The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-11-15
THE PHRENOLOGIST.
BY II. r. ADDISON, ESQ.

stances, all other subjects, save the one en-
crossing topic on which he was engaged.
His eve, wide dllated, saw no object save
the bright imagery created by his fertile
brain. Ills voice was impassioned. His
every pulse beat high. The professor. al the
,i,nc speak Of was just two and',hlrty,
and he ranked himself as the very leader
of Gall and Spurzhcm's energetic disciples.
On the subject of phrenoogy he was dis.
coursing when entered the dinning room OF
the Baron Hartmann.
|, was fine summer evening. Straw
berries and other fruits decorated the board.
The well ICED Juhannisberg, the cellar
cooled Laflte stood temp,ingly on a table,
around which about dozen young men.
with lac worthy baron and the professor,
sat,
1t appeared that, in the height of his en-
lhusiasln. Leyden had, to please the compa-
nv. examined their heads, and with many
wise looks pressed the bumps, which he dc.
clarcd to be The unerring indications OF The
human character aud passions. Some un,
fortunate wight in company. however, had
evidently shocked the examiner by dcm-
onslraton of wicked proPcnsitlcs. Tor ne
s,renuously refused on the occasion to pro-
nounce upon the several organs, declaring
he might give offence he might be wrong,
indeed i, NIGH, appear invidlous,' in short,
after making several excuses, the professor
sal down in mednalive silence; nor could
he again he brought to speak. save and eX-
cept upon The general merits of this system,
a subject on which he never failed to en-.
large.
1t is curious fact that never in my lie
heard the subject of phrenology br"ached
without laugh hcing raised at It's expense
which vcrv naturally annoyS the supporters
of this theory and brings on the warmcsl ar.
gumeni Ii was a discussion of this kl"d
that pr, baby had raised the lire, which
flushed the check Of Leyden on the evening
ofwhich | speak.
The conversation had now taken new
channel. A dreadful murder had been com
mi,lcd in the neishborhood OF the Black
Forest. A young girl had clopcd from her
parents some weeks before. The comPan-
ION of her flight was supposed to be Young
man who had been staying in the neIghbor-
hood; he had disappeared about the same
time. She had Just been found savagely
murdered, while the supposed partner ct her
guilt had re-appearcd. and declared that nc
had with difficulty escaped from the hands
of bandil,i, who had, without any apparent
motive. seized and imprisoned hun. To
prove this. heIshowed several severe wounds
which he had received in the successful
STRUGGLE he had with two OF tho gang IN his
cndcavour TO hberaic himself. Thus story,
however, appeared so improbable, that n"
belief was attached to it, and the young man
was hurried to prison, there to abide his trI-
al.
This story had been repeated with pam
ful mnu,eness by Carl lioffenon, hand
some Young man, who bad lately arrived at
Baden, whose mIId and gentlemanly man-
ncrs had already won for him the golden o.
pinions of all the society assemb cd there.
No one was more pleased with him than The
old baron. Ii was even believed that he
ranked SO high in the good old mans "pln-
ion. tha, il was rmourcd he had proposed
and was actually accepted by Clara Hart
mann, with the full satisfaction ot her ialher.
Asa narrator, few could excel him. LIS
vivid descriptions lent life to his stories; and
when he chose (as on the present occaSIonl
he could harrow up tho nerves OF even the
most apathelic, by depicting horrors IN their
most O laring, most appalling colours.
One burst of in lignalIon, as he conclu.
ded. bespoke how truly he had interested
his auditory. A thousand exccral'ons were
hApcd upon tho head of the unhappy youth,
who appeared plainly, incontrovcrlIby, from
the details given thvt arl, to be the pcrpe-
traitor of the blood y deed. :. :,
.TlI sn tn sec his execution myself.
could enjoy the death lorluIes "f such
wretch Indignantly exclaimed tho Prince
Of Olsebach, q young Russian, as he took a
pinch of snuff, and handed to his next neigh
bour hrs splendid box, which dazzed the eye
by the rich.css ofthc diamonds encIrcIIns 1t.
sc such wretch existed on my estates,
I'd have him racked.'
And well would he deserve it, c"i-hear-
fed assassin chin,ed in another.
NAV he bc punished in The world to
comcr fcrvcnly calculated Carl
Nay, nay,' said the old baron, that is say
inp too much. 1t is true the man deserves
an earthly punishment; but you arc allow
inn your anger agains, vice my dear boy.
to carry you too Iar.' And the old noble
GOOD. .naturedv palrrd Carl on the arm.
Thus various subject were discussed and
argued; but during the while evening Ley
den spoke not a word. At last The hour for
breaking up arrived; and according to Ell,
ouelte the prince moved first. Ere he did
50, he requested the return of his slna:box.
The person TO whom he had handed it de-
cIarcd that he had passed it TO the next. who
in his turn denied all knowledge oft, as d'd
the rest of the company.
Every one had seen it, every one had