The new South. (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, February 20, 1864, Image 1
VOL 1 E 21. WHOLE E 73. PORT ROYAL, S. MW, FEMARV 20,18^ ~ "
THE NEW SOUTH." I
i
Published every Saturday Morning by;
JOS. H. BAM, Editor and Proprietor.
Prick : Fin Cents Pes Copt.
Adykbtwsjcebts, Twnrrr-mrs Cknts fzb Live,
tok bach in8ebtiojc. (
Terms: invariably cash,
OFFICE: Phoenix Building, Union Square.
[Written for Thz X*w South.]
_ STANZAS.
I.
When poor in til but truth and lore,
I clasped thee to this beating heart.
And vowed for wealth and fame to rove.
That we might meet, no more to part;
Years have gone by, long weary years
Of toil, to win thee comfort now,?
Of ardent hopes and burning fears.
And wealth is mine?but where art thou f
IL
Fames' darting dream for thy dear saks
Grew brighter than before to me,
I grasped at all | thought could make
Till. Imrino h Aart more worthV thM !
Year* have gone by, the laurel droop*
In mockery o'er my fevered brow,
A conquered world before me stoop*.
And fame la/mine?but where art thou Y
HL
In youth's first hours despised and Ion*
1 wandered 'mid the busy crowd,
But now that life's beet hopes are gone.
Tbsy greet with amiles and murmurs loud.
Oh! for thy voice, thy laughing voice.
To give its happy welcome now?
Wealth, Fame and all that can rejoice.
Are mine in vain?for where art thou Y
DANCING ON T GRAVE."
Yes, that suited him to a nicety?Morris Island
did not afford a better site for a tent. The sergeant
had exercised exquisite judgement in the
selection of that particnl&r spot How passing
strange some other eye had not detected its merits!
The soil was as level as a house-floor ; and, what
was more surprising, young blades of grass were
Ka/v/iminnf Ttaihln Cm thft fin rfAC A ! It V&8 an
oasis, indeed, amid that desert of sand. Every
incoming braeze would not fail to invigorate and
refresh. Easy of access, convenient to the troops,
headquarters near by, admirable in every respect,
the sight could not be excelled. "Go," said the
young cavalry lieutenant addressing one of his
men, "call the assistance you need, and have my
tent removed at sunrise to-morrow to that same
delightful ground."
The order was more than promptly obeyed; for
at daylight the men were busy at their work,
lest, by chance another party, equally appreciative
should succeed in appropriating the prize?with
exultant glee did the dashing lieutonant sip his
coffee that day?now he had scoured his heart's
desire, why not inform his flriends of his good
fortune and celebrate the occasion with feasting
ana arin&ing: 11 snoma oe aone?companions
should assemble and make the hours happy?then
followed the preparations for the reception. Wines
were obtained from a schooner in the Inlet; the
more common beverage, whiskey, was drawn at
the Commissary's; traders famished delicate!
viands, while of substantial food the lieutenant's
own larder was well supplied. At noon the arrangements
were complete?the invitations had
beta extended ?n 1 nothing remained but the;
^ / jo j. .
coming of the guests?for that he had not long
to wait?at 2 o'clock the entire party had assembled.
The inviting board was ebon encircled?
good-humor, mirth, congratulations, toasts,
speeches, cheers and laughter wqrelhe prevailing
characteristics of the banquet; every one present
entered heart and hand into the* fell enjoyment
of the festivities?not a single event occurred t<r
interrupt the flow of pleasure. The wine passed
freely from hand to hand, and, when that became
a clog, the staple old bourbon took its place.
The lieutenant had already established a fame for
his prodigal hospitality. No one could count
upon more friends. At most any hour of the
day or evening, three or four horses tied outside
his quarters indicated the number of visitors
within. His popularity was by no means limited
to Morris Island, it extended throughout the Department
Some of his more facetious admirers
designated his tent?an Inn; and one of the
Dumber went so for as to present the lieutenant
with an embossed card-board having on the obverse,
the word "Hotel," printed in large letters.
This card eccupied a conspicuous place above his
writing desk, and no one could enter the tent
withont observing it On rare occasions, it is
said, when, by accident, the whiskey ran low or
the lieutenant had become surfeited with gay society,
and sought a brief repose; it was his practice
to turn the reverse of the card towards the
entranee, which change was understood by the
knowing ones to signify " holet not open," in
other words, 14 no intrusion at present" On this
day the obverse of the card stared the company
mil in the lace, all restraint 01 conviviality was
tossed to the wind. The guests persisted that
the lieutenant excelled himself in the display of
his magnanimous qualities, and declared, in an
ecstatic moment, that they would subscribe to a
handsome gift for his special benefit.
