The Arkansas advocate., 1834-08-15


 pursue game to me more exciting, and productive of more vivid pleasure, with less fatigue; which latter l know not how any man of sense and calculation can love for itself: so make time, as others do, for other amasements-ehacAn q son gout- they have theirs, and have mine."
 felt disgusted and offended at this speech, ia which levity, insolence, ssd igt. morality were so unblushingly displayed, and l was thinking how might best put in some observation that would at least re- lieve me from the painful sensation which this exhibition of amproroked licentiousness produced within me; but looking at my si- lent companion, to observe how he had ta- ken this lively sally, was diverted from my 1 purpose, and my attention became entirely 1 fixed upon him. The blood rushed to his forehead, his eyes flashed, and, with a voice indicating hardly suppressed passion, he burst forth-''I trust, sir, l may be permit ted to remark, that your gay rhetoric has taken turn that, ill common justice to yourself, at least hope so. a ought not to have taken. Yet it IS too much to suppose l that you meant merely as joke, what you have just now been saying. have strong feelings upon the subject, and I must con- fess that, so far from there being, in my opinion, any just comparison between lib- ertine pursuits, which men sometimes have the misfortune to fall into, and the other amusements which you have so unaccount- ably classed with them-I should say, SUD- posing both to be systematically pursued, i that there was just as much difference as there Is between healthful exercise, or harm less idlencss, and deliberate scoundrelism. :" There was something in the emphatic manner with which this was said, that pro- dueed silent attention from every one Tn the room. Every word, although uttered, as I have said, in suppressed tone, as if the speaker had been struggling against greater explosion of wrath, was heard by all as distinctly as lt was possible for aftsc- ulate sounds to fall upon the ear. The per- feet silence winch followed, although but momentary, was very embarrassing. The gentleman who had undergone the reproof, arose, his handsome features assuming an aspect perfectly satanlc-wrath was burn ing on his brow, and fury and revenge alar- ed from his eyes. Our host laid his hand upon his guests arm as he arose, as if de- precating any expression of yiolence.- This appeared to make hlm hesitate for . moment; the flush of anger gave place 10 a cloudy paleness, over which he forced she appearance of smile, and saying merely to my companion, who had addressed fiIn, We shall talk of this, sir, at another ip- portunity," he. resumed hia seat, ssl .,'e ssis mediately essaved te g,se new turn 70 the conversation. In this he succeeded better than might have been expected; and, tho there was not the same freedom of conver- sation during the rest of the night that there had been before, the society was, to my thinking, none the less agreeable, snd We did not break up until the small hours of the morning.
 The severe rebuke administered 10 the gay gentleman by my serious companion, ] led me to address him. l assured him that 1 sympathized fully with all he had said, and that he had anticipated that which 1 wished to have said myself, if l could have hit np- on a method of doing so without appearing to make personal charge.
 "Then you think me wrong, doubtless,' ? said he, "for have not made something like a personal charge z"
 1 Something very like it." replied, "and yet do not think that those who are criti- cally skilled in the nice distinctions between personal and general observations would so construe it.o
 "I am not sorry" he rejoined, "to have said what felt to be true in such cause; but already feel that ought to have bet ter considered several collateral matters before took upon myself to speak as did in this place. 1 may have given pain and upeasiness to my friend, who very pressing ly invited me here to night. l had no right to do that"
 Nay" I said, "he is too just and vel ptincipled himself, not to feel that the faul was not with you, but in the occasion given f But you do not seem well" added, seeing my companion put his hand to his throb- ping temples, as if Tn pain.
 "No," he replied, "not quite well. Blu 1t signifies little--I ought to have remained at home to night, as l have for long time and ought not to have drunk wine; bu it is too late to decide upon these things | now"
 After an interval of silence, the conver. sation was commenced anew in more cheerful tone, upon general subjects; ane the more heard of my new friends re-
 narks,. the better reason l had to admire , the virtuousness of his sentiments and the ,rinnr and nrac6. with which he eynressef