The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-17
Norfharn Nfarkets
Los T
The Story of Four Young Men
Il VISIT MARQUIS corEsBuRr.

We naq Al uaComnouty Rhy tiue III lue koou
year eighteen handred aud blank! We turned
night into day. and day into night. We drank the
sun TO sleep, and when the maruing star began TO
fade we we're drinking still. Our lite was one long
revel aud We. laughed at every thing The Psalm
ist says, .'The merry-hesrted do sgh:' but In the
times | speak of never heard any signing.
The chief and acknowledged captain OF our
reveis vas Marquis Cotesbury; he had worthy
companions in Tom Fraocis, Charley Ashton, and
the rest. but ell these "paled their Intellectual
fires" before Marquis. had been at college with
hin, aud was nov 40 inmate OF his splendid bach.
elor residence In the city of -, and one OF the
joyial company, Ia spite OF my comparative youth.
I shall endsavor to speak Of Marquis briefly
He impressed every one from the first moment of
meeting. He was the perfect model of physical
beauty. have never seen a man whose personal
appearance vas one half as striking. In Greece
he would nave rvsied at tie court of Pericies and
Aspasia! that worlds wonder Alcibiades; and re-
member, more than once, insttuting the COMPARE
son In MY mind. He was at this time about twen-
ty-six years OF age, very tall OF n most dstin-
guishe1 carriage, and characterized by what is
called in Europe the bel du--that Of the perfect,
courtiy gentleman. Ii was only upon closer in
specton that you discovered the extraordinary
combination OF /" fine points, so to speak, about
his person. He had the hands, feet, and waist of
q woman. though fully six feet in height. The
delicate extremities did not seem disproportioued.
however, his limbs appeared to taper regularly
aud naturally. A head as faultless in model
that of the old Hellenic Jove, and features of the
pure Greek type, worthy completed the picture
In = physical point OF view simply, and regarded
apart from any mental endowment, Marquis Cotes.
bury was magnificent "anima." Ills manners
were such as set off his fine person wonderfully.
lie had the elegant and impressive afftbiiity of
the old school gentleman, in all its perfection. His
father, Judge Cotesbury, had been star of the
ancient regims.and Marquis not only inherited the
immense family wealth, aud the prestige of the
Judges high social positon-the old gentleman's
royal suavity of bearing descended also to his
1t was courtesy and considerateness which
tad alr nAGf m hnfn han
bowed to a lady. il such an inclination as a
subject would make at the footstool of qneen
his smile conveyed mingled veneration aud devo-
ton, worthy If a chevaer of the elder day; such
was Marquis in the presence Of ladies, aud IL
only a modification of this manner which made
him so conspicuous figure with those of his own
sex. Here his cerempnious air chan yed, but his
cpaseless aft ability never. He seemed the perfec-
ton of goodnature. Never occasions of
extraordinary provoeation did see his sweetness
of manner disappear. When irown knit together
those brows generally 30 tranquil and smiling.
the sight was almost terrible; you shrunk from il
rs from an aroused lion. But such moments as
these were extremely with him. He was al
most uniformly the thoroughly good fellogH not
losing, however, the indefnsbe tinge of his old
school manner. In his most aban Toned revels
when cheering on his companions to the widest
excuses, there was still this peculiar something
In his manner, repelling all vulgar familiarity
Persons were never coarsely familiar with him-if
II happened once, il never repeated. No
amount of wine dethroned his dignity com
pleteiy. and his iron constitution seemed to bid
defiance to the fiercest assaults on it,
My sketch of this remarkable young man ex-
tends to too great length, or l should take mel
ancholy pleasure In speaking In detail of bis men
tai Endorsements, as have done of his physical
graces. 1t may seem extrayagant to say that he
was more remarkable intellectually than in his
person. i have never encountered O mind which
filled me with such admiration. There was the in
tuitiye glance, flashing like lightning, into the Oh
scurest subjects. What others reached by ardu.
