Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-02-17
From tho Cincinnati Commercial.
SKETCHES FROM REAL LIFE.
ouAoKl QuAcKl!
5Ya. L. cnAsMER

ssThe world is fuilof this noise" said my friend
as we stood upon the bankof astreamfrom which
we had Startled a flock of wild ducksby our sud.
den and unexpected appearance. Its but right
aud proper that should preface our conversation
by rematkins that my friend had met with many
aiissrpo,niments in life. whichperhaps had caused
him 10 be morose and sad at times Before this
remark was made by him, had been silently
watching The emotions OF his countenante and its
:. varying expressions. inquired what he meant
by such remark.
was Just thinking ereplied, OF the 'shifls
anu subterfuges, the professions and professions
OF man. this every, day life of ours. You can.
not walk the streets or Withdraw into retirement
but you are followed by their continual quacking
addressing itself to your senses in some manneror
other For instance % said he, aft you takenp
newspaper, aud look at the list of deaths, you II
probably notice an obituary setting forth in the
strongest terms the virtues of some man known to
be the Silest of his spectes; one who was full of
SelhshneSS and vanity; q man who was Stunned by
honest men, and feared by hislfellows Yet, no
sooner does this man depar; this present life. per-
hapS II may be in some midnight brnwl or wicked
revel, than his shining qualities and great virtues
never diScoveredgin his lile-time-are paraded
befoie the eyes of the world, who also are expect
ed TO quack forth his praise nd appreciation losing
sight OF all his iIalies and vices. Visit the lofty
marble monument III the grave yard, which be-
decks his resting place, the whiteness and purity
OF the coiors intended to be emblematic of his
surface 1t may be in Letters of gold Virtue has
its re.card'-a striking instance of the yeracy of
epitaphs. Does not this single illustration prove
the truth oil my remark, that the world is full of
this noise-qaack. quack, quack"
"But," said ], .tyou judge harshly." .'Do IL
he rejoined :Well then, let me give you anoth-
er illustration. knew man who Jared sumptu-
ously and rolled in wealth. Tho poor man was
refused 10 ns prem SEES, and he beggaf was spurned
from ms path; aud yet hiS name was notorious
over a continent. lie was a banker. Hardly a
week passed that he did not beStow on works of
public charity or on objects of phila nthropy, a
hundred, Two hundrrd, three hundred III five hun
died dularS hist the newspapers hcradet 10 The.
world his acts under the head in glowing capitals
-'N06te Genei oSity-DiSiniereSied Benerotenee'
10 The uninl,lated he seemed not only a Crnsus,
but perfect Howard, whose means and philan-
thropy were unboundet. But to the initiated il
was lar different; his was his means Of advertising
and he might have sGelt a thousand per week and
never have lett because every thus rxpen-
ded, served only increase his business and add TO
his means, because the world was so infatuated
with hls seeming generosity that 1t followed fawn-
ing nj hls heels. This man always permitted his
lett hand TO know what his right hand did.
Anu then again." he continued, "tiere is YOUR
smooth taced, seek-looking, selfsuficient hypo-
erIte, whose words of comfort and consolation are
like thornS IN the flesh, and no Inns such mn IIri-
ah Heep humility about hm that If you ATE a little
superior IN wealth or station to him. you might null
his nose or otherwise grossly insult him. with i'm
punity But look ut linn in his privacy and retire
nlenl, atd behold HIM i'll his true character. Tie
fragile and delicate form Of his once beautiful
wife, She, whom he vowed at the nuptual altar
unalterably 10 cherish, love and honor, shrinking
and tremblingly welcomes him 10 his own hearthe
stone, and like a mental she obeys his mandates
and comes al his beck
The heart OF thai wife was once light and happy.
aud the spring bird tuned not It's voice To sweeter
melodies than those which she was wont 10 sing
in the by-gone days of her grIhood. But the su n.
light OF her lite is Departed and her bursting
heart fres ls-lf away in its attempts 10 burst its
prisons walls. Alas! 1t will not be long er. its
PRISON doors are opened and the weary spirit SET al
liberty. Misplaced affection, deceived aud trust
ing innocence, will then cease to sorrow, and of
mourning th=re will b. an end. His atlifice and
deceit has caused this, and yet the world sets this
man p as an example, and points to him as a
model. Now then." he continued, "if you can
onl; humbug the world. your object can be OBJ.
tanned, no matter what that object may be. Under
seeming generosity pretended virtue, The harder
or more fatal the blows with which you visit it. the
louder II wall quack your praise and commenda-
lion.' BIS aia 51-,s, =.
As before intimaed, and as is plain from the
above remarks, my friend was soured with the
world and its cunceIns. But giving all due weigh,
to his preiudrces, still we must acknowledge thai
there Is mole of truth than poetry in Ills posiions
1t Is too evident that tile world is full OF aracks
of every shade aud Legree Nor is it less true that
the base metal oftentimes, yea-generally, passes
promptly, while the true is rejected aul thrown
aside. tls H ASH .7.. sisl ~.
ISLAND HoME, 1854. Wheeling. Va.