The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-06-24

the soldier the miner, the SEAMAN and Others will
prove, that hearts accustomed to look danger in
the face, fear exercises overwhelming powers,
because the being first TO discover the danger,
Its effect is proportionate 10 the experience or init
macy with the cause Of astonishment, and darkness
heightens the effect of fear, only because The senses
cannot act in conjunction with the understanding
flight be cast on the scene, the alarming objects,
If there be any, perceived and resistance is cal
culated accordingly. That there gradations of
personal courage, is certain as that there
rous degrees of strength, of experience, but tmid
persons, however they may have become so, have
objects OF terror ever preparing to destroy therpow
ers OF discernment. If any individual be selected,
possessed of health, moral courage and experience,
in all cases Of alarm his physical power assists his
mental energies, and he is not easily subdued
tainly there will be evident prostration of his
Outstanding. The cause Of yielding to imaginary
terrors, perhaps, may be traced through morbid
state of the nervous system, and ignorance of the
laws of nature, up to tales of supernatural appear
ance recited in the nursery. The effect is mental
slavery and from which there is no relief but in
animation of and effect in nature as leading
to a knowledge of natures God, where it will be
found there is so much to fill the mind with salts
faction and thankfuness, that there is no room for
imaginary terrors, nothing to dread save doing
wrong. Conscious III its integrity, the mind is un
cOnquerable.
The following anecdote founded on fact may be
related in illustration A young gentleman, whose
name was Lowry, had been brought up without the
intervention of nursery maid, because his parents
had experienced the sad consequences of frightening
children They resolved that the dawn of their sons
should not be overcast by the nigh, of super
stition, and that he should not become the slave of
imaginary terrors. lie was watched by his mother,
and instructed by his father, with the greatest atten
ton, until the age Of fourteen. He then passed into
tbp and ho Eoo
from the tongues of the ignorant, the avowal of
fears to which he was stranger. He smiled at
their tales, and laughed at the most horrifying incl
dents: they passed light across his mind the time
was passed for mental degradation to be fixed A
ghost more than fairy, griffin, sphynx,
or punch. They were all productions of various
ina ginatons.
Mr. Lowry, when about twenty years of age,
CHANGED to be at Hampton Court at a time when the
place was crowded to excess 1t chanced also, that
the chambermaid at the Toy Inn had relative who
was left in of suit of apartments in the place.
The girl, to oblige MIR. Lowry, 'and to put trife
into her relations pocket, arranged the affair. The
of apartments in the 'front.' on the left of the
ancient part built by Cardinal Woolsey. The en-
trance by stair, in the closter surrounding the
first quadrangle
To this lodging, about midnight, Mr. Lowry was
conducted by the Boots of the inn, and delivered
into the care of old Mary, the chambermaids aunt,
who, in order to render all comfortable as possible,
had lighted fire in the principal chamber and pla-
ced wax III ght on the table. Mr. Lowry was shown
in, with the assurance that all was perfectly aired
and bade good night. He proceeded to inspect his
room, which was spacious, having tapestry in the
different compartment of the walls, lofty bed, with
old fashioned damask furniture, and the floor cover
ed with modern carpeting. He sat down by the
fire, and made few notes in his pocket book, du-
ring which he heard noise which he thought was
occasioncd by movement of the bed curtains he
looked around and under the bed--all quiet. He
returned to his seat. The clock in the adjoining
court struck twelve. He wound up his watch, and
proceeded lesurely to undress, but the moon was
shining he looked out at one of the ancient case
nents, and observed the shadows of the tall trees
hat grow in the front court, between the trunks of
which he could the recently painted wooden
bridge that crosses the Thames to Mousley: he felt
he night air, and withdrew; put down the huge
night bolt at the door and climbed into bed. He
lad not been accustomed to down, and therefore
lisked being buried in luxuriance but he was
here, and anxious to sleep. A number of trivial
circumstances presented themselves to his minds
eye, and prevented repose. In vain he endeavored
10 free himself from interruption-they passed and
returned. He thought there might be too much bed
clothes, and threw off weighty counterpane butt
while composing himself, he heard gentle tapping
he listened attentively and concluded it came from
the spider-like insect called death watch. While
he yet listened, it became louder, approached the
bed. He sat up to ascertain this. Being vexcd by
the annoyance, he lay down on the ear with which
he heard most distinctly. Still the tapping noise
continued He left the bed, lit the candle, and APP
preached the spot whence the noise proceeded; he
could see nothing to cause it, and retreated to his
bed. The continuance of the tapping became disa-
greeable and irrtatng-he could not sleep. Again
he examined minutey every part, in the hope to dis
cover and crush his disturber. Nothing could be
found. He put out the candle, and slowly retreaed
to his bed again, convinced that the insect must be
i'll the lock of the door, and there it might remain
hammering. He would endure the disturbance,
since it could not be prevented-when, to his sur
prise, the bed curtain moved. He fixed his eyes on