Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-22
BATON ROUGE IA, THURSDAY, NAY 22I 1880. =. =.
would quote the authors in his conyer-

: = N : = = : So = : : : - n
wonld quote the authors in his. conyer-
sations, with the gravity and correct
ness of a college professor. Soon Geor.
gle became the wonder of tho city; bis
fame spread beyond its limits, apd
among his visitors were snch men as
Gov. Bedle and other prominent men,
all Of whom seemed to take an interest
in the juvenile prodigy. An enigma to
men of science, . source of amusement
and wondcrment to all, he was eagerly
sought after, and his life, seemed an
unbroken chain Of joys. and amnse-
ments. ..,.. s..m, .,.,-a.,.
MoMEyTs OF SADNESS.
Those who knew him best, were, how
ever, cognizant Of the fact that he too
had his moments of sadness, and that
even to him the roses Of life were not
without thorns. At times bis lustr0us
eyes would fill with tears; sad reflection
drive away his Joyous laugh, and no
actor could touch the human heart with
greater pity than George when be
viewed the future before him. ''The
doctors all tell me-" he would say,
"that l cannot 1--WE long; that my head
is too large for my body, and that my
frame cannot support the working Of
my brain. They all tell me that must
die soon and leave all my friends, and
then where will poor George go''
Hastily brushing away the tears, his
merry laugh would Danish the sad re-
Aections on his future destiny, which
the fates had spun in an evil hour. His
par ents were poor in circumstances, and
bis father died before George had begun
to attract general attention. Hit
mother was obliged to earn her bread
by daily toilin one Of the mills. George
had plenty Of friends 80 that his mother
when she left him in tho morning, knew
well that on her return at evening she
would find her darling safe, and that
be had wanted for nothing during the
day. Despite their daily separation h>
was tenderly attached to her, and
referred to her only in words Of ten
lerness.
HIS DOWNWARD CAREER
Loft all day to wander where he chose
it would have been remarkable, indeed
if among his many quasi friends there
had not been some who sought to pervsri
bis intellect to evil uses. A slang phrase
bit Of vulgarity, q double emte~'e were
laughed At by many and reproved BY
few, and soon became the rule and moi
the exception with George. Prompted
by men of little character and schooled
by persons who took pride in teaching
the child how to be wicked, he SOON be
came selt:willed and incorrigible. Th,
doors Of respectability were closet
against him, bis downward career hal
begun, and soon the cnta"t prologue be.
came veritable entant terrible. Will
astonishing alacrity 10 learned to smoke
chew, curse, swear, drink, and soon hi
only companions were saloon lounger'
and the scum of society. During th%
past five years, the nights on which HI
returned home sober were fewer thar
those on which he reeled homo intoxi
Gated or did not come at all. All hi.
energy seemed to be bent upon the &C.
quirement of wicked knowledge, and
his days were principally spent in sal
oons-dancing .jigs and singing ribald
songs. Milton and Shakespeare were
forgotten, and indecent songs had
usurped the place of hymns. Instead Of
being courted and tlattered everywhere
he was Stunned, for every other WORD
was an oath, and obscenity and vulgar
ity constituted bis conversation. Ladies
who had formerly petted him now passed
by in hurry for fear of being insultod
His life seemed to be one drunken de-
bauch and his temper became ungov'
ernable. Ho would stop stranger or an
acquaintance in the street and inso lently
demand q chew of tobacco; insulting
ribaldry was the reward if the favor wat
granted a volley of curses and oatbt
invariably followed q refusal. His fit
Of fury were simply terrible. Thwarted
even in the slightest affair, he would
kick and yell aud send forth oaths that
would have fitted the collection 0
the father Of Tristan Shandy. The
growth Of his intelligence, like tht
growth of his body. seemed to have
come to stand'still, and George wat
far less interesting than be formerl,
way. Plenty of boys could be found