It was rapidly approaching dark. The cloth was
removed and the party proceeded to story-telling.
Nearly two hours were consumed in this pastime.
The general tenor of the stories, as one would naturally
suppose, partook of the ludicrous rather
than the grave. It happened, however, that one
of the party, who had been previously noted for
his remarkable versatility, appeared that night as
if a shadow bad cast itself upon him and blackened
all 'the lively traits of his nature. At times he was
absolutely solemn. His most intimate friends
could not rouse him to merriment, much mors, to
laughter. Each, with a single exception, had told
a story or sung a song?and a jolly one it was. Of
conrse he would not disappoint them ?
"No," ho answered in a measured tone," "if
you will not be offended at my selection."
"Go on! ro on!" echoed a dozen voices, se
eager were the party to get him in a talking hnmor,
regardless of what he might say :
" Well, hoys," said he, "I will relate my mental
experience for the past two hours. I must admit
I have scarcely been myself within that time. I
am'oppressed with a sense that I have done tome?-mnor
*r?ii for thft life of m* I oannnt
fix my thought on any particular misdeed that
should cause such a singular impression. Possibly
dissipation may hare something to do with it,
but if that be the case, why have I not been similarly
afflicted before ? The sensation is indeed
painful and to add to my misery I cannot dispel
from my mind the recollection of a church-yard
story that was told in my presence years ago. It
Is true, its wcital blanchad my cbeek to whiteness^S^,' s?.*;
It to about soma dissolute students who, in a fit
U. &.Jt wt'l '1
sacrilege by drinking * bottle of wito to timhealtfc *<
of the departed?they actually fulfilled the compact;
but such a flagrant violation of every principle
of morality produced an effect upon my tender
mind which nothing has been able to thoroughly
eradicate. I intuitively associate the careless frolic
oi to-day with something approaching the fearful
levity of those students. It is not my desire to
check your mirth in the slightest degree, but certainly,
under the circumstances, you will not, I
am convinced, feel unkindly dispoaed if I withdraw
my company."
In view of the unsettled state of the narrator's
mind, no one could conscientiously offer an objection
to his leave-taking. He went to his tent,
was taken sick the next day, and after suffering
three weeks with a delirious fever, gradually recovered
his normal condition, and is now performing
duty in the service.
This event together with others that followed in
the lieutenant's tent would have little significance
ah AVta?w*?i/\1 t-AB Ve/1 r.aI no ftnll rwnonmflv Vtn annn
1X1 lilCiUtCllCP, IU>U UUV, CM Will VAJ CCU,
a chain of aingnlar co-incidents transpired. The
guests, simply expressing surprise at the strange
behavior of their absent companion, soon forgot
the circumstance, and, late in the evening, became
deeply absorbed in the game of euchre. On a side
table was placed a brimming bo Wl of punch which,
?when exhausted, was replaced by another. As
the night advanced the excitement became more
in tens*. The afternoon's festival was completely
eclipsed by the nights' carousal. Conundrums,
stories, songs, shouts, and laughter reigned supreme.
Midnight found the party at the height
of their hilarity. A fife had been called in and to
its music the company were jig-dancing, polkadancing,
contra-dancing, in time and out of time,
everybody nobody's partner and nobody everybody's
partner, one calling out the figures, another
correcting him,?the whole mixed up with noise,
discord, and confusion, in the midst of which, and
in a key high above all infer sounds, shrieked a
man frantic with rage?
" lltUhovnds I you are dancing on the grave of my
brother !"
His anger was of the most malignant type. He
conld neither sit, stand, nor walk; but fairly leaped
from one wall to the other. He made the most *
frightful gesticulations, and swore he would avenge
the horrid insult.
In a moment all eyes were fixed upon him. Astonishment
supplanted revelry. Inebriety made
way for soberness. The maddened interloper was N
asked to explain himself. He would do nothing
but curse?he vowed to slay them all?he brandished
a club at them?menaced them, and acted
luce a nena let loose, bnaaemy, as u resoivea on
some desperate act, he stood still for a moment,
then turned, and darted from the tent like an arrow.
It was afterwards ascertained he went straight
to the general hospital. He was a sutler's clerk
and came from the north some months ago. He
had received sad intelligence from his relatives in
Cuba which so worked npon his mind as to cause
insanity. He was taken to tne Hospital tor treat*
ment and had been there two weeks prior to thf:
[ Orwclvded on Twrth Page.]