The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-12-12
Bn1.btASr EpARTEEs --The deXc.

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mind escapes from a seemingly hopeless
dilemma, is worth all the yestmcnts of
dignity which the world holds. It was
this readiness in rcpartec which con-
tinually saved Voltaire from social over
turn. lie once praised another writer
very heartily to a third person. 1t is
very strange was the reply, that you
speak so wcll OF him, ior ic says that
you are charlatan.' %" replied No.-
taire, 4 think it very likely that both Of
us may be mistaken Again, you
mnst all have heard the anecdotc Of tho
young gentleman who was discoursing
very doymatically about the appropriate
sphere of woman. 'And pray, SIR
screamed out an old lady, what :s the
appropriate sphere Of woman!' "a ce-
lcstial sphere, madam.' Robert Hall
did not lose his power Of rctort even in
madness. A hypocrital condolcr with
his mistortuncs once visited him III the
mad-housc, and said, in whining tone,
What brought you here, Mr.. IIall?'
significantly touched his brow With his
finger, and replied, 'What'll never
bring you sir,-too much brain a
rapid change from enthusiasm to non
chalancc is often necessary in society
Thus person one eloquently culoyiz-
iny the angelic qualities OF Joan of Arc,
was suddenly met by the pctulant qucs-
ton, What was Joan of Arc made of 2
she was Maid Of Orleans y Yankee
| is never upset by the astonishing. lie
walks among the Alps with his hands
i'll his pockets, and the smoke Of his ci-
gar is seen among the mists Of Niagara.
One Of this class sauntercd into the
Office Of the lightning telegraph. and
asked how long it would take to transmit
a message to Washington. Ten min
utcs,' was the reply. Il can'twait, was
the rcjoinder. Sheridan, who never
was without a reason, never failed to eX-
tricato himself in any emergency by
his wit. At n country house, where he
was once on visit, an cid .rly maiden
lady desired to be his companion in /.
walk. lie excused himself at first on
tho ground Of the badness of the wealth.
cr. She soon afterwards, however, i'll
tcrccpted him in an attempt 10 escape
without her. "Wcll,' she said. it is
cleared up, see.' why yes he an.
swcrcl, it has cleared up enough fol.
one, but not enough for tvo.' 1t was
| this readiness which made John Ran
aoll'h so terrible in rctort lie WAS the
Thcrsites Of Congress, a tonguc.stubbcr.
No hypcrholc of contempt or scorn
could be launched against him, but
be cou!l over top it with something
more scornful and ccntcmptuous. Op,
position only maddcncd him into more
brilliant bitterness. 1snt it u shame,
Mr.. President, said he one day in the
Senate, that the noble bulldogs OF the
administration should be wasting their
precious time in worrying the rats oi
the opposition. Immediately The Sen
ate was III an npvoar, and he was clam.
orons'.' called to order. The presiding
officer, however, sustained him; and
| pointing his long. Skinny fingers ut his
opponents, Randolph screamed -a"3
'ratS, ni ! say! MIc4 mtce.
TuRF.s,,,ox mD.Gor,,;,, f., i ,s or,o,
Inc fashion ~ hronty ,hr fnsh;nn ,nI
tLc;r ,,,,,;,, =, ;n,..,s, mr nn,',i';, I'.
ancc, hIibcs ,hcir understanding to dis
believe even their senses. II clcanli-
ness is tie fashion, then cleanliness is
admired; if dirt, lair powder, and po-
niatum, are the fashion, then dirt, hair
powder, and polnatum arc admired just
as much. if not more, from their being
disagrccahle. The secret is, that fash
lon is initiating in certain things that
are N our power and that are nearly
Indifferent in themselves, those who pos
scss certain other advantages that are
not in our power, and that the posses