Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-10-03

SINGULAR PROPENsITY.-Therer resides in BOs-
ton, gentleman, who seems to possess a sort OF
mania for attending auctions. 1t is about eight
years since this propensity was first noticed; and
since that time he has been in attendance at one
particular auction room every evening that it has
| been opened. Rain or shine, spring, summer, au-
| tumn winter, it matters not with him. He usu-
ally enters the room about half hour after the
sale commences, takes his position in particular
part of the room, about foot from the wall, and
| there he stands without leaning or moving from
the spot until the sale is lie was never known
to bid a single article. or to speak to single
| person, but always assumes kind OF carc-for-
nothing air, and swinging gently to and fro,
| watches people as they move about him. lie is a
sort of world within himself, in sympathy with nc
| one about him.
| 1t is now nearly eight years since he was first
| noticed particularly, and as we before remarked.
| he has never been known to be absent. Several
| times the sales have been suspended for few
evenings for repairs, &C., but punctualy at his
post is he to befOund the first evening the room
is re-opened. The most violent storms have never
been severe enough to keep him away.
This singular parsonage is bachelor, apparent
ly about 6fty-fve years Of age, and is wel off II
means, and occupying room by himself. A few
months since, his brother, celebrated divine Of
this city, died, and on the evening of the day oi
the funeral, it was supposed he would be absent
To tho SurpriSn of tho auctioneor, punctIl-
ally at his post, little influenced ever by the
appeals of sGoing, going, gone."-Boston
| Transcript.
| MISERY OF STATEsxEN.-Probably few great
| phiosophc statesmen-few men, that is, who hat
acted intimately in public affairs as we'll as con.
| templated them from the closet-ever quilted the
stage without feeling of profound discourage
| ment. Whether successful or unsuccessful, az
the world would deem them, sense of sadness
other sentiment. They have obtained SO few o.
their objects-they have seen so much more thar
ordinary men of the dangers and difficulties o.
nations, and of the vices and meanness of public
men. Not many Englishmen governed so long OF
so successfully as Sir Robert Peel or set in sucl
a halo of blessings and esteem: yet, shortly be
fore his death, he confessed that what he had seeI
and heard in public life had left upon his mind I
prevalent impression of gloom and grief. WIZ
ever succeeded so splendidly as Washington?-
Who ever enjoyed to such degree, and to the end
| the confidence and the gratitude of his country
| sc Yet" saws Guizot, "towards the close of hi
| life, in the sweet and digni6ed retirement o
Mount Vernon, something of lassitude and sadnes
hung about the mind of man serenely great;
feeling, indeed, most natural at the termination
| of a long life spent in mems concerns. Power
a heavy burden, and mankind hard task-maste
to him who struggles virtuously against their pas
sions and their errors. Success itself cannot viii
out the sorrowfui impressions which originate i
the conflict, and the weariness contracted on tn
scene of action is prolonged even in the bosom o
repose.-Norfh British Reriesc.