Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-06-13
wIrHrN THE VEIL.
War nicht dss Auge sounehAft,
VIE k0nnten wir Iur Some blickeaf
War nicht IN uns des Gottes eiEne Krsst,
No-re rrur roffffrhaa a-zf~rrrkau ~


"wEr nieht Gss Auge sounehAfl,
VIE konnien vir Iur Some blickeaf
War nicht IN uns des Gottes eigne KrsT,
VIE koEnt uRs Gottiiches eniEuckeDs'
In the course Of voyage from England {
this country, some years ago, formed the &C
qusintance or a gentleman whose eeeentrieitie
Of manner were 90 remarkable, that some o
our feilow-passengers did not hesitate to pro
nounes bin insane
His name was Smiih--a name redeemed fror
eommon-placsness since the advent of the grea
!" Alexander "-snd be was returning to bi
family in New York, after a residence ESQ b
Informed us) Of Fifteen prosperous years in In
dla. His manner, have said, was peculiar
When I first saw him be was walking tn
Quarterback, with long, regular strides, BIZ
tace-a manly aud expressive 0ne-lifted up il
the moonlight, and fun Of a meaning found 1
impossible to decipher. Subsequently,, a mu
tasl acquaintance introduced us, and in q very
short time we grew wonderfully soeiable ant
communicative In one respect, however. Mr.
smith proved an enigma could never divine
| from what perennial Sources Of ebeerfulnes.
and spiritual activity there flowed such an ex.
haustless tide Of humor, sentiment, eoouence
and poetry as never failed to charm his listen
eTs. The man seemed to be inspired, 80 that
not unfrequently be became the centre OF an
eager audience, who regarded him with signi-
heant wonder, and burg upon his words with
sort Of rapture It wss curious to witness.
Gradually the report spread that Mr.. Smith
was mad, that all his eloquenee and fluent
beauty OF expression sprung from diseased
condition Of the brain. witt some reluetancs,
myself adopted this conclusion. NV com.
rsde Eve were eternally together) was fond of
limiting at some great discovery which be had
made In the East he spoke Of tas Philosc-
piers Stone, of the Arabian Nights, and Ha-
rouE- Al Raschid of the oecult powers Of nature.
Of the kosicrutians, Of the Old Man Of the
Mountain" the shroud-besring Moslemin of
Mecca, Madame Gavon, AngslUs Silesins, and
Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Then be would
discourse of the eternity Of the spirit, and Of
radiant glinpses vouehssfed to him alone, Of
Verities such as the heart OF man has ever
yesrned to comprehend, and the poets and met
aphysieians have struggled to grasp and BODY
forth IN tangible shape and method from Plato
to Parscelsns, from Paraeelsus 70 the Cam
bridge Neo Piatonists Of yesterday. But the
strangsst portion OF my experience with re-
gard to DIR. Smith, is yet to come. met him
six months after we had parted on q New York
wharf, upon which occasion be shed tears Of
anguish, and expressed himself as utterly be-
reaved and broken-hearted, st large Northern
"atefing-plHee. ! scarcely knew him. He
was transformed to degree that startled me.
Inc individual who had been wont to discourse
OF heavenly and supernal things, who quoted
the Cnerubie Worshipeto and attempted to
sSpound the Gabals, now talked of Wall street
stocks, TIE New Exchange, the state Of con-
sois and the price Of cotton in Manchester.
Even Bis countenance, before so expressive Of
1eep thought and q sort Of introspeetive enthu-
sissm, seemed to have ~Ofully deteriorated !;
the featHree looked pinched and insignificant,
and about the eyes particularly, formerly aglow
with intellect, earnestness, passion, faneied
that cunning leer was discernable, which i'm
pressed me uneomfortably. g Poor creaturelv
| said to myself, "his madness has taken a
new and much lever turnr'
went up to my old acquaintance, and ad-
dressed him with great show Of eofdiality.
Would you believe il the ungrateful fellow
hardly appeared TO recognize me our conver-
sstion was cold and formal. and we parted,
am sure thoroughly disguised with each other.
Only recently has the mystery been cleared up.
The editors Of Russel's Magazine will proba-
bly, be surprised that owe the solution Of the
enigma to them. HowID those worthy
gentlemen may exelaim, pray, hOnored con-
tributorl" 4" are you altogether composed Just
now9 come, explain; if thou hast a tale"
unfold it That is my purpose, Messrs.
Editors, only favor me with your attention,
ard all will be made clear to you.
