Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-30
From the Mnthcr's Magazine.
The Wreck of Genius.


1t was early one September afternoon
when my wife and /, who were jpurneying
in our own carriage. halted at an inn on
the borders of a pretty village in tie interior
of Massachusetts,, to stop for the night Is
we had plenty OF time before sunset, we
took stroll through the place. To us, who
could only take an outside view Of things
and who could not penetrate the sanctity of
family experience and of individual grief and
care, it seemed that we were in the very
paradise of happy homes. We dill no. fail to
admire the beauty of the surrounding scenery
and we often fingered to look upon the
pretty cottages that were nestled on tho
hlllsides and in the valley, and that looked
out coquetishly from their orchards and
forests of ornamental shrubbery. We mnre
than once halted to converse with grnur,s &c
children, who, with happy faces and merry
hearts, were returning from school, asd
when came to the bridge we fingered
long TO admire the reflection of a gorgeous
autumnal sky from the surface Of the water.
The declining sun shei its mellow light On
every object aronnd Us; and the busy hum
Of machnry, that in every direction Le-puSe
industry AMI thrift. was being lulie |, AZ tho
ltbors Of the day closing. At length
we turned our st-ps towards our iIn with
feelings subdued and tranquilizrd hy the
scene of beauty, industry, AMI happiness on
which we hai lnnktd. What charming
place, we said, in which to spend lifetime
and train the spirit for holier cline: snch
homes must BE- nearer to heaven and in such
places the spirit Of peace must delight To
dwell, while dews OF heavenly grace distii
around. Suddenly an exclamation of sur
prize and terror from my wife called my
attention to mi>erablv degraded obicct
that was anroaehlng ns; There were the s.,
FOUL and with features haggard, and marTeJ
BIZ a beastly expression, which Indicated
that all manly feelings were extinguished
and the light of reason was well nigh gore.
His step was feeble and uncertain As | 2 real-
cd along the street. / never could lock up-
on such an one without feelings of deep com
miseration, bet saw III this ease nuthirr 20
excite unusual interest or sympathy, excerpt
that the poor creature bore evident mark Of
former respectatility, and seemed now to be
sunk unusually low ; there was TO familiar
feature, nothing to revive any association Of
the past. and yet my heart was drawn to-
wards him and the quicker perception of
my wife saw, beneath the repuisiye exterior,
come trace that at once excited the most
lively emotions. But before she Lad made
known her suspicious he approached nearer,
and what was my surprise when lie address
ed me by name, and with mandlin, silly
| laugh, and assumed familiarity Of manner,
| said:
How are you, old fellow-don't know
! me, eh Well, timcs are changed since we
| used 70 meet, but give your hand"
Then, turning to my wife with an attempt
at grace Of manner that might once have teen
natural, but to which he was now all unused
he inquired if she lad forgotten him too.
is it possible she said, that this is VIII
Ham---w
Yes" he replied, 'tbe very same old fel.
low, ha ha ha y
Net 10 repeat the conversation that follow
ed, and that was sufficiently painful to all
notwithstanding his assumed nonchalance
and ill-disguised notification il is sufficient
for our purpose to say, that in this misera-
BILE wreck ut man we saw all that remain
ed of one of my college classmates, who had
been to me as a brother, and who was spe-
cal favorite in the drawing-rOom circles,
: where my wife had often met him. He was
the son of a lawyer, and was himself educa-
ted for that profession. At the time we we're
in college his father was a member of Con-
gress from the district in Massachusetts in
r which he resided, and ranked among the
first lawyers of the State. Taree oi his
sons were educated for the bar, and TIVE
went into mercantile pursuits. They nj
were highly educated ,and to rare accomplish
:. ments Of mind added fne personal appear
Y ance and grace Of manner that showed th.
!, well bred-gentleman. There was no famil,
: in the State whose society was more cOurteC
i or whose prospects were uore promising :
n William was the favorite son--the pride .
n the family. In our college class tiIera VA
Y no one more popular than he. He was 0
J medium size and had a fine classic face, il
z which were expressed vigorous thought
manly frankness, and at the same time
I softened delicacy of feeling that indicates
\ sensitive appreciation and gentle nurture
lie Was a universal favoriIe. Amiable IL
p temper and sparkling in wit and repartee, b
was always greeted with q hearty welcom
ye in all social circles. lie graduated with higl
honor, aud from that time saw little Of him
Il From others had known something of tn
a history of his career. He entered the la'
lg Office of his father, and after completing hi
at professional studies, established himself il
~ business in a neghbOring town. Meanwhil
III be had won the affections of an accomplish
II ed lady in Connecticut. and when he brough
is her, bride, to his tasteful csttage-home
n everybody said what beautiful couple I
= Years passed on-his business rapidly ir
A. creased, and he stood among the first at tn
s. bar. Meanwhile the woodbine which the
MT had planted grew lovingly over the trellis i
g. their cottage door, flowers, and shrubber
- indicated that the hand Of taste was ther,
- and if you had catered within that hnm
u you might have seen two beautiful childrel
We who were perpetual sunshine around tn;
yn hearth. A close observer ms sht have notieC