Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-09-29
MISCELLANY.
From the Connecticut Courant.
THE BRIEF REMARKER.


1t is an irrefragable maxim, as well of
experience as of revelation, that, He that
loveth pleasure shall be poor man. H.
deed scarce any maxim is so fully sane
toned by experience; since, 10 all ages,
and among all ranks aud classes, an inor-
dinate love Of pleasure has proved the
certain road to want and ruin.
Most sirikingIy verified this sacred
maxim is, in the instances Of drunkards
and debauchees, who give up themselves,
soul aud body, TO the embraces OF pleas
ure in her grossest and most disgusting
forms. Always, aud every where, these
prohigates, after short run, come out
not merely poor men, but poor creatures.
Inevitably, and very shortly, they come
TO be the poorest of the poor; alike des-
titute in circumstances and contemplate
in character burtien 10 their friends,
and heavier burthen to themselves.
Mark the young beginner in the career
of prohigaey one not of the baser nor
even of the common sort---a child Of for
tune, iieritor of wealth. How accom-
plished how elegant how blythe and
jovial
Mark him again in his next stage,
when youth is just ripened into the matu-
rity of manhood.
.If thou best he, but o how fallen how
changed !"
See his bIosted couatenance. his livid
cheek, his beamIess eye.
Once more, mark his mid age. The
crop is now fully ripe. See what it Isl
squalid poverty; loathsome disease !;
bodily decrepitude and mental imbecility !;
alike loathsome and selfloathing,
Finally, mark his end. "This man
Of pleasure, when after wretched scene
of vanity and woe, his animal nature is
worn to the stumps, wishes and breads
death by Now he is sick of life,
and bitterly chides the Hardness of time :
anon he starts back with horror, lest the
grave should not prove :" a dreamless
bed"
The class of downright drlnkards and
debauchees include however, but small
proportion of the hapless mortais whom
the siren, pleasure, alures to their ruin
and destruction.
"Come on, let US enjoy the good things
that are present. Let US crown ourselves
with rose-buds, before they be wither-
ed.* With such language it is that the
sorceress persuades and prompts the
youthful heart, nor does she persuade
and prompt in vain. The delicious poi
son insinuates itself, and spreads over the
whole frame. The youth thus Infected,
becomes unstable in all his ways. All
close and steady application, whether to
study or to business, he heartily loathes
Flooding industry OF every kind he re-
CARDS with scorn. To make as il were
holiday of the whole year round, is the
object Of his desire aud the summit of
his ambition. AS years multiply upon
him, his habits Of fickleness are but the
more riyited. He is within the circum-
ference of a whirlpool with heart and
mind too enervated to force his way
back. Perhaps he remains, however, on
the extremity, and never in his whole
lifetime is drawn to the fatal centre,
where is utter wreck of reputation and of
the whole moral frame. Perhaps he es
capes the grosser vices. Perhaps no
foul blot cleaves to his character, and that
the worst which can be said OF him is,
that he is careless, imprudent, and inn
provident man, mighty lover Of jolly
company; that he is here and there, and
every where, except at home and abont
his own proper business.
Lucky indeed il he is no worse off i:
but lucky as he is, he must needs be a
poor man; poor 10 circumstances, and o.
an almost worthless character at best. II
left with fortune, it melts away in his
improvident hands. If he begin the
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- n m r tLs TV:syo.,, of Coleman,