Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-17

! One OF the most useful Of all arts Is the
lart of computing. It's deemed indispen. !
! ably necessary in all kinds Of business
And hence we send our children to
chool, to learn the use of figures, and
lhow to cast up accounts and foot them to
a nicely. One who has no knowledge al
Iail Of the nine figures of arithmetic, whp
leyen knows not that 9 and make four,
is regarded as fit for no sort OF business
above that of a scullion. But besides the
knowledge of figures, there is another
branch of the art of computing, which is
lof superior Importance +: mean an accu-
rate Knowledge of the value OF things,
considered in relation to our real comfOrt
and happiness. This is a kind Of know.
ledge not of itself SO very difficult 10
learn, but which, nevertheless, is hidden
from multitudes of men and women Of
lgood natural parts, by reason that their
manner is to view things through the ne.
IdIum as it were Of magic spectacles. ra-
Their than with the naked and unpreiudiccd
,Ieye of reason.
! Apart from consiaerin4 the common &
fatal delusion, through hich immortal
Doys are sacrificed to ira ..ent pleasure,
IA great many, for want OF Kill III the art
OF computing, make wron, judgments a.
bout Pleasure, ON the 1t choice Q!
which their worldly wea depends in 10
'Iinconsderable measure, Scorning or
Overlooking the simple and innocent
pleasures ST life which ar given in c.m-
mon to human beings, which no arts Ct
refinement can considerably increase, Y
which excess never fails to enbittcr; they
loose tie good they have. by their rcne-
itual hankcrings after some una.talnab!e
state OF earthly felicity. Pursuing Plea
sure with eagerness, AMI as ALI employ.
meat, they purchase pain; and that, at
Ithe expense of fortune, health. character,
ana peace of mind. At this dear rate
they purchase the most grievuus Of pain,
ito wit, that of safety, which consists in
ioathing life and its enjoymeuts lie that
is not man enough to govern his are
Iltes, cannot make himself brute encu,h
10 indulge and pamper then vittoutre-
morse; aud therefore, in the Circumstance
in which lie places his chief good, be is
lar less happy than some Of tie irrational
animals around him.
But to ieturn to the fabulous specta.
Icles, it may be taken for certainty that,
Though invisible, they are actually worn
'iby all persons belonging to either Of the
following classes.
/ They certainly wear them, who fondIy
hope to find happiness in life devoted to
Iid!eHess and an unreStraincd indulgence
Iof passion and appetite. With respect
ito their true good, as relates even to tnis
life alone, they are under a dcp!Orable
mistake. For it is an axiom built upcn
lirrefragable experience, that il mere cor.
IpoleaI qualification were intended to be
the mai object of our p2rsits, vet even
then, with regard to real enjoyarent, IN.
dustry would be preferable to slCth, and
temperance to excess.
They wear them. who necessarily mol
and toll, are hard dealers, illiberal, uncha.
! liable, incom passIouate to the poor; and
fail for the sake Of boarding up Treasure
|for their children. Blind inIatGatiOo!
I1ften, very often 1t happens Tat such
1oards are squandered in much shorter
|time than it took to gather them.
| They wear them, who, though possess
l,essIng a competence, fret their hearts Ii
Ieinbitter their Ives with coverings after
iches. Where they to view things in
Irue light, they would be thankful, rather
Ithan discontinued and queruiogs: since
their condition is precisely that which Is
aest calculated to furnIsh the greatest
Iamouut Of genuine earthly confart.
! They wear them, who sacrifice reall'
Ties to appearances, substantial! comforts
to airy notions, who had rather feel mise
Try than not to seem ha"py, who lmPWe'
iish and begsar Themselves ior the sake
Ipt appearing more prosperous and IcIIN'
jtous than peopIe Of the common sort
| The FLY of such peoples calculations IS
scea by every body bat themselves.
! They acear them, who lay scenes OF
their happiness abroad rather tan at
home. It is certain t,uth, that one WHO
lives on uneasy terms wilhhimseiIcsn tIad
very little enjoyment in eXtrin8ic objects
go that the very first stePin the ROAD 10 go
lid happiness, is the requirement Of con-
ented mind /; because W.thnr; pre3',,
position to contentmeHt, any change u
| place or OF outward it;on is oHsy ''S
Exchange OF one dlaquietudes 10.
another And as tie spring OF happ,''S''