Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-19
NEW SERIES W@Ao saaNOo gaA0

We should find them in general, intrepid, sci
possessed, and fond of strong excitement. viii
kind hearts and generous dispositions. The hrs
| and third quality combined, are what chiefly in
duce the taste, the second must arise in due time
from the gratif cation of it, and the last almos
| always accompany fondness for the nobler ami
mails. There is dash Of poetry in the compost
ton of these men, and they can readily sympa
thize with the French renegade, who spoke SO
enthu ,iastically to Byron of the delight Of roam
ins the desert with no companion but an Arabian
courser. Champagne is their beverage.
But there is spurious race, which, though al
lied to- must not be mistaken for, the lovers Of
| horsemaushp, and this is composed of the horse.
Resh-people who like to 60 peering about livery
| stables, and always make it point to be present
at the barbarous ceremony Of Docking. They
| have never heard of the Gauclos or the Pampas
and their winged steeds; but they know the names
Of all the sroOms in town, and can tell you the
owner of every three minute horse in the county.
They generally drive exceedingly well, but know
nothing of the Manage, and would as soon think of
mounting buffalo as young colt before he is
thoroughly bitted and holds his snafle kindly as
an infant its coral. These men, though they do
ride sometimes, are perfectly thrown away in the
saddle. They hold the animal they ride but as a
| mere machine composed OF bone and muscle; and
if seated on Buce phalus, instead Of giving way
to gush of spirits as the gallant beast bounded
under them, they would at once commence car
cuating how much "work" he could do with pro-
per training. They very rarely trust themselves
on horseback, however, and are generally remark.
able for their love Of sulky. Their dispositions
are for the most part course and cunning, their
language slang, and their potations brandy and
water.
The next amusement that presents itself IS
swimming. Your swimmer 10 generally hear
~, Mholcsouled fellow, and not unfrequently a
man of some Imagination, especially if he de-
lights in buffettng the waves by himself on
stormy day, or diving deep in calm, where as
the sun streams down upon the rivers bed he
may glide with prying eyes upon the rocky bot
tom. II very fond OF the amusement, you may
depend upon it he is man Of sansuine temper.
ament and an ardent disposition. His mental
habits, however, are rather indolent. and he is
in general more fond Of imparing than acquiring
information. Byron and Shelley are the two
most intellectual lovers of swimming OF whom
we have record. Swimmers are curious IN
coffee.
Allied to swimming, are sailing and rowing
Men of mercurial disposition are frequently
mos, attached to the first; fondness for the last
generally goes with minds OF sober but rather
social cast, 1t requires some resolution to mas
ter the art, and feeling of good fellowship to
keen I'D its exercise afterwards. Many, howe
yer, become extravagantly fond OF the amuse-
ment: and we have seen those who would take
up a new oar as tenderly as it it were sentlent
being, and as the sprinsy aud taper ash would
culver in their hands, gaze upon its slender anu
beautiful proportions with the same eye that
lover regards the figure Of his mistress. upon
the peculiar traits of those who are fond OF row.
ing. we could give the reader much Information,
but as he is already tired, we will only say, that,
though much given to the vice OF punnlng-from
the technicaIs Of his diversion offering strong
temptation to make a play upon words-a sood
rover is generally decent giee singer, anu
very fair judge OF claret,
Shooting, Billiards, cards, fencing and loot
bali, we must take another opportunity to descant
upon; though with the ingenious hints we nave
dropped to the reader, he doutless finds hi'nsei
fuIly able to carry out our system to any length,
and come to ready estimation of the characters
of all his acquaintance. In applying this key,
however. to The female disposition, he may be
more uuzzled; though we do not know why, TOR
what tastes can be stronger index 10 the gen,'e
and refined disposition OF the owner, than tne
amusementof cutivating plants, or sketching Tor
instance; or what more readily reveal the dehc'eh
cies of nature or the defects ct nurture. than an
immoderate love of-of--of what! How Shall
we finish it? BY letting the sentence stand ex'
actly as it is, and allowing each to hill up the
blank with the foible which is most his aversion.