Cherokee phoenix, and Indians' advocate. (New Echota [Ga.]) 1829-1834, September 16, 1829, Image 4

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

POETRY. ATHUNDER STORM. ■fe giant winds! that from your gloomy sleep; lightnings! tliat are the mystic gleams of Gorl, That glanc'd when on the sacred mount he trod; And ye, ye thunders! that begird hm form,. Peeling your loud Hosannah’s o’er the 6torm, . Abound me rally in your mingled might, And strike, my tieing with dr cud delight* Sublimely musing let me pause and see, And pour my awe struck soul, O God to thee. A thunder storm!—the eloquence of Hea ven. When every cloud is from its slumber driven, Who bath not paused in its hollow groan, An 1 felt Omnipotence around him thrown! With what a gloom the ush’ring scene ap pears! The leaves all fluttering with instinctive fear, A brcezelcss fervour around her creation spread, And last, flic heavy rain’s reluctant show- to I | With big dorps pattering on the tree and bower, While wizard shapes the low’ring sky de form, All mark the coming of the thunder storm! till! now to be alone on some grand height, Where II ;aven’s black curtains shadow all the sight, And watch the swollen clouds with bosom clash, While fleet and far the living lightnings flash,— To mark the caverns of the sky disclose The furnace flames that in their wombs repose, And see the fiery arrows fall and rise, In dizzy chase along the rattling skies; How tirs llie spirit, while the echoes roll, An J Ga isin thunder moves from pole to pole. If. Montgomery. THi<: LATE SUICI 1)E AT MONT MORENCY. We noticed a few days since a ♦hooking instance of murder, follow ed by suieiJe, which took place at Montmorency, near Paris. Le Vo- lew, of the 20th insl. contains a very extraordinary doenmant connected with this case, in the shape of a com munication from Stephane D., the su icide himself, dated on the morning of the catastrophe, and purporting to be an exact account of his thoughts & feelings during the last three days of his life. The length of the article precludes our giving entire this melancholy record of the effects of a morbid sensibility upon two young persons, who have fallen victims to a romantic temperament and overheat ed imagination; but we extract the most remarkable passages. The let ter, which was received by the'"Edi tor about noon on the 20th of April, accompanied with a request fob its immediate iinerlion, runs thus: ‘ And 1, too, am determined on writing a work, the title of which, at least, shall possess originality—*T(ie Three Last Days of a suicide.’ It needs no preface, and will be very brief as f have actually no more than three days to wiite it in, part of which m .ist he employed in those occupations which 1 shall have to engage in up to the last moment. Nor will it he de void of interest, as I am myself at once its author and hero Since yes terday, Thursday, the 23d of April, I have decided on dying, and Monday next, the 27th, is the day on which 1 have fixed for putting my design into execution ll is far from my wish to inflict on my readers the ennui which is the bane of my own existence.— My heart has incessantly been the E rey of this vulture, which, insopara le from its victim, has accompanied me from the arms of one female to those of another. Cut let ine not an ticipate — “l married Mademoiselle P , afior a courtship of eight months; she was well adapted to make me happy, had not the romance of my disposition rendered happiness of impossible at tainment.” He then goes on to describe the Commencement of his acquaintance with Laura, to whom he was intro duced by his friend D’A ; the lat ter was attached to her, and request ed him to keep an eye over the ob ject of his affections during Ins ab sence. Then we have (life old story df Werther over again, ana even his account of his first interview with tiaura, together with I1I9 description of her person, bear so strong a resem blance to Gootho, that it is impossible not to discover that he had begun to identify himself with’that author’s he ro. He falls violently in tovc~a Cor respondence ensues, in the course of wliich he ascertains that his passion is returned: his friend discovers his perfidy—reproaches him with it, and represents to Laura, who has already yielded to his rival’s desires, the con fusion which their liaison will excite in an innocent family. The same re flection has by this time occurred to, Stephane himself, and, as he profess-'' es still to feel a great regard for his wife, ho is shocked at the pain her knowledge of it will iiifliet upon her. Then it is that the idea of suicide ap pears first to have occurred to hid mind, and lie hints it to Laura in some verses; a conversation follows on the subject, in which the matter is at first treated lightly, when on the 21st of April, he receives from her the fol- lowing letter;— “l look forward to the future with alarm: If you really love me, you will not hesitate; 1 hold life in detestation, and see in it nothing but a continua tion of torment; live without you is impossible, I should forever be the prey ot" inquietude, lie it so, tliei 1 must die; ‘1 feel a secret pleasure in the thought. What have 1 to regret? My relations? They will prefer the intelligence of my death to that of my dishonor. If you have any thing to regret in this world remain in it.