Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1805-06-14

thcm-~Mule0, Whlcn tne authors theme
selves could never practise, and which,
in fact, are inpracticahle.
Most 81 our wise.mens tel Is, that
content i the Foundation Of Happiness j;
that Ne need UhIyto Be contented with
our 16t, and We shall be equally happy,
whether webe rich or poor, alex or wen,
wise or ignorant.
So idle, get - resfltss are oar minds,
We climb ths Aips and braue The raging,
spinds,
Tkrsugh various toiis q seek cenfenf ne
roam, s.s#
V,h;ek Jat NTH thinking right Dere mrs
at home.
But the poet does not explain 70. us
the practicable means BY which we
should acquire the means Of fhinking
righf be himself, perhaps, had been
fooled IN making that discovery. This
Is the great difficulty, the true philoso.
pher s-stone, which eur sages and mo.
ralists have yet to explore. II content-
ment were gained BY desiring Il, spre-
" We should discover more placid faces,
and fewer doiefnl ones, than We usually
recognize in our streets. i Is not the
apish grin that bedecks the features Of
many who address you, which denotes
an nnclouded conscience and . heart at
ease. have seen some persons affect
the iveliest joy-laughins, capering
and singing while the canker-worm Of
conscience b gnawing At the heart, or
while some hidden anxiety preys upon
the mind. I'VE 5.sz'" !
II Is impossible for man Of sensibili-
" to be contented with his situation in
life, when he knows it TO be . disagree
able one. To illustrate this assertion,
which may be found bold and imprudent
permit me 10 adduce one or two exam.
pies. An afectionate husband and ten.
der father has been reduced by misfor. i
tune or his own >imprudence, from opu 1
lence to indulgence he views his faith
full consort sinking under fatigue and af-
Fiction !; his little children are crying
for bread and he has none to give them;
while bailiifs guard his door, and he
dares NOT venture out, lest the horrors
Of a Jail should be added to those which
already surround him! Reason philo-
sophically with this man--telI him not
tothink Of his miserable family-that all
men are subject to misfortnnes, and
they are 1t worst only imaginary evils
persuade him therefore, to be content
and happy. Reader |! were you the wit
ness ofa scene 50 affecting, tell me how
you would act, and ! win pronounce you
tohave virtuous or q vicious heart,
without even consulting the physiosno-
monical rules ofthe sage Lavater-I viii
judge you. and justly too, without CLAN.
cling at one feature of your face. Would
you say to this wretched man, "Your
grief, cir, Is needless; your sorrow
win avail you nothing, and you had bet
ter banish your cares and be cheerful"
hsneh were your sentiments, my read
.er, ! should pity, and try not 10 despise
you. Butyour conduct, hope, would
be more humane, more rational; would
you not enter intathe feelings Of the dis
tressed man, participate in his grief, and
mix your tears with his ! If YOU could
render him NO Pecuniary aid, you would
not. Fam persuaded, refuse to apply to
his lacerated heart the balm of sympa-
thising coincidence. - -
Suppose another case, less striking,
but more Frequently realized, than the ]
hrst. An unfortunate hen-peek.d Hus-
band Is advised by his neighbour Tran
quillus not 70 be provoked at the has-
ranguesofhis iermigant, but 70 preserve
an exact eqnanimity and sweetness Of
temper, while his good lady publicly
chatechises him, 10 the NO little diyersi- 1
on. Of their giggling neighbours. aItis
necessary TO your happiness that YOU
should not mind these things,n saws
Tranquillus :" you should learn to sub
-due your rebellious passions. /" 81
would 40. freplies the hl,shandi ,v... n