again fixed them upon the fearful lines;-there it stood, the very name, and I slowly read aloud in my astonishment the following sentence; had it been a sentence of death, it would not have more surprised me:- "Married in P- on the 12th inst., Mr. Charles Haberdash to the accomplished Miss Ellen E, of H———.” My old classmate!—the very last person I should have supposed would have yielded his neck to the yoke matrimonial. Fairly caught at last!-Well, peace to his memory. Our Bachelorian club must don a mourning badge, for they have lost an able member. What can have thus changed his views?-Reflections of this nature were rapidly following one another in my cranium, when the servant entered and announced that the boat in which I was to leave for P. started at 11 o'clock. I had quite forgotten in the astonishment which the perusal of the above paragraph had caused, that I had made my arrangements to leave that morning for the very city where my old school fellow, who had taken upon him this new relation, resided." It is quite fortunate," said I aloud.-"Yes sir, it wants an hour of the time yet." "Ah Sam, I had forgotten you were there, remove these things and bring my boots." The order was promptly obeyed. It was with no small sensations of pleasure, that I found myself soon after surrounded by a goodly number of happy countenances, whose owners, like myself, were pacing the deck of the steamer, and enjoying the rapidly changing panorama which a view of the shore afforded. The earth was clad in its richest verdure, while the foliage as yet unshaken by the rough autumnal blasts, was tinged with a variety of colors brilliant and beautiful. It was a glorious day, and all nature seemed rejoicing in its brightness. As we swept along and left the shore behind, on one side the broad ocean opened upon our view; like a sapphire sea it lay calm and unruffled, save when the habitants of the briny flood in their gladsome play would leap from out their element and sink again amid a shower of liquid gems. During our passage, which occupied a few hours, I had full leisure for reflection upon the extraordinary incident which had so disturbed my equanimity; perhaps my hard heart was softened by the beauty of the scene, perhaps but no matter why, I came to rather a singular conclusion. I resolved, that I would call upon my old friend as soon as practicable; as I hoped through the medium of a common acquaintance of both, with whom I had some business, easily to ascertain his residence. I also resolved, that if I found him happily situated and his reasons for the change satisfactory, I also would secede from the Bachelorian Institute, effect a dispersion of the coolness which had been gradually increasing between a certain young lady and myself, and make a desperate leap at the matrimonial paling. After this conclusion, however singular, I felt more at ease. We soon arrived in P. and the re mainder of the day I devoted to the business which called me thither. The next morning, at quite an early hour for a fashionable city, having received the requisite direction, I found myself before the door of No. —, Arch St., where a brass plate of extra size informed every observer that there resided Charles Haberdash, Esq. In reply to my ring, a spruce-looking servant appeared who speedily ushered me into a splendidly furnished drawing room, and to whom (with my usual negligence, being without a card) I told my name. He soon returned with the information, that Mr. H. was busy just then, but would wait upon me in a short time. I made myself comfortable in an amply cushioned rocking-chair and lounged about half hour, then paced the floor for fifteen minutes, and was about to try the chair again for the sake of variety, when my friend entered. Although we had not met for years he instantly recognized me, and after a cordial welcome, commenced dealing out his anathemas in no sparing manner upon his unlucky servant. I was led at once into the darkest mysteries of house keeping ;-servants were altogether unworthy of confidence, &c. &c. It seemed that the poor fellow had made a mistake in announcing the name, and that was the cause of my pacing so long the lines, angles, circles, and various other geometrical figures upon the carpet. To pass over intervening circumstances, our conversation on by-gone days, &c., which periods I could not avoid thinking he wished back again, he insisted that I should remain and dine with him, to which measure I had no possible objection, as I wished to carry my plan of observation into execution, and witness more of domestic felicity; his " wifey," as he called her, adding her request to the same effect, I expressed a due sense of the high gratification it would afford me, and consented. Ah, little did I dream of sequences. My friend had been raised somewhat above his own level in society by his marriage, and I soon discovered that it had affected him much more than I had supposed possible. He was no longer the jolly, light-hearted, careless fellow of former days, but a sort of assumption of dignity, a conscious consequence, showed forth in every movement. He appeared anxious to draw my attention to every thing in the house, from his "wifey" to the smallest article of furniture, and commenced by manifesting his affection for her through the medium of sundry and frequent kisses. Now when a gentleman and lady are engaged, it is perhaps well enough for them occasionally to have recourse to this amusement; it seems as a pleasant relaxation to the monotony of courtship; even then I think it were best done privately, though this is a mere matter of opinion. But after marriage such a thing becomes perfectly ridiculous; not only so, but such manifestations, when others are present, are quite conclusive that there are manifestations of another, and totally different kind, in their absence. They re mind us of a would-be familiarity with Latin and Greek authors, which is frequently assumed and evinced by length and frequency of quotation; such scholars are but lightly esteemed. But to return to our story; what had already passed was but the beginning of sorrows. He next requested "Nelly" or "wifey," (synonymous terms,) to go and play a little on the piano, which was of the most approved and modern style. She submissively obeyed, while he drew my attention to an elegant sofa, on which he stretched himself at full length, exclaiming, "I never knew