The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-25

rally received at fair market rates ap-
preaching the specie standards.
"GolSc. Go1Sc! GoSE!"-We note that
our young friend, Mr.. Robert Bruins, has
been absorbed in the ancient concern of
Zealy and Scott. He wentvff, or in, very
suddenly, and without axy prementions
of irfrmity. We saw him but late one
evening, doing we'll and looking cheerful
ly; walking with his wonted elasticity,
and as busy in schemes of the future as if
he had thousand years of life before
him. And. only the next day. he was in
the newspapers, swallowed up in the
aforesaid firm! We wended our way to
the establishment which was thus fatal 20
our friend, soon after swallowing a sad
breakfast, and from the crowd about their
doors, we could see that there was sem
sstion. Our young friend was visible, in
deed. bat care" in the language of Mil
ton. safe on his faded cheeks" Yet we
must add, from the same poet
-"But under brows
Of dauntless valor and ccnsiderate pride,
Waiting the sales of goods without the
door,
And the sales went on for hours to the
melancholy chaunt. Going, going, gone!"
alternating with what might have been
quotation from Macbeth's witches, s.Once,
twice. thrice!" That is, "Once to thine,
(thy bid,) and once to mine. (my bid,) and
once again to make up nine" That being
the very mystical sum and amount, in
shillings, to be made up out of the discon-
solnte and slender purse of the third and
highest bidder. who has. topped the tables
over all competitors. We sighed over the
fate of our young friend, ahd wondered at
the complacent looks with which he re-
ceived the tidings of amounts Brought in,
of coin from the Spanish and American
mints-the red and the white metal-now
an eagle, now doubloon, and now a we'll
preserved pistareen of the old Spanish
rsglmt with wien Bourbon face upon
it. To what base uses may we come at
last! Did it bring no feelings of mortifi-
cation to our yourS subtraasurer-he who
had recently been turning over his mil
lions daily III Confederate bills, very pref
tlly engraved-to descend to the summing
of some nineteen miserable dollars and
siAty-fve cents, in little tinkling circu-
lar bits, which would have no sort of
value but that everybody is so strangely
persuaded to believe in them-showing the
worship of Mammon to be still superior,
In the public mind, to that of Apollo and
the muses.? Why. should not people be
still persuaded to take Confederate bills.
IT only as precious specimens of arts
w ere they not choice in their rignetteS and
happy in their execution Did we not
have scores of Englshmen and Frenchmen,
expert in art, here in Columbia, engaged
in achieving these beautiful performances!
And are not scores of these professors now
undergoing trial in New York. accused
would you believe it?-and likely to be
punished for their excellence in the art?
Surely, these notes are worthy Of conte,n-
plation, if only as recalling the days when
every man thought himself q million arel
And that an eX-treasurer should repudiate
them now for such petty counters in red
and white metal, such rs the boys may
play chuck iarthing with! Alas! and lac
-of rupees to be sure-a day
We must not forget. in this conn cction
the rival establishments Of Messrs. Durbec
d Walter, Messrs. Francis Lance, l.. T.
Levin, Jacob Cohen. Charles F. Harrison
and A. R. Phillips. They all have claims
upon US. When we would hearken to an
admirable imitation of all the wind instru-
ments of band or orchestra, we summon
10 our help the peculiar powers of Mr..
Durbec; and, giving his flexible mouth a
peculiar twist..that very mouth with
which he beghles innocent competitors
with the melancholy wall of "Going,
going, gone!'-he will so initiate the seye,
raj instruments, that you will at once fancy
yourself surrounded by a first rate band Of
Spanish performers from flute to trombone.
To Mr.. Walter we owe an occasional
bouquet, 50 happily deyised-nay, COM
posed-that it suits exactly to serve the
purpose of a Turkish love billet to a Cir.