fit
'WE GO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES TOINT THE WAY WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO FOLLOW.
BY JOHN G. GIVEN.
KBENSBURG, THURSDAY,; SEPTEMBER 27, 1849.
VOL. 5. NO. 51.
4
iff '
II 1 I II II II I
When Fortune Beams.
When fortuno beams around you.
When bearta with ploasure leap;
And hopes and joya aurround you
Foi jet not those who weep!
Whan friendship's smile invites you-
To bleaa and to be blest;
When every charm delig-hU you
Oh, think of the distressed:
When golden galea betide you,
- As if by Heaven decreed.
And plenty stands beside you
Forget not thoso who need!
When pleasure's cup seems endleav.
Oh prove it without end,
IS boing to the friondloss
In every hour a friend!
MXSOSLLANSOUS-
TIic Cicnllcmen's Club.
BY THOS. J. BEACH, ESQ., BALTIMORE.
"I was a member of the Gentlemen's
Club, said Jack ililson, the second lull of
the Warspite, commencing a yarn amidst
the knot of officers who were blowing1 a
cloud one moonlight evening on the quarter-deck.
'I was a member of the Gentle
men's club
The devil you were? exclaimed Sa
ble, the chaplain, who had been pacing
to and fro, studying his sermon for the
morrow. That was a long time ago,
then. Jack; or else they soon found you
out, eh?'
Not even your ding' cassock would
save you from the consequence of that re
mark, your Sable reverence, if I was a j
member of it now, said Jack.
Hallo, the steward nas served out too
much thunder and lightning in your grog
to-night, returned the chaplain, laughing.
It's lucky for me, then, according to your
reckoning, that your a gentleman no lon
ger, eh, Jack!"
Upon my soul, Sable, I really believe
that if I was to fish for a laugh in the
streets of London, and use your wit for a
bait, I should haul up a prayer it is so
confoundedly like preaching. But come
doue the chatter, if I am to obey orders,
'and spin a yarn.'
Yes, yes, pay out, Jack, pay out; and
if his reverence don't like the number of
his mess, let him sing psalms over the
taffraii for the spiritual edification of St.
Domingo Billy and his suit,' observed
the firs; luff, and Jack re-opened accord
ingly. Well, I was a member of the Gentle
men's Club in 1811; there were five hun
dred and sixty of us, and we used to as
semble at Collingfords in the Haymarket,
whenever a general summons to the club
was issued for the purpose of receiving a
new member. The rules of admission
were, in no respect, arbitrary or proscrip
tive, if a man was a gentleman, he could
demand his right to join us; and ye', sirs,
a young nobleman, but one removed from
the blood royal had been rejected. Ouc
list included one member of the royal
family, the president of the club, with
lords and gentlemen from both the Upper
and Lower Houses of- Parliament. Gen
tlemen of almost every profession, religion
law, and physic; officers of the army and
navy and-
Well, but what constituted the right or
form of admission or rejectton?! inquired
the first fuff.
You must excuse me there, sir; you
will hardly expect me to expose the se
crets of the club, in wasting an hour lor
the entertainment pf the quarter deck,' said
Jack.
Oh certainly not certainly not,' ex
claimed several officers at once; one of them
addinsr, who was familiar with Hilson's
excellent qualities, 4by your speaking of a
time when you were a member of the club
induced me to suppose that it was dissolv
ed foi I could never conceive the idea of
your being rejected from the society of
gentlemen.
Hilson acknowledged the compliment
with a bow and a smile, and said 4 1 he
- elub has been dissolved; an incident oc
curred in 1817 which led to that result,
and which I will explain after I have got
through with my present story. The peri
od to which I now refer was in the year
1811. I had a sister who was then in her
eighteenth year a beautiful girl, accora
' piished, well educated, and possessing nat-
. ural qualifications of a rather superior or
der. You will excuse my saying thus
mucn ot one whom I still very dearly
lovc said Jack, parenthetically, and his
still handsome features justified the brief
-tribute to his sister's beauty; 'that dare
deil, yonder,' he continued, pointing to a
middy, who was engaged in spreading a
noose on the lover rattling of the mizen
shrouds, for a , monkey chattering iq its
fanciful decent from the top, 4that boy is
her eldest son, and declares he will distin
guish himself in the first action.- I shall
tokf care to give biro the chance. My
sister was,at that time the object of the
very respectable attentions of a young man
the son of a banker in Lombard street and
tveheirof great expectations. To him,
ou my my return from a Mediterranean
cruise, I was introduced, and of course, I
made it my especial business to sound him.
