Indiana American, Volume 7, Number 15, Brookville, Franklin County, 12 April 1839 — Page 1

1IT C. F. CIjAKKSOX. TERMS OP THE AMERICAN. $2 in advance, $2 50 in pix months, or 3 at the expintion of the year. No paper will bo dis-eaatinu-'l until all arrearages arc paid, unless at the option of the editor. Ten percent, interest per annum will be chtrntl on all rubscription, from the expiration of the year, until paid; and for all Job-work an J advertising nhen payment is delayed beyond six months. Aivert!sks?its. TwcUe lines, or less, will be inserted onco or three times, for one dollar, and 23 cents will be charged for each additional insertion. M ISCELfj A N com From the iYot York Traveller. THE BROKEN MINIATURE. FOUNDED ON FACTS. Two young officers belonging to the same reeiaient aspired to the hand of the same voung iauj. " conceal ineir real names under those of Albert and Horace. Two youths more noble never saw the untar nished colors of their country wave over Iheir heads, or took more undaunted hearts into the field, ar purer form?, or a more polished ad dress into the drawing room. . Yet was there a marked difference in their i characters and each wore his virtues so be- : comingly, and one of ihem at least concealed his vices so becomingly also, that the maiden 'who saw them both was puzzled where to give the preference; and stood, as it were between two flowers of verj opposite colors and perJutnes, ana yei eacn oi equal beauty. Horace, who was the superior o'liccr, was Snare commanding in his figure than, but not io ii;inasvue , Aiutru Horace was Ihe 1 . .11 . ww . . snore vivacious, but Albert spoke with more eloquence upon every subject. If Horace was the more agreeable companion, Albert made the better friend. Horace did not f clVim the praise of being sentimental nor Albert the fame of being jovial. Horace JVighcd the most with less wit, and Albert Was the most witty with the less laughter. Horace was the more nobly Horn yctjAIbert had the better fortune, the mind that could acquire, ana me circumspection that could preserve one. Whom of the two did Matilda prefer? Yes, she had a secret and undefined preferenceyet did her inclinations walk so sisterly hand in hand with her duties, that her spotless mind could not divide them from each other. She talked the more with Horace, ye she thought the more of Albert. As yet neither of the aspirants had declared themselves. Sir Oliver, Matilda's falher,soon put the matter at rest. He had his private and family reasons for wishing Horace to be the favored brer; but, as he wished by no means to lose to himself and to his daughter the valued friendship of a man of probity and a man of honor, he took a delicate method of letting Albert understand that every thing that he possessed, his grounds, his ho-isc, and all that belong -d to them, were al his service. He excepted only his daughter. Vlien the two soldiers called, and thev were in the habit of making their visits toccthcuSir Oliver had always soma improvement to show Albert, some dog for him to admire, or some horse (or lam to try; and, even in wet weather, there wns never wanting a manu script for him to deciphcr,so that he was sure to take lum out of the room, or out of the house, and leave Horace aloue with his daughter, uttering some disparaging remark in a jorular tone, to the effect of Horace was fit on ly to dance attendance upon the ladies Albert understood all this and submitted. He did not strive to violate the rites of hospi fiVta- . - 1 .1 .IT .- f . I . . seuuee me aiieciiotis oi uie daughter, and outrage the feelings of the father. Ha was not one of those who would enter the temple of beauty, and under pretence of worshipping at the shrine, destrov il. A common place lover might have done so, but Albert had no common place mind. But did he not fler! O! that he suffered, and suffered acMteW, his altered looks, his heroic silence, at times his forced gaiety, too plainly tesimea. lie kept his flame in the inmost recess of his heart, like a lamp in a sepulchre, and wrucn lighted up the ruins of his happiness a one. torus daughter, air Uhver spoke more explicitly. Ilir affections had not been en gaged, and the slight preference that she hepa to teel stealing into her heart for Albert ja us nature changed at one. When she round that he could not approach her as over, she found tn snrinir tin for hiiiiin her bosom a regard as sisterly, and as ardent, as we same cradle had rocked them both. ahe felt, and her father knew, that Albert' as a character that must be loved, if not as a 1.. wwband, as a brother. The oulv Doint urton which Matilda differed itli her father, was as to the desree of en couragement that ought to be given to Ho"v.e. "Let us, my dear father,' she would entrea wnglysav.'be free, at least for one vear. Tel ttsifor that period, stand committed by no en ferment: we are both vounc, mysell exjretnely so. A peasant maiden would lay a longer probation upon her swain. Do but Albert if I am not in the right!' ne appeal that she made to Albert, which ov,?htto have assured her father of the purity Vl ner sentiments, frightened him into a suspi"on of a lurking affection having crept into! er bomnAffa airs were at this crisis when Nanolcon! 'turned from Elba, and burst like the demon

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agg-gQKYtTifjK. FRAIVKL1IV COUNTY, inn-vi -r mnnmw .

