The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-12-09
From the New Orleans Delta.l
Romantic Story of q COmpOsitOI,


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From the New OrLesns Delta.I
Romantic Story OF Compassion
Some years ago, q disciple of Gutenberg,
in this city, greatly esteemed by the craft
for his integrity and intelligence, formed
an attachment for the daughter of q
French lady, IF estimsble character, but
reduced circumstances. This attachment
commenced while ouR typo was lodging
in furnished rooms, repfed by the lady,
who had resorted to Hat mode, very
common one in this city, among widow
ladies, of supporting their families The
young lady was modest, Intelligent and
attractive, and in her manr,ers and con-
duct gave evidence Of high social rank,
to which her mother had always made
claim, not, however, in any l,retentions OF
ostentatious spirit. 1t was not this assump-
zion or any other motive but sincere re-
gard and admiration for the graceful and
gentle French girl, which led our friend
a captive in the silken bonds Of Cupid, in
the train of other victims Of the same
charms. Being tall, handsome, agreea-
Bile fellow, he had the good fortune to
bear og the prize from the other aspi-
rants, and ia 6ae time the lovers were af-
Ganced with ths full consent Of the mother,
who, despite her high, social and aristo-
cratic pretensions, was too sensible and
ludicious woman to object to the al
lance of her high born daughter with one
Of natures noblemen, an honest man,
who supported himself by his own indus
try and intelligence, and gave all the evi-
dences of generous and manly char
acter
The marriage was celebrated in the
nrsse,,c,,, ola small company of friends,
fn which the craft was consplcoasly rep,
resented and the happy couple EIs settled
down to tbe rsalitie, Of life. These were
Stern r i and AZ severe enough, but the young
wife had graduated in .; ua. " ',nuvi nsv he 10
French philosophy, in whit II ,ray ros;ona' ue
found more striking examples Oh snd
ton to sudden reverses Of fortuh> onu ana
changes OF social position than ann "s
any other people. Many French prince
and nobleman, driven into exile, has
cheerfully descended into the lowest ranks
Of common laborers and when in another
turn Of the wheel Of fortune restored to
his former rank, has borne himself with
moderation and chastened pride. These
humiliations Of poverty, "the stings and
arrows of outrageous fortune have been
often cheerfully embraced by Frenchmen,
in preference to concessions and sacrl-
fees which other people willingly make to
escape the harrassments of want and
straitened circumstances, and the cha
grin of loss of social caste. ...... ....
Our young couple encountered the usual
hardships Of life whose maintenance
depended upon the wearing and exhaust
ing labor of setting type. The severest
of all descriptions Of this labor is that
which is endured in the composition-room
of daily newspaper. The greater part
of the work being done at night, the
compositor is compelled to rest during the
day, and is thus deprived of the benefits
of the pure air and sunshine, so essential
to ths,sustenance and recuperation of the
faded physical system and faculties. This
nocturnal labor il peculiarly trying to the
eyes, and many a compositor, after a few
years service, is compelled to abandon
the employment in which he has acquired
reatprofcisncy, in order to save his sight.
In this severe toll. ourt typo spent several
years after his marriage and the expense
of his family having increased by the birth
Of several children, he found it necessary
to tax very severely his system, in order
to bring up his Gem" per week to the sum
required for the support Of his wife and
little ones, The consequence was seri-
GUS arrangement Of his health and injury
to his sight, which his physician decided
would result fatally, if he did not cease
from his labors One of his eyes had
already begun to exhibit evidences of
that dangerous election known as the
eatarct.i The aid Of a few friends, and
the self-sacri6cing devotion and industry
of bis excellent wife, enabled our friend
to abstain for q long period from his
customary labors. But soon poverty,
with al its horrors and notifications,
began tesembitter the existence and cloud
the futureof the unfortunate typo. Though
ever net by cheerful and encouraging
smiles and loving looks, he could not bear
to look in theta of hiswife and children,
and think of their sad lot and his own
inability to- relieve them, :, His wife,
however, continued TO sustain and en-.
courage him by hopeful views, and by
frequent allusions to some good luck that
lay in store for them. Mysterious hints
were frequently made by her to q rich
relation, who would not forget them il
her last moments, if she had during he
lifetime. .03 ;. GJtEUG.h =
The husband was but little encouraged
by these too common, desperate resource
Of the poor and unfortunate. 1t was ik
waiting for the Sky to rain sovereigns, h
expect such windfall as slegacy from
rich relative--a more baseless hope thai
that Of drawing the grand prize in th
Havana lottery. And now, the husband
having exhausted every resource, ha'
sunk into the deepest slough Of despair
and even his poor wife began to lose he
cheerful spirits, her cheek grew paler, an
her eyes DINNER, when one day the
were aroused by a knock at the door,
was an imperative and emphatic KNOCK
and the husband looked around at hi
little onss, begged his wife to see VIII
,ro. tha v;o;SSr ttInotnilv annreh endin