Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-06-27

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diligence and dispatch. Like Bacchus he was
terrible in war but in peace vouptuary. AT one
time he hazards honor and liberty for the lndul-
gerce of his lave, and at another his presence oil
mind and his daring make him victorious IN the
bloudiest naval battle of which any record exists
Though sometimes capyicously cruel he was nat
orally humane. BY turns king and pensloner,
hero, and pT0fligate, tyrant and lioera'"r'
he conquered Ptolemy, beseiged Thebes, gave
freedom to Athens, was acknow lodged to be the
most active warrior of his age and yet died In cap
tivity of incidence and gluttouy.
Pluiarch's life of Demetrius Poliorcetes, might
indeed be called the adventures of sanguineous
man, but of one morally abandoned. Where men
of this temperament are distinguished for blame
lessness aud purity they comprise within them
selves all that is lovely and amable in human
nature. They are the fondest husbands and the
kiudest fathers. They live in an atmosphere of
happiness. The fables of Arcadia seems surpass
ed by realities. 1t is especially in early life that
their virtues have the most pleasing fragrance /;
''seyere in youthful beauty" they are like the
Israeites who would not eat of the Eastern king s
meat and yet had countenances fairer than all
| These are they of whom the poets praise the des
tiny which takes them early from the world
These are the favOrites of heaven who, if they
i've 10 grow ola, at tnelI ueati I'LL up one inunu-
ment with goodness ITSELF"
THE BILIOUS TEMPERAMENT.
We turn to the consideration of the class ofmen
TO whom the destiuies of the world are generally
committed who rule in the cabinet and on the
exchange who control public business and guide
the deliberations of Senates, and who, whether in
exalted or private stations unite in the highest
degree instant sagacity with perseveriug energy.
They possess, like the sanguineous, quickness OF
perception and rapidity of thought; but they at
the same time have the power of confining their
attention 70 a simple object. They have good
practical judgement they see things as they are,
and are never deceived by contemplating measures
in false light; they have clear eye to pierce
the secrets of the human heart-to read the char
acter and understand the motives of others. 1hey
are patient and infexible in their purposes, and
however remotes may be the aim Of their desires,
they labor with uuwearied toll even for distant
aud apparently uncertain success. They are prone
! to anger, and vet can moderate or conceal their
indignation. Their strongest passion is ambition;
all other emotions yield to it; even love vainly
struggles against it, and If they sometimes give
way 20 beauty they in their pleasures resemble
the Scythaus Of old, who at their feast used to
strike the chords Of their bows to remind them
selves of danger. The men of whom We are speak
ipg are urred By constant reseSsness to constant
action. haoitual sentiment of dis4uietude al
lows them no peace but in the tumult of business;
the hours of crowded life are the only ones they
yalue the narrow road of emulation the only one
in which they travel.
The moral characteristics are observed TO be
connected with form more remarkable for Trm-
ness than for grace. The complexion is generally
not light and not unfrequently OF saiiow hue ];
the hair is dark, the skin dry the flesh not abun
dant, but firm the muscular force greatin proper
ton 10 the volume Of the muscles; the eye vivid and
sparkliug The appetite is voracious rather than
delicate; the dsgestion rapid. OF the internal
organs the liver is proportonably the largest and
most active, and its copious secretions give name
to the class.
Such is the nature of those who belong 10 the
bilious temperament. They are to be employed
wherever hardness Of resostion, prompt decision
and permauenco of enterprise are required. They
unite in themselves in an eminent degree the man
Iy virtues which lead to result in action. At their
birth all the gads came to offer gifts; the graces
alone remain away. They stand high in the ca
lendar of Courts, and know how to court the fav
or of the citizens OF Republics. but Cupid, ndig
axnt at their Independence OF him, degrades them
IN his calendar, They do not reign in the world
of fashion. and the novel-writer could make an
Oxenstirn or Suily an imposing picture, bat not
the hero Of sentimental tale.
Will you learn from living examples what IS
the nature of the bilious temperament? Walk to
the Exchange asl; who best understands the
daring business of insurance? Discover by whom
the banks are managed which give the surest and
LARGEST dividends? Go to our new settlements in
| the West and mark the men who are late and
early riding through the majestic forests OF virgin
nature, where the progress is impeded, 1t is true,
/ by no underwood. but where every hardship must
be endured, streams forded, nights he spent under
the open SKY. hunger be deed. and thousand
dangers be braved by the keen Spectator VINO will
! take nothing on trust. Or watch the arena Otpub-
lie strife. aud see who it is that most sklltu!iy.
and most secretly. touches the Springs of national
action, and controls the distribution OF praise and
| emoluments in the very court Of hunorl
| Or if you Will not trust yourself with scrutlnl.
zing the motives Of the living, consult the Muse
of History, aud with her trumpet-tongne she VIII
tell you of those who are the eject OF her heart,
those who Gill the universe with their tame, and
have swayed their times by their prowess and
their mental power; from the mighty conquerors
of earliest antiquity, whose names float To us a
mong the wrecks OF unknown Empires, to the
last wonderful man, who in our own times dealt
with States as with playthings, and by the force
of his despotic will shook the civilized world to
iis centre.
| Ancient history furnishes, perhaps. no more
| exact Illustration Of this temperament than In the
Character Of ThemiSioces. In his boyhood he
Stunned boyish sports, but would compose decia-
nations and harangueS. He says OF himself that
he had learned neither to tune the harp nor han
die the lyre. but that he knew how to make
sma n and inglorious city both powerful aud Illus
trous. He could not sleep for the trophies OF
Miltiades. When his superior in the command
raised staff to repel disagreeable advice by
blow. he cooliy said-'Sifike, but hear me, rem
| dering patience sublime by mis- patriotism. Hay-
inc been poor and disinherited child, he made
his way to the highest honors in Athens, and for
season controlled the civilized world. 'He was
the first of men," says rhucydides, ''(or practl
"a, ma. ,,.rement." OfRomans we might name as
of the bilious temperament the elder Brulus, the
Glorious hypocrie Tho hid the power OF his
Genius till he could exert it i1r liberty: lhe great
est FOREIGNER in the days of the hGpuoilc on the
Roman soil was Hannibal, and he, not Jess than
Jnlius Caesar, was Of the bilious class.
But we're we TO select an example among those
who at any time have been masters OF 'ne oeTe"
Hills we should name the wonderful Montal'o'
pone Sextus Y. In early life he eXerted astonlsh-
r,I ;,dustrr and talent. made himself the fayorlte
nre,ober in the cities of Italy and aiterward won
the hearts of the Spaniards till he was at last
made Cardinal. Then Of a sudden his character
seemed changed and for almost twenty years ne
rI,ved the part of deceiver with rnequa!led skill
| lie lived at a retired house; kept few servants.
was liberal in his expenses for charities, bHt par
eic,onious towards himself; contTadlc'ed no one,
submitted even to insults with perfect good hu-
NOR and in short, acquired the reputation OF be-
inr the most meek, the most humble, and the
rnost easiIv Guided among the Cardinals. Of the