ol war. tronj a t hin(!,r r-l...l . i ranee; and al! the warlike and the valcrous arose and walled her with their veter an orensts. 1 he rclnrnrrt hrn K(A .... t.;. red right hand, and the muted force of Frauce rushed with him to battle. The re giment of rivals was ordered to Belgmm. After many entreaties from her. Matilda at length consented to sit for her miniature to an eminent artist; but upon the express s upuiaiion, when it should be given to Horace, ....... ... were sun to hold themselves free I he miniature was finished, the resemblance excellent, and the exultation and rapture of Horace complete. He looked upon the possession of it, notwithstanding Matilda's stipulation as an earnest of his happiness. lie had the picture set most ostentatiously, in j.:wels and constantly wore it on his person, ....u uis enemies say, that he showed it with more freedom than the delicacy of his situation, with respect to Matilda, should have warranted. Albert made no complaint. He acknowledged the merit of his rival eagerly, the more eagerly as the rivalship was suspected. The ...um now change. The action a Uuartrc bras has taken place. The princip.body of the British troops areal Brussels, an at the news of the rapid advance of the French is brought to Wellington; and the forces arc, before break of day moving forward. But where is Horace! The column of troops to which he belongs is on the line of march, but Albert, and not he, is at its head. The ene my is in sight. I, lory's sun bright face gleams in the front, whilst dishonor and infamy scowls in the rear. The orders of rh.-iro-n nii.n ..j at the very moment that the batlle U hmit join, the foaming, jaded, breathless courser of uoracc, strains lorward as if with a last effort, and seems to have but enough of streneth to i.u mi ins nuer uuo in station. A faint uzza from the troop welcome thir londor. On. brave, on! The edges of the battle ioin. The stream the shout the groan, and the volleying thunder cf artillery, mingle in one deafening roar. The smoke clears awav the rbarir is over the whirlwind has passed. Horaro and Albert are both down, and the blood wells away from their wounds, and is drunk by the Buta few days after the eventful ball! nf Waterloo, Matilda and her father were nlnno !!- in uie araning room. Sir O hver had read to his daughter, who was sittinc in breathless atritation, the details of the battle, and was now rcamng down slowly and silently the list of the dead and maimed. 'Can you, my dear girl,' said he tremulous ly, :car to hear very bad news!' 5he could reply in no other way than by lying her head on her father's shoulder, and sobbing out the almost inaudible word rcad. Horace is reported as having been seen eary in the action, badly wounded, and is return ed missing. 'Horrible!' exclaimed the shuddcrintr sirl. ana cmoraceu ner lather the more closely. 1 t 4a a Aft wnu our poor incnd, Albert, is dangerous y wounded loo,' said the father. Matilda made no reply, but as a mass of now slides down from its supporting bank as ilentiy, as pure, and almost as cold fell Matil da from her father's arms insensible upon the Uoor. oir Uiivcr was not surci iscd but much puzzled. He thought that she had not felt quite enough for her lover, but too much for ler Incnd. A few days after a Belgian officer was in troduced by a mutual friend, and was pressed to dine by Sir Oliver. As he had been present at the baltle, Matilda would not permit her grief to prevent her meeting him