Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-04-04
g Grue $Dmratibe,
THE PRoFLIGATE's DREAM.

often 80 earnestly asked there never yet has,
most probably never will be, satisfactory an
swer given. 1t is one which seems most parti-
culary to rouse the inquisHireneSS of human
nature, and has, accordingly, drawn forth from a
thousand minds q thousand speculalions and
hypotheses. Some clever and ingenious-many
more namely silly than ever was dream OF Il
half-wakened idiot.
To these have no intention of adding one,
good or bad. | am content to observe, that
while Judgment sleeps, Imagination wakes; and
relieved from the surveillance Of her staid sister,
she revels amidst the inexhaustble stores of
ideas which she finds in the mind and seizing
these in heterogeneous handfuls, she trusts them
into her kaleidoscope and then forces the help
less and unresisting soul to gaze at the some
times gorgeous and bewitching, sometimes hi
deous and appalling, scenery she has thus created.
Who can wonder if, amidst the interminabe
combinations thus produced, a little truth should
sometimes mingle! or if, the endless wheelings
of the phantasmagoria, they should occasionally
assume the attitude of the future, as we'll rs OF
the past! Nay, which of us, whose mental VI
sion is bounded to each successive point OF our
own existence, shall venture to assert, that
these combinations are not ut times permitted, it
not ordained by "Him in whom we live, and
move, and have our being !'
Whether nv readers shall think these ideas
confirmed or otherwise by the following dream,
| do not know-nor, in very truth, do much
care, since it is not for the purpose of supporting
any preconceived theory that | relate it here,
but merely as q most uncommon instance Of
continuity of purpose and of imagery in dream,
and graphic force of delneation, that might
| L. - - tbo nf nd
| let nv readers rest assured that the dream 1odS
dreanlt, and the descendants of the dreamer's re-
latiyes are among the most wealthy and respec-
ted families in Glasgow.
About ninety years ago, there was in Glas-
row club of gentlemen of the first rank in
that city, for the meetings of which card-playing
was the osteusible cause and purpose; but the
members of which were distinguished by such
fearless and boundless excess of protiigacy, es-
pccialy in the orgies of this Club, as to obtain
for it the cognomen of" The He'll Club" They
gloried in the name they had given or acquired
for themselves, and nothing that the most un-
restrained lcentiousness could do 10 merit it
was left untried
Whether the aggregate of vice be greater or
less in the present age than the one gone by, |
am not prepared to decide; but of this am
certain. that among the upper and middle ranks
of society, it is forced to- wear more decorous
disguise for assuredly, in this our day, habltual
drunkenness and shameless licenses dare not
prank themselves forth in the eyes OF all be-
holders, as if they thought they derived glori-
Gus distinction from conduct loo degrading tor
the brute creation. Still less would such men be
now unhesitatingly received into the best So
ciety-that of cultivated refined, and virtuous
women-as if they were indeed the Z" fine fel-
lows" they chose TO call themselves.
| Perhaps it may De that vces-those diseases
of the soul-run round like the diseases OF the
body; and some rage with virulence in one age
or period, and die away only to give place 10
others that succeed TO their devastating prera-
lence and energy.
But have wandered from the Club. Besides
their nightly or weekly meetings, they held q
grand annual Saturnalia, at which each member
endearored to "outdo all his former outdOings"
in the united forms of drunkenness, blasphemy
and unbrided license. Of all who shone on
these occasions, none shone half so brilliant as
Archibald Boyle. But alas the light that daz.
zled in Eim was not " light from heaven" but
from the dread abode which gave name and en-
ergy to the vile association destined 10 prove his
ruin-ruin for time and eternity!
Archibald Boyle had been at one time youth
of the richest promise-possessed of the most
dazzling talents and most fascinating manners
No requirement was too high for his ability
but unfortunately, there ras none too loo for has
ambition! Educated by q fond, fooshly lndul-
gent mother, he too early met in society with
members of the "Hell Club" His elegance
wit. unbounded gaiete de ceur, and versatility
of talent, united TO the gifts of fortune, made
him 4 most desirable victim to them; and VIC
tim and slave, gloryng in his bondage, he
very quickly became. Long ere he could count
twenty-five as his years, he was one OF the most
accomplished blackguards it could number on its
lists even his very talents-those glorious gifts
of God-but served to endow him with the
power of being more e1quisitely wicked What
10 him were heaven, hell, or eternity? Words,
mere, words, that 10 him served no purpose, but
to point his blasphemous wit, or nerve his exc
crations What glory TO him, the immortal
spirit was there, equal 10 that of hearing him
self pronounced "the very life of the Club :"
Alas there was none; for the moment the im-
mortal spirit so far forgets the Giver of its i'm
mortality as to plunge headlong into the mid
night of vice, its moral vision becomes so distor.
ted, that its deepest degradation is hailed as its
utmost glory, even as the w-etched lunatlc de-
yours the most revolving filth, and calls it a
delicacy!
Yet, strange to say, while all within-all in
tho empire of that heart, {" out of which are the
issues of life"-was thus fostering in corruption,
he retained all his very remarkable beauty of
face and person, all his external elegance and
fascination of manner and more extraordinary
still, continued an acknowledged favourlte in
the fairest and purcst female society of the day.
One night, or morning. on retiring to sleep,
after returning from one of those annual meet
ings of the Club, to which have already allu-
ded Boyle dreamt, mounted as usual upon his
famous black horse, he was still riding towards
his own house then country seat embowered
by ancient trees, and situated upon hill now
built over by the most fashionable part of Glas.
cow-snd that he was suddenly accosted by
some one, whose personal appearance the gloom
of night prevented his more than indstinctly
discerning, but who, seizing the reins, said, in
voice apparently accustomed to command, " You
must 60 with me-" "And who are you! ex-
claimed Boyle, with volley of blasphemous
execrations, while he struggled to disengage his
reins from the intruder's grasp; That you VIII
see by-and-by," replied the same voice, in cold
sneering tone, that thrilled his very heart stream.
Boyle plunged the spurs rowels deep INTO tne
painting sides of his hitherto unfoied and unfaii-
ing steed. The noble animal cared, staggered,
and then suddenly darted forward with speed
that nearly deprived his rider of breath and sem
sation; but in vain, in vain fecter than the
wind he aew-the mysterious, half-seen guide,
was still before! Agonized, by he knew not
what, of indescribable horror and awe, Boyle
again furiously spurred the gallant horse. 1t
fercely reared and plunged-he lost his seat,