Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-10-16
Fran Tb0mas's Ma0acbnlstA Sly.
ON HAPPINESS.

world, il is when we are engaged III an
in,ereaing converlation with ;hole we
eteem mott, and when that conversation IS
fuch as will have a tendency TO improve
and adorn the mind. Perhaps there IS
nothing more attractive to a peffon OF tai}e
than the tilcovery Of fuperior mental abb
@lities, where they were little expected to
be found. 1t is impoaible TO difcoser the
real merit of p~erfons by feeling and con-
verfng with them in a variety Of compa-
ny. 1t is difcovered only in thofe hours
OF leifure and retirement, when every diff
guife is.laid aide we t~henopen our hearts
to our friends, and delight IN the gradual
difplay of their mental excellence. A well
cultivated mind does not dliplay all It's
projections at one view it requires long
and intimate acquaintance to obtain q
true knowledge Of them. When a per
ion oifcosers all he knows in one cpaver-
@fation, We can find but little fatistaetion
In his company afterwards, and he will
confequenrly decline in our eReem. Il
nothing more than a repetition, Of fol-
mer ideas call for Our a ten.ios the con-
yeIfation will Immediately become Ian
guld and inhpid, and our regret at the
disappointment of the hopes We formed al
tie hrlt conversation Wibly increafe.
bui when We find thofe WHO are capable
o. gsving US new entertainment at every
interview, We are folicitous to give them
frequent O portunisies to unfold their len
tlments our iatlstaeilon IncIeates with
our acquaintance, and we anticipate a
continuance with real pleafure. The
hours will glide unno,iced while we con
vetfe with thole whole tate aud fentinlents
are coagenial with our own, and the M
ment OF leparation produces the heartfelt
igh of regret. We count tie tedious
hours Of ablence, and fondly anticipate a
renewal OF the pleafing intercourse.
There are few, comparatively fpeak-
ing, who can, fer ore hour, fupport a
conversation without injuring the oharac-
rers of the ahfent /; this muf proceed from
an habitual a%veriion TO reading and reAec-
tion. We are fometimeS neceiitated to
fpeak i'll of the abient in our own defence
or when the caufe of an injured friend
calls for yindication yet even on thefe
occaiions it will give a degree Of pain to
a feeling heart, though the perfon or
perfons ipoken againlt, are the mott de-
PRAYED among ,%nortals.
Indilcriminate praife, is as blamable as
indi!criminate c%eniure but there is a
| certain clais who are too fond of the lat
ter-to beaow praife where it is really
due, and from an e%nvious dilpodtion re-
fufe to pay the tribute of applaufe to real
merit, but will endeavor by every art in
their power, either gently to undermine
a virtuous character by inhnuating iuipi-
ous, winks, mods and w%hifpers, commu.
nications under arid injuttions of fecrecy
which were never meant TO be obferved,
or TO crulh it at once by the weight OF a
plaufible ba-efaced falfehood. When they
have fucceeded in the ruin Of character,
they fondly imagine their " will rife
propDrtionably. But Ter fuch remembers,
that truth needs no difgoiie, and that Ell
Their fooner or later, A,e will ffana confeit
with all her heavenly charms, and de-
light in removing every prejudices that
has been RATED againf oppreaed innocence.
In our intercourse with the generality OF
fociety, we INC forbear making Offer
v%ations, and contrating the virtuous with
the vitious and indeed we may reap 0
iderable benefit from our remarks, pro-
vided we do not fufer our judgment %
be prejudiced.
e The prepn @aJ Of maaAi1d Is mar
But we ought NOT, while engaged in