The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-06-08
From he ToIsse Blade.
THE rURHING POINT,

4 DO you remember the time when IN
almost every fashionable drawing room
there stood a beautifully carved maho.
gany side board. on the top Of which
stood a group Of cut-glass decanters,
filled. or partially filled with choice Ii
quors and hemmed in by clear. shining
stem.glassess
Do YOU refnember too. how, when
company cane. the httle ssxm-glasses
were turned up. and the ladies and gen
tlemen drank compliments and heal.hs.
and how We children were allowed a
taste, aud the privilege of eating the
sugar left in the bottom of the glasses J
Aud do you remember how ungenteel
and puritan.cal a lady was considered.
who dared. in the face Of universal
custom, tohaye party and not deco
rate her table with wines and brandy,
and her parlor with card tables and all
the requisites Of polite gamings
If You do moi. thank God that you
escaped that day. but il you remember
these things as connected with your
youth, you will, perhaps. better appre-
ciate my story.
Henry irving was native of East
ern Virginia. His only inheritance
Ia warm heart, medium intellect, a
sociable nature. fine personal appear.
ance, and a liberal share of that pecu-
liar feeling, generally conceded as ex,
perie ICED by none but descendants 8
from the " first families of the old do
main.
At the age of twenty -four he left his
native State, and in the fall of 1929,
engaged as salesman in the largest dry
goods house in in p, tiourish-
ing town on the Ohio river. Having
acquired liberal education, culti-
waited taste and gentlemanly deport-
ment, he soon became fasorite in the
social circle.
Although possessed of some Of the
private and social virtures Of human
nature, Irving was not free from its We
ces; beloved the wine cup aud the card
table-vices not then as reprehensible
as now. Custom, the great sanctioner
of human error. at that day recognized
these as the bonds of fraternal brother
hood, and public sentiment had not
vet elevated the standard OF sociallno'
rality above them, consequently, Ir-
wings fondness for these vicious plea
sures. instead Of operating against his
popularity, served as an introduction
to the highest circles.
His companions were that wild
reckless, whoIe-souled, pleasure seek
ing class of young men. who throw
care to the dogs, and with mirth, wi
and jolity, DRIFT smoothly, yet rapidly
down that stream, whose source II
crowned with the choicest flowers
and perfumes of sensual pleasures
and, with dark, and wailing surge
plunges into eternity. His most int
mate and confidential friend was Johl
, Hawkins, young lawyer of promisin,
, talent and pleasing address. but destl
tute of moral principle-was an ayow
ed infdel, and entertained what h
, considered manly contempt for yir
. tue and piety-was fond of whist, eu
!. chre and brandy, and was what f.th
t world called a ".clevrr fellow"
{ 1t was about year, think, afte
, Irving came to P, that Emm
!, Carson returned from Philadelphia
| where she had been sent to c0mplet
!. her education-one too, that had wei
E developed her natural strength Of mind
: she now stoodready to make her de6a
with credit alike to herself, her teach
e ers and her friends. With fine form
t expressive features, cultivated mind
!. and most bewitching hazeLeye, it wa
not strange that Emma soon becam
the envy and admiration of societ,,
nor that Irving, before many month";
n paid frequent visits to Mr.. Carson's.
!. -An intimacy was formed, which Q
a Irving's part soon ripened into a stron
e attachment. Emma was made col
d scious of this fact by his marked atte
h tions, and hints thrown out by some
# her friends; it was to her, under Il
,e circumstances, source ofdeep regre
Of She had treated him with etiquette al
!. Kindness, received his visits in cou
ct teous, friendly manner, but nothil
ii more, and however much she mig
pr admire his conversational powers al
ID agreeable manners, a knowledge of b
4. general character would prevent h
ut from desiring to encourage his ne
I'd born feelings. What course should s
he pursue? It was not long until she al
tie Irving met at party. Irving escort'
We her to the tables and requested I
he pleasure of drinking a glass.of wi
e, with her. She politely, yet firmly q
a. clined. Irving insisted on the groul
TO of custom and friendship.
Ii, aNeilher custom or friendship, Mr..
is, wing, has right To demand sacrifice
IN. principle" said Emma. and sho,
he deem myself unworthy the name Of "
tn man os friend should | grant such :
in quest. and lure you On in the utter RUN
body and soul"