Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-04-22

'i''' 'SfooSt hSu diWdNS suVeu In
the shades of speculative retirement,
but by those who had grown old In the
camp, in the Senate, or in the perfor.
nance OF some other conspicuous
part, on tie theatre OF social life.
Such youths as aspired to military,
forensic, or political eminence, at
tached themselves to illustrio.s char
acters, who became their guides, their
models, their second fathers 81 was
placed, says Cicero, under the auspi
ces OF the noble Scevola, and from
that moment, seldom left his compa-
ny collecting, and treasuring up in
my memory, his profound and solid
arguments, his maxims no less re
mark able for their brevity, than tor
their timely appl cation in short, l
loved to nourish and invigorate nv
mind by imbibing his wisdom" From
several passages in the works of the
same Cicero, and, particularly, from
his remarks concerning Celius, it ap-
pears that, when old, he acquitted the
debt thus contrac ed in his youth, by
bestowing a similar care on the NOR
ais and the studies of many distin-
guished young Romans. Happy mode
OF circulating knowledge, experience.
virtue, usefulness Launcelot. we
saw 1t b-ne6cially used at the period
to which have alluded nay, we
ahundantly partook in its advantages.
But, alas supposing the benevolencc.
the talents, the respectability of the
old still to remain, fear The modes
ty, the Difference, the docilitv of the
young are gone forever A strange
reysfaQon of ideas and manners has
! takef pNce in the world, and we are
eonAderAbly the worse for it. hear
it repestfd on all sides, that the uoun
ger is always the better man. Allow
your imagination what scope YOU
please, and it will scarcely suggest the
humlliations. the neglect, the migrate
tude, to which old age is now, alas |!
too often exposed Indeed, should
the torrent OF Juvenile depravity, not
speedily meet with some efficient
check, | should nor be surprised to see
proposed for our imitation, and that.
perhaps successfully, the example of
some Indian tribes, who when age
has concealed the blood of their war !.
riors, and rendered then unfit for the
battle or the chace, knock them in the
head, or leave them To die of hunger.
In some dreary and lonesome spot.
T" And what are, will you ask. the
causes OF this fatal shange in our NOR .
al climate '---I will mention two.
which have very forcibly struck me.
. At first, our young men are now
SO intensely ben upon reasoning, that,
10 the war and collision of argument,
they forget to feel. There is raging
among them spirit Of metaphysic al
analysis, which destroys the charm of
all moral sentiments. Natural, civil,
and political rights, never were so
much discussed, sonicely determined.
The juvenile mind is now so sharp as
to split hair" With the skin and
precision of consummate diplomat SITS,
our young men draw the line of de-
narration, between their parents.
their tutors. their felIow-citizens and
themselves and this line mus, be
scrupulously respected. Ptss net tie
I6erus Touch not Sagmti-
mes -! Yet, these puncsil. Gus rea-
oners, these legislators of moral ETH
iquette, will often overstep the modesty
at their own stipulatlons >. Com
plain not. The plea of despots is
at hand. They have force on their
side.------Launce]ot, it was not So,
in our young days! If, impelIed by
well meaning zeal, 1 do not say par.
ent, or tutor, b an aged acquain-
tance, administered to us advice, or
even reprimand, far from disputine
the ground inch by inch, we listened
in respectful silence, to the hoary sage.
aud with the iaultering accent of in.
genuous gratitude, thanked him for
his benevolent concern.--S, ch were
our feelings -. Such our honour
And If, like Noah, some unwary Sc
Nor INDUCED to excess in the lows of
the sparkling bowl, we Knocked him
not, like Ham, bu,, like Shem and
JaPheth, threw over his error the man
tie OF plying modesty. still re.
collect, Launcelot, how we wept to-
ger4cr upon reading, in Homer, the
atIpcfiDu ,aaooora