The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-22
A GREAT NAN sELF.WREcKED.
/" AN owRE TRUE TALE. +"

MANY years sgo--in the summer OF the
wear 1915 it was or thereabouts-a veal
thy merchant Of New York took charge oi
q little boy who had been left an orphan.
The parents OF this child had been actors
of some slight celebrity in the theatres OF
tho United States, but dying within short
,ime,of each other, they left behind them
IN stale the completest destitution three
Young children. The eldest Of these was
: handsome boy of about six years OF age,
with quick eye, and active spirit and a
remarkably intelligent countenance: The
merchant Of whom. we speak had known
The parents OF the child; and out OF pity
for its helplessness, he and his vile, who
had no children, adopted il as their own
How happily the ardent boy passed his
DAYS in the house Of his benefactor; how
in the strength Of their great affection, the
merchant and his wife. took him to Eu-
rops hpw he spent some four OF five pleas
ant ysars under the care and teaching of|
= areyerend gentleman near London; how
he came hack again to the city OF his birth
10 finish his education; and how ne was
generally looked upon as the rich mer'
chant's heir, would take long to tell, -
But we would iain linger on this portion
Of our story; fain dwell Of his precious
wit and .aptness for learning feats Of
strength and agility-his ease and grace
on horseback, his dexterity in race and
stream, and his success in all that seemed
10 promise for him brilliant future. But
ehe truth must be told no matter how un-
willing the teller fie was sent to the COL
1ege Of Charlottesville, amply provided
with money. In those days dissipation
samoug the students of colleges was uahap-
PLY but too common; and among the
'aiiost dissoluie and extrayagant, the Wild
.esi ruff1ers of the town, the hardest drink
sers and the most daring gamblers, there
was ever to be found one more wild and
desperate than they all--and that one was
the subject Of our story, now good-look-
ing. .free-hearted young fellow OF eighteen
Friends advised with him, and he made
fair promises in plenty; tutors remonstrat.
ed. and he declared that he would amend
and win.the highest honors yet; comPan'
ions tempted and wine allured, and he
embraced the filthy siren. and so fell. In
stead. Of, coming home from the university
with honors, he was summarily expelled.
One would think that disgrace SO public
would have broken his proud spirit; but |
did not. Because his benefactor refused
10 pay the gambling debts he had contract
ed al college, the wilful young man wrote
him a violent and abusive letter, quiitin.
his house and soon afterward he left hi
country with the avowed intention ofjoin
ing the Greeks, who were at that time II
the midst Of their struggle with the Turks
He never reached his destin alton. an
= nothing was known or heard OF him 70
more than q year.
Atlast. however, he was found. and i
circbmstances which left no doubt as
the manner in which his European expe
rience had been bought One morning
The American Minister at St. Petersburg
was summoned to save countryrnan
his own from the pen allies incurred throug
ID drunken ilebauch. He came in time
rescue our prodigal from prison; an
through his influence he was set at libe
.,.ty,, and enabled to return 10 the Unite
States.,a 1,stt1s fts=saie55 iiss p 5@ns
The lisst to greet him on his landing WI
his old patron, the merchant, who was no
alone ii the world, for his wife had die
while the youth was away. But he toe
xhs wanderer to his arms, and led hi
3 hack to The quiet home he had quilted
e,unpraciously. The question then aro
as to what could be done for the you'll
and on his expressing wish to become
:. soldier. interest was made with the me
-aohsnt,s friends. and the young man W
zsertered as scholar in the Military Aca
amy at West Point. For little time
went on well ;sthe young Cadet was ASST
Il uous in his studies.i became the iayorite
.sths mess, and was looked upon by the
eficsrs and professors as one Of their MI
PROS :. promising pupils. But alas, and alas!
tg,eld habits of dissipation Were too stro
q, % be given up all at once. He neglect
afsshis duties; he drank to excess he di
ssabeysd orders : he openly sneefed at
,i rseulsaions of the, academy-and, In
slsamofths from his marticulation, he
a.h,are1l 80 - .5fa@o l.gs 10 ais5i sa64s
Dispracced and hlmiliated. where co'
the wresched man find refuge but in
home Of his adopted father? fhither II
he went, and was again received with
nan nan arms Daring his stay at the Aca
INV. .thsmeEohan had married again I
slsdy sscnas years younger than hims
Time passed on; but, just as the sun
happiness seemed to shine once moro