Friday, 18th.
At eleven, Mr. —— called to take D—— and myself to the War-Office: I wanted her to see the Indian spoils there. On our way thither, he read us some very pretty verses which he had written upon the subject of the "woman who spoke first." When we had seen what we wanted to see, we returned home, and I began to habit. While doing so, received a most comical Yankee note, signed by Mr. ——, but written, I am sure, by Captain ——, to apprize me that the former was unwell, but that he, Captain ——, would accompany me on horseback, if I pleased. The note was exquisite. I finished dressing, and then we set off. I charged Captain —— with the note, and he pleaded guilty,—the thing was evident. While we were riding, Captain —— told me sundry most exquisite native morceaux, and one thing that half-killed me with laughing. Mr. ——'s negro servant and Mr. ——'s conversing together about me, one asked the other if he had seen me yet at the theatre, to which Mr. ——'s man replied, "No, sir; I have had the pleasure of seeing Miss Kemble in private society:"—he brings my horse down every morning for me!
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Perhaps, after all, life is worth no more than a laugh, and all its strange mysteries of sin and suffering, its summer dreams of excellence innate and to be acquired, its fond yearning affections, its deep passions, its high and glorious tendings,—all but jests to make the worldly-wise smile, and the believers in them despair. God keep me from such thoughts!—they are dreadful!
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After dinner, wrote journal. At half-past five, went to the theatre: the play was the Hunchback,—the house was very good. I wonder if any body on earth can form the slightest idea of the interior of this wretched little theatre; 'tis the smallest I ever was in. The proprietors are poor, the actors poorer; and the grotesque mixture of misery, vulgarity, stage-finery, and real raggedness, is beyond every thing strange, and sad, and revolting,—it reminds me constantly of some of Hogarth's pictures, and passages in Goethe's Wilhelm Meister. After the play, came home and supped. By the by, just as I had done breakfast this morning, Judge —— called, who is the most exquisite original I have met with even in this land of their abundance. He gave me a long scolding for getting up so late, and assured me that I meant to settle in this country, at the same time drawing an enchanting picture of rural happiness to the west,—a cottage by a rivulet, with two cows, and just enough to starve upon!—I think I see myself there. This sentimental prophecy was prefaced by a remark that he knew I was very romantic, and interrupted every two minutes by a dexterous expectoral interjection, which caused me nearly to jump off my chair with dismay.