Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-19
ALEXANDRIA,:
FRIB.3T. SEP4tasER 10. 1917.

/. There is a sujec, well vrrth console
ration which has not. to my knowledge
ever occupied the attention Of any OF our
writer's, or at least been discussed or en-
amined BY any OF that numerous herd Of
authors who worry the public with their
productions and this is the mole sur
prisins, because irsm the tenor Ct their
writings in general. it would appear that
they are often at loss for subject on
which to exercise their talents and to
CRAFTY their itch for scribbhns.' The
subject to which allude is the invete-
rate tendency which mankind have ever
had, in all ages, to inflict upon themselves,
and on others too, unnecessary pains and
penalties, upon one pretext or other
sometimes for religion-sometimes tor
vain glcry, sometimes for the sake OF
the soul, sometimes fer the sake OF the
body-sometimes with 4 vain hope to
please God, and sometimes, BY an equal
error, to CRAFTY themselves. The history
Of the human race is record OF NORTH
cations submitted TO, aud disappointments
and mi.eries hazarded by men, for the
qualification OF a iavorite passion, the
Indulgence Of a faycrite whim, or the
pursuit Of favorite object.
The Rev. ClaudiGs Buchanan's &C
count of the punishments voluntarily
endured in India, though every word Of
il be really true, has startled wen the
credulons. ancicnts, more partiCu-
larry the fathers Ut the Christian church.
and the biogi aphers Il the calender
saints. astouish US With wonderful rela
tons Of the many austeri'ies they impos-
ed on themselves for the sake Of religion
and il would, as the saying is, make
the flesh OF a person Of Common sense
and Ordinary feeling creep, to read OF
mems whipping themselves till the blood
ran down their heels of their taking not
ony whips, but knives. lancets, hot irons,
&c. and cutting, slash'ns. tearing, scar
ing, stsbbins and piercing their bodies
and the bodies Of others. by way OF pro-
pitiating Heaven; and. after all. instead
Ct the uDguents Of the apothecary, apply
ing salt and vinegar to the wounds, that
they might not lose particle Of agony
or Miss single atom Of pain Their
sleepin. on bcds Of iron, without pillows
or holsters, their wearing horse hair
shirts, their eating raw herbs, aid fast
ing with rigid abstinence from all plea
SAINT, wholesome and nutritious food
their making Pilsrinsges barrfoOted, or
with nails driven inte their shoes aith
the points inward, together with thou.
sand other models of voluntary infections,
form catalogue Of human perversities.
which excite the horror Of the good ard
the wonder and scorn OF the luxurious
and yclpptuous.
Yet terrible as these relations are. and
as exaggerated As they may possibly have
been By some historians, they are not so
extremely contrasted with those insane
freaks which occur among ourselves As
sene OF US iondiy imagine. The habits
Of considerable portion Of US now.a-
days are net as free from pains AID pc.
nslties as is generally suPposed-Uur
notifications and penances are hume
rous, and in truth are. or ought to Be as
grevious to bear, as shy thing we read Of
IN monas:ic story. A sOt, staggering in
The morning out Of s,os shop, Or in the
evening cut oi tsvern-his eyes flaming,
hs nnae burning, and his face with ia
teSnai confssrRiions, much hker to the
ofsi ID; a butchers slaughter house than
to tie fosh Of d" The human face divine"
white his brains and eptrails are stewins
in sloohoi, canloi be an objec, of envy
10 afe,ch Just sent fsrfh, dislaca,ed
ard sce' caeI from he toTrsres AID f-es
ot the ifqUistou as 4 p;.itual beng he
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