The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-09
MErRop0lrfAN MUSINGS


Man and his Moods forms a problem which puzzles
very profound minds How little we know OF what we
suppose ourselves best acquainted ith-self mean
this observation to apply less In moral than meta
physical sense it is not the physical but the psychcl
self which aIludea small genealogical distinction
involving great difference 1t has always seemed to me
that what call gavitaton, and geneaxe out OF the do
main Of speculation by the generic term law H. In every
instance of its manifestation, specific application OF a
superscnsblo and intelligent force When for astraso
see sparkling brook rushing JOINTLY forward to"ai@
the ocean, lcaplng and foamng over ROCKS ana winning
through the meadows, always conceive OF some eryea
whose vigor il momentary and directly applied 70 tnss
individual stream. But am particularly impressed WIN
this conviction by observing its evidence in the moods OF
men All men are not at all times the same men Even
Punch which is the aggregate OF several very Witty and
brilliant men, is sometimes very puerile and stupid
Judging from my experience, 1 should say that
there is somewhere in the universe mighty tidal wave
of thought which at times comes rushing on, filling the
reservoirs of human intellect. and then recedes leaving
us only the blank and uninsphing mud and weeds, |
through which, like silver thread, runs the narrow
stream OF our common thought efaasa aal l |
However this fancy may bc regarded by sensible
persons one thing am certain Of and that is. whether
ii Is 10 be attributed to azness law there are cen
tain when my brain 10 be composed OF that
most unstable and useless stuff wet botting paper
Nothing at such times makes permanent impression
upon it, and the thoughts ought to convey ntegiby
written in miserable confusion of cross lines and
reversed words ..f,re..s, ~
Early in the past week the two incompatible conditions
copy, and ment, dolce far niue (Which, being inter
precd ''dont ninepence, J caused me to
throw down my pen in utter despair, and to seek relief
from ~ as4as h,ssa o5. isi5 ~
Walk into the Country,
which know by long experience to DO medicine very
cnicacious for all kinds of megrims and very pleasant
take There is great virtue in a en-mile walk 1t
clears the breast of perous stuff fcverish pulse
beat healthfuly and creates appetite which sets all
the demons of dyspepsia at defiance. j sympathize,
though not fully, with eccentric friend OF mne who
believes in what he calls the gospel of gymnastics Poor
fellow! he was nearly destroyed by over-attention to
study and rescued from early grave only by a
resoute of clubs towels, and oconotion, and it is
not surprising that, having become vigorous again,
he should be impressed with the conviction that orig
ina sin standeth not in'-whatever the thcol0gians
say it does-but in the neglect of fresh air and
bodily exercise He thinks the millennium will be
preceded by general Introduction Of gymnastc ex
ercises and that the beauty Of Bunyans Pilgrim 8
Progress is in the long foot journey undertaken by Chris
tim. think my friend il little reycrcnt in some Of
his notions, and have not much faith in his gymnas
tics since breaking my neck, and did receive
sunry contusons when, in order to show my re-
spect for his theories, attempted what he dgnes
with the title of 1.-THE duck march, feat Of agility in
which you required to form yourself into the shape of
frog, and while in this ridiculous attitude to hop side
ways | think. moreover it is below the dignity OF q
of his age 10 BIO giving lessons in the manly art OF
sefdeence, he did when last met, though must
confess chance blow received revealed some rare AS
Economical phenomena, and it thus contribution
to science it might be toieratedfor anything III dgni
fed which be called scientific But my otherwise
insane-or scientific friend becomes rational and In
structive the subject of pedestrians excursions and
often walk off Encouragement, wcarincss and jaundice
Nor do make recreation an excuse for tortnring
poor butterflies and bugs; we have better occupation
than catching aud neither of be charged with
having inflicted pain upon any of the beautiful creatures
that the earth, in the waters in the air 1t
is a thing that gather few wild flowers to
carry home with U.S. aud the universe loses beauty
animation in consequence of suburban ranbcs that
is than Master Baak Walton parson White, OF
Selborne, coul say. 71faN n
But being deferred from my walk by certain ,nmportan
considerations could not go to the country, tle
to bring the country to me- by visiting the private picture
galleries of the city and, cannot speak in detail Of
them all this week, beg to introduce
-aa some Good Paintings, -t
which are in the possession ofMr Mcclure a Ladcpe by
Paul Weber, is one of the finest paintings produced
this continent possesses wonderful depth and there
are many delicate touches which keep gazing at il
until the frame disappears and you expect to the cat
tie step out of the The water is done by the
hand Of a master, and the foliage exquisite But the
most valuable picture in the collection is the 81 Paul.
by masterhand evidently, probably Paul Veronese OF
Rubens II the Middlc-Aged Man possessed these two
paintings he would not exchange them for all the rest OF
Mr. McCuircs valuable collection, including the en- I
cravings, satuary, medals &c There are several other
fine pictures. amongst which may DO enumerated the
Study Of Guile, by Deattrc copy of the Madonna dc u
Pe.te probable Wouverans, in which brisk engage
ment is taking place the foremost figure being, usual
with that artist mounted white horse three fine
portraits in the hord style of Elliott; A Dutch Interior,
by Brackelear and head Of Dana, by Wcrtmtiicr.E
Leaving these admirable pictures with regret the Mid
de- Aged Man. unable to afford sufficient time energy
for visit to Mr.. Corcorans gallery, turned his pensve
steps towards the avenue aud unobservcd by the fashion,
able throng pushed his way through the crowd to get
MAJ peep at the Photographs. a8EAE. |
Bralys entrance was USUAL, bcsicgcd by admirers Of
the fine portraits of eminent men, including the elke
likeness Of Benton enshroed in Grape. Up stairs the pic
lures Of Lady Napier and sons and the coored portrait
of Miss Lane exhibited the perfection of the imperial pho
togaph 1t IL worth visit to Brady to the congregn
tion of eminent persons whose portraits aorn the was
The mighty ones amongst the living and the dead
down upon us with such wonderful life resemblance |
that voices grow hshcd and heads involuntari
covered Quite another gallery Of celebrities is exhibited
by McIces who has been busily ut work taking Mr. |
Stanlovs occupation into the business of the sum- and
has this winter collected portraits Of the Indian deega
tions who have visited Washington, including his
list the very distinguished and unpronounceabe Of
the mobility Of the Sac, Poncah, Sioux, Fox Obwas
Pot.watomie and Dacotah tribes In addition to these
Mr. McIecs has many fine specimens OF Photographic art
and in Mr. Cook and Mr. Vannerson he has the assistance
OF two very excellent young men, who are amongst the
best artists in their respective branches a. \
Writing Of photography reminds me OF queer
Photographic Freak.
There really 10 be rational limit TO the devel
opent photography it ovcrpasscs all barriers and ap
pears to be capable alike OF graspng the greatest and de-
sccnding to the mnutcst what has been accomplished
by il thus far may be but the forcrnnor of exhaust
less revelations Its microscopic phase Is amongst the
most and curious in its history friend hands