Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-12-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Poughkecpsie Telegraph.
JUDICIAL INFLUENCE,

mOQuS Operandl or that celebrated eStaD-
lishment. On the bench sat Judge
H., whose locks exhibited the fros-
ty touch of age; upon his left sat scribe;
and on one corner sat that efficient police
officer, Mr.. H. On one side within
the bar was motley group of nearly all
conditions and sexes, either seeking or
dreading justice. Among them was a
young girl, apparently about eighteen
years old, whose sad countenance betray
ed the operations of the canker-worm of
grief within; yet among all the Inca
ments of misery bright traces of beauty
were mingled. Her bright black eyes
were full of the gush of anguish, as the
clerk called her name for examination at
the bar. We shuddered at the inhuman-
ity which marked his address as he sum-
moned the frail creature before the Judge,
but the reflection that constant collision
with such beings, and the pcrplexities at
tendant upon his profession steeled his
heart readily pardoned his seeming want
OF feeling. The examination soon prov
ed that she was one of those unfortunate
creatures, who in an unguarded moment
had devlated from the track Of virtue, and
had troll among the dark and dreadful
scenes of moral debasement.
"Who arrested you?'' said the judge
mo one" said she, with sob.
"WhY came you here?'
" | am sick-none will shelter me-
and | came here for relief"
"Your illness is the effect of wicked
ness said the Judge sternly. 1--WE will
give you home. Mr.. Clerk, make out
mittimus for her commitment to the
penitentlary for three MONTHS
The clerk obeyed, while the poor crea-
ture leaning her head upon the bar, pour
ed forth the tears of misery and undoubt-
ed contrition. While the clerk was exc
cutting the order for the imprisonment of
that tfrail being, the colloquy between the
Judge and the police officer referred to, af-
forded a melancholy comment upon the
wea kness and depravity of human nature,
and induced a train Of reflections which,
with us stript the Judge of all his official
dignity, bereft him Of the sacredness of
his character, and placed him rather in
the light of criminal than minister of
justice.
"Were you at the Park Theatre last
EVENING"" inquired the Judge of the 20
lice officer
" | was" responded he, land was high
Iy delighted with Power, in the character
of King O'Ncil."
THAT is a most admirable piece, and
Just suited to Powers talents" saidthe
Judge. :" was there on Wednesday eve
ming: and was never more delighted in
my life. Every man of taste ought to
patronIze Simpson. He employs the Lest
actors, and gets up the best dramas ofany
manager In the city. l am pleased to see
his house so crowded night after night
it is an evidence that our citizens appre-
clate him. Here, Constable R.,
here's your warrant; take charge of the
prisoner" and the poor, heart broken girl
followed the officer, while her convusive
sobs were audible till she left the stems of
the piazza.
All thought we, what a melancholy
lesson have we learned in few short
minutes. How many thousands of the
abandoned wretches of our land can point
to their first visit to theatre as the era
commencing their depression from virtue,
Perhaps that very girl whom we saw con-
demned to prison was once the sweet hone
of fond and doating parents, who watch
ed over the years of her childhood, and
saw the development of her charms with
feeling allied to Devotion and daily kneIt
at the altar Of prayer, and supplicated the
protection of Heaven for the guardianship
OF that rosebud of promise. Perhaps in
an unguarded moment yielding to the i'm
portunities of her inexperience, thew took
her to view the gaudy paraphernalia ofthe
opera, the drama, the splendor ofvbich.
and the distorted and voluptuous picture
of society when portrayed upon the sage,
with levity approaching to open licen-
tIousness, infused into her young heart
the sweet poison, intoxicated her senses.
and listening with rapture to the svren
song of pleasure, she sprang from their
embrace and leapt into the midst of the
votaries of vice. Having run a short "a.
reer OF crime, she appears before a Judi
clal tribunal to ask for mercy, but she is
beyond its reach, and the prison mnst he
her penltent chamber With what feel
lnge of anguish does she revert to the
hour when the poison entered her be.r
and wlthered every hope and promise 49,
How like charnel house to all vb;ob
the heart can claim as lovely and good
does she view that splendid temni I 81
wlckedness, where first she heard tho
notes Of the charmerl And vet, from ,s
lips OF minister of justice, an ayowad
and sworn supporter ofthe, public mol
a man whose head is blossomino for a ,hs |
tomb, and who should devote the ra :, ine
der ofhis few short DAYS to tie nra ,smaln-
81 81 virtue and morality, from his yery l;na
sne hears that temple Of pleasure e.,.i, Ups