The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-08-07
Mistakes of Short-Sightcd Man.

With them ever help each other
While we live.
Mistakes of a Short-Sightcd Man.
Tho world will scarcely believe that linz
| itcd vision, or ncar-si9lltcdncss unlitsa man
for any society whatever. Yet such is the
fact know it, for have experienced
it and now stay at home altogether.
On my first merging into manhood, soon
found that had no fricnds-cvcry one
summed me and whv9 Simply because
passed my acquaintance on tho street
with supposed contempt. did not know
them. I.soon resolved to speak to every
one | passed "and thcn," thought |, in
the fondness of my imagination, there will
be no mistake - put my resolution at
once into practice, and for while things
went swimmingly on; but at length the
same result was the consequence.
"What have done now - asked of a
friend. "Why am again thrust without
the pale Of society 2"
The reason is, simply" said he, gazing
about to see that no one observed him
speaking to SO prescribed a being as I,
that people arc not willing to meet on
terms of sociablity and equality a man
who claims the acquaintance Of every lon.
fer, male or female, he may chance to meet.
At Trinity Church, last Sunday, you offer
ed your arm to negro wcnch; and you
were yesterday observed by party of IA:
dies in the act of making profound bow
to three ofthe most notorious courtezaps
in town"
Good Heavens" exclaimed 7, "itH pos,
sible z"
"rhcse were not the only bad effects of
| my politcncss. A great six-foot wlisker-
; ando charged inc with tho hcinons crime
Of insulting his sister, by speaking to her
without the previous Eormality of m intro.
Luction and it was with the greatest diff
, ticuty that could persuade the fellow to
rcfr ain from horsc-@hipping mo-a
! thing which he had fully resolved upon,
and which nothing but my humble apollo.
gies, and laborcd explanations, Joined to
tho cntrcatics Of one or two of nv person.
al friends, deferred him from putting into
practice.
"I[appicr," thought 7, "f,r happier, had
been born blind, for then I should at
least have avoided tho issue, of blunders' in
to which | liayc hourly stumbled. Nv
life has been one continued series of getting
into scrapcs in thcworss way, and getting
out Of them the best way 1 could: Why
am l coupled with such destiny g I am
one Of the gentlcst and most inoffcnsivo OF
mankind, and yet tho suikiost -blackguarl
about town. encounters not half ihc difficult
ties which fall to my lot" "
Such wero my musings, when, on. the
folloYihgSday, I dincd with 4 friend at one
Of tho most fashionable ahptcls, in tho city.
l was for 4 while, as fsthougfit,, extremely
lucky, having as yet maJe, but zone .tdSz
pas, which was merely the drinking Of a
glass Of brandy for as much wines !: mis-.
take, by tho way, which, might have 6e.
curredao almost any ono. A tremendous.
ly stout gentleman, from Mississippi, was
seated on my left. This individual had
just cleared his plato of large qaahtity Of
roast beet, and was engaged in gazing ON
sniously at a lobster, liiS shut right hand, in
tho mean timc, $rcsting uPon tho table.
Unfortunately for myself, at this particular
juncturc I happened to stand in need of
piece of breadN; and raising my eyes in
search OF the necessary article, Il mistook
his clenchcI fist for loaf Taking up my
fork very deliberately, hitehed up the
sleeve Of my coat, and plunged tho sharp
steel instrument into the fesiy part Of the
mans hand. With noise between n
roar and growl, the victim juinpedIupon
his feet, knocking down tho gentleman
who sat next him, and upsetting a waiter
who was hurrying along g$with a large sup
ply Of custards., I, Of cou1e, jrffaped up
too, frightened, an may well be supposed,
almost to death and attempted to ex-
plaiu matters; but scarcely bad I opened
my mouth for the purpose, when was,
foored by tremendous blow from the
wounded limb, directly in my face. No
sooaerhad,i ,ihe avenger knocked me down,
than he unsheathed a. huge bowie-knife,
and advanced 70 annihifate me- altogether.
Words can not portray the horror 81 my.
emotiqns. l had seen the fellow carve q
|pga lew momehts before, and myself admiss;i
ed his dexterity in the proceeding. ~ 8
The company,. however, ipterfered Y be-
tweeathe Mississippian and.nlg distraction:
Ny friends made known the inpertactiop
Of my vision, and theInan Of thss sFar; .West.
became satisfied. Iwass borneto bed near
Elr sensaIess, and llavs nat yet. reeayered
from tue effects Of. that I'd venture
|, a = nbyss;;c q i aa iis one; Of tneS fyost
and efficient 4, tIselcity. Ife is' aH e
siaslisns1. md slated 60 shins ths ,sGSs.
(Sfrances he slio is head, gayiiig s9x.5s
Tsfyible chaps those felloms :froIi itssss
issiippi i 'ofriblo a bei1gsst ont q iEcsi
eut5 5pur I'D efahsl ,toss
] giEs.C ATI Israo an: M mi III