Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-10-16

s.;ndoess of their fortune by personal
u.;on !: for they really had learned 10
~ hut the arts of dress, and the expen-
mug modes of fashionable life. Two ofthe
sN were sent TO the East Indies by the
SOU. i q compassionate neighbour n
NV nv ~ the highway, and after a narrow
Zane. was obliged to transport himself
co Africa; the daughters went into SER
nv nv but being above it. were discharged
s. ~ insults but sick of attempting in vain
died Of disappointment, and the other
o.. ~ dishonest bread in the misery of
SO. So ends the sPlendour, the
i'sory. the pride ola family, which, if it
Nh have been conyeared, with the com.
sO .,s &c 4 most valuable competency, might
his time have been Rourishing in repu-
.s,iou. plenty and prosperity. have
s.own many cases where the misery OF IN
cent chlIdrcn has been caused by the va
u;ty Of unthinking parents led astray, by
~ ;pnis Eatuus of vanity, aplag the man.
asrs of the high aud fashionable life.
Rot what! is there no such thing as solid
.aafort with a moderate fortune, and in
80 riddle state ? Must we forever ia6our
ol.ays the rank in which Providence has
rl.c.A us in order TO relish o existence
Musr we be guilty9o of injustice and cruelty,
IN order to be happy! Believe 1t not.
.rh;nrs are not so constituted. But the
ro,aries Of vanity, though they may pos
; GOOD shaAe of natural understanding,
s,s nsnally furnished but slenderly with
Dhlosophy and religion. They know not
how 10 chuse for themselves the chief good
Init blindly following the multitude, suffer
themselves to be led, in the Journey OF lite
BY the false light of q vapour, rather than
by the certain guidance OF the polar star,
on the magnetic needle.
wish / could induce them TO consider
duly the nature and value of solid comfort.
hot we do consider it, say they ; We con-
,ider what pleases ourselves, and we pur-
.e il with, constancy. Are you convinced
Task in return, that what you pursue at
fOrds you pleasure Is it not true, on the
contrary, that YOU live rather to please
others than yourselves? You certainly live
inthe eyes of others, as vain and proud OF
e~xternals and of %trifes, as yourselves and
in their applause and admiration you place
your happiness. So long as you can dis
play the gaudy appearance of gaisy AMI
ease, you patiently submit to the real and
total want Of them. lurge you then again,
tcpursue solid comforts, and relinquish va
nity. You ask me 70 describe what | mean
By solid comforts. 1t IS easy enough to
conceive them but as you desire IT, will
attempt the obvious enumeration and then
leave YOU 10 your own dispassionate and
appropriated reflections.
These / think affords solid C mforts /;
a quiet conscience, health, liberty, ones
time ones own, or if not, u~setully and inno-
csutlv, and moderately employed by others
"a freedom from inordinate passions of
all kinds a habit of living within ones
income, and of saving something for extra
ordinary occasions ; an ability arising from
rational economy, to defray all necessary
and expedient expenses; a habit OF good
humor, & aptitude to be pleased rather than
offended, a preparation for adversely, love
OF ones family, sincerity to friends, benevo-
lence 10 mankind, and piety to Gud. Com
pare this state and These with those Of affect
ed people of fashion, embarrassed IN CIR
cumstances, distressed by vain cares, toss
ed about by various passions and yam
@taneies, without any anchor Q keep their
frail bark from the violence of every gust.
Bu. it is not worth while to dllate on
toe comparison let the hearts OF the de-
aded votaries of vanity decide IN the ST.
lrnce Of the night season, when they re-
cine on their pillows, when the lights OF
TIE assembly are eNtinguished, & when the
rafting of carriages ere heard no more
LUCUBRA. !.