Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-04-10
BlWGR r A lPWY.
v Oltaire.

P0TSDAM was, IN ruin, Wnat IL was
called by one Of its most illusirious ia.
mates, the Palace of Alcna. At the
first glance it seemed to be delightful
spot, where every intellectual and phys.
ical enjoyment awaited the happy adven.
iurer. Every new conner was received
with eager hospitality, intoxicated with
fattery, encouraged to expect prosperity
and greatness. It. was in vain that a
long succession Of favorites who had
entered that abode with delight and hope
and who, after short term Of delusive
happiness, had been doomed 10 expiate
their folly by years of wretchcdness and
degradation, raised their voices to warn
the aspirant who approached the charm.
ed threshold. Some had wisdom enough
to discover the truth early, and spirit
enough to fly without looking back 9th.
ers fingered on to cheerless and un.
honored old age. We have no hesita
ton in saying that the poorest author Of
that time in London, sleeping on bulk,
dining in cellar, with cravat of pa.
per, and skewer for shirt.pin, was a
happier man than any Of the literary
inmates of Frederic's court.
But Of all who entered the enchanted
garden in the inebriation Of delight, and
quilted it in the agonies Of rage and
shame, the most remarkable was Vol.
TAlRE. Many circumstances had made
him desrous Of finding home at dis
tance from his county, His fame had
raised him up enemies. His sensibility
gave them formidable advantage ovel
him. They were, indeed, contemplate
assailants. OF all that they wrote, no.
thing has survived, except what he ha:
preserved. But the constitution Of hi
mind resembled the constitution Of thos'
bodies, ia which the slightest scratch o
bramble. or the sting Of gnat, neve
fails to tester. Though his reputation
was rather raised than lowered by tn
abuse Of such writer's as Freron and Des
Fontaines-though the vengeance whicI
he took on Freron and Des Fontaine
was such that branding scourging, pill
lorying would have been triAe to il.
there is reason to believe that they CAV
him far more pain than he eyer CAV
them. Though he enjoyed durina his ow
lifetime the reputation Of classic
though he was extolled by his conten
Poraries above all poets, philosophers
and historians--though his works wer
read with as much delight at Mosco
and Westminster. at Florence and Stoc
holm, as at Paris itself, yet he was to
tured by that restless Jealousy whic
should seem to belong only to mint
burning with the love Of fame, and y
conscious Of impotence. To men
letters who could by no possibility |
his rivals, he was il they behaved we
to him. not merely just. not merely kin
not merely courteous, but often hear
friend, mdni6cent benefactor. But
every one who rose to celebrity o
preaching his own, ne became either
disguised OF an avowed enemy. He 81
ly depreciated Montesquieu and Buffo
He publicly. and with violent outrae
made war on Jean Jacques Rousseau.
Nor had hs the rtof hiding his feeiin
under the semblance Of good nature
Of contempt. With all his great talen
and all hislong experience in the wor
he had no more self.comlnand than
pettedI child, or hystsrical woman.
Whsneyer he!Was znoSti6sd, he sxhau