The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the U. S. Journal.
The Four Master Spirits.


Happening to cast my eyes over the
portraits in q gallery Of paintings, |
remarked that they were so arranged
as to give four personages--Alcxan-
dor, Hannibal, Crsar and Bonapartc-
the most conspicuous places. had
eeen the name before; but never did
o similar train Of recollections arise in
my bosom, as when my mind now has
tily glanced over the several histories.
Alexander, having climbed the dizzy
heights Of ambition, and with his tenn
plea bound with the chaplcts dipped in
the blood of countless nations, looked
down upon conquered world, and
wept that there was not another to
conquer, set a city on fire, and died in
disgraceful scene Of dcbauch.
Hannibal, after having, to the con-
aternation of Rome, passed the Alps
and having put to flight the armies Of
this mistress Of the world and strip
ped three bushels of gold rings from
the fingers of her aughtcred knights;
and made her very foundation quake
returned to his country, to be de-
famed, to be driven in exile, and to
die at last by poison administered by
his own hand, unlamcntcd and uuwcpt
in foreign cline.
Cesar, after having taken eight hun
dred cities, and dyed his garments in
the blood of his fellow mcn-aftcr hav-
ing, pursued to death the only rival he
had on earth-was assassinatcd bv
these e'consiGercd his nearest friends,
and at the very point in which he had
gained the highest object Of his ambi-
ton.
Bonaparto, whose mandates kings
and priests obeyed, after having filled
the earth with tho terror of his name
after having deluged Eul ope with tears
and blood, and clothed the world in
sackcloth-closed his days in lonely
banishment, almost exiled from the
world, yet where he could sometimes
see his country's banner waving over
the deep, but which would not or could
not bring him aid.
Thus those four men. who from the
peculiar situations Of their portraits
seemed to stand as representatives of
all those whom the world calls great
those four who made the earth trcn.
Die TO its centre-sevcrally dicd-onc
by intoxicatIon, the second by suicide.
the third by assassination, and the last
in lonely exile.
How vain is the greatness Of this
world! How fearful is the Gift of
genius, if it be abused! Who that is
now living would not rather die the
death of the humble, righteous man,
than that Of Alexander, Or Hannibal.
or Cesar, or Napoleon
~--~~~----->. 100. .--~----->~-~
ELEcrRIc1rY ExrRAoRDIsAuy-'Dur-
ing the past week. says the Edgefcld
-Adrertiser Of Thursday, we have been
visited with an enormous quantity Of
rain, accompanied by very severe
Lightning, &c. In one instance, three
points were stricken by the same pas
sage of electricity. These points were
ct intervals of two hundred yards in a
direct line. Mrs. Addison's dwelling
house Zone of the points, was consider
ably injured at one Of the corners. A
shop on Mrs. Labordc's premises was
the second point, and by this bolt We
regret to state that n negro woman
belonging to Mrs. B. was Killed.
young lady in the same room was We.
ry considerably shocked. The third
point was q tree in Gen. Bonham's
yard, aud here also negro was knock
cd down, but not seriously injured
.r, : ~-~~~~-~->--.e0e.--~~~-
So" The most striking illustration
of the saying, that the pith Of lady's
letter is in the postscript, which we
have ever heard of, was that of a young
lady, who, having gone out to India,
and writing home to her friends, con
cluded in these few words: 'You will
see by my signature that am marr-
ed!
DEATH FROM ToornAcIIE.-T
Poughkeepsie Press Of Monday gives
an account of singular death in that
place of q young man named Webster,
apparently about 81 years Of age.
lie came to that village suffering un-
dor toothachc, swellod face, &C. lie
had o tooth extracted, but got no relief,
ana continued to suffer most terribly
until death ensucd.
-~~~-~~-~--..-S~..-~-,>-
death OF CnILD BY RATs.-A
little child died in Boston, few days
ago, In consequence of rats entering its
cradle during the night, eating of one
OF its fingers, and gnawing in the flesh
ot its arm to the bone, III u most
frightill manner.