The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-01
From cham5vs' Edinburgh Journal.
LOVE AT ONE GLIMPSE.

Some years ago. there used 10 be pointed out upon
the streets Of Glasgow, whose intellect had been
unsettled upon very strange account When youth.
he had happened 10 pass lady ded thorough
hre--s lady whose extreme beauty though damned by
the intervention Of veil, and seen but moment made
ibdeIhlc impression on his mind This lovely vision
sh0l rapidly past him. aud 10 instant Lost amidst
tho co,,nonl place crowd through which il moved lie
eonlon,ded ny The tumull Of his feeling. that he
cond not pursue. or even attempt 10 see Il again Yet
he never afterwards forgot IL.
With mind full Of distracted tbongbts and heart
alternately filled win gushes Of pleasure and PAIN the
man sosy lett the spot where he had remained Tor
some minutes. rs II we're, thundersirock. He coon
after, without being Of what he wished or what
he doing found himself again 81 the place He
came 10 The very spot where he had stood when The
lady passed, unused for time about II, went e
distance. aud then up when he met The exqui-
size sntect Uf his reveTie-unconsciousy drl"diog
himself with tho idea thai this might recall her tue
spot She came not he felt disappointed, he tired
again; still she did pass tie continued 10 traverse
The place m evening, when The streets became deserted
By aud by he was left altogether alone He then
that al his oud efforts vain, aud he left the silent,
lonely midnight with soul as desoate as that
gloomy terrace.
For weeks afterwards he was never out Of the streets
He wondered hlher aud ihher, often visiting the place
where he had first the object Of his distracted
thoughts as If he considered that he had better chance
F eng her there than any where else. lie ffeqnenItd
every place Of public amusement TO which he could
purchase the admission aud he made The tour OF oil
The churches All WAS In vain. He never again placed
his ewes on that angelic conntensnce. She was ever
present TO his mental optics, but she never appeared
agaiu in tangible form. Wnhou. her essential pre-
sence, oil the world beside TO him blank, viii
derness.
Madness invariably takes possession Of the mind that
broods much over lnng upon some expressing
idea So did prove with this singular lover. lie
grew innocent as the people Of this country tenderIy
phrase IL. His insanity however, was little more than
mere abstraction. The course Of his mind was stopped
al particular point Afler this he made no further
progress IN any ip,cectual attainment. He acquired
no new IDEAS His whole soul stood still. Tie was
like clock stopped at particular hour, wnh some
things TOO about hun, which. Ike the notioness IN
dccs Of that machine pointed on, the date Of the inter
ruption; as, for instance, he ever alter wore pecn-
Iiary long -hscked and high necked coat, well
nee kclo,h with particular spot being the fashion Of
the year when he saw the lady.
Inderd. he u Of living memorial Of the dress,
gait, aud Of former day II evident that
he chung with degree OF fondness to every thing which
bore relation the great incident Of his life Nor
could he endure thing that tended la or to
from hts recollection that glorious yet neldn
chply circumstance. He nd The same feeling OF ven.
Grafton for that day. the circumstances and Tor himself
he then existed, which caused the chvalrons lover
Of nner times TO preserve upon his bps. long as he
could the imaginary delight which they had drawn from
the touch Of his MISTRESS hand.
When last saw this unfortunate person. he was
getting old. aud seemed deranged than formerly
Every female whom he met the street, especially If
At all good hooking he gszed with inqniring.
ions expression aud when she had passed, no usually
stood still few aud unused, with his cast
upon The ground II was remarkable that he gszed most
anxioisy npon women whose age and figures most
nearly resembed those Of his unknown mistress at the
time he had her, and that he did not appear to
make allowance for the years that had passed since his
ewes met that vision This was part Of his madness.
Strange power Of love- Inoomprehenslblc mechanism
Of the human heart