The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-11-25
A PAINFUL SPECTACLE.

We had the unhappiness to See sighl
on Tuesday, which is unfortunately too
common--thr possessor of fine and well
cultivated mind, dchascd to a condition
below tha. Of the brutes that perish. We
suppress names, because that he has
friends whose feelings arc tremblingly
acute to his disgrace; and because the
man himself in his lucid intervals, is pain
fully sensible Of the condition 10 which he
has reduced hiUs=lf. 1t Is unnecessary to
say that he is slave to The bnitle.
With face bruised by contact with
some obstruction in his dubious progress;
with coat torn nrary from his body,
and other parts of his attire dismantled,
hat beaten in, dirty linen, and his whole
pscson smeard ith The mud in which he
had been rolling, walked man, who, but
short time agn, had thousands hanging
upon the words, as they fell from his
, lips. lie has been popular lecturer, is
a close reasoncr, and an elegant writer.
lie has commanded the esteem and re-
spect of thousands; and lhereSlare those
living, whom no persuasion, short of that
Of the evidence Of their own eyesight,
would convince that he is the fallen crea-
ture which we have seen him. lie has
been accustomed to, and might still move
in the best socie,y-he prefers the dehase-
mcnt Of intoxicatinn.
Even in his degraded condition, he
seemed to us no less than master spirit
ruined. His intellectual countenance gave
an Impressive idea Of the capacity of the
gifts throws bv him unheadcd away; as
backened ruins denote the size, and init
mate The magnifcence of the building of
which they are the wreck. Liquor could
not Disguise his high forehead, nor could
drink entirely break the statcliness of his
carriag ge- But his fine eyes was dimmed,
and in its lack of lustre gave no express
sion. His lips, which in the human face
are scarce inferior to the eye in their Ca
pacity of expression, were half open and
filthy: illustrating that cruel but witty
pun Of Johnson, in the engraving where
he gives the drunkard's mouth as
breach in nature
For ruins wasteiul entrance.
The recking fumes Of alcohol issued from
the aperture from whence have so often
proceeded such words of wisdom as NIGH.
induce some modern painter to apply 10
him the old conceit Of bees lowering about
the lips Of the sage. The ruin is COM
pletc. We fear it is permanent and incu-
rable.
Only upon the evening previous, the
care and kindness of friends had replen-
ished his wardrobe, and put him in posi-
tion 10 appear respectable. But as 1.-the
dog returns to his own romit again, and
the SOW to her own wallowing in the
mire," the victim to a disgreceful passion
for drink, had in one nigh put himself in
wurse condition than that from which he
had been temporarily riscued. The friends
who had counted upon visit from RI.
tional man, fled at his approach, panied
and sick al heart. Reader, this is no fan-
cy sketch. The original Of it is in all
probability in duress at this momcnt a
portion Of that sweeping of the streets,
ar gathering which, the police Of city
s organised--a living mass Of physical
corruption and mental prostitution.
Were he the only sufferer. the subject
were less painful. But in distant city
wife sits-conscious Of her husbands fail
ings undoubtingly, but uncoscious of his
present condition. Who shall break it 10
her7 Shall she wait to hear of coro-
ner's inquest upon an unknown man,
identical in discri plion with him to whom
she is bound by the closest and tcnderest
iies-wi,h him who has sworn to cherish
and support hcr?, And his children
some oi whom can only lisp the name of
.father-are they to grow up TO learn that
he whom they must love and would fain
respect, is a by.word among men and
that tn" very blatkguard boys may throw
filth at him with impuaitv as he slaggcrs
through the streets! Are they to hear
that the tenderist mercy shown him by
our institutions, is his consignment 10 4
damp and cold cell in his insensibility-
there to awaken with all the horrors Of
hell on his soul, and all the types of it
present 10 his learfully excited imagina-
ton"
Let us suppose it possible that all in
brialing Substances could be annihila ted,
or pass from use like the thousands of
other things familiar to past generations,
but now forgotten. Would it be possible, i
think you, TO eonvice generation who