The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-29


thinking OF.
A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION.
/ MUST relate how and where I had
made the acquaintance of this appari-
ton, that the reader may not consider
me a mere victim OF my imagination.
l had gone one evening to coffee
house or casino, where an acquaintance
had once before carried me to play bill
lizards. / hoped to find the latest news
papers. At "a small table sat two gen
temcn, engaged at chess. Some young
men were sitting at II window, in live
ly conversation about ghosts and the
nature OF the hnman soul. A little ell
derry man, in scarlet cloak was walk
ing up and down the room with his
hands behind him. 1 took glass of
Dantzlc cordial and the newspaper.
30 ono attracted my attention so
much as the gentleman in scarlet. |
forgot the newspaper and the Spanish
war There was, in his figure, in his
movements, and in his features, some
thing striking and rcpulsive which corr
responded with his evident want Of
taste in dress. lie Waa something un-
der the usua! size, but large-boned and
IbrCad-shouldered. He seemed to be be-
tween fifty and sixty years of age, and
had stoop in his walk. Ills coal-biacls
hair hung thick about his head. His
tuWny complexion and his hawk's-nose
and high cheCk-b0ue5 gave him q very
repelling look. For, while his features
were cold and iron. his large eye spark.
led like the eye Of a young man. and
yet one read in it no inspiration, no
soul. There thought IS a born execu-
tioncr, or grand inquisitor, or robber-
captain, OF gipsy-hing. For merejest
that man could set cities on fire or see
children stuck upon pixies. l would
not like to travel alone in a wood with
him lie has never smiled in all his
life.
There l was mistaken. He could
smile. Uo listened TO the young men
at The window, and smiled. But, God
be with US ! what a smile! 1t chilled
me like ice. The malice of the internal
regions seemed to mock one from every
feature. "If that man there in the red
coat is not Satan himsclf,o thought |,
abe must be Satan's brother" / looked
iuvoluntarily at his feet for the cloven
foot, and, sure enough, he had one hui
man foot like ours, but his left was q
club foot in laced boot yet he did not
limp with it, but walked softly about as
if among egg-shells, which he did not
care to break. He ought to have LEI
himself be exhibited for ready money,
10 make all the Voltaires believers.
entirely forgot the Spanish war.
held the newspaper before me, it is true
but kept peeping overit at this remark
able figure.
As the red coat passed the chess-tablt
one ofthe players said to his antagonis
who seemed to be somewhat embarras
sed, "You are lost now, beyond saliva
ton" The red coat stopped momen
cast glance upon the board, and re
marked to the victor-"You are mista
ken. In three moves you will be check
mated" The winner smiled haughti
ly; his opponent shook his head despair
ngly, and moved, at the third move
the supposed victor was actually check
mated.
Whilst the chess players were replac
| ing their men, one of the young men
at the window said warmly to the red
coat-"You smile, sir; our discussion
appears to interest you but your smile
tells me that you are of different opin
ion about the world and the niety
Have you read Schelling?'
"Oh, yes !" said the red coat.
"And what does your smile mean p
"Your Schelling is sharp-mindet
poet who takes the tricks of his imagi
nation for truth, because no one can op
pose him, except with other fancy web
which only require still greater acute
ness to weave them. 1t is with philos
ophers nowadays as ever; tie blird dis
pute about theory of colors, and the deaf
about the laws of music. Alexander
would willingly have been shipwreck
ed against the moon, in order to subdut
it; and philosophers, dissatisfied in the
sphere of reason, want to be superation
al"
So said the red coat; some distur
bance arose. But he waited not, bu
took his hat and glided away.
had not seen him since, but / die
not forget the striking figure and the in
fernal physiognomy, and l was really
| frightened at the thought of dreaming
about them.
And now he stood Unexpectedly be-
fore me in my room!
THE TEMPTATION.
"Pardon, sir, If disturb you," said
he "have the honor to address Mr.
Robert -"
81 am that person." l replied.
"How do you prove it?"
"Strange questions" thought l; 81
police spy, without doubt" a halftorr
letter lay on the table. I showed hin
my address on the envelope.
every good" said he, "but the nami
is very common one; you may fine
it in every corner of Germany, Hunga
~ and Poland. You must give me bet
ter vouchers; havesome business viii
you and have been directed hither."
"Sir," said ], "pardon me, / canno
now attend to business; l am just upor
the point of leaving, aud have yet ,
thousand things to see about. Yol
must be mistaken in tho person, for
am neither politician nor merchant.
lie stared at me, e,and said-"Indeedl
He was then silent for awhile, and ap
peared about to depart; but begar
\