Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-02
Alexander smith, the squint-eyed Poet,

hiehahuer Poet.
j am glad you have applied to me for da
guerreotype of Alexander Smith, because
love him well enough to say at once that nc
worthy daguereotype of him is possible. Even
portrait could not be depended upon if il
came from the hand of a comparative stranger
mere accurate description Of features would
do him singular injustice; and anything more
than such sheer statistics is, from his Scottish
reserve, impossible from any one with whom
he is not intimate. To chronicle short, dark,
curly hair, forehead unusually wide, but not
very high, blue eyes, q somewhat brown com.
plexion, short upper lip, nose and mouth
OF regular dimensions, might suggest an Anti
nous. To qualify this idea by remarking that
the mouth and chin, though Of classic size, are
by no means beautiful 10 shape, and that the
azure eyes exchange the Office of looking
straight, lin other words, that he is squint.
eyed,) would leave an image equally unjust !;
and yet this is all that the mere acquaintance
could say Of him. i would, therefore, rather
you would get notion Of him as he appears
to me, than give you anything which the COM
mon observer would bs likely TO recognize.
Imagine young man about five and-twenty,
OF broad and strongly built figure, approach
ing with lounging, thoughtful step. The
face, that might not have attracted you in the
street, brightens, as we meet, into very sun
shine. He sits down, and during our talk he
beams first one and then the other of those
blue, clear (squint,) living eyes upon me, each
oil which IN turn seems to take up the CONVEX
sation, with force all the greater for its inter
val OF rest and to shine, while employed, with
the combined light Of both. Indeed, this su.
perhuity oil life is so curious that one fancies q
moving tn,cdrd incandescence in the cue, like
that active combustion which you may see in
the midlght Of a candle; and which, through
a telescope, you seem TO have seen in star.
over the whole face there passes as many and
as delicate hues Of meaning as lights and
shades over corn6eld, or tints upon breezy
sea. And then would not change the trans
Inquired countenance for the physical perfection
OF the most classic Apollo. With me he
speaks freely and at length; but in ordinary
society he has little conversation. With friends
or strangers, however, his manners are alike
quiet and simple; and few things have been
peter testimony to his innate excellence than
ine outward equanimity with which he sudden |
y found himself in ducal castles and in the |
brilliant saloons Of an Edinburg season. His |
private lie is in keeping with these evidences
o' superiority. The conclusions which certain |
criucs have drawn from some over-colored |
passage In his writings are strangely inconsis-
tent with the purity Of his conduct, the chastity
OF his speech, the frmness with which he has
maintained his water drinking in face of the |
banter OF Edinburg dinnertables, and the
larger development Of the religious element in
MS mind, an element which, as i could show
you by interesting anecdotes, was one Of its
earliest characteristics. But for the sacredness
which sanctuaries good deeds, could give
'uch facts Of his youth and manhood as 20 far
o prove that 10 the relations Of son, brother,
Ind friend, be has been scarcely less eminent
han In that moro brilliant character which the
world has already recognized Foreign Cor.
sspondent Of the NJ Y. Leader.