Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-19
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 10, 1929.
From the london Magazine.
THE INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING AN
Finer BROTHER

do not care for the paternal acres, To say
the truth, Halbert hall never pleased me. As a
child, detested the long, dark avenues oil stun
ted trees; and the heavy, melancholy stream OF
moaning water; and he long passages, with their
doleiul echoes and their countless doors, and
the vast chambers, wib all their pomp and pa
yeanrry OF faded furniture and family portIa ats
l am happier here in LinColn's Inn, though one
floor is my palace, and one lackey my establish
,nent-and leave Ibe hall, without sigh, 10
my elder brother,
| shall not die for the lack Of ten thousand a
year. never longed 10 keep hounds or an o.
pera daDcer--to give Champaign cinners, or 10
represent a couny-to win al Done aster, or 10
lose a, Rouge ei NOR Your true Epicurean does
not need great wealth ] can afford 10 wear
tolsrsble coat, and drive unexceptionable
Gabrielle; 10 b. seen sometimes al the Opera,
and keep IN, self ouI of the Bench; 10 throw a
way tribe at piquet; and cook wild duck for
nv antagonist. These things content me; and,
except when some unusual temptation has a.
waktned my appetite, or some more than COM
mon loss ruffled, for a time, my philosophy,
would not readily exchange them for the rent
roll and the three per cents, OF my elder broh'
er.
AS for tie title, il is not 10 be mentioned Sc
riously as the oblec, Of reasonable mans am
birion. In old times, beled lord had certain
privileges and pastimes, which might make his
life pass pleasant enough. twas interestingto
war upon his EQUALS; il was amusing TO tram
pie upon his interiors; there was some metri>
ment in the demolition Of an abbey, there was
some excitement in The settlement OF success
sion. Nowadays. il is as well 10 be called
Tom, as my lord; unless you have mind TO
dine at the dulles, tables, AID make speeches 10
=. in he Sn i
sign nv chance of the peerage without rriuc-
rance; and, besides, the coronet must pass from
the temple Of its present apoplectc possessor
over an artillery officer, rural dean, and an at
tarhe 10 an embassy, before 1t decora,es The
honored brows Of my elder brother.
Blu when have resigned philosophicaliy all
longings after these distinctions and advanta-
pes, which would be mine If could date my
birth but 4 'welvemonth earlier: when have
congratulated myself that | am not bound, by
any necessity or interest, TO do battle tor the
privileges IF the order, or talk nonsense in sup.
mort of the game laws. Why am to be cros-
sed at every turning by some hateful memen'o
of he inferiori,y 10 which my unlucky planes
have doomed me? Why are my witticisms lis
tened "a with such imperturbabl gravity? and
why does Lady Mondrsgon look zero when
bow, and turn away TO whisper viper" in her
daughters ear!
Thus It has been from my infancy. My mo-
Their, to be sure, had the usual maternal pecu.
liarilies, and was always in our nursery SQUAD
bles, he unfailing proectress OF the party which
was mos, immediately dependent upon her pro.
,ec,ion. Bu, she died, poor lady, almost before
I could be sensible how much needed her all
lance, leaving me to carry on the war unaided
against an adversary whose auxiliaries were
many and jealous, in the but,ler's pantry and
the servants hall, in the tenants cottage and
the keepers lodge was as handsome as Ere.
deric, but his dress was more carefully tended
and his IinSle's more s,udiously arranged; l
was as ravenous as Frederic, but his acquain
lance with the cellar WAS more close, and his
visit TO the store closet more frequent; was the
bolde. rider, blu, my poney was IS rough IS
besi; I was the better shot, on my gun was as
heavy as blunderbuss both learned The lesson
but the praise and the shilling were for him;
DO, h plundered the orchard. but he reproof and
the correction were for me. And when our IA
Their, with an unwonted exeriion Of impartality,
sent US 10 The same school. and supplied US
with the same means Of extravaganza, though
my hexameter was as smooth and my laugh
hearty, my scholarship as sound, and my pluck
as indispulable as NV brothers, he had more
patrons and more friends than | had; and, some
how or other, between Halhert major and
Halhrrt minor there was plaguy difference,
though scarcely yet suspected where it lay.
But was soon able 10 dis, over Of what ma
terials the taiisman was composed. My father
broke his neck in fo1-chase, and my brother
was master of the kennel ana the stud; my un-
b Gle died Of late division, and my brother re-
presented The borough. We came into the
world, and began to Joslle for places like the
res, Of its industrious ci,lzeos.
met Lord Fortslice al dinner party
What could be more coudesSending than his
lordship's manner, or more hauering than his
expressions: lie had heard Of my renowD a,
Iflege; he was confident OF my success in life;
sssssiSnew a host of my connexions; he had the
he Llrest respect for my father; he could assure
'ere sshe Duke Of Merino euter' aip-d the highes,
ey ART .ea Of my talents, s lady Eleanor had point
~. IN out last week as model Of Der son. But