The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-06-11
Yl,e Power Of Esog,,eee.


oUWEf, ftifs--tI IL - uSlitH~ tDift
: in the town Of --, not many DAYS
since, was to be seen dense and
eager crown, composed Of both sexes,
eyincing by their whisrerings and TN
1er-toned enquiries that some great
and important affair, deeply affecting
the pence and honor Of the coninn-
nity, Or involving private reputation
and character, was to be tried on that
occasion.
Attracted by the crowd that tlron-
ged the street in front Of the .Justi-
ce's court, curiosity led us to tie spot,
to learn the "Castrs Balli'' and to
witness tie progress Of the exciting
trial.
Elbowing olr way through the
dense masses which lined the street
and filed the doors and windows, we
approached sufficiently near, by stan
ding tip-toe, to gaze upon the crowd
within.
The Justice, remarkable for age and
intelligence, and the impartial manner
in which he had so long dispensed
justice, sat erect and grave, and show
ed by his appearance, that not only
his thoughts, but that the deep syn
pathies Of his heart were enlisted in
| the case before him.
The prisoner. a female of some %
years Of age, dressed in "pnrple and
fine linneu,' Of strong intellectual eS-
preston, sat buried and lost in the
deep labarynth Of her own reflections
but with an eye, ever and anon emit
ting flashing and darling expressions
upon the audience, that plainly showed
the nature Of the raging elements
within. II is perhaps unnecessary to
state the nature Of the novel case,
which had SO unusually filed a JUST
ee's court with curious spectators.
The witnesses being through, we
all cleared our threats, drew long
breath, adjusted our cravats and slirt
collars, and prepaped for the intel'ec-
tual contest which was now to begin.
The character Of our young law yers for
powerful eloquence chained Us to the
spot. They had studied together in
the same office, had recently obtained
licenses from The same court, and now,
for the first time, had been regularly
pitched against each other, TO display
their powers Of oratory and legal sa-
gacity before their mutual friends
aud admirers
The occasion, the nature Of the case
the character Of the prisoner Ia lovely
female) the large auditory composed
Of males and females, AL conspired to
heighten the excitement, aud deepen
the interest manifested in the legal
contest; and to raise, the energies,
quicken the perceptions and fire the
ambition Of the young contestants. -
The prosecutor, tall slender person. J
age, rather stopped from hal,'t---long I
arms and tapering fingers, black hair i
in ringlets carelessly flung about his :
Forehead and temples, with an eye :
due and soft, but penetrating and I
quick, slowly rose, and in deep and +
iolemn tone, commenced the prosecu- t
ion. He dwelt upon the nature Of /
he crime his mannerwas solemn, his
plain, and his appeal power i"
III. Having closed, his opponent rose
n the defence. t
He is a young man of rather under c
'ize. sallow complexion, light hair, /
lquiline nose and yomau Futures,
With an exeitablo temperament and an $
Expression indicative Of habits Of pro-
ound reflection. He met the prose- Il
'ution manfully, struck lauces with l.
lis antagonist fearlessly, walked into" ;,
lis witnesses without mercy and closed .
With evident feelings of triumph and
uccess though with too much agita- l.
ion and excitement. lie had how /"
yer no sooner seated himself and the
audience time to breathe, than the y
prosecution again rose, bearing upon II
lis counteuanee the fixed expression Of b
determined resolution to min or d1e &,
n this contest. :.
Strengthening himself to his full =
tatue, brushing his loose ringlets from "
is white forhead and swinging his a
,ng arms in the air about him he al