Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-11

When in cold obivion's shade
Beauty, power and fame are laid,
Where immortal spirits reign,
There shall we three meet again.
For the Gazette.
THE STUDENT, No. III.
4 Comparison betureen Mental and Corpo.
real Pleasures.
"Violent delights have violent ends,
And in the ir triumph die like fire and pow
der,
Which, as they kiss, consume"
SHAKsPEARE.
Few evils are more prevalent, or few at
tended with more disastrous consequences,
than an iamoderate desire for corporal
pleasures. 1t incapacitates US from enjoy
ing the mild comforts Of social life, 1t fire.
Quently sewers the thread of oar existence,
il causes US TO be treated with GOODNESS and
contempt by our relatives and friends; and,
in fine, it does every thing that can vitlate
the taste and corrupt the mind.
Is not that man an object of pity who is
unable to elevate his thoughts above the
mean consideration Of sensual pleasures !;
who takes no delight in books, and who,
rejecting not on tie ideas which either OBJ
seryation, discourse or experience may pro-
duce, remains buried in the gloom Of Co.
THO ignorance, viewing every thing, like
thought or attention, with apathy and dis
gust? When this pernicious habit has ar
rived at IFS supreme point OF tyranny and
torture, only those who have been its VIC
tins can imagine the suferings which are
thence induced. It's moi simply depri-
walton OF ordinary enjoyments, but it drops
dark curtain over all created things, both
on the earth and in the heavens. The
green mantle of spring, the various flowers
that adurn her Bosom, the soft verdurc that
forms her canopy, literally
Fades onthe eye, and pals upon the sense
The light of the morning, the splendor of
the risen sun, the sweet lustre of the moon
beam, and the glories Of the starry hrma-
ment, want power to engage their fancy
OF 10 move their hearts in short, the whole
universe appears to the sufferer as II cover
ed with utter darkness. In their Old age
they are as wretched and miserable as "hen
endued with all the vigOr of youth; for,
having despised the mild precepts of CHRIS
tiani,y, having neglected to provide them
selves with knowledge, and Of those &C
quirements which are alone capable of
smoothing the downhill of life, they sink
into eternity with feelings of the acutest
misery, and in all the plenitude of guilt.
But let US turn now and mark how diff
fercnt the fate Of those are who prefer men,
tai TO corporeal pleasures. To them ma
tare appears clothed in her loveliest gar.
ment-the ruby tints of the morn, and the
sable shadows of eve, impress them equally
with feelings Of delight. Mental pleasures,
although frequently tasted, lose neither
their flavor nor their virtue, but acquire
new charms, and convey additional delights
the oitener they are tasted the subject of
their pleasures are as unbounded as the
reign of truth,-as extensive as the world,
AMI as unlimited as the divine PROJECTIONS.
Incorporeal pleasures, therefore, are more
durable than all others they neither dis
appear with the light Of the day, change
with the external form of things, nor des-
cend with our bodies to the tomb, but con-
tinue with us while we exist,-accompany-
my US under all the vicissitudes not only of
our natural lite, but of That which is 10
Come,-secure US in the darkness of the
night, and compensate US for all the mise
ries we are doomed 10 suffer.
SIMON SCRIBBLE.