The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-02-04
regularity Of DE Qulncey,s Life.


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. strange and ro-
mantle sometimes horrible and some
times fair and most honorable. lie was
born Of good parentage, and left at the
age of seven years to the care Of four
guardians, one Of whom undertook his
education and raising, Immediately plac-
ing him at school, where he attained an
early classical distinction, writing Greek
before he was thirteen with facility. Two
years after his teacher said Of him to o
stranger, "That boy, sir, could harangue
an Athenian audience, better than you or
could address an English one" Nor
was his proficiency in other classical ana
scientific studies less wonderful. A mas
tor of Latina thorough Mathematician
an acute English scholar. But scnool
life, and especially its associations, NY
suited him, and early ono morning MS
room was found vacant as air. He had DOT
rowed slO from lady friend Of high
rank, and had, before the gray OF morn
ing, set off for the great city OF LONDON,
with little purpose and very vague anu
shapeless hopes.
Whon-after divers adventures, painful
and harrowing-he reached the moving
world of London, he found himself, in the
confused and busy thOrougfares, friend
less stranger, destitute Of money and
even of comfortable clothing-homeless
and houseless on the braYling town,
walking up and down the throEged streets
by day, and the deserted lanes and
byways by night the companion and asso-
ciate of the wan and dark beings OF hu-
manity, who are wont thus to wander tOr
needy pittance of beggary or crime, that
must alone sustain life.
Among these he found a strange associ-
ate and friend-one of the many outcasts
Of tender age, which every city yawns
upon-a girl younger than himself, whose
only name was that Of Anna poor,
ruined creature, with whom hour after
hour he roamed, each bearing their own
deep sorrows, and sympathiSing tho ono
with the other, as they shared the scanty
bread that they chanced to pick up here
and there-childre both out on the great
city of London.
And while thus associated-wandering,
starving, sleeping in great rickety house
on pallet Of straw, which the generosity
Of questionable tenant bestowed, began
the first taking of that poison-the curse
of his life.
zone night" says he, "when Ann and
| were pacing slowly along Oxford-street
and after a day when had felt unusually
i'll and faint, requested her to turn of
with me into Soho square. Thither VIC
went; and we sat down on the steps OF q
house, which to this day never pass
without pang of grief and an inner act
of homage to the spirit of that unhappy
girl, in memory of the noble deed she
there performed. Suddenly as we sat, |
grew much worse l had been resting
my distracted head against her bosom,
and all at once sank from her arms and
fell backwards upon tho stone steps.
From the sensations | then had, l felt an
inner conviction, that if was not re-
vived by some powerful stimulus, ! should
either have died on the spot, or should
have at least sunk to point Of exhaus-
ton, from which all reascent under my
friendless circumstances would have soon
become hopeless. Then it was, at this
crisis of my fate, that my poor orphan
companion, who had herself met with lit
tie but injuries in this world, stretched
out o saving hand to me. Uttering a cry
Of terror, but without a moments delay,
she ran off into Oxford street, and in less
time than could be imagined, returned
with glass Of Port wine md laudanum,
that acted upon my empty stomach
(which would at that time have rejected
all solid food) with an instantaneous
power Of resuscitation; and for this glass
the generous girl, without murmur, paid
out Of her own humble pittance, at time
be it remembered, when she had scarce
wherewithal to purchase tho bare neces
tiles of life, and when she could moi
expect me ever to be able to reimburse
her"
From this time, or actuated by tina,
gnawing Of hunger at tho stomach which
only opium relieved, he began the grow
ing use of that horrible and life-dealing
poison. At length, during temporary
separation from poor Ann, he lost her
and sought for her in vain-gone no ono
knew where; gone no one save her grateful
associate, cared where; and at length his
guardian discovering him, reconciliation
was effected and his return home fol
lowed; his re-entrance into college, his
continued success, his marriage, and
finally his fame, full-blown and command
ing--a fame which he could enjoy, sur
rounded by peaceful, comfortable home
where he might right with calm mind
and whence he might send, drop by drop
those little shining globes Of his rare
genius.
But the bane of his existence was Q
nevr-ceasing, relentless tormentog the
demon, opium, robbed him Of its wonder
full joys, and only retaining the after time
of its dreadful misery.
In that remarkable book, the Confess
ions Of an English Opium-Eater," are Il
be found some of the most striking
pictures Of this great gloomy vice tina
one can we'll conceivc--pictures Of such
clear outline, such marvellous coloring
such pomp, such pageantry as the eye
can only imagine when the brain is il
up like q grand theater, and the vision
and heart, and soul, and system is con
trolled by the magic spell Of the direful
marvellous, prodigy, opium-opium, lik
the rattlesnake, that shines, and dazzles