In a short time I had pretty well got the
chart of his character in all its bearings,
and if I had been edowed with the power
to manufacture the man I would have pre
ferred for my sister's husband, I really
don't believe I could have turned out a
superior article. His manners were re
markably unassuming and gende exactly
suited to mate with exquisite sensibility
that was a peculiar characteristic of my
Kate, as I used to call her. In person, he
was not what one would call handsome
and as the word pretty will not apply to a
man, according to my notion he was sin
gularly interesting. There was that in
his appearance which it would seem an
anomaly in nature to see associated with
vice. His white and lofty forehead seem
ed the fair front of a temple devoted to
virtue, and through the window of his eyes
one might imagine that her appointed
guardians kept perpetual watch against an
attack from the cruisers that eternally be
set the fair sailing craft in. that infernal city
of London. I loved him with something
of the love that I felt for my sister; it was
not friendship I loved him.
4 We were together one night at Convent
Garden Theatre, when an old acquaint
ance stepped up to me, and after the usual
courtesies, handed me a note, at the same
time remarking that it saved the necessity
of committing it to the post office. I in
troduced him to my y ungcompanion, and j
shortly afterwards he left us. 1 he note
proved to be an order to attend at Collin
ford's on that day week, to receive a new
member into the Gentlemen's Club.
The Gentlemen's Club!' exclaimed
Henry (mv young friend) 4are vou a mem
ber of that Club?'
I leplied in the affirmative.
41 have a long time been desirous to join
it, said he; 'and now I must insist upon
your proposing me.'
4 What a thrill went through me, as he
spoke those words. When I thought of the
consequences of which he little dreamed
of my sister '
And Hilson abruptly checked himself as
if he had unthinkingly betrayed something
that he should have concealed.
4I endeavored,' he continued, 'to avoid
the subject, aiid changed the conversation,
but Henry continually brought me back.
He persisted in his desire, till, at length,
half vexed at my pertinacious evasion, he
asked me if I thought him unfit to associ
ate with gentlemen aifd if so to signify tho
same by still refusing his request. I could
avoid his demand no longer, and therefore
promised to propose him at the next meet
ing in the ensuing week, earnestly enjoin
ing him not to mention to a living soui a
word of his intention. We parted that
night under the influence of very different
feelings.
4One evening in the ensuing week the
applicant before alluded to, was introduced.
He was an Oxford graduate, and intended
for the bar. The result of his application
was, upon test, unfavorable; in the lan
guage of the gentlemen's club, the oung
aspirant for admission was 4blued,' and as
he left the room heart-wounded degraded
in his own estimation beyond the possibil
ity of recovering his former position, I felt
all that reluctance to propose my friend
starting up again in my mind with the full
force which, upon his first naming the
subject I had then experienced, i had,
however, pledged myself, and could not
relinquish the task with honor to him or
to myself. I rose, and 'in a few words
having requested the attention of the pres
ident and gentlemen, handed in the name
ot my young companion, with a proposal
for the honor of membership. The pre
liminary measures were immediately taken;
first, a call by the president upon all the
members present acquainted with the ap
plicant to rise, three persons rose, exclu
sive of myself. A committee of five was
then appointed to investigate the character
of the individual proposed, by an exami
nation of the members professing an ac
quaintance with him. (If this wajs satis,
factory, one week only was necessary to
intervene before the candidate was intro
duced.) The committee retired to an ad
jancent room and immediately summoned
me; one after another, the three who had
risen to signify their acquaintance with
Henry, were called before the committee
and after their examination, a highly fa
vorable report was submitted to the presi
dent by the committee, and that night week
announced for a meeting to act upon the
application xf my beloved friend, whom I
was then and there to produce." " :
The favorable nature of the proceedings
so far, had the , effect to restore , me to a
degree of confidence and satisfaction, and
I was able to meet Henry with cheerful
ness, who was anxiously waiting my rc
turn from the club in his box at the opera.
