Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-19
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Monsieur Maurice, the wc1thy Mayor Of Geneva,
Ind given MS anote of introduction to Madame de
staei, and we set out, in Doiture de place, we
had hired for the occason. ysither, at her Cha
tsaii of Copet, some nine often miles from town.
MY companions were the very opposite of each
other.-A free and easy, unpublished, though ia
Tented, Kentuckian reserved, elegant, and &c
complished lordling. Both were young neither
llavingyet attained to mans estate but hoy diff
ferentin every particular of manner, sentiment,
and condition
The American was fair specimen Of native
spirit with all its wild conceits standing out bold
relief, and exulting in independence, which set
form at defiance, and scorned its trammels. To
the air tone, and manner of the Englishman, might
be applied the totus teres GtQus rOtuH6us, of the
poet for there was not slightest aspeity in eth
er-The first, erring rather through ignorance of
etiquette, and the forms of politeness, than dspo-
sition to contemn them, either br4squs, or too
eivil-The last was the perfection of good breed
ing, which isfelt rather than seen, and cannot be
defined for Il consists in unobhusiye exercise of
courteous actions and intentions; forming de-
lightful aggregate, but having no prominent fea-
ture for description to embody. As have said,
both were young alike in years, but differing wide
lyin maturity Of intellect, and feeling. The Amer
lean was a man. The Breton a boy-elegant, &C.
complished, intelligent, but still boy, residing at
Geneva, for the completion of his studies. The
world was new to him. Nature still held donin-
ion over him, and though habit, association, and
circumstance had given ease, and becoming con-
fidence to his department, it was evident he was
sill child in his sensbilities, and his perceptions.
There was nothing about him of that precocious-
ness of manhood, so usual with our countrymen,
but which, in his, is neither desired, nor approved
He was what, in England, is called lnd-a con-
tition unknown 20 American youth.
The other had acteG, struggled, and suffered
His mind had, already become laboring facultyi
his heart had, thus early, been shaken to its fou-
dalton, and was experienced in affection, at an
age when its pulsations should only yibrate TO
ticipations of delight. He had killed, in duel,
got up, as frolc, by his college associates, his
friend, and classmate; and had fled from his ma
tive land to avoid the legal consequences of this
unfortunate act accidental and unprecedented,
too as he often assured me, for he had never fred
pistol BEFORE and he and his antagonist cut their
names together, on a neighborng tree, encompass
ed by heart, before they exchanged shots. This
terrible circumstance, in the outset of life, had
given to his mind, naturally of poetic cast, COLI
oring of melancholy, though, like that of TaquesS
humorsome and playful in its Sadness and this,
with kind and sociable disposition with genius,
to say the leastof it. amusing in its eccentrcites,
had made him many friends in his exile. The Eng
IiShman had, in all probability, never known q
pain beyond the least of those ills the most favored
flesh is heir to. His beautiful exterior showed no
symptom of physical infrmity; his placid counte-
nance bespoke mind as yet untasked, but by his
alma mnteJ-a heart uneXercised. but in the dis
charge of its agreeable functions. He was deYel-
oping gradually. like some favored exotic, Art is
dressing to fair proportions for future fuitfulncss
while the indigenous shrub is left TO accident and
storm, and, though not retarded in growth is often
marred in symmetry and grace, and, not unfrequent-
ly, distorted to uselessneSs. Where are these
plants, Of different nurture, now Mark the Sc
quel:-The scion of nobiliyis flourishing, state
ly tree, arrived at full and venerable maturity
The stranger stands on the grave of poor =,
or reads his humble epitnph, unconscious that be-
meath him lies the victim of ardent generous bril-
liant, but prematureIy exercised endowments.
1t was lovely day in June, and our drive Afford
ed US all the qualification we had anticipated from
Swiss scenery and the novelties of life, costume,
and manners to which our attention was contin-
ually directed. We, however, conyersed but lit
tie; for the Englshman was reserved, more from
difidence than hauteurs and my countryman was,
in all likelihood sharpening his wits for the encoun
ter that awaited them. confess this to have been
the case with myself and was silent and thought
full, from reluctance to expend word or an idea
when the occasion for my best exercise OF both
was SO near at hand, and when both might prove
inadequate 10 the demand about to be made on
them. had lately made the tour of Italy with
Cornne but, though our frequent and delightful
communings had establishetlus familiar friends in
print, 1 had misgivings of myself and of my sue
cess with her, when we should meet in person.
We were not precisely in revere, but rather per
hitting our powers to repose, preparatory 10 the
employment in reserve for them or indulging in
such imaginings as were natural to the occasion,
until the carriage stopped, at noon, in time for
breakfast al the gates of the Chateau, and we
were ushered into the withdrawing room, where
we found lnrge company assembled, awaiting its
announcement. Among these were Schlegel !;
Morosine, author of work on the PENNSYLVANIA,
in which he mad been engaged, and from which he
had brought many token, in sabre cuts, that dis
figured his fine face and person Mr.. Brougham,
(now Lord b.; Monsieur Auguste de stael, son 10
Madame; her lovely, spirtueLe and piqnGnts daugI-
ter, the Duchess of Broglie, Monsieur lie Due, her
liege lord, and Monsieur de Rocco, rant de Ia ia
mile.
In this bright galaxy appeared the genius of the
place, Madame la Baronne, redolent with intellect,
animated, yoluble. agreeable, charming; Cor
inne. if you closed your eyes, and received your
impression of her through the ears. If you open
ed them, the illusion was gone, for the individual
who gave utterance to sounds and sentiments so
delightful, was Insignificant in person, common
place in feature, and tawdry in apparel; below
mediocrity in all the external requisites of female
attraction, though it was evident her sex's foble
had taught her to imagine otherwise .H