The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-10-31
Miscellaneous,
Captain Hardcastle ofthe Snap
dragon, or Who's the Coward.

BY HAwsER MARTINGALE.
Facts occur every day, which prove that it
simpossible to Judge ola mans character
from his face. The features, and indeed the
general expression ofthe features, are but
Seble and often erroneous index of the feel
Dps, the principles, the taste or the occupation
ofthe individual. The game may be said of
the general department lfa man is courte-
Gus in his manner, bland and affable, it does
not follow that his heart overflows with the
milk oGbuman kindness-while on the other
hand, we often find beneath rough exterior,
and boorish and perhaps repulsive manners,
feelings and principles which do honor to hui
man nature.
Darlington, the noted pickpocket, charmed
all that did not know him, by the elegance of
his address, and the honesty of his counte-
nance-while the present premier of Great
Britain, whose integrity and sincerity are
proverbial, but whose physiognomy is some
what repusive, is summed by strangers as
a suspicious claracter-as one who may have
lurking design on your person or your
purse, with whom it is desirable to have as
little social intercourse as possible.
The same rule will apply, though perhaps
not to the same extent, to the physical system
and we not untrequently meet with per-
son of huge frame, who is not remarkable
for physical strength, and is deficient in activ-
lily, energy and courage-while in slight but
symmetrical figure, we sometimes find extra
ordinary strength, power of endurance, and
physical energy.
There is now an officer in the United States
navy, whose figure is apparently slight, and
whom no one, from a casual survey of his
person, would suppose him 10 possess even
ordinary physical powers--but who in u trial
AZ Sfrn
met with his equal. 1t is related of him, that
once being on one of the "slips" in New York
he was witness to the brutal conduct and in
sulting language of n draynian,a huge Drawn
y rlftian, who imagined that his giant pro-
portions, gave him the right AS well as the
power To enact the part otthe blackguard and
the bully Lieut.. :. however was not of thar
opinion, and his Indignation being aroused.
lle interferred, and consequently drew rpon
himself volley otabuse, and the threat of n
sound whipping! AS he manifested no
terror at the threat, the fellow was about to
fulfil his promise, and lifted his whip for the
purpose, but before he could give the blow, S.
ryosupon him, aud the drayman greatly TO
his establishment, found hiinselfrolling i'm the
mud, with a severe confusion oil the side of
his head, He quickly arose, utering the
most dreadul imprecations, and actually
foammg with passion! He rushed like a mani
nc upon the man who had dared TO oppose
him. and who did not, greatly TO the terror of
the hYStanders, shrink from the rough encoun-
ter The struggle was hrief-hardIy min
nte elapsed before the overgrown bully was
laundering i'll the cold waters of the dock!-
When fshed out by the bontlnen, he looked
torlorn and crest-fallen indeed-and went
shivering about his business, mutlering to
himself 81 thought the fellow looked like a
t1nrcaa htH%
TAN hmScE" ...
so difficult it is 10 judge ofa mans char
meter from his appearance! Capt. Tobias
Hardcastle was another illustration ofthe cor
rectness of my doctrine. He was of medium
height, but rather slim, although graceful and
symmetrical in his person. His manners
we're excessively polite, his language courte-
GUS and refined on all occasions, g. he had as
many smiles and bows as French dancing
master. Besides, he seldom exhibited by his
manner or words, any undue excitement of
temper, but was ever the same, in language
and in looks, whether giving orders to his
mate to take in sail in squat, reproving a
seaman for msconduct,or greeting his friends
after long voyage at sea.
His daudlted costume and elegant demean-
or were calculated to mslead strangers with
regard to his true character---for no one
would suppose, that strength and activity sell
dom equalled, were attributes of his frame
or that his artificial exterior covered a spirit.
winch although generous and noble, would
NOT quietly submit TO insult or wrong. No
one would suppose that this dapper ,so1t-spok-
ell ell uim-look1ng gentleman, with jewelled
Hngers, and urbane department, ever had his
nahds to the elbow in a tar bucket. or was
known to be as good sailor as ever trod the
duarter-deck of a ship---that he was famous
h ~. maintaining discipline and order on board
f .s vessel and never came off second best
, mIa, any ofthe many pugilistic contests in
VIZ, ne nad been engaged
N Wneh capt Hardcastle was in the shin
t CO ne had as rough set of fellows
- 0IeW' as ever slung a hammock on
noaiu man OF war; or headed a revolt in a
merchant ship. Indeed most of them were
o,u man of-wars-men, full of the spirit of in
Ssupora'natIon and mutiny. On the second
uay aHef leaving port, having, as thew thought
~ studied the character of their offic-
''s; tney compared notes in the forcastle.
,nt say shipmaies,' said Jack Waghorn,
mnat 90 We think ofthe Captain? AS polite
40 sailor landlord, when he's after your
money Bet he's milk and water chan af.
;1 "i a'i-one Of them, suppose, what crept
~ at the CABIN windows. i venture Il, pronb-
10y mat we shall have no difficulty in ,nanac.
-"s nfn' IL we should have little bit of a rom
and ToW is pleasant thing on board shin
@1netlmes, especially when the skinner Is
more more ola dandy than sailor, -
sn res, growled out Bill Blodget, AN awkward
specimen sT of humanity, with biear eve. and
"nntlered visage; like little fun ofihat SORT
OCCASIONALLY, and the mate is a young man of
n nU iEorce. and dontsee the object of giving
t ISL, fellow handle to his nalne,or ticking
S M, on to hearty AYE, aye.'' M n
wa n o, lneIther.' chimedin Jim Sanford; IF |
Gko 'y suck together, we can do what we
IKE, and work as little as we please have tho