— I shall complain no more; and l have courage sufficient to quit a life which is become insupportable, I have re flected long and deeply; I can have no enjoyment without you,‘every thing is opposed to my happiness. I wish to die. Reply to me on this subject. “Your friend, LAURA.” His reply was a brief one— “You know my determination, it is to follow you in all things—it is un changeable.” He then declares his intention cf committing to writing an account of the remainder of his time on earth, and commences by a description of his oivn person, as contained in a passport granted him when at the age of twenty, about a year since; the portrait which he draws is, as in the cash of his mistress, not without per sonal advantages, and he then goes on. Thursday,- April 23. “At six this morning I was in la rue Hanover', she did not keep me wait ing. Her appearance was as if sleep had been a stranger taker; her air was nevertheless cheerful. On her ar rival 1 was carelessly smoking a cigar, hut removed it imme diately, the smell of a pipe is unpleas ant to a female. ‘Have you any news for me?’ ‘Yes, I shall die on Mon day.’ ‘And without ini?’ ‘I shall not have that grief to suffer.’ ‘You will die happy.?’ ‘Yes, on Monday’ Every tiling around from that mo ment appeared idle in my sight, and 1 gazed with pily on the people whom 1 saw running about occupied with their various concerns.” ***** Tile conversation continues. ‘“You quit life, then,’ again I ask ed, ‘without regret?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And without fear?’ ‘I do.’ ‘Of hell?’ ‘I believe not in it—after death the soul becomes resolved into nothing; what think you of a future state?’ ‘My fjiend, 1 hope, to return upon earth.’ ‘I comprehend; you believe in the Metempsychosis'. ‘Not exactly so; the doctrine of the Metempsychosis supposes the soul of man to- en ter into the body of an infe rior animal—My belief is, that it will animate another human frame. 1 consider this world as a theatre in which the same performers are re appearing on the stage in various cha racters having only changed llijfeir dresses behind the scene.’” < ***** “ ‘Let us change the subject; how sliall we die? ‘I will shoot you first, then turn against myself the weapon that destroyed you!” ‘And if you should miss me?’ ‘Fear not that; my hand will he steady enough.’— ‘At least, do not point your pistol at my head; it would disfigure me.’— ‘Ah, coquette to the last! no, I will level it at your heart.’ “A nunnery maid passed with an ine fant in her arms. ‘Alas!’ cried Lau ra, with a deep sigh, ‘ivliat need of this care? when that infant is grown up, perhaps slie will become a sui cide like us! unhappy parents, you know not vvliat trouble you are heap; ing up for yourselves!’ ‘Farewell!— on Monday!’ She disappeared, and I was on a desert. “I applied to my task and wrote for four hours; my wife entered.— ‘Paulina,’ said I, ‘I am going to take a journey on Monday/’ ‘How?’ *£ur one day only, and to a good purpose; I shall obtain a situation.’ ‘Of val ue?’ ‘Six thousand francs, at least.’ Impossible! you would he more cheer ful were it so.’ ‘It is true.’ ‘Oh, how happy it will make our relations; how happy it will make ourselves! all! had our dear little Stephanie liv ed!’ 1 felt as if she had plunged a dagger in my bosom. “After dinner I fell asleep. ‘You have awakened me from a singular dream, said 1 to Pauline. ‘I thought you were a widow and about to be manied again.’ I wished to prepare her for the event.” He then goes to the theatre, and .afterwards to a friend, whose assist ance lie requests to make his will, on the plea that he is about to be engaged in a duel—then recommence writing, and thus describes the sensations - which lie experienced on hearing his uncon scious wife laugh heartily at the com edy which they had just left, and the humor which had only served to con firm his own perceptions. lie re ceives a second letter from Laura. “Stephane—all is decided; 1 am more resolved than ever. 1 have en tered upon a career too painful for me not to seek to quit it. The more 1 consider, the more plainly l sec this is the only way left us; otherwise I must rcnounceyou. You know this to be impossible; my determination then is immoveable. I have hut one regret; I wcplyesterday much on thinking up on my latter; but to-day I am linn & resigned. Adieu, my friend! At nine on Monday^—think of me! LAURA. To this be replies: “Laura,you wept! Have you not over-rated you courage? To-mor row you will sec your father—distrust your own heart! My arrangements are made—my weapons prepared.— think that you have only to choose be tween dying by the hand of your lov er or your assassin.” He then goes to purchase a pair of pistols, and the thoughts of his aunt and some other relations, cross his mind, without, however, affecting any change in bis purpose. They will, prefer, he says, to hear of his death, rather than of his disgrace. At six lie again goes^to the theatre, and de scribes himself as entering into the spirit ol the scene, and conversing cheerfully with a friend on the sub ject of the piece, after it is over.