Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-10

The English papers furnish ia a letter from
Paris. the following extraordinary an .cdote, a
shocking instance of the mastery which the dis
sentimentality, produced BY reading
trashy plays and novels may exert over the m'nd'
overpowering even the instructive love OF life.
q. A circumstance. thoroughly French, occur
cd here last week. There is in Paris a small thea
ire in which all the actors are children undcr ".
One of the principal actresses IN this establish
ment, a pretty interesting girl, named Bruce
aged not quite ID, had, It appears, formed an al
tachment to a young man OF II named Louis
Cretz, an orphan entitled to some property.
Parents and guardians were, as usual untaVoraoie
TO the lovers, and a few stolen interviews were
the only solace of this precious pair Of turtle.
doves; it has, however, been clearly ascerta'neu
that notning criminal had passed. On tuesday
last, Miss Brue. having had a quarrel with her
parents in the morning, went To rehearsal AT the
theatre as usual, but instead Of returning home,
met master Cretz by appointment, and walked
with him to the Bots de Boulogne. carrying a
small basket, containing a pair Of pistols.
On reaching a secluded spot, the young gentle
man made a bed of leaves and flowers, OIL which
the young lady sat down, and undolng her upper
garments, opened her left breast, when her lover
BY her desire, shot her through the heart with one
pistol, and himself through the head with the oth-
err. The bodies were found in this state by a
game keeper two DAYS afterwards. BY their side
was a letter in high flown language, stating that
they we're about TO snatch themselves from the
tyranny to which they were subjected, &c. 10
short, the whole affair was arranged with strict
attention to scenic effect. and | almost doubt
whether the children we've quite aware that they
i ri - --.- l:l,-,Ik 4, anna IN lEa On
gain, than after a catastrophe of a tragedy on
the stage.
This is the age of excitements. The human
mind is a prolific soil for the the propagation of
all extraordinary doctrines and opiniohs-none
SO strange, but have their disciples and supporters.
The Mormonites, in this country, are not worse
in error and fanaticism, than other sects
that have sprung up and fourished for a
time, both here and in England. From the
Philadelphia Gazette, we extract the follow
ing, giving another instance Of the power and eE-
fects of deluslon.
An infatuating mental epidemic, which can
only be compared to the Mormonite deIusion, has
broken out in Scotland. The last excellent num-
UtT vi IL CuilIuuISn hcNIcNs CUlItdius d
ing article on the subject, which we have read
with great interest; inasmuch as it dissects and
dissipates the phantom, and shows it to be little
less than the Pigments of a few heated brains.-
But another periodical in Edinburgh, entitled
I" The Morning Watch" fully supports the su-
pernatural powers of the new sect or party
This Watch" is looking eagerly for the mil
lenium, and believes it to be near at hand. The
case of Miss FANcouur, of which we gave a
sketch a month or two since, has been discuss
ed in the pages of the Watch with great creduli.
ty: but the combined p~ostulata of the work are
completely overthrow in the Edinburgh. 1t APP
pears that near Port Glasgow. in Scotland, there
exists a family named Macdonald, the members
thereof are stated on good authority to be sim
pie minded, religious, orderly, and possessed
only of the education Of ordinary peasants. OF
late, several persons of this household have be-
come imbued with the '' gift Of tongues" and at
a prayer-meeting held beneath their roof once a
week, they speak for three or four hours, distinct.
Iy and vehemently in all UNKNOWN TONGUE
The sensation which these persons have made in
Scotland, has been very great; and a cOnsidera.
Die quantity of good weak people, sincerely be-
lieve that something extraordinary is about 'sbe-
ing gone on" The Review in a most admirable
manner exposes the whole gossamer web of fanta-
~, dhu uin u uom tc Supernatural SuDIWDe,
to the ~palpable ridiculous. 1t appears that this
m'knom,, tongue is " unknown. in every sense
of the word-for not a human soul can under
stand it. CIergymen have compared it to tine
Greek-to the Latin, &c. But strange TO say,
they make no progress in the language. One or
two amiable ladies have, on visiting the family,
been impressed with the idea that they were con-
strained as soon as they heard this mysterious
idiom, tainterpret the same! In this. however.
they made most bungling work, and soon gave it
up. Notwithstanding all these circumstances,
the number of those who sincerely believe in the
inspiration of the MacDonald's is truly astonlsh-
ing, and ON the increase. Indeed the matter
must have greatly engrossed the public attention,
or its refutation could not have occupied so con-
a place in the most distinguished
Review in Europe.-Surely tine age Of hu mbug
has come!
From the New York .7n,ericn1.
Mn. EpiToR: The Kings 81 Polish" is 80 fer