Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-10-18
MISCELLANY.
THE POWER or ATrECTIoN.

say for he looked like an "archanrel ruined. -
/ met him on the pavement Of lsinglon, af-
ter he had 'ialled from heaven" and actually
started beneath the glance of his eye. Hear
| ing my friend, with whom ! was walking, whisp-
er in my ear, "lIcar comes Edward living"
| raised my head, as brushed the elbow Of
man considerably over six feet, on whose should
ers descended an immense mass of raven black
/ hair, and was scorched by his terrible glance.
/ | had never quailed beneath the flash of the hu-
man eye before bu, this was more than hu-
uan. The other orb was mild, though bright;
and the expression of the other side of his face,
serene aud benevolent, Ills character, like his
counienance, had two phases.
81 should like to hear him." said to the
divinity student, with whom was walking.
81 have no objection replied my friend,
though thought he did not relish the proposal;
but | being stranger in London, he could not
refuse to show me lis lions.
"What say you to visiting the Church early
tomorrow morning -
"Not Tomorrow" said he, looking some
what pale.
"Why not -
"Tbey will be speaking in the unknown
tongue"
"'The very thing want to hear You will
take me Come you must not refuse"
My poor friend was kind, and easily cu,rcai-
cd. lie consented. Would that could have
iorseen what it cost him
1t was about half past six O'Clock. Of a win
'er's morning, that We entered the portals of
Edward Irvings beautiful church Itwas quite
dark but the sexton, who must have the eyes,
and believe the veve, paws, Of cat, led US,
with a sieallhy mufled step, up one Of the side
asles, and placed us in a pew. Two candles
burned at the reading desk, but with so feeble
a ray, that we found ii impossible, on first en-
iering, TO distinguish the objects Immediately
around us. We thought the building was emp
iy but, as the pupil Of the eye dilaiod, We saw
one and another pale face emerging from the
morning mist, and raising out OF the dark pews,
ike corpses from their colius, or unhappy spirits
from the grave, cor their aspecis--one and all
were overcast with melancholy. Edward lr-
wing, the great genius loci, sat at the desk with
his head bent forward on his hands.
The stiffness was such that you might hear
pin drop. The priest and the people, who
: seemed to hold in their very breath, were wait
ing for some spirit to break the silence in
other words, for the ''unknown tongue" But
there was no utterance. Mr. Irving could en-
dure the silence no longer. lie lost all pa
tience He looked out feariully from under his
hands. The evil eye shot malignant flashes
throughout the church, and above the pale face;
of the congregation like lightning playing
around the mouth of the pit. The melancholy
worshippers seemed to quail beneath his frenzied
maniac glance, for the high priest of that tenn
. pie was mad, though the people knew it not
and they were, TO some extent, inocuaied with
his religious views, though unconscious oftheil
real condition.
Z But in this case we must make great allow
ance. Irving was an extraordinary man, and
great orator. Wise men, as well as silly
women, were led captive by the peculiar char
acier of his eloquence His pecuiarities o
phrase and manner were all placed 10 the ac
count Of his genius. Some actually believe hin
" nspired-for madness was once thought pro
prieiy of inspiration. The more the pTiestess
:. Of Apollo ragged and foamed, the more conf
dently did the worshiper receive the report 0
+. the oracle. Besides all this, the bent of IT.
" wings madness took direction that aatterec
8 After waiting for abont ten minutes Mr. Ir
wing arose, and exclaimed with solemn empha
sis, "Brethren, LerGre lest ye queneh The SPiri
Of God!' lie said no more, but his word
seemed to enter souls aud hearts Of the eniir
! assembly, and yibraie through their painting
frames. felt tremor from head 10 foot as
awaited their effect. Anon, heard sount
like the rumbIing Of distant thunder; and the
groan 1t was the abouive utterance Of on
p the prophets |, was neither known nor al
unknown tongue, but an inarticulate sound
choked in the throat that attempted to give
birth.
- "Hdrk !" exclaimed Irving, raising his fin
ger, " lis The moving ofthe waters the ange
has descended"
III As he spoke, figure in white drapery rose ou
of one of the pews. She raised her arms hg
u towards heaven, like the priestess of Delphi
and uttered sounds so wild, shrill and uneartl
- y, and with a cadence so melancholy aud mus
cal, that thrilled us to the marrow, and mad
our very hair stand on end.
When she ceased Mr. Irving rose and saiC
lie "To one is given divers kind OF tongues, /
another the Interpretation Of tongues and 81
down again
A man then rose, and attempted an interprt
tation of the sounds which the female had u
tered. After this the priest pronounced I'll
benediction, and dismissed ihe.assembly.
sle scarcely exchanged a word with my frier
on our way home. | felt tremor in his han
m and arm, as they rested within mine; bot Il
" morning being cold, ! said, "You are chilly
&C. Let Us walk faster-l am hungry"
There was large party at breakfast th'
e morning, and the conversation was bright al
sparkling but my friend took no part in it,
= He looked sad and moody so much so that
slapped him on the back and told him to 'che
up," that there was "money bid for him. -
R He replied by as ugly and malicious grin
| ever saw on human face. The next nome
he was lying on his back on the floor, foamiI
at the mouth He was mad-slark mad. j
ly had been bitten-menially bitten, by Edwa
Irving or the white prophecies thought