at her father's. Immediately she entered the room and the officer started, and took every opportunity uf gazing upon her intently, when he thought himself unobserved. Al last he did so, so incautiously and in a manner so particular, that, when the servants had withdrawn. Sir Oliver asked him if he had ever seen his daughter before. Asuredly not, but almost assuredly her re semblance,' said he, and he immediately pro duced the miniature thai Horace had obtain ed from his mistress. The first impression of both father & daugh ter was, that Horace was no more, and that the token had been entrusted to the hands of the officer, by the d ing lover; but he soon un deceived them, by informing them that he was lying desperately but not dangerously wounded at a farm house on the continent, & that in fact ha had suffered a severe amputa tion. 'Then in the name of all that is honorable, how came you by the miniature!' exclaimed Sir Oliver. O, he has lost it to a notorious sharper, at a gaming house at Brussells, on the eve ot the battle, which sharper offered it to me, as he said that he supposed the gentleman from whom he won it would never come to repav the large sum of money for which it was left in pledge. 1 hough 1 had no personal know! edge of Colonel Horace, yet as I admired the painting, and saw that the jewels were worth more than the rascal asked lor Ihem, 1 pur chased it, reallv with the hone of returning it to its urst proprietor, if he should leel any value for it, either as a family picture, or as some i pledge ol atlection, b but 1 have not yet had an opportunity of meeting with him." Vh .in ins. ill 1" (hnntrnl Sir OI I B " " T ivcr. ' hat an escape!' exclaimed Matilda, when the olliccr had ttiushed his relation.

OUR COUNTRY OPR. COCHTRT INTEREST AND OCR

I nee I not add ilmtsirnn, ,,,, re purchased the picture, and had no further thou marrying his daughter to a gamester. T alking of miniatures,' resumed the officer, a very extraordinary occurrence has taken place. A minature has actually saved the life of a gallant young officer of the same regiment as Horace's, and as fine a fellow a ever bestrode a charger.' His name!' exclaimed Sir Oliver and Matilda together. ? tV,r rf ' nd ,,e is the scconi command ; inra leuuw mat same Albert. -Pray, sir, do me the favor to relate the particulars,' said Sir Oliver; and Matilda looked gratefully at her father for making this request. 40 I do not know them minutely,' said he, but I believe it was simply that the picture 6ereu ims oosom as a sort of breast plate, and broke the foice of a musket ball, but did not however prevent him from receivin? a verv smart wound. The thing was much talked of ior a uay or two, and some joking took place o uic sumeci; hut when it was seen that these railleries gave him more paiu than the wound, the subject was dropped, and soon occ.iivu iu uiit e oecn lorg otlen. Shortly after the officer took his 1The reflections of Matilda were bitter. Her miniature had b?en infamously lost, whilst the mistress of Albert, of that AlllPrf n lin.n aim felt might, but for family pride, have been her lover, was, even in elligy, the guardian angel v. me iuc suu ioveu 100 well. Jlonths elapsed, and Horace did not appear. Sir Oliver n-rnln Ixim : .. J i . and bade him consider all intercourse broke on fcr the future. He returned a melancholy answer, in which he pleaded tmiltv of tbf charge spoke of the madness of intoxication. f t.i.l . - conicssea uiai ne was hopeless, and