Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-08-28
Lsren he uarrl.sarr nsrala, Az. Id

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CHAs. FESSO HOFFMAN, THE PoET-H's IN
sdns Esncies-40W He Reeeieks His Friends ut
tic Asylum.-The last number of PutnaDi's
Magazine calls attention to the fact that this
r.eusIrr1laTI, inmate OF me pennsylvania
State Hospital, Is the author of the far-nmed
song, Sparkling and Bright'-one -four coun-
trymen's favoritc melodies. There g some thirg
so strikingly sOrrowful in the thought that
man Of such powerful mind Us Hoffman, should
filter out the days Of his life among madmer,
that the heart could scarcely rcpress a sigh,
when the recollection brings it to reflection, and
still we love to call impressions Of him and his
works to memory. Poor Hoffman! the fruits
of his pen will be read forever-they are among
the sweetest gems of American literature.
We well recollect when the poet was placed
in his present situation. We were then an app
prentice in the office of this paper and had been
engaged in reading of his thrilling productions.
The day after we had finished 1t, our surprise
and sorrow may be imagined when NC heard
that the man whose brilliant pen had previously
given US so much pleasure, had been placed in
the Lunatic Asylum. This waSabout four years
ago. The local column of the Herald was then
under the charge of Mr.. Adam Baum-a man
who loved HOtiinan's works rs muchas Ourself
and on the dav after his Incarceration be pub
lished one of the most beautiful articles on the
subject we have ever read from his pen, which
was extensively copied by other papers.
Since then we have seen Hoffman on two or
three different occasions at the Asylum. The
editor of Putnam describes him as being once
ii large, ruddy man; he is not SO now. His face
is shrivelled up, and his whole body shows the
effects of time and disease He still retains that
fine military bearing, however, which he gained
in the army, and for hours will pace up and
down the long aisle of his division giving
orders TO his fellows, whom he imagineS his sol
dierS, and prepares them for the marcIi.'-
then again, at times he viii become in sort of
pensiVe mood, seeming TO appreciate lis posi-
ton aud mourn over it; but this is seld "a. lie
! is generally vigorous and jovial, as lie vas in
days gone by.
Every visitor of intelligence who enters the
Asylum calls to see Hoffman. He receives them
!! all with hearty greeting, will ask them to sup
aud drink with him, and when they leave
invite them to "calI often" On the last oc-
casion that we saw him, after sitting in his
cell, and indulging in pleasant chnt-no, not
pleasant. for the feeling of his condition pre-
vented ttis-he ordered at several times some of
his fellows to fetch wine and glasses. They
would just stare at him. and he would seem to
forget it. until suddenly the order would be re-
peated and again forgotten. He generally Ia.
bors under the idea that the place of his con-
finement is q garrison, of which he is the COM
mander, and is only prevented from enjoying the
outside by advice Of his physician. He will
frequently endeavor TO prevail on the Superin-
tendent to grant him liberty TO roam through
the country fora while, aud when this is re-
fused will submit quietly. Hoffman wears a
cooked hat continually, and walks with cane.
His appearance bears the mark Of eecentricity
and genius. but the former may not have been
the case before his insanity. His voice is clear,
commanding, bnt still cheerful.