that roses were yellow before," (his beautiful Turkey carpet was figured with yellow roses.) The dinner hour soon arrived. I had hoped that at least during this part of the exercises, I should be spared any such painful exhibitions as had preceded. But vain were all my expectations. The fond couple took care to place themselves, if not in absolute contact, at least so near that they could, with great ease, bring themselves into that situation; and then with sundry manipulations and lipulations, he thus addressed his wife," Nelly wanted Charley, didn't she, (patting her cheek,) Nelly wanted Charley," "Oh no, Charley wanted Nelly, Charley wanted Nelly," was the fond reply. Í hastily swallowed my food, without daring to pause even for breath, as I know not what might have been the consequence. This interesting performance over, my friend turning to me, remarked, "this is a busy day in the house; we have nothing of a dinner; for my own part, I have very little choice of meats, and usually get what 'wifey' likes." "Thank you sir," inquam, "I shall do well." very Wifey, it seems to me we have not had such good breakfasts of late as formerly. Sally always gives us something nice, and there was one dish she made was very good, but we have not had it lately; I wish you would speak to her about it." "Yes, my dear, I will." "Nelly, I like this meat you recommended very well." (Enter servant.) "Well, Sally has made us something good, though 'tis a busy day. Here is the finest cheese in the country;"—and thus the "feast of reason and the flow of soul," enlivened the scene. Dinner over, I must see the library. Here were many handsomely bound volumes, none the worse for wear, of which I had a full description. "Here is a comprehensive view of the world, statistics of all countries, &c., very valuable; here is a new edition of Wordsworth." "I see sir," inquam, "you have Todd's Student's Manual; he judges of a man's mind by the selectness, rather than the extent of his library." "Yes sir, I am selecting mine." lady now joined us. Wifey, I have not yet given you that whipping I promised you," (a kiss.)Bah!! I closed the scene as soon as I could with propriety by retiring, fully resolved never again to visit a newly married couple. I need not say that I am still a member, in full and regular standing, of the Bachelor's Club. 66 66 His M. AUTUMN. THE genial summer's fled and gone, her roses bloom no more, Which streaks the evening sky with red when day itself is gone. Φήμα. ANIMAL MAGNETISM. MAN is said to be a rational animal. History, while it is replete with evidences of the general truth of the assertion, presents many cases where the influence of reason can scarcely be discovered. In the earlier ages of the world, superstitions and deceptions of every kind held almost undisputed sway over mankind. Later generations have done little more than alter the form of deceptions, retaining to a very great extent the folly of their predeces sors. Whether that natural constitution of the human mind which fits it for the reception of knowledge, also necessarily exposes it to these deceptions, or not, is a question of little importance to any but the mental philosopher. Its decision will in no manner vary the fact, that man in all ages, and under all circumstances, whether versed in all the learning of the past, or possessed of a mind beclouded by ignorance, whether Pagan or Jew, Infidel or Christian, has been the victim of superstitions at which reason revolts. While the pious catholic looked with mingled feelings of pity and horror upon the folly of the worshippers of Juggernaut, he clasped yet nearer to his heart the sacred relic of the tomb of the Virgin. The yet more enlightened protestant spurned the impositions practiced upon his catholic neighbor, while he piously devoted his friend to the torture for holding intercourse with the Prince of darkness. Infatuations are however far from being confined to any one subject. In politics and science, equally as in religion, have the judgments of men been surrendered up at the call of the imagination. The advance of intelligence may have checked, as it has certainly altered the character of these delusions, but the prevailing tendency of the human mind to grasp at the marvellous, and the brilliant success which generally attends upon the crafty and persevering impostor, have led many in every age and country to invent some new form of deception, and palm it off upon the community. The success which has lately attended a delusion in one of our cities, and which has occupied much of public attention for the last few months, may render a brief review of the pretensions and history of animal magnetism neither devoid of interest nor instruction. The inventor of this imposture was Antony Mesmer, a native of Wieler in Germany, who was born about the middle of the eighteenth century. Some claim that it has a much earlier origin, and one ingenious writer of the present day has attempted to prove that it was first exhibited on this planet by the "wily serpent who did cause our mother Eve to sin," and to trace it in the various forms of sorcery and gipsyism, &c. &c., down to the age of Mesmer, who, even he admits was its first great and successful expounder and defender. If this author had asserted that the same principles of human nature were operated upon in all these multiform species of deception, he might perhaps have more readily secured the assent of his readers. But as his purpose seems to have been some other than a careful examination into the early history of this delusion, we shall prefer to take the more general opinion that Mesmer was its inventor. This, like all other deceptions, has been very much altered since its first propagation, to accommodate it to the credulity of those for whom it was designed. At first it was a curious medley of science and idle theory, and was well calculated to bewilder the philosopher who should seek to unravel its mysteries, and to lead captive the understandings of the great mass of the community. Mesmer affirmed that he had discovered "a fluid universally diffused, and filling all space, being the medium of a reciprocal influence between the celestial bodies, the earth and living beings; it insinuated itself into the substance of the nerves, upon which therefore it had a direct operation; it was capable of being communicated from one body to other bodies, both ani |