that he deserved to be so; in a word, his letter wns so humble, so desponding, and so inspired, that even the insulted Matilda was softened &.shed tears over his blighted hopes. And here, we must do Horace the justice, that the minia ture was merely in the hands of the winner. he being a stranger, as a deposit until the next morning, out wipca the next morning did not allow him to redeem, though it rent him a umu, hdu ten mm as one dead upon the battle field. Had ho Dot pamed. hi minlaliiro would not have been lost summons to inarch would have found dim nl -- - nis quarters, his liarrassed steed would not have failed him in the charge, and, in all proouuy, ins nmo would have been saved, and i a a - nis lover nave been preserved. A year had now elapsed, and at length Albert was announced. He had heard that all intimacy had been broken off between Horace and Matilda, but nothing more. The story of the lost miniature was confined to the few whom it concerned, and ihose few wished all memory of it to be buried in oblivion. Something like a hope had returned to Albert's bosom. He was graciously received by the father, and diffidently by Matilda. She remembered 'the brokcB miniature,' and supposed him to have been long, and ardently attached to mother. It was on a summer's evening, there was no other company, the sun was setting in glorious splendor. After dinner, Matilda had re tired only to the wiudow to enjoy she said, tat prospect that the drawing room could not fford. She spoke trulv. for Albert was not lcre. Her eyes were upon the declining sun, but her soul was still in the dining room. At length Sir Oliver and Albert arose from tc laoic, ana came ana seated themselves near Matilda. Come, Albei t, the story of the miniature,' said air Uhver. Whatt fully, truely, and unreservedly," aia Aiocrt, looking anxiously at Matilda. ft al ft ft .ft - Ui course. 'Offence, or no offence,' said Albert, with a ook ofarch meaning. ' horn could the tale possibly offend!' said Sir Uhver. 'That I am yet to learn. Listen. As far as regarded Matilda, the last word was wholly exuberant. She seemed to have ost every faculty but hearing. Albert in a yet hurried tone, commenced thus: 'I loved, but was not loved. I had a rival that wasscducive. I saw that he was preferred by the lather, and not liiditlercnt to the daughter. My love I could not 1 would not attempt to conquer: but my acr.ons honor bade me con trol;&I obeyed. The friend was admitted where the lover would have been banished. My successful rival obtaind the miniature of his mistress. U, then, then I envied, and impelled by unconquerable passion, I obtaind clandestinely from the Rrtist a lac ttmile of that which 1 so much envied him. It was my heart s silent companion, and when at last, da ty called me away from the original, not often did 1 venture to gate upon the resemblance. To prevent my secret from being discovcrd by accident. 1 had the precious token enclosed in a double locket of gold.which orened by a spring, known only to myself and the maker. 'J gazed on the lovely features on the dawn of the battle day. I returned it to its resting place, and my heart throbbed proudly under its pressure. I was conscious that there I bad a tailsman, and, if ever I felt as the heroes feel, it was then it was then. On; on I'dashed through the roarnig stream of slaughter. Sabres flashed over and around me what cared 1 ! I had this on my heart, and a brave man's sword in my hand and

COUNTRr's FRIENDS.