Among your Literary Notices published in
the January number, the review of late work
called The Hashsesh Eater" happened to
attract me. read It through.
Now said /, "the matter Unexplained -
Mr.. Smith bad been using the Cannabis Indies,
and hence bis marvellous exaltation of fancy
when last saw him, the drug bad ceased to
work its magic spells, and hence the revelation
of the opposite pole Of his nature, the pole
whereOn l suspect that Mr, Smiths existence
mainly reyolves.o
The more theught Of it the more firm the
ronvfrtfon greru that coninefura eor.
rect. | wrote to MIR. Smith, and respectfully
asked for enlightenment. He replied hur-
riedly, and in evident trepid alton, that be had
been so foolish as to acquire the habit while In
India Of hasheesh-eating, but that now be
was married, and had conquered his weakness
forever. The letter went on to say that the
writer deemed it due to his character and
present responsible position to make the con-
fession, but that be trusted to my honor not to
reveal it. Should Mrs. S. discover the fact,
know not" be declared. what will become
OF me-"
Only five weeks ago, however, the parties
were divorced Smith, to console himself for a
matrimonial Z" fare up,' and determined to
" assert his manhood" against the despotic
temper of bis wife, took two enormous bolusss
of hasbeesh, under the delirious excitement Of
which be threw Mrs. Smith out Of the second
story window. The good lady's hoepsd dress
saved her from destruction, but OF course she
Immediately went back to her papa.
The ultimate consequence was, as we have
said. q divorce and tremendous damages. Dur
ing the painful proceedings pending the trial
OF the case, Mr.. Smith became more violently
addicted to Csnps5is IRdica than ever. He has
communicated bis feelings to me in bis former
glowing and Impressive style; the very paper
which bears bis communications looks vivid and
burning with sentient life. Eeeed scarcely
say that he has released me from all obliga-
tions to . cTGcY.
These letters were more than frail haman
nature (my special frailty, at least,) could
Withstand. I determined to invoke the genius
Of hasheesh, and personally to test its powers
Long had been piBing to surrender myself to
the glamour of some potent spell which might
lift me, were It but for a moment, from the dull
actualities Of a plodding round Of cares and
duties-up into the sunshine of a brighter
sphere, and an experience more strong, vivii
and immaterial. l know that my desire will
be pronounced by the moral reader (who never
groaned probably under the bnrthen Of which |
speak. and who fnds the earth and its legiti-
mate hsshpots sufficient satisfaction for all
needs present and potentially weak, II not wick
ed. No matter my moral friend. Weaknesssnd
wickeduess are quite in the liHe Of every day
human business you may havL your little pee
cadilloes also, were it worth our while to search
them out; therefore be moderate in your CEN
sure.
I bstook myself to an spothscary with whom
was accustomed to deal--a man Jolly, and
sleek, and jocund," who might be taken as the
type Of bis class In these modern times, when
apotheesries are power in the land, and might
well resent a comparison With the " meager-
looking" wight in Romeo and Juliet:
with tAtiered weeds and ovtrwhslning bT0wE,
Culing Of FiDples''-
as a comparison sq1slly impsrtinent and nal
apYoBos! begged to be supplied with half
dozen pills Of the genuine Cannabis lndics, sta :
ting that desired to experiment, but upon what
or whom, prudently left the good doctor to
surmise for himself. E =. E. Fr
About Eve O'clock OF the afternoon Of enc of
those delicious days, which, until very recent
ly, have caused our Charleston winter to sp-
pear like a spring season in the Tropics, / val
iantiy swallowed a hfteen-gTain of the magics
Eastern drug-the g insane root" as Mr.. Bay
ard Taylor irreverently calls it. / then com
mandsd broad -bottomed, luxurious armchair,
an heirloom of the family, to be rolled out
into the spacious piazza, and having careful y
adjusted myself therein, awaited with anxious,
thrilling expectation, the pleasure OF the weird
enchanter, to whose hands had incontinently
above me was glorious in the calm Of its per-
feet beauty. Not cloud, save one solitary
band Of white, transparent vaPors, changed
momentsrily into Ssomething new and strange''
by the golden alchemy OF sunlight-eould be
seen throughout the wide spaces Of the heav-
ems I; the winds were soft and balmy here and
there sPrightly robin chirPsd its pleasant sOi 8
among the garden trees, and giahcing beyond
the tops Of the evergreens, and the roofs OF the
tall houses which formed their not inappro-
pirate background, the eye rested with de-
! light upon the sky so inexpressibly blue, and
] the stately binds that swept In msisstic circle