The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-20
From the Charleston Courier.
The Beautiful Maniac.
"The fire that on my bosom preys
Is lone as some volcanic isle,
No torch is kindled at its blaze
A funeral pile"

burg, there was iaoy Ctoooiy 'euou,
in the same car with ourselves. She
was dressed in the purest white, wore
gold bracelets, and evidently belonged
to the higher circles of society. Her
figure was delicate, though well devel-
oped, and exquisitely symmetrical; and
when she occasionally drew aside her
richly embroidered veil, the glimpse OF
the features which the beholder obtain
ed. satisfied him of her extreme lowell
ness. Beside her sat gentleman IN
deep mourning, who watched over her
with unusual solicitude, and several
times, when she attempted to rise, he
excited the curiosity Of the passengers
by OBTAINING her in the seat!
Outside the cars all was confusion; ;
passengers looking to their baggage,
porters running, cabmen cursing, and
all the usual hurry and bustle attending
the departure of railroad train. One
shrill warning whistle from the engine,
aud we moved slowly away.
At the first motion of the car, the
lady in white started TO her feet with
ono heart-pisrcing scream, and her
bonnet falling off, disclosed the most
lovely, and yet the most unhappy fea-
tues we ever contemplated. Her ra-
ven tresses fell over her shoulders in
graceful disorder, and clasping her
hands in prayer. What agony in that
look! what beauty, too, what heavenly
beauty, had not so much misery been
stamped. Alas! that one glance told
melancholy tale.
"-she was changed
As by the sickness Of the soul; her mind
Had wanderd from its dwelling, and her eyes
They had not their own lusue, but the look
Which is not of the earth; she was become
The queen of a fantastic realm, her thoughts
Were combinations of disjointed things,
And forms, impalpable and unperceived
ofothers' sight, familiar were to hers"
Her brother, the gentleman in black,
was unremitting in his efforts 10 soothe
her spirit. He led her back to her seat;
but her hair was still unbound, and her
beauty unveiled. The cars ratified on,
and The passengers in groups resumed
their conversation. Suddenly a wild
melody arose; it was the beautiful ma
MACS voice, rich, full, and inimitable.
Her hands were crossed on her heav-
ing bosom, and she waved her body as
she sung with touching pathos:
'.she is far from the land where her young hero
sleeps,
And lovers are round her signing,
Bu, coldly she turns from their gaze and weeps,
For her heart in his grave is lying!
She sings the wild songs of her dear native plans
Every note which he loved awaking-
All! little they think, who delight In her strains,
How the heart Of the minstrel is breaking!"
Her brother was unnamed, and wept
as only man can weep. The air chang
ed, and she continued:
"Has sorrow thy young days shaded,
As clouds o'er the morning Heet'
Too fast have those young days faded,
That ever in sorrow were sweet
II thus the unkind world wither,
Each feeling that once was dear,
Come, child of misfortune, come hither,
I'll weep with thee, tear for tear"
She then sung a fragment of the beau.
siful hymn,
"Jesus, laver of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly"
Another attempt to rise up was pre-
vented, and she threw herself on her
knees beside her brother, and gave him
such mournful, entreating look, with
a plaintive, "save me, my brother save
your sister," that scarcely passenger
could refrain from weeping. We say
scarcely, for there was one man twas he
q manO who called on the conductor
10 "put her out of the car" He re-
ceived the open scorn Of the company.
His insensibiity to such scene Of dis
tress, de6es belief: and yet this is in
every particular "an DER true tale."--
Should he ever read these lines, may
bis marble heart be softened by the re-
collection of his brutality!
Again the poor benighted beauty
raised her voice to one Of the most so.
lemn sacred airs:
20 where shall rest be found
Rest for the weary soulp'
and continued her melancholy chant
until we reached the steamer Mount
Vernon, on board Of which we descend
ed the magnificent James river--the
unhappy brother and sister occupying
the "ladies' cabin" His was sorrow
too profound for ordinary consolation;
and no one dared to intrude so far up.
on his grief as to satisfy his curiosity!
We were standing on the promenade
deck, ad:.airing the beautiful scenery of
thesriver, when at one Of the landings
Al 4