Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-23

comes on-f take the rounds ofmy &
lcompanions-,glide negligently from h%.i
Ito house, aud room to room, talking o,s
|the weather, the adventurs Of the ~, nv
ceding day the last fash IN for b ps
lbootee, cap or coat from i.ondon, rain,
Inv cousin about her sweetheart, descr2
Ing the party which took pace two nigh,
before. ats, or anticipating the N,
ats, in fact Running over eyerykss
lin the dull round OF FASH nable coms;.
Isation. to kill time, until headache ),
an aching heart admonishes NE to Re.
tire.
At four, | dine--talk over the news d /
the day--and when the cloth is removed |
drink considerable diaugats If vine. q |
any other liquor which presents itself
After tedious evening Of Grukir,
smoking, chitsbat, rise ffomthe tabled
seek the amusement viii h is the crds
of the night.
st eight, / take tea with tie insiEa
Miss. amase ourselves at the e..
lpence Of her next neighbor, and wastiG:
two hours, repair TO the gaming table t.
lose my own money or win that Of my
iprofessed friend.
I At one O'Clock in the morning, when
| the Waterman is snugIy grapt in sJeebn
Ills watch-house, retire 10 my soltaty
bed, or what is worse, to the couch d
Ithe harlot, torpid but not worn down Is
sanitary exercise to the s',cpjne DOM
my head aching with til wire b,u
drank. my purse emptied Of its treasure,
my understanding disgusted with nv
pursuits, scarce one faculty with which
God has endowed me, having been cal
lied into useful action sicj, almost #
life itseIf-i retire to my couch to stun.
her on till morning; again to trudcp
through similar unprotit able round #
Ivapidits or OF folly. Mo- one atom con.
Itii5uted to the mass of husan good. NOT
lone idea to increase the store of human
knowledge, not one faculty OF lie sod
lusefully exerted--with scarce one en-.
I,ie,ring tie to chain me to existence.
TIE Day of a Good Citizen.
At the first dawn of he morning, he
rises from his bed, to breathe Tie fresh
air of the heavens. He seeks the canal,
where the fist beam OF lhe rising sun
strikes upon his heart as on the fabulous
Tyre of Egypt, drawing from it strains Of
Harmony and love. The mixed grandeur
and beauty Of the scene before him. the
Idashing waters. the scattered ses, the
lblue mist which yet nike, with the wa
ter. and the rising bills, arrest his atteu-
l'ion, fill him with rapture, AID lit his
soul from nature up to na'ure's God.
At seven he returns 10 his library, TO
enjoy the strains of some favorite poet.
At'eight. he joins his family, al their
cheerful board. receiving and reciprocal.
ling all the blessed charities of social life.
At nine, he retires again to his libra.
Try, to study the interests Of his country
lin the pages of history, Or the laws Of ma.
ture in the works of the sage.
At twelve, he mounts lis horse, for a
short but animating excursion into the
country.
AT half after one, he resumes lis lite.
rary researches, reading. writing, or
making experiments on the laws OF tie
universe.
Atthree, he, SITS down TO his frugal
meal, to satisfy not tamper his appetite,
convinced that contented man can be
HAPPY with a little. and that in repub.
|lic it is the duty of GOOD citizen to dis.
card all pompous luSures--the cardinal
maxim of his life, being, that man Rust
have comp etcncy to be independent OF
1.-The smiles or frowns of others, and that
| all beyond that point, is likely to eaer-
yate and corrupt him.
The evening is given up to he plea.
sures of society, the charms Of friend.
ship, the delights of love. the energy of
conversation, the discussion of every
variety Of topic, iron, light and gay,
te serious and severe. The heart is re-
fined by the COMMUNION of sentiment, the
understanding exercised and improved.
On these occasions hints are struck out,
like sparks by the collision of the Amt
and steel which furnish the themes Of
profound medi;ations and original es,
|says. Thus the good citizen, WHO was.
lin the morning studieus or an active
BENG, becomes in the evening soc;@hle
one.
At night, short period is again da-
voted to his buoks--And at pine, he re-.
tires to rest, contented with himself, ant!
lw.t all about him.