American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-03-23
STRANGER THAN FICTION.

The Adventurous Career of Gus Living
stOne-A Fast Young Man in New York,
a RecIuse in n Capuchin Monastery, and
a Love-NIaker and Fighter in Italy, Spain
and Turkey, He Ends His Career at PIev-
ma.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l
LONDON, Feb. 22.-In the fashionable
world of New York some 20 odd years
ago the name of tall, fair young man
ofvery pleasing manners was constantly
heard, in favor among the bellies, and in
jealousy among the beaux. He passed
IT'S Gustavus Mortimer Livingstone, and
claimed the hospitality of the well
known family of both the g tall'' and
the "short" Livingstones, as they We'd
in their receptions to him. After few
seasons of social yet refined dissipation
in Gotham, this parsonage disappeared,
and though the inquiries after him and
his whereabouts have been numerous,
yet not until this week has clue to him
been obtained. This clue Irgive herein
and hereafter. Gus Livingstone, as he
was usually called, was polished gen.
tleman, of lively imaginations and warm
passions, and though essentially man
of the world, he had feelings not wholly
worldly. About the time allude to the
once famous Tabernacle stood on
Broadway, and was frequently thronged
by eager listeners to the imprisoned
words of DR.. Chaplin, who had just
come up from Norfolk, Virginia, to
startle and captivate the children of
Gotham. One of the sermons preached
then and there was like many of these
to-day. 1t was on the tOrments
of hell in the mind. Gus Livingstone
was Il listener, and became suddenly
seized with the terror of eternal damna-
ton, present and prospective. He re-
solved to fly from the gay world, to
mortify his unruly passions, and become
recluse. He quietly left America and
sought on the Continent of Europe a
Monastery of Capuchins. Here he re-
manned about two months, but wearied
of its relaxations and desired more
rigid ordeal of life. He entered the or
der of the Carthusians, and the life he
passed for two years in their midst is
described to me as edifying in high
degree.
However, his imaginative, worldly ma
ture broke out once more, and he said Z:
"Why should l not live in the world,
and yet gain eternal salvation?'' From
that hour his mind was fixed in a de-
termination to escape from the Carthu-
slams. An effort in this direction was
discovered by the Prior, and the gay
deserter was caught scaling. the walls
and recaptured. In the scuf11e he drew
his hidden knife and dealt the Prior a
fearful blow, laying him at his feet, sup
posed to be dead. Terror added to de-
termination greater strength, and Liv-
ingstone once more scaled and over
leaped the wall into ''the wicked world. -
He sought refuge at an inn that night,
attired in the plain civic garb he arrang-
ed to escape in.
Before retiring to his bed a young
French officer, also guest of the inn,
with whom he had got into conversa-
ton, twitted him on his peculiar accent
and distracted manner. This led to a
challenge. They went out in an adjoin-
ing field and fought with sabers, the
officer receiving severe wound, and
Gus Livingstone flying for his liberty.
He enlisted in the command under
Garibaldi, and served with credit before
Rome, and his friends seemed proud of
him Ono in partioular x1aC Pobi5aa,,v
Benoni Wheat, of Virginia, better knt wn
as ''Bob,n, Wheat, who was killed in the
Confederate service during the g seven
days fights around Richmond Both
these men were enamored of a pretty
Italian girl, and Livingstone was the
successful competitor. When the Ital-
ian campaign closed "Bob - Wheat re-
turned to America, and Gus Livingstone
to his affair de cOeatr. He came; he saw :;
he conquered, and the maiden blush
passed, and she became a mother. Her
mother, whose guest he was, prayed
him to marry her darling daughter. He
promised-but never performed. He
finds Madrid place of rest. Passing
through one of its streets he was accost-
ed by Cavalier of quality, who mistook
him for another. Hot words quickly
passed; they draw their stilettos and
fight beneath the light of the moon.
The Cavaliers body was found the next
morning cold in death. Being the son
of Grandee, vigorous efforts were
made to find the guilty one. But he had
flown and sought convent where he
implored the protection of the Mother
Abbess, to whom he forged letters of
introduction. He told his story and
begged protection by hiding him. This
was reluctantly granted, and lodging
given him in an adjoining farm
house, but his strange stories won
the ear of a novice nun, who lis
tened from within the gate She in
turn told them to one who had not
yet sealed the vows-one reluctant re-
cluse. An eager ear soon indicated a
willing heart in the land of romance and
chivalry, and plans for elopement were
concocted between the two worldly
ones. But the intrigue was discovered,
and the good Mother Superior severely
the turbulent seeker of shell
ter within her peaceful walls. He
wept and protested his sorrow, but laid
his error at the door of love. No one
can forego a pardon on such a plea; so
the good Mother gave money and means