I told him with what fervor he had been
received, and he was delighted to know
that he had been honored with the earliest
action on his proposition which the laws
of the club permitted, on the most favora
ble report. He had already heard of the
rejection of the young Oxfordian who had
foolishly boas'ed amongst his acquaintan
ces that he was about to become a member
little dreaming of the possibility of such a
thing as his rejection. Poor fellow he re
turned to a few friends, non-members,
whom he had invited toa supper which
he designed to give the club upon his elec
tion, dejected and spiritless. The fact was
upon the town, and he was now toappear
with the insufferable disgrace of a rejected
applicant for admission to the Gentlemen's
Club.
That evening, with the single ex
ception of the period of my own admis
sion to the clnb the most eventful of my
life came at length, and Henry and my
self took a carriag 3 for Collingford's. It
was considerably after eight the usual
hour of assembling when we arrived.
I immediately went up to the club room,
and found between three and four hundred
members present. In compliance with the
usual custom, I returned with another
member for Henry, who was then condnc
ted by us to the presence of the club. In
the middle of the apartment, in conformity
with our instructions, Henry stopped and
bowed gacefully to the president, who rose,
gave him welcome in few words, bowed
and took his seat. The members, who
had all rose with the president, also re
sumed their seats, and we coducted Henry
to a table at which som ten or twelve gen
tlemen were seated, and which position it
was appointed for him to occupy before
the ceremoney of initiation, test, and ballot
took place. I was conversing with him
when I was summoned by the president.
Here I was detained in conversation ab out
a quarer of anhoui, & stood with my back
to Henry, when my attention was drawn
to the quarter of the room in which I had
left him, by a sudden exclamation, and
loud and angry words. Henry was on
his feethis cheeks were flushed, scorer ed
with anger, and his eye darting looks of fu
ry at an indivjduel on the opposite side of
the table a large, muscular, thick- whis
kered and moustached officer of the Cold
stream Guards.
You are an infamous liar, sir,' was the
exclamation that burst, in husky tones,
from the lips of Henry, as I leaped from
the elevation occupied by the president,
and hurried to his side-. Infuriated as he
was, he took no notice of me, but with a
glare of withering hate, he fixed his eye
steadfastly upon the quiet, sarcastic coun
tenance of the officer, and in the same
violent manner repeated the words 4you
are liar, sir, a vile traducer, and a coward.'
- a ue omcer rose at once, lienry was
completely transformed, no longer the be
ing that had I looked upon as a lamrj he
displayed the firmness of the man with the
courage of the lion.
4 What what can be the matter?' I
exclaimed.
4The villian has traduced your sister, .
vilely! foully!' replied Henry. -
4I but stated what I heard,' replied Ma
jor Ware, the officer in question.
4You said you could prove it sir,' retor
ted Henry.
And so I can, boy!' said the Major
sarcastically. 2
4IIenry instantly spit at him. I observed
the motion of his lips, and throwing up
my hand, cought the saliva upon my glove.
The sharp rap of the presidents hammer
was heard and the cry of 4order, order,'
ran round the room. Henry threw down
his card upon the table.
4The Major appealed to the president
for instant satisfaction. The words were
scarcely out of his lips, before Henry ear-
nesdy desired the president to grant it.
The president declined a personal decision,
and threw it on the club. The selected
officer said he should require two thirds
of the members in affirmation to sanction
such a proceeding. There were about
fifty negative votes, and the request of the
parties granted.
Who is the challenging party! de
manded the president.
I am, your royal highness,' replied
Henry. . .
4The advantage is with your opponent
then sir, what weapon would you prefer,
Major Ware?' .
4That our contest may be conducted on
something like equal terms, I shall give
the ooy the advantage of the . pistol, re
plied the officer.
4IIe will, no doubt, appreciate your gen
erosity,' said the president.
Especially as Ware is a dead shot,'
said one gentleman to another, in a low
tone, though overheard by the Major,
If enry, and myself.
