Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-18
MlistrIlancOus,
The PhrenOlogist
BY II. r. ADDISON.

NEVER recollect a warmer enthusiast than
Professor Leyden. When he spoke, he seemed
10 forget all other worldly circumstances, all 9TH
er subjects, save the one engrossng topic on
which he was engaged His eye, widely dia-
ted, saw no object save the bright imagery Gre
aed by his ferule brain. His voice was impass-
toned. His every pulse beat high The pro-
tessor, at the time speak of, was Just two and
thirty, and ranked himself as the very leader of
Gall and SPurzheim's energetic disciples. On
the subject of phrenoogy he was dscoursing
when | entered the dining room OF the Baron
Hartmann.
and Other M fnits decorated the boaSd4 Tae we'll
iced Johannsberg and the cellar cooled Laftte
stood temptngly on table, around which about
u dozen young men, with the worthy baron and
professor, sat.
1t appeared that, in the height of his cnthu-
siasm, Leyden had, to please the company, ex-
amined their heads, and with many wise looks
pressed the bumps which he declared to be the
unerring indications of human character and
passions. Some unfortunate wight in company,
however, had evidently shocked the examiner
by demonstration OF wicked pppcnsItics, for
he strenuously refused on this OCCASION to pro.
nounce upon the several organs, declaring he
might give offence" he might bewrong," in.
deed it might appear invidious !" in short. after
making several similar excuses the professor sat
down in meditatlve silence, norcould he again
be brought to speak save and except upon the
general merits of the system, a subject on which
he never failed to enlarge.
1t is a curious fact, that | never in my life
heard the subject of phrenology brOachcd with
ont laugh being raised at its expense, which
very naturally annoys the supporters O this the
DRY and brings on the warmest argument. 1t
was discussion Of this kind that probably had
raised the fire which flushed the cheek of Ley
den On the evening of which speak,
The conversation had nov taken new chan.
mel. A dreadful murder had been committed in
the neighborhood of the Black Forest. "A young
girl had eloped from her parents some weeks
before. The companion of her Hight was sup
posed to be young man who had bcQA staying
in the ncighborhood he had disappeared about
the same time. She had beeni found savagely
murdered, while the supposed partner OF her
guilt had re1ppeared, and declared lhlt he had
with difficulty escaped from the hands of BAN
ditti, who had, without any apparent motive,
seized and imprisoned him. To prove Ibis, he
! showed several severe wounds which hdnad re
ceived in the successful struggle hehad had
with two Of the gang in his endeavor to llberate
himself. This story, however, appeared SO i'm
probable that no belief was attached Dit, and
the young man was hurried to prison, there to a.
! bide his trial.
This sad story had been related with painful
mlnuteness by Carl Holenon, handsome young
man, who had lately arrived at Baden, and whose
mild and gentlemanly manners had already won
for him the golden opinions of all the society as
sembled there, No one was more pleased with
him than the old baron. 1t was even believed that
he ranked so high in the old mans opinion that
it was rumored he had proposed and was actu-
ally accepted by Clara Hartmann, with the full
sanction of her father.
As a narrator, few could excel him. Hlsvvid
descriptions lent life to his stories; and when
he chose, las on the present occasion) he could
harrow up the nerves of even the most apOthet.
ic, by depicting horrors in their most glaring
most appalling colors.
One burst of indignation, as he concluded
bespoke how truly he had interested his audito.
ry. A thousand cxecrations were heaped upon
the head of the unhappy youth, who seemed
plainly, incontrovertibly, from the details gwen
by Carl, to bethe perpetator of the bloody deed
"l'll go to see the execution myself. Could
enjoy the death tortures of such wretch " In.
dgnantly exclaimed the Prince of Olsebach a
young Russian, as he took pinch OF snuff, and
handed tohis next neighbor his splendid box
which dazzled the eye by the richness OF The
diamonds encirclng it. "If such wretch eS
listed on my estates, I'd have him racked."