Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-26
M fsreIIa Mp.
From the Western Literary Journal.
A "REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD BA.
CHELOR.


"Yet what BOOTS it now to tell."-BrRoN.
sven you feels viveish, Samvel, especially for
a yidder, don't hang yourself, that's vulgar, but
20 into closet and take pizen, and you'll feel
Slad Of it afterwards. n-PicKwicK.
at we're a real increase Of human hap
piness," observes Carlyle, "could all young
men from the age Of nineteen be covered
under barrels or otherwise rendered invi.
sible, and there left 10 follow their lawful
studies aud callings, till they emerged sad
der and wiser at the age Of twenty-five;
such gawks are they, and yet with such a
vulturous hunger for elfindugence; so
obstinate, obstroperous, vaingloriousi in
all senses so froward, and so forward"
1.-THE most wretched period of this most
wretched age, we left our Alma Mater for
dive into society before settling down IN
a profession. Without settled principles
or opinions, with no correct idea of the
world, but with firm belief that dissi.
pated life was Paradise regained, in
which wine and women, balls and buggies,
cards and cigars, aoated confusedly IN our
fascinated imagination, with no control
over our hands and feet, we were turned
loose upon the community At large. Ever
memorable times! Bright, yet ruinous!
The day, at least SO much Of it as we per-
mitled to sec our valuable person out Of
bed, was passed in loafng in coffee houses
or nne-pin alleys, or driving last troitng
horses; while the evening found us asso'
ciated with others Of like age and charac-
ter, at the theatre, or any other place oil
amusement that would release us late at
night to cards, hot punch, broiled bones,
and perhaps broken heads or the watch
house. How such life would have ter
minated can only be imagined, for we were
arrested in mid career. Gentle reader
we fell in love!
Much has been said, sung, and written
upon this matter Of love, and all TO little
purpose. That it is disease, all admit
A disease incident to early youlh--inci.
dent to the "barrel age" and fatal to old
men. Like the measles and the whoop-
ing cough, it seldom attacks more than
once, and the older the victim the more
dangerous. II ruins the health Of the bo-
dy and affects the mind. But the cure
what is the curel And here all differ
Some seek in travel a remedy--others take
to Byron and drink, and thereby prolong
their misery. There is but one cure
Let the patient eat--eat any thing and
every thing-eat with all his might--and
viands and disease will disappear together
Twas at party we were first attacked.
We came in late, with goodly quantity OF
bad champagne in our weak head, just IN
The situation to be easily assailed by the
disorder, and we met il near the entrance.
Mephistopholes, we are told, after leaving
the witches den with Faust, remarks that
bis companion is just in the situation 10
think the first woman he met an angel
From this we gather that the doctor was
drunk. We were tipsy on thatmemorable
night, and through sort OF clOudNaw our
angel, seated at the piano. We took 0
lean upon the mantel, and a long stare a
the divinity before us, for once forgetting
our hands and feet. We saw multitude
Of silken rinpleis falling over a marble
brow, and shoulders Of snowy wilderness.
We saw eyes--full, glorious eyes, thai
welled forth untold and UNRELIABLE feelings
We saw a figure beautifully rounded, Iigh
as a fairy. And then, oh! We gods, those
hands, small, plump, deicateIy moulded,
, that seemed hike gemmed insects, or raihel
beautiful birds, TO hover and hutter ovel
tho ivory keys, charming music from TIC
instrument they scarcely seemed 70 touch
Such execution was seldom heard on