The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-05-28
MISCELLANEOUS.
'' From the american Museum. "
THE HANDSOME STRANGER.
ANOLD GENTLEMAN'S STORR.
BY MRS. EMMA G. EMBURY.S


1t was fine spring morning, some years
since that found myself in one of those NUS
ances, which, for the convenience OF the patient
public, so long piled between New York and
Long Island. | mean an old Brooklyn steam
boat-now, thanks to the enterprise of few in
dividuals, repaced by commodious and neat
ferryboats. As it is my disposition to seek al
ways for the hidden good in every apparent evil,
a nd tr3n lt l ast ADJUSTMENT turned my aten-
ton TO the study of the human face divine, as
exhibited in the dirty, crowded cabin. in such
assemblasc as is usually found in such places.
;here must be- of necessity, Il large proportion of
insignificant, inexpensive, and disagrceable
countenances but the eye that seeks for the
beautiful and The good, can seldom roam through
crowded circle without finding, at least, one
brow on which t may rest with pleasure. On
the morning in question, was struck with the
exceeding beauty of head nearly opposite me.
A group of two or three persons stood between
me and the individual that had attracted my at
tention. so that i could see nothing but the head
and certainly never saw more exquisite
specimen of male beauty. 1t seemed like Nivi-
fication of one of Vandyke's maguG cent por-
traits The dark clear compeXion-the finely
chselled features-the superb curve of the Grim
son lips--the broad arch of the expansive fore
head, and the full, dark eyes, lighted up with an
all most dazzling brilancy, formed combina-
ton of beauty, such as the old Italian masters
may have sometimes beheld, when Venice was
the ocean queen, ;; and her children among the
fairest and noblest of the earth. The eyes were
apparently fixed on the glimpse of blue sky vis-
BILE through the narrow window, while the mar
bile stiffness of tie countenance, and almost rigid
tranquility of the features, make me feel as it ]
was, in very truth, gazing on some wondrous,
triumph OF the painters art While i looked,
sudden turn of the boat brought the full glare
Of the morning sun directly upon those sngu'
lar eyes, but the radiance, which fell with almost
| 4 a. ~
seemed 10 be to him but as the light of Earth
ing candle his glance qualled not for an in
slant even when il met the blaze the meridian,
sum- My imagination was busily employed IN
in weaving fancy web of romantic history, for
this rarely gifted individual. But was suddenly
recalled to every day life by the arrival Of the
boat at the ferry and the usual scramble 10 get
on shore / then perceived that this rnagnifi-
cent head had actually been wasted upon II
miserable, shrunken, crooked figure, that night
have personated Richard the third, as Stephen
Kemble is said 10 have play ed Falstaff "wliioGt
stuffinr., He was evidently "an unfortunate
gentleman.' His habilinents had certainly rot
been "naae to order, and had long since lost a !
claim to the gentility they might have possessed
when he received them in all the gloss OF a Cha
than street rfaccimento. Altogether he was
strange anomaly. lfa whimsical sculptor should
have Joined the god like head OF Apollo to the
distorted body of Vulcan, the effect could
scarcely have been more grotesqnc. amused
myself as walked up Fulton, with endeaVoring
TO form some idea OF what possible use the rare
gift of beauty would ever he to this stray walf
Tuon the world but could fancy i: of no 9TH
| err utility than to excite tho sympathy OF some
good natured serving wench, when at some fu-
| ture day its possessor accompanied Otd lays 10
| Bridewell.
Abou, two years afterwards, was spending
few weeks ut the Springs, when the little com
| munty of fnsiionables was thrown INTO COM
motion by the arrival of splendid carriage,
with outriders said TO contain Son Altesse the
| Duke del Pionbino. Any one that has ever
spent week at Saratoga, will not easily forget
| the.almos insane passion which is there cxhlb-
| tied for foreign fashions and above all, for Tor
eign titles. In fact have heard j, seriously as,
serted that n well trained ourang- ouirang, fur
nished with title a. passport and meers-
| chuutn as an an excuse for his silence, might
obtain access to the chest society, OF even our
| own proud city OF Gotham without much dIffi :
Gully. The arrival OF the Duke del Piombino
created of course very great sensation and
many an old-fash;oned papa was teazed INTO q
| promise of making an effort 10 compass the
Dukes acquaintance in the course OF the day,
| that their daughters might have the honor OF
his hand in the evening dance. Nevcrhad Sur
/ atoss beheld more splendid galaxy OF beauty
than tina; which graced The ball that night But
alas the blaze OF charms was poWerless. Inc
| Duke was not present. Indeed his hghiess
| seemed determined to disappoint all calculation
For three days he was too unwell TO leave his
room; and innumerable were the stohe bottles OF
Congress water that were carried to that honored
APARTMENT For three days his own six servants
and about half dozen others belonging 10 the
house, were kept constantly employed in atten
dance upon him. In the meantime curiosity 9s,1
: was excited to an almost painful degree. The
femmes de chambre belonging 10 the establish
ment enteavored to learn something from his
servants, but with little success. His coachmer
and outrders were mere Irish bostlers picked VI
HE of giving any Information, stuff, formal En-
pIlshsnsn with a strongly marked Jewish ply,
Fl siognomy, only stated that his master ha" LEI
Europe incognto to avoid notorety.
On the evening of the third day he appeared
AT the tea table. Every eye was hXed upon hiti
, ne he en,ered the room. and even the gentlemen
} acknowledged that he was well worthy OF atten
ton He was alfred in the rich uniform OF az
: Austrian Colonel of Hussars,and short Span'si
cloak of black velvet such as we oi;er gee II
81,