Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-02
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
lCOMMCSICATED.


The light of great genius falls upon some
minds with an effect passing strange, The an
mails of history furnish lls examples where weak
minds, in association with the strong and power
tul, have been magnitied and lnvlgorated.
From the SAME source We have examples OF
minds far above mediocrity, which, in earnest
admiration Of some great genius, have become
weak and visionary As the rays OF the greater
luminary fall diversity upon each OF the inferior
satellites by which it is surrounded, even so do
the rays of genius fall upon each one OF that
vast constellation of common minds with a dit
tcrent effect In the instance Of Marshal Ber-
thier, an impotent and narrow minded man,
who under the guiding intellect Of Napoleon
Bonaparte, has linked himself indlssolubly with
fame, the brilliancy Of the mind of the one
mantled the stupidity Of that of the other.
And in the instance Of the attorney, conspicu-
Gus at the bar for energy, integrity and wisdom,
who went deranged over John Z. Calhoun,
the brilliancy Of the mind Of the one perpexed
and distracted the powers Of that OF the other.
Boswell was constitutionaly weak minded
man, and had it not been for his long and init
mate association with johnson, during which
his mind seems to have expanded, his name
would have never come down to prosterlty |
once met man that was crazy Oh the subject
of Stonewall Jackson. 1t was near the little
town of Salem in the county OF Fauquler that
| met him upon the road side. His general
department was any thing else but proposes
sing, vet there was an indiscrihablc something
about his mysterious manner that appealed to
nv curiosity with irresistible force. A large
cane was thrown c;lrelessy across his STOPPING
shoulders, suspended to the end Of which VAS
IL white cotton handkerchief containing, as
supposed, a few articles Of clothing. His long
beard, white as the driven snow, fell in masses
upon his breast, his face was haggered, his eyes
dim and nearly hid beneath dark and con-
tracted brow, his clothes were we'll worn aud
of an antique cut, his steps trembled as he
tottered ever the frozen ground; in all,
enough to fill one with foods of unutterable
thought. Though now 4 wreck, it needed no
scrutinizing eye to see that he had once been a
soldier. drew him into conversation. lie talk
ed with great Intelligence. [ put to him many
questions concerning his past life, days and do
ings, and, among other things, asked him if he
had not been soldier. At the word soldier his
entire aspect changed His countenance bright
ened; his eagle eye bcamed from its sunken
cavity; his form became erect; his step firm and
quick; and the old man stood before me picture
Of martial bearing. In tones deep but tremu-
lous he answered: Il originated i'll Hungary.
was reared in arms. | have survived, seven
wars My laurels are my wounds. My deepest
wound is in my heart 1t is the work OF Meth
er shot or shell. For had bomb burst within
my very bosom it could not have mangled me
as has the death of Jackson Great God, L
have followed the nvincible, the all-conquering,
the hravest of the brave to battle then paus-
ing to turn back the rising tide of emotion, he
for O moment subdued it, but memory continu-
ed to play an old tune on his heart, and he
mur1nured, jackson was the idol OF the sol
der; the type Of greatness; the paragon OF
worth; the thunderbolt of war, and magnify
him dead" His whole nature was moved, and
tears gushed from his eyes, unused to weep, as
he sobbed aloud.in his grief. Pardon my mis-
cradle weakness" he added, with an emphasis
that was strange, and repeated jackson
jackson p as if there was music in the name.
Then the poor old fellow burst forth in his
agony and eloquence, with the we'll known lines
Of ''Stonewall Jackson Way. II had often
heard the poem before, bnt had no idea OF Its
merits regarded it, indeed, as but little SUI
pcror to the scraps of poetry that are often
dropped in put-ot: the way corners OF country
newspapers; but could you have seen this old
soldier trembling upon the gloomy verge of
manner and heard his deep, pathetic voice as
he recited it from the very bottom of his heart,
you would have pronounced StOnewall Jackson
god, and the poem sublime. TYPO.
A REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES Upon un-
doubted evidence we give the following strange
incident connected with those mysterious and
supernatural agencies known land believed by
many as 'premonitions, which, If not truly
traceablc to the supernatural arc at least
strange condolences, exciting much remark
and wonder, and many speculatiOns in the at
tempts to explain them.
Mr. H. j. White, whose death occurred last
week, was stricken on his return from our last
court to his home in Brownsburg with fatal
disease. On the day of his return he had oc-
casion to 30 into the room where was kept the
clock belonging to his father, the late Robert
White This clock is ofthe ld-fashioned high
kind, and has been stopped for years, not even
having the weights attached, being merely kept
AS family relic. When Mr.. White entered
the room the clock, which had been silent 80
long, distinctly struck lone = He at the time
paid no special attention to it, and not being
Of superstitous turn of mind, thought 1t
was Il mistake or All illusion of his fancy. The
next day or the day after he again had occasion
to enter the same room. Again the clock struck
''one.! He Immediately went out, telling his
wife Of the circumstances, and remarked that
he felt assured he. was going to die soon. His
premontions, ,sas we have stated, proved true,
and in few days his spirit passed away LEG