Gus trains of thought,he came to at single bound.
aud apparently without the slightest effort What
have since read of Mr.. S. S. Prentiss the great
orator OF the Southwest, seems equally applicable
tn Marquis Cotesbury. His mental coup dGpa ap-
peared to penetrate the heaviest clouds, to EN-.
brace with one glance every detail; aud the result
was given in sentences of the most brilliant COM
pactness-the club of Hercules wreathed with
flowers. To argue, to decaim. to Jest, to laugh
there was nobody like Marquis. The most ex.
hausting processes Of metaphysical logic became
simple and luminous under bis handling; the alb
strusest problems of the German school were mere
play to him; and In law, the subtlest TECHNICAL.
ties of trusts and remainders disentangied them
selves aud stood ranged In order, 80 clearly and
simply that 3 child might have understood them.
may be thought 20 amuse myself in drawing a
hnciful character-a mere assemblage of perfec-
tions for the readers amusement. Such is not the
fact This wonderful young man lived and moved
before me, such as l have described him. Provi
dence created, physically and intellectually an
actual. breathing wonder. My experience has
not rendered me DESTROYS of encountering such
agsn-st least if am compelled TO love them as
loved Marquis Cotesbury.
have taken up so much space speaking of the
chief of our party that have little opportunity
to describe the rest Perhaps it is not wholly Ne
cesssry. Tom Francis, Charley Ashton, and the
rest, were young men of ancient families large
wealth, aud generous tastesn That is to say |
they had set out with the determination to ssee
life" Tom Francis especially, was uery CAV |
young man, and seemed to regard life as a race |
C iUrBe-a thing To he QOtten war; r
suicidal velocity as possible Grave people said |
that he was going to the DEVIL but these we're
only surly old merchants who sold the produce of |
his large estates, cold-blooded individuals who
could not appreciate-as Tom would say-the feel.
fngs of gentleman having long since parted with
their souls as far too heavy eucumbrances in the
race for cash; after which succinct expression of
opinion, Tom would order fresh juleps and light
another cigar, in which Charley Ashton and Mar
Quis would abet him.
The rest were gay young fellows, enjoying life
care"ssly, aud generally deferring to the elders of
whom have spoken. for whom they seemed to
ha q an uGbounded admiration.
their admiration could not exceed NV own T
was then about twenty, had just finished nv collie
giate course, which hal commenced at sixteen
and was, as \ have said, on visit to Marquis At
college ne had taken great fancy to me- in re
turn for my own more powerful inclination to-
ward himself; aud in response to his roliickinp
letter, had left home soon after my return from
college, and taken up my abode at Msrquis's, in
but week, and return to commence the prosecu
ton of my profession. was absent from home
with scarcely any interruption for half a year-a
half year which shall never forget. 1t was car.
nivai so wild and extraordinary that / scarcely
realize its veritablc exstenc., looking back now
across many years. / almost imagine that have
dreamed this passage in my youth But actpal
events OF sure recollection soon come tom my memo
ry TO teach me that all actually happened Twas
an absolutely pagan existence that we led Epi |
Gurus in his most enthusiastic moments never
conceived more purely sensuous philosophy than
we carried into practice. have said that Mar |
gus possessed enormous wealth he had also IN |
herited the old family mansion of his father the !
Judge, aud here was spent the greater portion Of
our time. We rose about two in the day and COM |
menced existing with mighty mintjulep brought
by servant, silent, respectful, and attentive The
name of this servant. Marqsis's factotum, wasJu
gurths; and Jugurthas entire duty to be in
call Whenever bis master wanted him.
At three O'Clock In the morning, when we were
eth playing cards, Jugurtha was standing, wake
full silent, and respectful, near the sideboard.
ready at sigh 10 open another bottle OF Cham
payne, to snuH the candles arfng In the tail oliver
csndelabras or 70 bring q fresh bundle OF cards
Jugurtha never seemed sleepy, he was invariably
erenely respectful, and never was known to doubt
the possibility Of any thing which his master or
10 the sstabiishment: Eyes, Sir; directly, Sir.n
was Ju.urtha,s reply. And in half an hopr he
would glide Ia; With the desired object whatever
IL might be, upon his silver waiter. Lingering
moment respectfully at the door, Jugurtha would
then glide out in deprecatory and modest man
ner to reAppear, calm and respectful a. before At
the very hrst summons.
But l intend TO speak Of the days as We
spent them. After juleps aud hearty break.
fast,serysd with elegant simplicity upon the grand
mahogany table, a. dark ebony from age, We
called solemn council 70 take into consideration
che manner in which tho day should be spent
Generally II was determined to 10 and pay some
visits due 70 rich old dowagers for balls aud par
ties TO which We had been invited. But riding n
the great chariot or walking were both unsngted
10 the haolts Of ths .pretty fellows" Of the dav
We rode haranis's biooded horses. and the I'm.
animals we're daily passed in review and criticised
my exclusive disposal the day after my arrival
sP'snaia animal. which no one else was permitted
70 riae-a young, thoroughbred, ehesnnt-bay =
ST. , signt, Which moved as ineessantiy ~