The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-04-23
THE DAILY DISPATCH

THE DAILY DIoIAl0l11
MONDAY MORNING ...... ......A rKIL .. .s2s.
nEHXRKABLE RESTORATION OF A PoET
TO HEALTH.
Tho announcement in Fridays paper OF
A.. oomnlete restoration to health and to the
au,;es of the Home Journal, of Nathaniei
p willis, must have diffused an exquisite
,,,ou of satisfaction through the breasts OF
the numerous friends OF that gentleman, not
excepting his affectionate but somewhat tart
and decidedly discerning sister. Fanny Fern.
It's not long since, that the poet Willis, ac-
cording to his own account, was fastening to
the crave, under the stern and apparently
;rresistible influence of settled consumption.
He awaited himself of the melancholy occa
sion, to retire from the dusty arena Of New
York life and amid the classic shades of
IdIewild, I'VE believe that's the name of his
rural retreat; if it isn't, it, some other equal
" characteristic and ridiculous,) to prepare
for that melancholy bourne. "from which no
traveller returns" From the green leaves
and sparkling waters of the poets rustic
home came melodies as sweet as fable gives
the swan. breathing out its expiring soul in
song. Like the dolphin, which, in the act of
dying, assumes variety of the most magni.
6cent colors, and is more beautiful in death
than in life, so the effiux of genius from the
poets death bed, gave forth a thousand gor.
geous hues of Imagination and fancy, which
outshone the brightest scintillations of his
meridian glory.
We well recollect that, among ether ema-
nations at this time, of that productive intel
lectwhich seemed to bud and blossom and put
forth flowers and foliage with the most asto-
nishing rapidity, as the balmy atmosphere
and genial sun of Paradise pervaded and in.
spired it, was most touching and plaintive
description of the condition and thoughts OF
consumptive, as he approaches the last OF
earth. The gifted author did not seek to
conceal from himself or others the conscious
ness thst he was the victim of an incurable
malady, but he spoke of it with such Chris
tian philosophy, such sweet resignation. nay
with such placid cheerfulness. that death
seemed quite disrobed of its terrors, and the
dark valley became lighted up with calm
efuigence, its gloomiest recesses disclosed
primrose paths, its thick atmosphere was
redolent with the Rose of Sharon and the
Balm of Gilead; its !fiery.rserpent became
holy cross, dropping mercy and compassion
on broken hearts; its cold Jordan narrow
stream, whose waters retreat when the feet
of the children of Israel touch its shore, and
permit them to pass dry shod to Canaan.
In the midst of the pleasant dream, to
which we had been lulled by the spring-like,
celestial airs of Idlewild, came succession
of rude joltings, which woke US fairly up,
and scattered our pleasant reveries to the
four winds of Heaven. First came that dra-
gon in pstticoats, Fanny Fern, assailing the
invalid Nathaniel with hundred broomstick
power, copjuring up all sorts of disagreeable
"reminiscences of his past life, and even at the
sight of his tender sorrows and lamentations,
performing the corkserew operation with her
nose and finger, with a significance which
said more plainly than language could speak,
"You can't come ii over me. l am your SIS
ter, am, and know you of old" Unnatu-
raj wretch! Fiend in human shape, disturb
ing with thy malicious jeerings the bedside
of dying saint Avaunt thee, witch Ea-
orciso ts! Straddle thy broomstick and ride
back to thy abode in the sulphurous re giohS
of Salem, that great mandatory of wizards,
abolitionists and hell-cats
However, just about the same time, our
unlucky eyes beheld statement in some
paper, that Nathaniel, whose lungs we sup
posed had been altogether devoured by tu-
bercles, and who was obliged to be lifted
from one bed to another by his visilant at
PENDANTS, was taking the most famous and
furious morning rides on horseback, and af-
forwards eating a beefsteaE breakfast that
would have done more honor to vigorous
butcher than an invalid poet Could it be
possible! Was not this the invention o
some brother poet, whose ambitious lyric
had been eclipsed by the sweet harpstrain
of Idlewild7 Alas, we are constrained t,
say, we fear not.
We greatly fear, since the late announce
ment by authority of N. p Willis complete
return to health, that he has been playing
upon our confidins natures, and excruciatine
= our sensibilites by false alarm that it
was not the notes of the dying swan which
had so melted us, but a mocking- bird of Idle.
wild, mimicking the song of death. Oh,
Nathaniel Nathaniel Son OF the Puritans.
after which of tn, Nathaniels did tby father
name thee? Surely not after that Nathaniel
in the Scriptures, concerning whom it was
said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom
is no guile"
RUMoRED APPROXIMATION OF C,JRA
The Washington Star says it has satisfied
Itself that the last steamer from Eurone
brought to more than one foreign legation in
this city, that Mr.. Perry, shortly after the de
livery of M. Luzuriag's now famous speech
In explanation of the future Cuban policy Of
Spain. wrote that gentleman 1.-THE Oueen,s
minister for foreign affairs for an authentic
copy of the speech in question, to be for.
warded to this Government; and that Mr.. T.
aspromptly semitic him, embracing pledge
that Spain would protect and cherish slavery