It is remarked, said the major, addres
sing the chair 'that I am a dead &hot.
Presuming that this Hotspur was entirely
ignorant of the use of the sword, I gave
him what struck me at the moment, his
best chance for life. I have now to pro
pose to your royal highness, that a pair of
pistols be brought into the room and that
a committee be appointed to load them.
In one let a brace of slugs be placed, and
in the other a flash for the pan. Myself
and the boy will then throw dice for the
first choice of the pistols, of course that
choice will be made without a knowledge
othe slugged from the empty pistol, the
result will only be known in the pull of
the trigger. Let the distance bo three feet
from the muzzle of the pistol to the man.
Such, your royal highness is the proposi
tion which I respectfully submit to your
self and the gentleman of the club.
4This is a most honorable proposition,
major, and one to which in the name of
the club, I feel bound to accede,' replied
the president.
4 Henry was
evidently touched by the
proposition, and his anger
honesty of the
having somewhat abated in the interval, I
perceived that he grew rather pale, I step
ped towards him.
Henry,' said I, this is, by right, my
quarrel. Il is my sister whom the major
has slandered; if you will allow me, I will
take your place.'
Never!' he exclaimed, with emphasis,
and the blood rushed back to his cheek,
never; not even if I were to die from tor
tures by his hands. I cannot deny that I
feel the horrible situation in which I am
placed to be thus forced, perhaps, to do
a cool and deliberate murder. I am re
solved, however, that should he win the
first fire and take the empty pistol, to give
him life. Should it be otherwise, your
sister ' .
At this moment the pistols were pro
duced and .the combatants required to
name each a friend to superintend the load
ing. Henry named me, and the major a
brother officer of Hussars. The president
then appointed two disinterested members
to accompany us to another room and load
the pistols. We were absent but a few
minutes for the task, and when we return
ed, a round table had been placed in the
centre of the apartment, on which-were
two sets of dice.
Are the gentlemen, both ready?' de
manded the president, when the pistols
were laid upon the table.
I am, said Henry firmly.
And I,' added the major.
'Mr. Hilson, you will place the dice in
one of the boxes for your friend, and the
same office will be performed for Major
Ware by his brother officer, said the pres
ident. It was done.
4 Pake the boxes, gendemen, and throw
together.' The parties took each a box
and carelessly threw the dice. Well,
what is the cast?'
Major Ware has thrown nine two
fours and an ace,' said the Hussar.
And my friend thirteen six, five, and
deuce,' said I.
4You have the first chance, young man,'
said the major, 'and it will be fortunate for
you if your choice is well made.'
Henry felt deeply the awful situation
in which he was placed, and his generous
heart was bleeding at every pore. He
feared to offer the major any indulgence,
lest it should be construed into an indirect
manner of soliciting the same for himself.
'If Major Ware desires to occupy a few
minutes with pen and paper, or in any
other way, I shall await his convenience,'
said Henry, in his usual bland, quiet, and
gentlemanly style.
'Major Ware is always prepared for
any exigency of the kind, he seldom asks
indulgence from his friends, much less of
his enemies. Young man he awaits the
exercise of your duty,' wa3 the reply of
that officer, in a somewhat contemptuous
tone.
Henry took up one of the pistols, with
a needless pause for choice.
Gendemen,' exclaimed the president
you will take your positions north and
south of the apartment, the members of
the club will occupy the east and west
sides, and the gentlemen of the surgical
profession will be kind enough to range as
near the combatants as possible. If they
are now prepared, let them proceed.
Henry was at the distance of about six
feet from his adversary, which distance ne
preserved. He cocked the pistol coolly,
raised it with a deliberate and careful aim,
and, as I stoop nearly in aline behind him,
I could perceive that the muzzle was di
rected to a point exactly over the left
shoulder of his antagonist. He pulled the
trigger, and the powder flashed in the
pan! . '. '
The chance is yours, sir,- said Henry
and a light paleness was on his lip, as he
replaced the pistol on the table.
No sir, not the chance,' returned the
major, 'the certainty, now. Belore you
take your place! I cannot do less than re-
I-w v w 1 jviii a J a m. 5 jrv.
utcs. if you wish to employ them.'
