Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-05-05
THE1NAuauRAT1oN BALE.

THE INAUG RATION DALI.
In one of the city papers of Friday last,
is somewhat protracted and glowing |
account of this pageant, which winds up |
with the following affecting statement:
with the exception of one terrible
catastrophe, which happened at the very
opening OF the ball, and before the dane
ing had fairly begun, though naobserced
By the company, nothing happened to dis.
turb the enjoyments of the evening. The
catastrophe referred to was the sudden,
instantaneous death of Mr.. VIM. Parker,
who fell, Just as he had taken his place
ia consradance-and never spoke, moved
nor breathed afterwards 1t was probably
owing to some organic disease of the
heart; as he stood near the door, with no
crowd about him, and had not begun TO
dance. Not moment was lost In re-
moving him, and in less than three min
utes surgeon was at hand. Had he
fallen in the street. or at church, or In the
bosom of his family. he could not have
been more judicionsiy or promptly taken
care Of. But it was already too late-he
never moved nor breathed again. The
secret was well kept, as we have said
before-otherWise the ball would have
been broken up and the rooms deserted.
Sudden death speaks nothing for or
against mans character or the employ
ment in which it oyerlakes him. A
farmer may drop dead in the furrow, a
mechanic in his shop, the traveller on his
way, the Judge in his bed-chamber, the
minister in his pulpit. But when mem
Der of any associated body dies, either
suddenly or BY sickness, that body Instant
! ly suspends its business. When Judge
Barbour died, a few days ago, the moment
| the Court came together, the sad tidings
were announced by the Chief Justice, and
the Court Immediately adjourned. When
a member Of the National or State Legis-
1 lature deceases, Il is common, so far as
we know, 10 order an adjournment.
A court of justice, like the Supreme
! Court of the United States, before whom
such great and momen,ous Interests We're
pending, would be justified in continuing
its business, notwithstanding the. occur
renee Of such an event, if any body Of
men could. But we hear no complaint
of loss of time on this account. It is a
Icourse, which commends itself to the feel.
| ings of our common nature, besides being
consonant with the dictates of our holy
religion What is there in the nature
and influence of Ball. which render an
interruption, suspension or adjournment
to another evening. more deeply injurious
to the community. than the suspension oil
business, for similar event, by the high
est Legislative body or Judicial tribunal
of our landl "The secret was well
kept
What statement, in connection with
such fact2 But do its keepers" feel
satisfied? Have they no misgiVings as
they review the matter? Have they no
feeling that they ought to have paused,
and listened to the voice of Gods proyl-
dence, uttered in manner so solemn and
afecting2 Will the reflections OF those
from whom "the secret was kept, be
specially comforting2 Will they when
their thoughts shall revert to the scenes
of that night, from year to year, as they ap-
proach the goal of mortality, be thankful
for the ignorance in which they were
kept?-dancing, as it were, over new
/ made gravel
/ aO.herwise the Ball would have been
broken up ard The rooms deserted" Why!
/ Evidently because all would have felt the
propriety of breaking off If it were a
lawful business, and those engaged were
in the wav of their duty, there would have
been a conscious fitness in suspending it.
IF it were otherwise. conscience would
have acted with power irrepressible; and
mo sound Of the VOL, decorations pic
lures lights, or drapery,' no luxury Of
refreshment rooms could have detained
the company for single half hour. They
would have rushed from the place IN con-
lsternation. as the Israelites did from the
neighborhood of Korah and his company