The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-09-21

attraction Tor MN. Inc preceding yea
he had lived at Porto Rico, one of tn
Spanish isles in the great chain of tt,
American Archipelago. What had h,
done there! And why had he come bacl
10 Cuba?
George had in early youth felt a strong
prediction for the fine arts.
His first attempts in painting were 81
successful, that those who had already be-
gun the life of an artist and had cast lhei
eyes upon his drawings-many of them
sketches full of poetry, dreams that the
crayon ort he pencil had realized-saw in
him the promise of future excellence
They talked to him of Italy, and of the
necessity of going there to complete his
studies; but the school of Rome was in
his eyes of no advantage, except to one
who looked for promotion from the hands
of the director of the French Academy.
He thought the simple study of nature
was sufficient inspiration in every country,
with the difference, perhaps, that northern
countries having less vigorous, bold and
snowy scenery than Italy, present greater
obstacles 10 be overcome; and pursuing
his conviction, he though there were coun-
tries still more happily endowed than Italy
for the study of the picturesque, especially
those between the tropics. With the
scenery and sky of Italy we are familiar,
but in those lands beyond the sea there
are skies and landscapes still strange 10
| the European eye.
One day, then, he bid adieu to the city
of his love--to Paris-and rich in his
pencils, his crayons. his cartoons and his
albums, and rich in his anticipations of
the future, he sailed for Porto Rico. Of
all the beautiful Antilles, this island was
least visited by Europeans, and this was
reason enough 10 fix his determination.
Artists who are not mere copyisLs will
understand him.
Ia fact, no place can be superior 10
these colonies for inspiring the high poet
lc faculties. Here thousand virgin col
ors are spread on natures palette. Slave
ry prevailing everywhere gives rise to
thousand new emotions. You see a whole
race groaring under oppression and suf-
fering, and vengeance is smouldering in
the breasts of the feeble, like volcanic
fires in the bowels of the earth, and daily
threatening TO engulph the oppressors.-
How leaps the heart at the sight of this
deep degradation of man. Be you artist,
poet or philosopher, compare the mild
sufferings of old civilization with those
of this country, where you can not take
step without running against thorn which
makes the heart bleed.
George gave himself up entirely TO
these lively emotions. He wrote and
sketched by turns, under their powerful
inspiration.
In the midst Of his other poetic studies,
came also the poetry of love. 1t was
perhaps an evil day when he met Anita.
But God had so wlled it. She seemed
TO him the master.work of the American
creation. Never had his eyes rested on
form so Sigh: and agile never lad
figure so exact in its outlines stood before
him; but while he saw in her every per-
lection of material beauty, he saw TOO that
in her soul the fires of self-denial and
devotion burned inextinguishably. Anita
loved at once, not because to love is
general law, and she had before felt the
sentiment indifferently for all, and now
by chance for him who stood before her
but because she had formed in her fancy
beau ideal of a man, of which George
Was the impersonaton. Such women are
unknown in Europe. A woman loves a
man among US, because she is woman
and he is man. She loves because she
is eighteen years of age, and it is a rule
of society that she must then fall in love. !
George, with his poets soul and his
poets imagination, appreciated the heart
of Anita; love flashed upon him with all
the brilliancy of fame that has just
burst from its confinement. In France
he had dreamed of love--here his dream
was realized.
Do not swear that you will always love
me, said she. You see that | am nothing
but poor creole; if | believed in your
love, should live in the thought, but if
you should cease to love me should die.
Re-assure yourself; you are so beauti-
ful, so sweet, and there Is so much inteli-
gence in that little head, that you we'll
know, Anita, in my country men would
throw their fortune and their rank al your
feet.
Anita belonged to that class whom the
customs and laws Of the colonies hold in
an iron bondage. The sole advantage
that she possessed was, that she was free
as it is understood in that country, tina. is,
she had the right to dispose of her person.;
a master had not over her the absolute
right of life and death. George brought
up in France, a stranger to the notions
which govern the morals of these coun-
tries, could no, imagine a-single reason
why he ought TO reject the love of Anita.
Moreover, he sought in vain upon the
countenance Of this beautiful child the