American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-06-07
STEAMBOAT PORTRAITS.

sH..aaf. H.fN.
Tho csbinof Western Steamboat
lis astudy fora painters It's gtoupinss
though sometimes motley, are always
Isuggostive. Wo Wonder that no lio
garth has eve, Transferred them To, car.
Ivess. Let Us glance at some of The lead,
ing hgnres. There is your city mcr.
chant. His address is gentlemanly,
and his toilette uneXcoptional; but there
can be no mistaking his chara cter.--
His vcfy step is commercial His
countenance reminds you instinctively
of edgeis mud balance sheets. You
can read wholesale and retail" in the
Sery wrinkles oithat shrcwd, calculating
face. ada fn aHsAna.w rE rl tNe
f4ouder stands another parsonage
whom you have equally littlo diffic altyin
recognizing. That sleek aimless face,
that marvellous imperial and neck.tie,
assures that he is none other than that
miracle Of taundries and tailor shops,
the dandy What a dclectabe little
morsel of male insigniicance You
are halfinclned 10 sketch him as he
stands there. complacen,ly twinkiug his
peerless moustache But alas Won
have not courage for the attempt.--
Plebian pencil and brain. are ali TOO
coarse for a character 80 miCrosc6pic.--
The worry drapery of the picture would
bem0re expressive than the face it en-.
CIRCLES. lmdeed, you feel tha, you could
only adequately transfer The dandy
to canvass, by leaving a minute sug.
gestiveGiank,in the background OF some.
body's elsclPortroit! ..
But what strange group have we
youder Z 7 A score of anxious faces are
ranged ground table, as anxionoIy
watching the manipolations of fow
bits Of 9portSd paste board, as though
tho intqaeSts Of q lifetime depended up.
on the color or turn Ola card Let Us
approach and question thoir counteu-
ances,i There is the man of polished
e&lelior and snperobundant jc#elry.- -
Ee Is. apparently the most lIsjulercstcd
man in tho game. Bulupon closer in
specp0n, you HCe not quite Pleased with
his face. There IS u sus2icloua rrelivn.
uess iin his glapce--a doublfol twiukle
IN his teItaie eye. He docs not look
taiiSee s. hspeat uis.1. .toG ii, yts sai,Gs
we're never more correct. He is that
!m03t vil|aiuous coNr oIud Of v!Ilainous
humanity, tli5 "pvofesaioual camp|or."
Pmt sop ptE. E..Hs, sud a. .sc9un6ryI.-.--
Beside him 5,Gs ilis ,iciim. Perhaps ho
IS uu oDty son. Il iHs GHsyu ia Gear.
iui history of temptation aud fall in
to1, flushed and anxious face. The
last dollar that lis father gave him at
paltipg, IS gone! How will he meet
that !atherl Moths'! Home They
arO words offeGyiuI import. How like
irigh,fnl stingug dream they dance
through his burning brain! perhnps he
ID father, and was iourncyiog To tho
Far West" 10 purchase homo for
"Mary and tho lille ones" It is u
briDi but COVER true tale" In al evil
hour he 'Honked upon the wine when
it was red"--ho yielded to the ,ernpta"
tion---the eye of The "spoiier" was up
on him. The fruits Of years Of houcst
industry have all become his prey -.
Aud then his "Mary !" his child EvUn
in the stupor of intoxica;ion, the lhough,
is maddonirg. Alas what stiange
inialuation, he continues tic game. -
The serpent at his side whispers that
he may yet win! He slakos his watch.
IL is lost! Be is goajed TO desperation.
His diamond breast'pn a keepsake
from his "Mary," is laid upon the table!
a Again his lips are pressed 10 the cup!
Again the cards are shutllcd and dealt
again he engages IN the game with the
fearful earncstness Of despair! Poor
mao! II is all over with him. He is