1
1 ., wj , uiojui, aim i aux UUIS(
j said Henry, calmly and he turned hastily
to me, seizing my hand, he pressed it con
vulsively in his own. Hilson, he said,
the Being into whose presence I shall
instantly be usheredby yonder villain will,
T trust, forgive me. It is in the defence of
virtue that I die and of the virtue of one
to whom I had given all my whole hearts
love. I have adored her passionately. I
had hoped for a life of such heavenly bliss
in her society, that it is perhaps, for my
idolatry it has been forbidden. It is that
sentiment, however, which strips death of
its terrors, and the knowledge that I fall
in defence of her unsullied honor, sweet
ens the awe of this moment. For you,
Hilson, I have not words to express how
highly I have esteemed you, I have felt
your friendship, and deemed myself hon
ored by it. Apart from the near kindred
of my blood, next to your sister, I have
loed you. To my family I have nothing
to say that must beleft to you farewell!
He raised my hand to his lips and kissed
it. I was too full of my own feelings to
offer a word in reply, and as I wiped a
tear from my eyes, I saw him standing be
fore his adversary. 4 .Major, I thank you
for this indulgence. I am ready,' and
Henry stood erect, and nerved with all the
natural and composed expression of coun
tenance which characterized his every day
appearance, in front of the man whose
hand was armed against his life. Without
a word, the major prepared his pistol, took
a steady aim direcUy at the heart of my
youthful friend, pulled the trigger, and
nothing but a few sparks were struck from
the steel. In the next moment, while
Henry yet stood wrapt in amazement at
the result, and uncertain what was to fol
low, the full, sonorious voice of the presi
dent was heard above the murmur of ap
probation, which rose in every part of the
room, and relieved the death-like stillness
that had hitherto prevailed, exclaiming
Question question the question? I
propose Henry Roberts as a member of
the Gentlemen's Club: all those who are
in favor of that proposition, will signify
the same by saying aye.' There was
nota voice in the room but echoed the
word.
4Those opposed to the proposition, will
signify the same by saying 'no.'
4There was no response, and the presi
dent declared Henry Robers a member of
the Gentlemens' Club.
4Henry had now begun to form an idea
of the circumstances, as I seized his hand
and gave it a heai ty shake of congratulation
and welcome.
4Forgive me, said I, 4if for a moment I
doubted your quality. It was the deep
interest I felt in you that made me fear I
am the coward.'
4 What is the meaning of it all?' he in
quired, with undisguised curiosity.
Nothing, but that you have passed the
ordeal with honor,' I replied.
'Do I understand then, that thi3 is the
form of initiation.'
'Certainly.'
'But he traduced your sister?
'It was believed to be the nearest way
to your feelings, and it has proved so, my
boy,' said the major, stepping forward and
good humoredly taking his hand. 4 You
will never find that I have the reputation j
of a traducer of the ladies. Allow me to :
add, that 1 have seen many brave entries J
into the club, but I never saw better than
yours. You will sustain the motto of the
club, I know never to brook an insult
without an apology or satisfaction.'
And this,' said Jack, winding off his
yarn, 4 was all the world knew of the Gen
tlemens' Club that its members never
brooked an insult, and I can assure it was
seldom offered to any one who was known
as a member.
4 Well,' said the first luff, 4I suppose by
your nephew's name, that young Roberts
married your sister he fairly won her at
any rate.'
4He did. The marriage took place,
about a month afterwards, and I believe a
happier couple never lived. I could hard
ly resist the temptation, and a pair of
black eyes drove me to the verge of matri
mony. However, I am a living monu
ment of the beneficient interposition of a
lieutenant's commission, accompanied with
an order to join the jolly old Warspite,
74.
I believe you mentioned, Jack, that
the club was broken up, and alluded to an
incident connected with it.'
Why, yes, and a thrilling one it was to
me, for I witnessed it by chance. I had
run up to London on two week's liberty,
while the ship lay at Portsmouth, and on
the third or fourth night of my arrival, an
initiation was to take place. The appli
cant was a cadet in the East India service,
a youag man who had been charged with
an offence relative to pecuniary matters,
but who had been honorably acquitted by
the accidental discovery of the real cul
prit. This subject wae, however, made
the cause of a quarrel, and under the mo
mentary excitement, it elicited a challenge.