— At six the following morning he uses, takes leave of his w ife, and sets out on his pretended journey. His last letter is dated “Montmorency, April 2Dth,” where he appears to have been slaying two days with his mis tress :— “It is four o’clock; two weddings are being celebrated in the room im mediately beneath that which we have not quilted since Monday even ing. We hear the sounds of their mu- sic and mirth, suuuds which will soon be mingled with the repoit of the weapons of death. Come M. C. quick, get ready, an article which may exhibit to the world the confu sion among the waiters and the cooks of the White Ilorse Hotel, flying with precipitation from their stoves, cautiously creeping to the place whence these reports proceed. De pict the consternation of the young couples, which will so soon give w r ay to an air of satisfaction, inasmuch as this interruption to their hall will car ry them the sooner to each others arms. Re not amazed at the levity of my tone, I cannot help it; my hand and my glances rest with delight on the weapon whichd am about to dis charge into my own breast, after hav ing pierced Laura, who is at this mo ment smiling on me. Rut then, my aunt, Pauline! Paul—Paul--Pauline! adieu! adieu!” Thus concludes this extraordinary epistle; the editor states that a cou rier was instantly despatched to Montmorency, in the faint hope of preventing this double crime. On his arrival no noise had been heard in the chamber, nor was it known wheth er they were in it or whether they had walked out. On knocking no an swer was returned, and a difficulty was round on opening the door, from the circumstance of the bed having been draw’n across on the inside; hut when an entrance was effected a dreadful scene presented itself. The two bodies lay stretebed on the ground covered with blood; two chairs were near them, placed opposite each other; a handkerchief was tied over the eyes of Laura, whose heart had been penetrated by a bullet,— The hand of the wretched young man appears afterwards to have become unsteady; his wound was lower down in the body, and he appeared to have died in gretit agony, from the contor tion of his features. The pistols Were lying on the table unlained with blood; near them was a note ad dressed to the inn-keeper, apoligizing for making his house the scene oftheir destruction, and stating that they had gone out with a view of accomplish ing - their purpose in the neighboring Wood, hut that the cold was so - se vere Stephane had feared lest it should render his hand unsteady; Ilia nbte ended by bequeathing the shawl of Laura to one of the chamber-maids. The report of the pistol had been drowned in the noise of the music, nor had any one any notion of the pre cise moment when the catastrophe took place. From the Boston Daily Advertiser. Some account of the Siamese Hoys', lately brought to Boston. Dear Sir:—In compliance tvilli your request, as well as in obedience to what 1 consider to be a profession al duty, I undertake to give some acccount of the Siamese hoys, and particularly of the medium by which they are united together. The hoys are supposed to be about 18 years old. They are of moderate stature; though not as tall as hoys of that age in this country. They have the Chinese complexion and physiog nomy. The forehead is more elevated and less broad than that of the Chi nese, owing to malformation. They much resemble each other; yet not so much hut that upon a little ob servation, various points of dissimilari ty may he noticed.. The substance by which they arc connected is a mass two inches long at its tipper edge, and about five in the lower. Its breath from above downwards may be four inches; and its thickness in a horizontal direction two inches. Of course it is not a rounded cord, but thicker in the per pendicular, than in the horizontal direction. At its lower edge is per ceived a single umbilicus, through which passed a single mnbelical cord to nourish both children in the fatal state. Placing my hand on this sub stance, which 1 will denominate the cord. 1 was surprised to find it ex tremely hard. On further examina tion this hardness was found to exist at the upper part of the cord only; and to prolonged into the breast of each boy. Tracing it upwards, I found it to be constituted by a pro longation - of the ensiform cartilage of the sternum, or extremity ol the breast boae. The bredth of this cartilage is an inch and a half; as thickness may be about tire eighth of an inch. The cartilages proceeding from each ster num meet at an angle, and then seem to be connected by ligament, so as to form a joint. This joint has a motion upwards and downwards, and also a lateral motion; the latter. operating in such way, that when the hoys turn in cither direction the edges of the cartilage are found to open and shut. The lower face of this cartilage is concave; and under it is felt a round ed cord, which may be the remains of the mnbelical cord,—Besides this there is nothing remarkable fell in the connecting substance. I could dis tinguish no pulsalifig vessels. The whole of this cord is covered by (he skin. - It is remarkably