St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-04-19

When he became man his painful
sensitiveness as to his lameness led
him to exclude himself from all fc,
male society. Under the cloud of his
morbid feelings, he fancied woman
scorned him. He felt humbled and
degraded in her presence. The barb
thus ranked ever in his heart. He
did not know till long afterwards,
when lovely woman gave him her
heart and hand, that true woman is
interested more by the splendor of
mind in man than symmetry of per-
son that beautiful women look rather
to the intellect and are dazzlcd by it,
no matter how plain the casket.
For thirteen years Of his earlier
manhood he refused introduction to la
dies. Such was the sensitiveness of
this proud nature He well knew his
own intellectual powers. and, knowing
them, he despised more and more his
infirm body, and believed that all 9TH
ers did. Yet his face was wonderfully
handsome. His head was large, and
noble, and grand in outline. His
smile was beautiful. His powers of
conversation were imperial and unap-
! proachablc. Yet, constantly feeding
upon his own morbid emotions, he des-
pissed himself. He felt Nike some
mighty angel in charm) bound to
body that lacked the full and perfect
impress of his mind. This one, unen-
durable idea was never absent from
him. Once an injudicious friend, in
discreet with wine, said:
PrcntiSs, what made you lame 7"
Mr.. Prentiss tnrncd upon him a
whitening look of scorn, hatred and
contempt, and answered in hoarse
and terrible whisper, before which the
other trembled
G0d's curse, SIR
Then, turning his back upon him,
tremulous from unfathomable feeling,
he covered his face with his hands
and fastening to his chamber, cast
himself upon his bed in a paroxysm
of bitter weeping. Who could not
pity such a man who Shall wonder,
oh uncharitable Pharisee, that he
sought relief at the gaming board,
stalking thousands recklessly upon a
card, or in the intoxication of the
wine cup? He gamblcd not for mon
'ey; he drank not for the love of
strong drink; but to escape the pres,
sure of damninS thought The sight
of his infirm limb at times would drive
this proud man to fierce despair.
What cared he for the sots who flocked
about him and drank at his expense =?
They were his tools. He made use of
them to drown reflection. They drank
for sensual thirst of drink he to
qncnch the fires of thought ! He des-
pissed them. Not one dared to take q
familiarity with him ! He who spoke
to him lightly of his lameness was
unforGivcn by him forever more.
Who will fling the stone Who
will condemn Who can judge him,
who was never in his place ? What
mind can conceive Of the intellectual
and moral torture of his proud, bril-
liant genius, going through life hating
his own form, and stunning, for years
Gods greatest and best gift to man,
from sense Of self degradation in
woman's presence.
No, justice has not yet been done
to this great and wonderful man. He
was not understood but by few of
his nearest friends-nerer by his boon
companions. They fancied he was such
"A Ole as hemseires, when he lowered
above them like a prince, and dcspised
them like a god. His own brother,
who wrote his life in two volumes, did
not at all comprehend his true charac-
ter and has unawares left a false and
unjust impression Of him upon the
minds of his readers.