Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-01-16
From the Louisville Journal.
JAMES G. PERclVAL.

JAMES G. PERClVAL.
This brilliant but cratic child Of song
has thrown by his harp and gloomily re.
tired forever from. the gay haunts OF the
Muses.. II may be that his voice 10 not
missed by the busy world, nor his ab.
sence felt by many ol the passionate
,hrong that still Wauder through The
groves and drink OF the crystal waters Of
Helicon-but there ARE those, oft au.
d;ence, though few" whose hearts have
been shadowed by silence, and in whose
in nern,ost spirits his peerless utteranres
are treasured and enshrinea, like things
Of beauty. Alas! that oblivion and
fame, that cold Indifference and admi'
ring love, should have equal charms Tor
him. ColcriJgc, in his own beautiful
epi,aph, speaks touchingly Of himself
as having "lound death in life" and
such has almost been the dark fate OF
Percival. The voice Of praise. or
blame now falls, and has long fallen,
as unavaiIingly as upon the "dull car
OF DEATH"
Selr.immurcd in a room OF the hospi.
tai in the extreme suburbs Of New Haven
"a city of which poet shoul be
proud-this gifted and eccentric being
lives, as he lived for the last quarter Of
century, purely solitary and ascellc
life. He is wholly absorbed in intcllec.
tual pursuits, and shrinks with painful
sensiiivencss from all the luxuries aud
amenities OF life. No Eastern anchorite
ever abjured more completely the com.
forts and relinements Of elegant rank for
the blank privations of their cell---no
storied recluse ever more voluntary re.
nounced brilliant career Of usefulness
and fame for the lonely vigils Of her.
mi,age. In this dcsolate habilaton, re.
ioicing it is said, in but a single chair,
he has surrounded himself with a mag.
nifccnt library and philosophical appa.
ralus, from which f,iend or foe are alike
excluded, and in which, though dead to
all beside, he seeks and finds the solace
and the charms of intellect.
u A confirmed misan,hropc and mysoS'
onist, he is almost as great stranger
and a riddle to his fellow.townsmcn as
to the world at large. Indeed they never
think Of him, save when some distant
pilgrim, captivated by tho farreaching
splendor Of his genius, inquiries with
enthusiasm for the home Of Percival!-
I So tue is it ,hat"a prophet is not with
f out fame except in his own county,
The habits Of Percival are, Of course
peculiar. He is very rarely seen in The
streels-is occasionally caught illtllns
from alcove 10 alcove in the dim ligh
: of the stately libraries Of Yale -snd no
It unfequently may be seen lowering nea
the dusky manufactures and machine
shops Of the city. like some vcraciou
ghoul preying upon the souls ol steam
engines and gloating over the tit.bts o
intellect clinging TO mil shafts and spin
!! ming. iennies. When in the mood h
IS gracefully descends from his "horse @
the night" and unfolds to the artisan
: and humble workmen the secret princi
. Piles OF the gigantic instruments he
n practically direct, minutely describe
'f their origin and progressive improve
IS ments, explains their intimate connec
9. ton with human welfare and develop
mcnt, and lifts up the curtain generall
) from the great mystery Of modern indus
e. try, with a carelessuess and force {
e. thought familiarity and appostenes
,r Of illustration, and simplicity an
!. beauty Of language, altogether epchan
ing. Ali there are hundreds in the cloi:
u" tered studies anil palatiol dra winsroom
Is within the roar Ct this machinery, VIII
st would gladly touch the hidden spring
" this matchlcss intellect, and reveI in il
gIitlering riches as do these humbl
~ cfaftsmen-bu, Percival, if the expires
as sion be net rrrverent, has q decide
pcnchant for the lowly, and require
men 10 become as little children belor
"a he blesses them. 1t is easier for came
- TO pass through needles eye, than fo
distinguished" man to catch Percivs
- by the buttonhole. 1t has never bee
- achieved, though often attempted.
T. His Gavorite haunts, however, are til
st woods and fields, and sandy waste
a which stretch away from the roar OF tt
City Of Elms, over which he lrequentI
wanders for days, and at all times
of night like lonely wizard upon tn
al heath. His silent form, stealing acro'
-. ~ those barren expanses, seems the vel
" spirit Of The desolaton that surrounds
the stalking genius OF the moor. b
en- these solitary rambles, so much his pa
a. sion, are not SOLITARY to him, for h
:, familiarity with the entire circle Of Il
y" sciences, and especially his perle
ne knowledge Of botany and geology, re-
til ders every flower that springs up in h
ait path mute companion, and every ro'
\. charming volume. Indeed, il is we
'N.e w known that when desired some yea
70 since by the government Of Connectic
ce, to make geographical survey Of tn
he State, he had little else TO do than
record the notices gathered up and trsa
ured from these idle excursions OF i
bitter moments. How lofty must be t
N intellect whose very pastime thus e
~ -: tends the luminous domains Of 81
y" ence. a
- 1t is'no mere an,ithesis to say th