strong and lias no great sensibility, tor they allow themselves to be pulled by a rope fastened to it, without exhibit ing uneasiness. On ship hoard, one of them sometimes climbed on the cap tain of the vessel, the other .following as well as lie could, without complain ing. When I first visited the hoys, I ex pected to' see them pull on this cord in different directions, as their atten tion was attracted by different ob jects. I soon perceived that this did no happen. The slightest impulse of one to move in any direction, is im mediately followed by the other; so that they would appear to bo influ enced by the,same wish. This har mony in their movement is not the re mit of a volition, excited ot the same moment. It is a habit, formed by necessity. At an early period of life it is probable they sometimes differed. At present, this is so rarely the case that the gentlemen who bi'o tight them have noticed hut a single instance— Having been accustomed to use the cold bath one of them wished it when the weather was cool, to which the other objected. They were soon re conciled by tho itfferference of (h<j commander of the ship. They nevei hold a consultation as to their move* ments. In truth, I have never seen them speak to each other, although they conrcrsfef constantly with a Siamese lad, wno is their companion. They always face in one direction, standing nearly side, by side, and'are not able, without inconvenience, to face in the opposite direction; so that one is always at the right, the other at the left. Although not .placed ex actly in a paralles line, they are able to run and leap yvifh surprising activi ty. On some occasions a gentleman, in sport, pursued them round the ship r when they came'suddenly to the hatch-* way, which lifcd; been inadvertently, left open. The least check would have thrown tlierri'dovvn the hatchway and probably killed 011b or,both, but they lenpt ever it without difficul ty- They are quite cheerful: appear intelligent, attending whatever is pre sented them, aud readily acknowdedg* ing any civility. As a proof of tlieh* In telligence it is stated, that Tn a few days, they learned to play at drafts, well enough to become antagonists of those who had long been versbd in the game. The connexion between these two' boys might present an opportunity for some interesting observations in re gard to_ physiology and pathology - .—. There 19 no doubt, a network of blood vessels and some minute nerves pass ing from one to the oilier. How far these parts are capable of transmit- ting the action of medicines and dis eases, and especially of what partic ular medicines and what diseases, are points well worthy of investign- j tion. Captain Coffin informed me they had never taken medicine since" they had been under his care. Once they were ili from dating too heartily, hut were relieved ijy the efforts of nature. He thinks that any indispo sition of one extends to the other; that they are inclined to sleep at one time; eat about the same : quantity, and perform other acts with great- similarity. - Both lie and Mr. Hunt er, the gentleman who united with him in bringing them here, are ofo- pinion that touching one of them when? they are asleep, awakens both. I he pulsations of the heart are ex actly alike in both boys. I counted seventy-three pulsation in a minute," while they were sitting; counting first 111 One hoy, then in the other. I then placed my fingers on an arm of each boy, and found the pulsations take place exactly together. One of them stooping suddenly to look at my watch, his pulse became much quicker than of the other; but' after he had return ed to his former posture, in about a quarter of a - minute, his pulse was precisely like that of the other boy. This happened repeatedly. Their respirations are, " of consequence, ex actly simultaneous. j Ibis harmony of jfdlion in primary functions show s a reciprocal influence' which may lead to curious observa tions and important deductions.— Whether it will be in my power to obtain any further information in re< gard to them, is uncertain. If some one else can better accomplish the task. * 1 Let me add that there is nathim* unpleasant in the aspect of tires© boy£ On the contrary, they must be view* ed as presenting oue of the most inter esting objects of natural l/istory w'hicU have ever been known to scientific men. You are at liberty to emptoy the a- bove statement in such way ” as you think likely to be useful; I have the honor to be, yours, &c, JOHN C. WARREN. Wm. Sturgis, Esq. How to Cook Rice.——A writer in the Charleston Courier says that vv© Nortliernfers do not understand the art of boiling rice. The following is the ntethod practised at the south;—A*. Y. Obs. Put your rice in an open pot, cov ering it with water: then put it on the lire to boil—when it is boiled so as to bfecome soft, (which is easily as certained by means of a wooden ladle, which we call a hominy stick) take it off tho fire, drain off tihy water, and cover the pot so as tn retain the heat—then put it on coals, or hot bSh- es, for about fifteen or twenty minutes, so as to tlrow off tho steam, or as it js usually called—to soak. Your riccr \ .& then ready for the table,