEDGE should
taste Of it's seducing fruit and like myself should be-
come even as god, knowing good from evil like
the dragon Of the Hcsperiades guarded il with nm
sumberng watchfulness. secreted the book and for
years, never Tor a moment resigned tire possession
/ have been thus particular in describing nv intr,
ducion TO Don CUPID, because now and from this po-
Rod, my adventures may be said 10 commence. The
mariner IN his voyage 10 the most opposite parts of
the world Is still guided by the same star. Nv polo.
star was lOye--nnd yet Continues TO be. Al the
events OF my ME, az the features Of my character
have, medately or Immediately, in n greater or Ie.s
degree, received from love their colour and tone. OF
course my experience has been unfortunate; disap.
continent has constantly trac dmy steps and demo
ished all my mir Castles con5hfnmae as claim to be
10 he art of erecting such structures. This com
pla-,, however is but new excrnpilGcation Of the
tfGth af Shakespeorcs hackneyed sentiment, respec.
unr the course Of true love- But each individual
THINKS that maxlms always gather new strength from
standing the test Of his own experience, ! consider
the history my love az sufficient to remove every
doubt IN regard 20 the maxim in queston. If the
woTshippcrs Of Cupid uvor canonise those Of their
brethren who have been distinguished by their woes
I an confident Tat my hatdslips will entto me 10 n
sain;ship.
The first disappointment was peculiarly md lecnIv
distressng am unable TO tell how hoppens. but Ger
tinly, there is said to be nothing like loves youno
dream So there Is no circumstance to which we feel
lcss obligation, than 10 that which puts our dream io
FIGHT, and awakeps us to the dull reulitcs Of this
worl6. | repeat that love has bcen the employment
Ofny days. and the vision of my nights from The age