Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-09-21

Taemt. Boyle's Duel.
Many years ago was spending the |
snmmer at fine old mansion -
New Jersey, full Of historical sow
enercs. FOR It had once been the
headquarters Of General Washing
ton. 80
AT this time about which am
writing the estate was in litigation,
and some circumlocutory delay OF
the law rendered II necessary or con-
venient to rent the mansion for
with AZ 4 summer clearinghouse,
while all the the beautiful old-carved
furniture and other belongings,
Even the valuable paintings were
left on the walls OF the drawing
room, and q pIcture-gallery remain
ed intact, doing unwontcd service as
dining and dancing hall for US IN
trnding Cloths and Vandals.
A belt Of grand old trees described
semi-cIrcle on the beautiful lawn
lust In front OF the house. Beneath
each tree was n marble statue the
size Of life. They represented the
nino MUSES.; Isis, the Goddess OF
Immortality; Jupiter Piuvius, the
deity Of tho watcring-pot, and other
heather worthless. Their sculptors
were certainly neither Canovn, nor
Hiram Powers, nor yet that auda-.
cious but exceedingly pretty Vinnio'
Ream, who has rendered herself Inn.
mortal by carving and cutting our
grand myrtcred President. Sill
seen at the proper enchanted" dis
lance, and bathod in soft, sweet
moonlight, Canova's Venus" the
ss0reek Slave" or he who prayed
for "charity for ALL" could not have
awakened more pleasing emotions.
but, niasl our JOY was not forever
in these things Of distant onchant-
ment and moonlight beauty. The
mansion had not been opened two
weeks when those small but terrible
bandits In Jackets and Knickerbock-
ers, the dear atrocious little sons and
scamps Of the different fanatics,
cherubs who had left their wings In
heaven, those dear little boys, say,
all rushed In body 10 their respec-
tive mammas and clamored for
money. Getting 1t, OF course, they
all rushed In a body 10 "the store,"
and, with q business-like vigor
worthy OF a better cause, demanded
bows and arrows. Then enrolling
themselves into an independent tar
got company, they diligently prac-
ticsd shooting at the statues, until
the noses of two OF the MUSES. were
triumphantly shot away.
Naturally enough, after this per-
Torrance the heather delties were
removed In blast ofindignation by
their raging proprietor; tho small
Christians---or "little diamonds" as
he called them -joyfully assisting,
cavorting wildly around each "stone
boy and girl'' rs their foundations
were dug up, clapping their dirty
little hands, blowing their discor-
dant little tin trnmpcis, beating
herrible little drums, galloping In
front Of tho horses as they went with
their burdens out Of tho great gatos,
squeailng like cat with u bone In
its throat, and otherwise disporting
themselvcsin honor OF tho ghostly
procession, after tho utterly inexhaus-
tible and intolerablo manner OF small
boys.
The late Com. Kearney, the bluff
and brave. living In q picturesque
cottage adjoining tho grounds OF the
brighton House," rs IL was and Is
now called. His presence attracted
TO the place other officers ofthe navy
and army. Among them were Capt.
lnow AdmiraI) Porter, Capt. (now
Vice-Admiral) Rowan, the late
brave and honored Capt. Hartstcin,
and a number OF army officers, with
their families. You may believe
that tho presence Of 50 many bravo
and gallant men made carnival the
whole Of tho time for those hero
worshlpers, 1.-The fair women and
lovely girls who wore gypsying there
for the summer.
Such devoted knights as they
were! Riding, boating, fishing
swimming, dancing, military drills
with canes and broomsticks for the
children, and impromptu operas and
plays for the other children. We
were all children In those halcyon
days as witness our playing at
blind man's-bnff. But this was
when the "Iittle pitchers" were abed
and asleep, for, with their murder
ing cand0r and innocence, they
would have betrayed us 10 the en-
tire community, whose ancestral ira
ditions and personal dignity had de-
veioped In 1t already holy horror Of
such thigh jinks" as had come un-
der its notice.
Bubbles these high-toned sus-
we would have been
a bright and shining light unto them
for we had no quarrels, not even tho
green ghost ola jealousy. A divine
mantle ofcharity rested upon us tho
liveiong summer; 10 was just ono
brilliant, delicious midsummer
dream.