The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-13
MEMOIRS OF A STUDENT OF
STOCKHOLM.

THE LATE MIR. HERMAN ALsAGEE.
TThe following is said to be from the
pen of the author of Pcltam.
| have thus brought down my narra-
ra,ve to the last year ofmy residence at
the University. Hitherto what i have re-
lated has merely been IN sketch--for
what more does the record oftasteless
and puerile debauchery deserve ?-bnt
grayer matters now remain 10 be detail
ed. During the vacation of the preced-
! ing wear, which, after the fashion of
most university students ] had spent IN
travelling, | had accidentally fallen in
with a student ofmy own rank and stand
ing, who accompanied me during part OF
my rambles among the picturesque, but
seldom trodden wilds of the Dofrafeld
mountains. This collegian, whose name,
for obvious purposes, 1 shall disguise un-
der the fictitious appellation of Herwald-
sen-was about 90 years of age eiiemi-
nate rather, and incliniDg to embonpoint
in person easy and graceful in address !;
soft in speech and manner devoted to
literature and the Fine Arts; first rate
linguist and, above all, a complete man
ofthe world, though without the GOODNESS,
distrust, and heartlessness which an ac-
quaintance with mankind rarely false to
engender. have said that Herwaldsen
was effeminatc / should observe howev-
er that though passionately fond of wo-
men, he had about him strong redeem
ing dash Of boldness and enterprise. In
after years he might have sunk into n
mere Epicurean but, at this period, his
mind was to active, his ambition too STIR
ring, to allow him, though his finances
were already sufficiently ample--to rest
satisfied with his present condition. lie
aimed at literary distinction, not IN
mathematics or the abstract sciences
those enyiable, heightened pursuits, whose
chief objects are, first to prove and Sec
ondly to disprove, that two and three
made six--but in the more social and
comprehensive arena of the Bellies Let
tiers. Among modern authors,he chiefly
admired Rousseau, whose voluptuous
sensibility and nice apprehension of the
beautiful in nature--I was going TO add,
in art-together with those striking Gre
ative powers by which he impaired real
ity to fiction, and stepped inanimate OBJ
iects in the living splendors ola rich, sem
tive, and prurieDt fancy, seemed, in Her.
waldsen's eyes, to constitute the very
perfection of intellect.
Herwaldsen was unlimited in the
range of his conversation. Whatever
tended to improve or enlarge the mind,
was with him matter of interest. He
could laugh with Voltaire, weep with
Rousseau, philosophize with Rochefou-
; caut, be simple with Fontaine, eloquent
and impressive with Massillon, extraya-
CANT but profound with Rabelais, spe-
cial pleader with Montesquieu, deter
mined egotist with Montaigne. Such
was Herwaldsen, in the year 1918.
What is he now in 1928 Now, when
But will not anticipate.
On taking leave of him at Carlsbad,
previous to my departure for Upsal,
where it was my intention to vegetate till
the university studies should recon-
mence, was no less surprised than
gratified by hearing him press me to ac-
company him to Naples, whose classic
shores he was desirous to explore
From some cause or other, (Which cannot
just now remember, Twas unable to COM
ply with his request; aud, accordingly,
he set out alene on his pilgrimage, nor
did hear single syllable either Of or
from him, until about month after my
return to Stockholm, when note was
brought to my residence by one the uni
versity porters requesting that, ifnot bet
ter engaged, would step up and pass
an evening with fellow traveller at his
lodgings.
went accordingly, and found Her
waldsen as cheerful and divertingns cv-
err. After few Indifferent remarks
al arrived here" he SAID, "but yesterday,
and am now fixed for at least two years
longer. When we last conyersed upon
our mutual prospects, l told You that
was Indifferent to university prefermcnt.
Circumstances, however, have since oc-
Cured materially to change my opinions,
and | am now resolved TO struggle hard
for cullege emolumcnts."
"And pray what may be the circum-
stances that have caused SO nbrubt an al
teration I"
Herwaldsen pauscd flush came across
his face, and he seemed undecided wheih-
er or not he would satisfy my curiosity.
After short struggle,--"1 am going 10
f0sruaf xo,, Il...~... r.. L,r.~ u...t,