Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-03

That castle may be so perfectly
.uaht 10 a state of subserviency 10 the
>, II of man OF powerful IMAGINATION, as
t, he comfortable refuge from the tedious
IS of solitude, and valuable specific
.gainst esnEi, have often experienced
,Nay, that its pleasures are so directly po-
live, that they have the power TO with
,!raw sensible men from what II many po-
lie personages seems vast Indulgence, 1
mean insipid conversation, is truth OF
which have frequent evidence in an ac-
quaintance, who when conversation begin;
20 flag in interest, and either from too much
use of it, or the shallowness OF tie contain
ing vessels, appears TO be getting near the
dregs, either takes his hat and walks into
the roads, or goes into another room, where,
undisturbed, he may commune with him
self, and promenading from corner 10 cor
ner, fall to work upon the erection OF any
sized castle that suits his wkin at the mo-
ment, 10 live in. Il, is indeed much oftener
cottage, and that ofthe humble kind, than
a castle that he chuses 10 build but ne al
WAYS takes care to dispose of the suPeriluI-
ties which he trims from the statelier edi-
fee, in making fine gardens, and fruit and
pleasure grounds, in the ordering and de-
coration of which he has no small share OF
skill. Constant practice has given him
such dominion over his imagination in this
way, that he can build large edihces at
moments warning with The greatest ease,
and see them vanish again in moment
without pain and he often assures me that
he can with no effort save that 81 the will,
expend hundred thousand dollars in i'm
provements, and after they have disap-
peared, resume them again in perfect re-
pair. When have remarked upon The to-
tai inu.ility OF such an employment OF ils
mind and time, he has more than once
puzzled me by inviting me 10 point out to
him any thing in the whole round OF human
life more substantial. "The duke OF Or
leans, Che would ask,) built the palais
ROYAL, and how long was it before 1t va
nisbed.--My castles, (said hey are built
without guilt or expense-no widow or or
phan ever paid pang or tear towards the
erection of tbem-they vanish-and live
after them and raise new ones IL various
forms; but Monsieur Egahte's paldis royal,
was ban;shed from him at the word OF
command OF the jacobins, and their wand
was the slider Of the guiIlotine which do
you think the better builder?
In fact, when the mind is employed in
this way, every repeated exer;ion sharpens
lis powers, and aids the facility OF inven-
ton. 1t proceeds regularly to work, fixes
upon scene which it peoples with differ
ent individuals, perhaps Gifts own creation,
discriminstes each Of them b. separate
character, forms a plot, perhaps, without
a beginning, middle, and an end, and
draws al! the circumstances from know
ledge o. real lite and nature; heightened iy
the study of ideal perfection /; and We
Their the picture represent conrerSatire
piece, comedy, tragedy, farce, or a
romance, in so far as the Imagination is en-
srted in creating. or in forming new ar
its energy will be increased,
and its activity improved. ALNAscHAR's
castle-building ON the strength OF his bas-
ke, Of glasses, and the result fit, in the A.
rabian Nights Entertainments, is picture
of what often passes in real life.
By exercises Of the kind | allude TO, not !
only the fancy is strengthened, but the !
other faculties of the mind are improved. !.
During these visionary intellectual repasts, /
the judgment makes numerous discrimina-
tons, the memory is continually exerted,
and the moral sense has frequent opportu-
mites Of giving decision. Few, if any, ,
are so bad as 10 be wicked in fancy when ,
to vice are absent, and selfish .
purposes do not interfere, the human heart !
viii obey its natural dictates, and uniformly ,
act fair, upright, and honorable part
During the reveries Of the imagination, the
distresses OF the unfortunate are mitigated |
or relieved-the worthy are rewarded by :
g-uerosity--injustice and oppression beget ,
the swell of indignation-and pity weeps ,
over the wound which il cannot cure.
By perseverlng in this habit OF creating !
fictitious scenes, the moral taste will be !
recti6ed and confirmed, every particular /
virtue will he strengthened, and system