Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-24
From Salmagundi.l
:. r na. H. rA,I Ian


Character of Pindar CockIoft.
Sitting late the other evening in my elbow
chair indulging in that kind of indolent
meditation, which / consider the perfection
of human bliss, was aroused from my rev
erie by the entrance of an old servants in the
Coclloft livery who handed me letter con-
timing the following address from my cousin
and old college chum, Pindar Cockloft.
Honest Andrew, as he delivered il informed
me that his master, who resides little way
from town, on reading a small pamphlet in
neat yellow cover, rubbed his hands with
symptoms Of great satisfaction, called for his
tavorite Chinese inkstand, with two sprawl
ing Mandarians for its supporters and wrote
the letter which he had the honor to present
me.
AS foresee my cousin will one day be-
come great favorite with the public, and as
[ know him to be somewhat punctilious as 1t
respects etiquette, l shall take this opportunity
to crafty the old gentleman, by giving him
II proper introduction to the fashionable
world The Cockloft family, to which have
the comfort of being related, has been fruit
ful in old bachelors and hnmorists, as will be
perceived when come to treat more of its
history. NV cousin Pindar is one of its most
conspicuous members-he is now in his fifty
eighth year-is bachelor partly through
choice, and partly through chance, and an
oddity of the first water. Half his life has
been employed in writing odes, sonnets, epi-
grams, and elegies, which he seldom shows to
anybody but myself after they are written;
and all the old chests drawers, and chair
bottoms in the house, TEEN with his produc-
tions. a'-..
In his younger days he figured as a DASH
ing blade in the great world; and no young
fellow of the town wore longer pig
tail, or carried more buckram in his
skirts. From sixteen to thirty he was
continually in love, and during that period,
to use his own words, he be-scribbled
more paper than would serve theater for
snow-storms a whole season. The evening of
his thirtieth birthday, as he sat by the fire.
side, as much in love as ever was man in this
world, and writing the name Of his mistress
in the ashes, with an old tongs that had lost
one of its legs, he was seized with awhim-
wham that he was an old fool to be in love at
his time of life. IL was ever one of the Cock
loft characteristics to strike to whim and
had Pindar stood out on this occasion he
would have brought the reputation of his
mother in question. From that time he gave
up all particular attentions to the ladies; and
though he still loves their company, he has
never been known to exceed the bounds of
common courtesy in his intercourse with
them. He was the ornament Of our family
circle in town, until the epoch Of the French
Revolution, which sent so many unfortunate
dancing masters from their country to polish
and enlighten our hemisphere. This was
sad time for Pindar, who had taken genuine
Cockloft prejudice against everything French,
ever since he was brought to deaths door by
a ragout: he groaned at Ca Ira, and the Mar
seilles Hymn had much the same effect upon
him, that sharpening knife upon dry
milestone has upon some people--it set his
teeth chattering. He might in time have
been reconciled TO these rubs, had not the
introduction Of French cockades on the hats
of our citizens absolutely thrown him into a
fever. The first time he saw an instance OF
this kind, he came home with great precipi-
taton, packed up his trunk, his old-fashioned
writing desk and his Chinese inkstand, and
made kind of growing retreat to Cockloft
Hall, where he has resided ever since.
Ny cousin Pindar is of mercurial disposi.
tion-a humorist without ill-nature-he is o.
the true gunpowder temper; one flash, and
all is over It il true when the wind is east.
erly, or the gout gives him gentle twingle
or ne hears Of any new successes of the
French, he will become a little splenetic; and
heaven help the man, and more particularly
the women, that crosses his humor at tina
moment-she is sure to receive no quarter
These are the most sublime moments O
Pinder. swear to you, dear ladies and gen
tlemen, would not lose one of these spleneti,
bursts for the best wig in my wardrobe ever
though il were proved to be the identical wi,
worn by the sage Linkum Fiielius when h
demonstrated before the whole University Q
Leyden that it was possible to make brick
man blaze forth such a volcanic explosion {
wit, ridicule, and satire, that was almoI
tempted TO believe him inspired. But thes
sallies only lasted for moment, and passe
like Summer clouds over the benevolent sur
shine which ever warmed his heart an
lighted up his countenance. rrf.
Time, though il has dealt roughly with h
person, has passed lightly over the graces
his mind, and left him in full possession of a
the sensbilities Of youth. His eye kindles
the relation Of noble and generous actiol
his heart melts at the story of distress, an
he is still a warm admirer Of the fair. Lik
all old bachelors, however, he looks bac
with fond and lingering eye on the perio
of his boyhood; and would sooner suffer ii
pangs of matrimony than acknowledge thu
the world, or anything in il, is half SO cley,
as It was in those good old times that Al
/ believe / have already mentioned, tn
with all his good qualities he is humoris
and a humorlst Of the highest order He h
some Of the most intolerable whim- whams
ever met with in my life, and his oddities a
sufficient to exc out hundred tolerab
originals, But win not enlarge on the
enough has been told TO excite a desire
know more, and am much mistaken il
the course Of half dozen of our nnube,
the whole town, and cpwnIstai~ f1u eisabPI; pslPi'
his claim 70 the laureateship he has solicite
and with which We hereoy Invest him, fecoE
mending him and his eiiasioas TO public re
eFenee and respect, rf a'fIf' Wsf