The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-31

toilet regulations. Her favorite winter at
tire was white flannel cloak lined with
scarlet. She delighted in tartan boots and
when ] last heard Of her, she had JUS. hor-
ri6ed the ladies Of the nsighborhood by
trimming her bonnet with broadcIoth.
Perhaps the most ordinary and unobtru-
sive form Of eccentricity is favoritism with
regard to certain articles. There was a man
of rank some years ago ia Paris. known
TO his acquaintance by the soubriquet Of
the shoe gatheser, from his habit Of heap
ing up boots and shoes, new and old, ill a
large room in bis residence was necessarily
set apart for the purpose OF containing them;
and he was said rarely 10 have passed a
shop of the kind, without ordering home an
additional supply.
A clergyman of my native village, took
a similar delight in wigs; and hundred and
fifty time defiers, as a London wit designa-
ted those articles. were sold by auction on
the good mans premises after his DEATH
The rarest instance Of this description | ever
knew was that of farmer whose enthusi-
asm rested on pots. He bought them. large
and small. on every possible pretext, to the
confusion OF the kitchen-maid and the an
noyance OF his helpmats ill the latter
having a small taste of the Tartar in her
composition, at Length declared war against
pot metal, and eventually won the day so
far, that, on her husbands occasional visits
to the nearest market town, she was wont
to shout after him the following adjuration.
Mind, bring no pots home with you'll Her
Injunction was generally obeycd, for the lady
might not be provoked with impunity. But
when supernu meIary dram warmed the
farmers fancy, it would sometimes revert
to the ancient channel. and he has been
known to deposit pot or two at neigh
boring cottage, as the dread of probable con-
sequences occurred with the sight OF his own
chimney smoke.
Some persons are eccentric in their curl
osity, and troublesome kind of oddly it
is at times to their neighbors, as they are
APT to ask all manner Of inconvenient ques-
tons. A family dispute, lost situation,
or a failure in business, is among their cho-
sen subjects; and by way OF securing au-
thentic information, they make point OF
applying to the parties most concerned 1t
was genius OF this order who. when Tai
leyrand was dismissed from office by the
Emperor, sent him long letter explicitly
detailing all the reports in circulation against
him. and concluding with polite request
to be informed which Of them was true. A
similar character on our own side of the
British Channel one day mistaking Tyrone
Power for captain Of his acquaintance
who had Just Quilted the service under
equivocal circumstances. seized the comedi-
an by the button at Charing Cross, with,
oh, Captain Blake, | was sorry to hear
it-'pon my honor. was-but were you
actually cashiered for cowardice?'
Il have not the honor to be Captain
Blake, SIR said Power, still led along by
the button; and when you meet that gen
tleman, ! advise you not to press the ques.
tion.'
'why, said the blunt of brain, could mt
he tell me best?'
'Ah, yes, my dear fellow responded
Power, benevolently; but he might kick
you.'
Probably the most eccentric expression
Of grief recorded is that Of Madame du Def
fand, Of Walpole notoriety, who, being in
formed in the midst Of large party, that
one Of her friends had died some hours be-
fore, calculated, 'Helasi shall not be able
to take any supper?
Eccentric prejudices are comparatively
common; one occasionally meets with indi-
viduals who regard the use Of animal food
as the cause Of all the ills that flesh is heir
TO; and a gentleman, formerly residing in
Kent pu: his confidence entirely in turnips
as their universal remedy. Constitutional
antpathies, or affinities, unaccountsble as
they are in themselves, would perhaps az
count for these notions, as well as for those
eccentric preferences Of sights, sounds, and
odors, which are otherwise inexpiicable.--.
Persons have been known to dislike the
smell Of roses, and rather prefer that OF gar.
lie; others have relishei the rasping Of
file; and the Dutch doctor who saw moth
ing in all Paris TO admire but the SHAMELESS,
udc 0OuOtiCcc III many
There are, however, peculiarities Of taste
which have their origin in the higher ground
Of our nature, and belong to minds of
finer fabric. Charles Lamb confessed that
he admired a squint, because girl to whom
he had been attached in early life squinted
prodigiously; and a lady of my acquaintance
once thought club-foot interesting, from
similar recolleclions. Ii is strange how
seldom eccentricity takes an elevating or
even an agreeable form; odd ways are rarely
those OF pleasantness. or peace either: though
many Of the world notables have INDUCED
in them, as stands recorded by better pens
and ampler pages than mine. II is not al.
ways genius that makes e'ne differ from his
neighbors, but some heavy strength Of char
acter. considerable obstinlcy, and, at times,
right royal virtues, may be found among
the oddfellows Of creation.
One OF the best-principed women ever
knew, was possessed with restless anxiety
to learn not only the CHRISTIAN names of
every person she CHANGED to encounter, but
those of all their relations in the ascending
line. Her inquiries. which were vigorously
pushed forward in all companies, created
most ludicrous annoyance to the parties in
terrogated, though | cannot recollect an in
stance Of her getting beyond her great-gand.
father.
Ii has been observed that singular tastes
and habits are less frequently found among
Il