Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-20
The Prostration Of Genius.

uh0 1880 10y
each were graduates of different Colleges, IL
where they had earned and secured ~laurels
Tor scholarship, erudition, and distinguished m
lntellects. They emerged from the College 81
walls and the exciting scenes of the gradua- :
ting exercises Of the Senior Glass, flushed e.
with the brightest prospects, brilliAt flu o
ture opening before them. The plaudits of a
the admirlng multitude followed them out I
into the busy scenes of life, and the hopes Q
ana ambitions of proud parents and admi- 0
ring friends had already assigned each a a
noble, commanding position in his country's '
history and in the annals of the great and |
good of the earth. The stamp of genius is
upon their brow, and the fires of intellect
and energy fash in sparkling corruscations
from the eyes of each. Well may their
friends and countrymen gaze with pride up
on them, and build their hopes of their
country's greatness upon the intellectual
proves of her gifted young men.
But now they have each chosen for him
self a profession by which he may hew his
way to that distinction and greatness which is
open and accessible to every free-born son of
our glorious lanz of'equal rights and pbiv-
ileges. One has chosen the sublime and
peaceful paths of Literature and Science,
and hopes by its soul-inspiring and emo
bling pursuits he may be enabled to scale
the rugged heights, where Fame's proud
temple shines affair." Another has selected
the thorny, difficult road of Craftsmanship
and Politics-the task of d~evoting himself to
the Governmental policy and interests. of the
Nation, while in glittering grandeur and re-
nown loom up before his ambitious vision
the illustrious characters of Washington, JEFF
f~erson, Madison, Webster, Clay, Calhoun
and the long line of renowned worthless,
. whose names and fame will ever be perpetu-
ated in history, song and story for their de-
voted patriotism and selfsacrifcing devotion
other country's veal. A third has taken upon
, himself the laborious and philanthropic pro
, fession of Medicine to minister to the sor.
rows, distresses and Affections to which flesh
e is heir They have all now entered upor
y the active duties of their respective spheres
: in life, and we leave them for a brief periot
of years.
Ten years have not yet passed since tn,
Diploma and the laurel were awarded them
We meet him whose quick, perceptive min,
and strength of intellect had enabled him t
successfully explore the abstruse labyrinth
of literary and scientific knowledge, strue
CLING and grasping and comprehending an
eliminating the difficult and hidden myst
= ries of nature and her laws-around who's
head had already began to gather a halo
renown, and a name and fame sufficient
crafty the most aspiring ambition. Blu
the light and fire of intellectual greatness I
= longer beams forth from his countenance-
the glow of health and activity no long
rk, ~sufuses his cheek and nerves his manly ste
re No! alas, the mark of the destroyer is upc
him-the dull, leaden eye betokens that Il
%" fires of genius have been quenched by I'll
liquid fire of the still-the bloated face
that noble, handsome young man now /
zoo sembles the glazed, stolid features of t
sensual Chinese. while all his hopes al
prospects lie crushed and bleeding on a hec
tomb Of his own rearing.
:, The aspirant for political honors and d
t~inctions is presented to US in a fallen, rui
ed condition. By his excuses, pecunia
embarrassment press heavily upon him
ten the hundreds who once rallied around. ha
ion now deserted him, and none are found to
him reverence--his aspirations have be
, of disappointed, the bright flowers that far
20 once wove into graceful garlands to decor
his brow, wither at his touch, and fade a
fall at his feet. Genius andlearning lie stu
bering and dying in the ashes of disappoi
pri- ment and humiliation. Disqualification
The slavery to appetite-has crushed out
rent former noble aspirations-he has exchan!
res, the limpid pool of intellectual excellence {
and refreshment, to wallow in the foul slough
ling sensual degradation-alas he is a WIZ,
re- on the first voyage of life, and his gall
It at barque lies scattered and riven upon
Fix rocky, barren, hopeless coast of Dissipati
And the young disciple of Escalap
who, by his profession, was so we'll calc1
ted to be a messenger of comfort and re
- to the Borrowing, stricken sons and dau
ters OF men, where is he? The Demol
ooi 1ntemperance has laid his iron grasp u
= him for his own. We meethim in our d
'ool' walks, and we know that in that bosom b
q generous, noble heart-we hear him te
his struggles to resist the craving dema
of appetite-we shed our tears with
when we hear him pray for a law that
place the tempter out of his reach-our S
Is in pathies are strongly excited in his behal
,nce- he prays for his deliverance and of his d.
,om;. mination to try and resist the foul spirit
near is destroying his intellect, and his us'
take ness in life-and we join him in the pr
will that he may be rescued from the sedu'
; are snare. We turn away with a hopeful b
but to meet him in a few hours with
gering gait and idiot stare, the laug
1t at stock and by-word even of the rahble
perhaps, stretched out in the s~enseless S
nina of the drunkard, with not sufficient b,
idate and life left to disturb the myriad flies
,pose gloat upon his disgusting person.
the We have here given three scenes in al
'ubf- life. Thatth hey are not overdrawn, but
fully truthful, the experience and obs
ton of every reader can fully testify.
w " caanar mad lrs