Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-08-22

"Ihe mind is IT'S own Place, and in itself
Can make heaven of hell hell Of hehven.n
This is the greatest truth ever sung by
poet and never perhaps has this philosophi-
cal sentiment found a better application than
in the Glasgow poisoning case, which forms
the all absorbing matter of discussion in eve
English home. Madeline Smith is one of
those unfortunate girls destined and formed
by nature to adorn household aud to bless
n man with heaven of love, but who because
they bestow their affections on an unworthy
subject become base lbertines, depravpd and
guilty women, and make hell of their hea-
ven." AS may be expected. most of the la
dies who speak of this fallen angel, find no
terms strong enough for condemnation. and
are ipclned to deny to their wretched sister
every womanly feeling. happen to be in
timately acquainted with gentleman who
was, for several years. the musical teacher of
Miss Smith in a school at Upper Clapton,
AND he, cold and sharp observer, says that
be never knew a more amiable, delicate, aud
tender feeling girl than she was at the age Of
seventeen. She had alwaysan aiIectiouate
heart, and no one would have imagined that
this quiet and pleasing lake would one day
be troubled and agitated by such fearful
storm OF passion. And this appreciation of
her character must be true, since the mistress
Of the school and all Of her former governes-
ses tell the same story. 1t is. then, Ques-
tion Of high social interest, to know how this
blooming girl became SO quickly corrupt
and miserable outcast.
Like many young lady OF superior intel
llgence and warm heart, Miss Smith fell pas
sionately in love with worthless fellow
l.Angeler has gone to his account, and we
Will not be hard on man who has paid the
penalty of life for his crime; fer he has truly
committed the crime of willfully depraving
the greatest gift Of lleayen--a pure and low
ing woman. Think only that he actually re-
preached his paramour one day that she low
ed him merely "because he was handsome" !"
and you will see at one glance of what stamp
his mind was. How well he succeeded in the
work Of seduction is superabundantly known
by the letters which she wrote to him, and
which were read in Court. These terrible
notes seem TO be written with the pen with
which Rousseau's lleloise addressed Saint
Preux. Some of these passionate epistes
were even so madly debauched that the Lord
Advocate shrunk from reading them in pub
lie. Well-infcrmed persons tell me that
| among other disgusting details, that two
consecutive abortions are now described in
them.
But still she was aware of her shame, and
| tried to eXtricate herself from the abyss OF
corruption into which she had been dragged
| She feels for the proud and decoreus family
to which she belongs, she feels for her mother
and writes to her base lover, "In the name Of
her who gave me the light of day save me
from shame" And who knows but the un.
fortunate girl might have been tender and
faithful wife to the man who proposed to give
her his name? She begs, she entreats her
| lono ,linn; To- Il. Il II 4 1
a stone to return her these fatal letters, which
he threatens to use against her as an engine
of continuous terror and oppression. He re,
fuses, not because he wants to marry her, but
because he boasts of such fair mistress, and
is not inclined to spare his victim. And who
would not forgive her the moving aud des
pairing letter which she writes in consequence
From that moment the struggle between l..
Angelier and herself is bat duel, which she
fights with her own weapons.
The public look at it in this light. A few
weeks ago at Edinburgh, they would have
torn her to pieces, and the announcement OF
the verdict, notwithstanding a serious warn
ing Of the Lord Justice Clerk, elected cheers
from the crowd in the Court, and was ever
echoed by the large concourse outside. This
difference in the public feeling may easily be
accounted for. After Lam geliers death. i,
was said that his mistress had poisoned be.
cause she wanted to marry a richer man anG
the people were implcable at such base
and selfish calculation. But the trial gave
evidence that abject selfshness was on the
side Of the man, through whose vile agency
guilty love and incredible mental suffering,
were brought on gentle and unfortunate
girl. Feelings of sympathy and commisera
ton were in consequence prevalent, and thu
most earnest moralist was satisfied with re
peating the words of the prayer, Lead us no
inio temptation"
Miss smith is not sent to the galows, bu
so far as she lie guilty, she is punished; from
u position of honorable esteem, she is hurle6
to infamy; the whole world is made acquain
ted with her failings and her vices whateve
she held most sacred is defled. and all tn
blossoms of her life are blghted by wcke,
and degrading passion. Is blemished repu
Ifat;an a suenicinn of tho doe most dve a hran,