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

capih5 into light vapor. The person
who weeps, for inst .nce, the afflicted
mother dissolving into tears over the
corpse of beloved child, now lifeless
and cold, even on that bosom where
affection giows In all its ardency, is no
more than sort of alambic.
And those lugubrious and sacred spots,
where the earthly remains of Heroes
and Sages were formerly deposited,
" in the hopes of a joyful resurrecti-
on" are now &c the abode of eter-
nal sleep" Thus it is, that every where
sensation assumes the place of SEN
timent; th.t frigid calculations SUI
Percede sublime instincts and that all
our social ideas receive a rapid and
fatal impulse towards materialism.
which, fear, will ultimately brutal
lie US !--In the second place, the
old not properly maintain the Dig
nifty OF age. Too many of them have
retired from the post of honour, to
sleep on their laurels. The rest weld.
without struggle, to the presumptu.
Gus sncroachme6t of thetyoung.--
CyBeSs Struck with TIE majesty of
tho Aoman Senate where two hun
dred grey headed .Sases, worthy of
g'ving-faws to thEr country, and to
the world, debated the geat interests
OF the republic, in the cam Of the
passions, and without the aid of that
futile eloquence, now so fashionable,
and the chief characteristic of which
is solidity of thought in the inverse
ratio of the pomp of expression,n is
said t. have exclaimed, Surely tits is
an assembly ofGods Upon viewing
our public bodies, stranger might
imagine, either that some epidemv.
peculiarly fatal to age has swept of
three fou tins of the old men in tn.
country, or that, in our genial climate
wisdom, experience, and responsibility
are astonishingk premature. But for
this,we must blame ourselves only. If
w ypll not act, Others must"
MN friepd adds several other OBJ
seSx rionsfof a similar nature, and
goose on to relate some instances of
Juvenile levlty, (among which is the
question proposed for debate in So
ciety OF young men, upon the appear
ance OF number of the Old Buehelor.
where natIo1al degeneracv is loudly
complained of viz Whether the
trees OF former times were larger and
better nan those of tne present day !'')
At5er which, n thus concludes his let.
ter: g The picture which 1 have
drawn, though not overcharged, is too
general. know many amiable Young
men who possess every quality both
OF the understanding, and the heart !:
who join the maturity of more adj
vanced age to the activity and the ar
dour of youth modest, discreet. do
Gle, respectful; such in fine, as al
ready do honour to their country. and
announce the most brilliant career of
private worth, and social usefulness. 81
r 8Hcohfess that even with this mo-
dhH,easlon, his letter appears to me too
highly csa6ured. n d men naturally
are, to use the words 6 the translator
OF Horace,
r" Mofose, complaining, and with tedious
praise,
aiEi"g the manners of their youthful DAYS [;
severe 10 censurei earnest to advise
AND WIN old saws The present age chasiise. Z"
1t is true that, when young Good
fellow latey called on me, with Mrs
Allear's packet, he mentioned some
thing ofthe kind, in answer to nv en-
quirles about the world but his ac-
count OF linen and manners" partook of
the gentleness ofhis own nature. :. For
my part, he observed, never LAUGH at
Old men because | know very well that.
In twenty, or thirty years, at most, l
shall DE old myself too happy, If | can
then lind a stick to assist these LEGS
winch are now SO strong; a pair of
spectacles to read the Old Bachelor of
that day and, if can hear the tests of
the young about me, and my oddities.
AS to Old women, were it but for good
Mrs. Allear's sake, Ireally would res
pect and love them all" And. upon
this the honest lad broke into warm
euioglumNpf my friend, emphatically
telling me MAT she now Yields the scep-
tire OF mind, as she once did that OF
beauty that, at the age of fifty, she
still is the ornament, the delight, the
charm OF society cheerful, induleent,
unassuming, unobtrusive beloved e :.