come the worst, better I cculd not have died than on that noble field. The showers of fated balls hissed around me. What cared IT I looked round to my fellow soldiers I trusted for victory, and iwy soul I entrusted to God and shall I own it! for a few tears to my memory I trusted to the origiual of this my linen in r-rmin ' She must have had a heart of ice, had she refused them,' said Matilda, in a voice almost iriaudablc from emotion.' Albert bowed low and gratefully, and thus continued, Whilst 1 was thus borne forward into the very cent re of the struggle, a ball struck a my heart but the guardian angel was there, and it was protected: the miniature, the double case, even my flesh were penetrated, and my blood soiled the image of that beaut for whose protection it would have joyed to flow. The shattered case, the broken, the blood stained miniature, are now dearer to me than ever, and so will remain until life itself shall desert me.' 'May I look upon these happy features thai have inspired and preserved a heart so noble!' .aw matilda, in a low distinct voice, that seemed unnatural to her, from the excess of emotion. Albert dropped upon one knee before her, loucneu the spring, and placed the miniature in Ik. I I II .-ii ... uu Hemming imnu or maiiiua. in au instaut she recognized her own resemblance. One was above the effectation of a false mod esty her eyes filled with ereatful tf.-irs sl.n kissed the theencrimsoned painting, and boea aiouna -Albert,' she said.'this shall nev er leave my bosom. O, my well nay long beloved !' In a moment she was in the arms of the hapII! I .1 , . py soiuier, wnust one Hung over them with unspeakable rapture, bestowing that best boon upon a daughter's love "A father's heartfelt blessing! AX ADDRESS On Ihe inljecl of .Vtdirnl Socirtitt, read brfurc a Conrention of Graduate in .Medicine of the White-Water I'allry. BV J. m. 6TARBUCK. M D. Publuhcd by the request of the Convention. Ubntlemen of the Co.wextio-c I am not unmindful of the honor you confer upon me nor ungrateful for the motive which has prompted you in selecting me for the task which is now before us. And much as I may regret my inability to meet the anticipations your partiality for me has had too much agene w ... ..... o cy in lormiog, J win not shrink, however feeble my effort, from the duty which has so honorably devolved upon me. l am aware that the project we contemplate is of no ordinary stamp that it involves in its projects and completion, considerations fraught with intense interest, both as regards ourselves individually and society at large. I know that in its advancement it has to contend single-handed as it were, with ignorance, with error, with superstition, and interested opposition; and I know moreovci, if successful in its career, its achievements will be inestimable. Let this conviction, then, be my solace, even should malice hurl her envenomed dart, and the holiness of the cause for which we labor. my stimuious. hat great cord has ever resulted lo man kind without adequate toil and hazard ? Nature does not lavish her choices! gifts upon me muuieni ami unsonciung. Jo obtain her richest treasures we must worship at her tem . I IT .. WW. ... ple, perscvcringly and assiduously not with that blind or misguided idolatry sometimes paid by barbarians to ideal deities but with enlightened, scientific zeal, press our cnoui"W in ui.-u spirit oi cannour anu straight forwardness, winch characterises her true worshipers, nor rest contented until we have obtained a satisfactory response to nil cur in terrogatories. W hat individual in all the wide landscape of I uman investigation ever attained enviable distinction, or confirmed eminent benefaction withoat toil and pcrscverence ! The instance is not to be found in the annals of knowledge. Ask the philosopher or the pathologist how he attained those ulterior results which are the crowning excellence of his hard earned fame he will tell you the re ti e price of much cnort and persevcrcncc of unceasing application and never-tiring research. Nature, my friends, may have made poets, ft . ft ft ft .m but philosophers make themselves. Let me not be misunderstood. Far be it from me to detract from the "wisdom of a Creator to exalt the creature." On the con trary it is my purpose to exhibit the para mount excellence of the author, in adapting the workmanship of his hand to the end in view. By casting a veil over her more sublime operations and so arranging her arcana as lo make unceasing industry and untiring research, the only condition upon which her secrets are given up, and her mysteries un folded, nature has displayed a wisdom and economy worthy of adoration, and furnished an incentive to enquiry and investigation stronger than mere organization alone could give. In removing this envelope of nature's trans cendant intricacies without deranging the or der or destroying the co-adaptation of her parts and harmonious properties, man exhibits his wisdom Sc capabilities, and proves himself inferior only to the great architects of the Universe. We are mistaken when wc suppose that those master spirits who have adorned cverv I, . .. .. - . - aepartment oi menial and physical science

VOl,. VII.--.Ko.