The preliminaries were, of course, mad
to lead to immediate action, and he mani
fested extreme nervousness as the affair
advanced. Wrhile the chances were hia,
he managed to sustain an artificial courage,
and upon winning the throw, as is usual,
by loaded dice, he appeared to regain a
comparative degree of composure. II
raised the pistol with an unsteady hand,
and pulled the trigger there was thtf
simple flash in the pan! His step was
feeble as he turned and placed the faithies
weapon upon the table; yet nerertheles
though pale as the corpse he expected to
be within the next minute, he returned to
his position before his adversary. Th
powder had been secretly shaken from tha
pan of the second pistol, as it was custo
mary to do, and the cadet looked with a
faxed eye upon the muzzle as it was level
ed at his heart. The flint struck a few
sparks from the steel, and in instant the
question was put by the president; there
were a few negatives, but much more than
two thirds voted him elected. The presi
dent uttered his name and gave him wel
come. He took no notice of it and upon
touching him to call his attention to tha
chair, he moved his gaze, and it fell va
cantly on those around him. ' He was an
idiot! In about a year afterwards he diedl
Many of the members then fell off in their
attendance the bravest had felt the warn
ing in the person of another an incident
that could never be effaced from the mem
ory. The pres'.dent also died shortly af
ter this event and the, club gradually decli
ned, until, at length, it ceased to exist in
form, though many of the members art
still alive.'
But how do you preserve the secret of
the c!ub?' asked the first luff.
If you study a moment, sir, replied
Jack, you will perceive that the secret
possessed the rare virtue of keeping itself.
There are a variety of incidents connected
with the initiations which I may relate at
another time, but for the present
The boatswain's whisile was heard
amid ships, followed by the cry of 'Striko
eight bells.'
And the party oa the quarter deck went
below to mess.
1 Sample of Western Etiquette.
Our yankee traveller who saw the live
hoosier, has again written to his mother:
Western people go their death on eti
quette. You can't tell a man here that h
lies, as you can down east, without fight
ing. A few days ago a man was telling
two of his neighbors in my hearing, a pret
ty large story.
Says I, 4Stranger that's a whopper!
Says he Lay there, stranger!
And in the twinkling of an eye I found
myself in the ditch, a perfect quadruped,
the worse for wear and tear. Upon anoth
er occasion, I said to a man I never saw
before, as a. woman passed
4That isn't a specimen of your western
women, is it?'
Says he, 4 You are afraid of the fever
and ague stranger, ain't you?'
4Yery much,' says I.
Well, replied he, that lady is my wife,
and if you don't apologize in two minutes,
by the honor of a gentleman, I swear that
thess two pistols (which he held in hand)
shall cure you of that disorder entirely
so don t fear, stranger! So I knelt down
and politely apologised. I admire this
western country, much; but curse me if I
can stand so much etiquette it always takea
me unawares.
UFA poor woman in one of the middle
States, who lisped, carried her daughter
to the church for babtism. Being asked
its name by the bishop, she replied Lu-thy-sir.'
4 What?' said the doctor. 'Luthy
sir,' said she. 4Lucifer", Lucifer; that won't
do,' said the bishop, and he baptised th
child George Washington. The poor
mother, confounded, could not speak till
near the church door, when she told the
parson the infant was a girl.
a Sharp Scwsboy.
We listened to the following conversa
tion in our office between a parcel of rag
ged, saucy and sharp witted newsboys:
Say Tyson, is the Canada in?'
Tyson In course she is.'
No!' shouted half a dozen voices at
once.
Tyson 'I'll bet vera shillin' she's in
Done put up yer tin!' exclaimed half
a dozen voices.
Tyson 'Agreed. She's in the water,
ain't she!'
Haifa dozen voices somewhat rub
dued in course she is. JVetff Vork Vir
ror, As snow is of itself cold, yet warms and
refreshes the earth, so afflictions, though
in themselves grievous, yet keep the soul
of the Christian warm, and make it f;uiv
ful.