DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0180
156 A SINGULAR PROPENSITY,
world,, and contrasting them with his own way of living, he
has the talent of disarming every kind of censure, and al-
most to persuade one to embrace the system of simplicity
and retirement which he has adopted, and wnth which he
appears perfectly satisfied. When we left his rock, the
hermit detaching his own little boat, accompanied us to the
largest of the islands in this lake, where there is another her-
mitage, very commodious, with a handsome chapel. Upon
this island, there is also a noble and majestic tower, the
remains of the castle of Schwanau, at present the melan-
choly habitation, of owls and ravens.
The history of this ruined castle, which contains a noble
instance of the love of liberty,, and the just and successful
resistance of tyranny among the Swiss, may be noticed
hereafter.
A SINGULAR PROPENSITY.
Dancing in Russia, we have been informed, is the fa-
vourite diversion of all ranks.—In Petersburg!!, it is not
uncommon for a company of middling persons to practise it
on two successive days in the week.—Not long since an old
man belonging to one of these clubs, made himself remark-
able by his mania for this diversion, which was the more
striking in him, it being so singularly in contrast with his
trade, as he was a coffin-maker. Carrying on his business
in the wholesale way, he earned a great deal of money,
which he not only spent in frequenting every place where
he heard of a dance, but even wnote to foreign parts for all
the new' dances that came out, w'ith their music ; which were
sent him by the post, that he might be sure to have them
earlier than any other person.
During the excessive heats of the Summer of 1802, the
river Soane, in France, was so far dried up, that the in-
habitants in getting stones from the bottom for building,
discovered,
world,, and contrasting them with his own way of living, he
has the talent of disarming every kind of censure, and al-
most to persuade one to embrace the system of simplicity
and retirement which he has adopted, and wnth which he
appears perfectly satisfied. When we left his rock, the
hermit detaching his own little boat, accompanied us to the
largest of the islands in this lake, where there is another her-
mitage, very commodious, with a handsome chapel. Upon
this island, there is also a noble and majestic tower, the
remains of the castle of Schwanau, at present the melan-
choly habitation, of owls and ravens.
The history of this ruined castle, which contains a noble
instance of the love of liberty,, and the just and successful
resistance of tyranny among the Swiss, may be noticed
hereafter.
A SINGULAR PROPENSITY.
Dancing in Russia, we have been informed, is the fa-
vourite diversion of all ranks.—In Petersburg!!, it is not
uncommon for a company of middling persons to practise it
on two successive days in the week.—Not long since an old
man belonging to one of these clubs, made himself remark-
able by his mania for this diversion, which was the more
striking in him, it being so singularly in contrast with his
trade, as he was a coffin-maker. Carrying on his business
in the wholesale way, he earned a great deal of money,
which he not only spent in frequenting every place where
he heard of a dance, but even wnote to foreign parts for all
the new' dances that came out, w'ith their music ; which were
sent him by the post, that he might be sure to have them
earlier than any other person.
During the excessive heats of the Summer of 1802, the
river Soane, in France, was so far dried up, that the in-
habitants in getting stones from the bottom for building,
discovered,