w ere the mere idle, passive rcrinina r !, 1 , ' 9 1 a, j V ltlb glory and greatness which have shed so much lustre along their paths, and enabled them to ronfer such benefactions upon their raceOn every page of their history the word toil is stamped in plowing capitals. This is the granu secret ol their mighty achievements. 1 atient, well directed toil has reared i,e ,. perstruclure of their greatness, and cast that ..ngiu naio around their names the veneration and the wonder of all runinn i; They were men who came un to the work with a zeal that no difficulties could abate, an energy and enlightened enthusiasm which no oost.u les could deter. In view of these facts, then, let us not despair of accomplishing something for the cause of medicine in the W hile-Mater Valley. Shall it be said that in Indiana literature and medical societies hud no advocates! Are we, as medical men, content with the glory her magnificent scheme of internal improvement confers upon her hardy and enterprising sons! or do we aspire to a more elevated position in the scale of being, than mere commercial advantages can bestow! and agree with a distinguished writer of a sister state in believing i.nrr-'of all internal improvements, that of the mind is paramount." Gentlemen, the alternative is before us. YV e have met here to-day to determine whether we will fold our arms and retain our breath in cowardly submission to the array of ignorance and presumption which stalks abroad at mid-day, and mid-night, in the guise of ministering spirits; which, as the toads of Egypt, or locusts cf the Nile; or assert our rights as freemen nnd make one effort, to cast off the incubus, to wrest our beloved science from (lie grasp of this vampire brood, and plate it where it sojusdy belongs, upon the summit level of philosophic eminence. As one of the means of carrying out the above design wc propose to form a society for ihe promotion of Medical Science. This ob ject we have met to day to consummate. i.ct us advert lor a moment to the ad vaniges of such an association, and the obicrts to be accomplished by it, as well as to some of the obstacles that intervene between us and our object. I will not stop lo enumerate in detail the arious advantages which result from commitity of action, over and above those whirh flow from individual exertion. I simplv sav general terms, that in-as-much-as commu nities are more powerful than individuals, their combined nrtion, flowing in a given channel, must sweep away, ahd carry down 10 uie ocean oi oblivion, more rubbish, and filthy opposition than individual force could bear along. This general fact is sufficient inducement to form associations, when a errand obiect is to be accomplished. I am thus led to speak of the objects contemplated on the present occasion. It is obvious that the laat nnit grand object of all such associations should be medical refoim or in other words, the imrovementnnd perfection of its members. and through them the amcliurntion of the condiion of the community in which they live. 3ut there arc other objects, which may be considered minor, or subordinate to this, and through ihem wc must proceed step by 6tcp to arrive at the great end and climax of our desires. Of the latter class of obiects none appears to me of more importance, than that of perfecting our elementary and prefctsior.nl education. In accomplishing this an obstacle presents itself of no small magnitude. It lies at the very threshould of improvement. Any at tempt lo elevate the standard of medicine in Indiana, I very well know will be distorted into an effort at self nggrandizerncnt or emol ument, monopoly, or proscription, or any thing indeed, which will invite the sympathy, and perpetuate IhTdelusion of the gaping populace, ever eager lo catclAhe watch-word. and raise the hugh and cry against every thing which savors of aristocracy, whether it be in mailers of government or of letters. I be very word nnstocracv, in whatever sense used, is in itself, sufficient to rouse the vilest and blackest emotions that can raukle n the bosoms of demons, and array them in opposition to every ihipg noble and dignified. benevolent and humane, in the condutt of men. 1 et, gentlemen, this step must be taken. The criterion must be raised the facilities hitherto afforded must be limited, and the passport to public confidence, guarded and surrounded by the light constantly beam- - ing from the various departments of medical and physical science, or our profession must ever remain as it now is, a mere mechanical art, he theatre of mountebanks and knaves the scoff and scorn of philosophers and sages Ihe mere booty of avarice and consummate ignorance. But how is this regeneration to be wrought! It may be commenced by enforcing: the boundaries, perfecting the cause and extending the period of elemental and medical study. v ah this view a society should be formed, establishing the limits short of which none should be ndmiltcd to membership. Let the rule be imperative, for in correcting long existing and dearly cherished errors, it is necessary to be even dogmatical. I say, then, let this society, at once and for ever, set its face against every species of empyricism and imI posture, and all such persons of whatever ! - . . 1 name or description, as arc unwilling or in