Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-09-23
THE PLANETARY SYSTEM OF THE
HEART.
By augustus Von Kot1ebue.

system OF Descartes, according to
which. the groupes of heavenly bodies
consist only of worthless !; and those bo-
dies are mutually attracted by nothing
but worthless. "My head turns about
already" said the fair scholar. "Whe-
Their this system is adapted to the hea-
yens, have not the least desire to know,
but | am pleased with II, because in the
same manner you may explain the sys'
tenn of the human heart, and that is my
world" The astronomer looked at
her with establishment. He had studied
the heavens a great deal, but he knew
nothing at all concerning the human
heart.
"Hear," continued the lady, chow
| represent the matterto myself. Eve
~ person is such Cartesian vortex.
We constantly require an ethcrto float
in this either is Tanity, as the funda-
mental principles of all our motions !;
the Heart, the centre of the vortex, is
the sun around which the Passions re-
volye as planets. Each planet has its
moons; round Love. for instance, re-
wolves jealousy. they mutually illu-
mine each other by reflection; but all
their light is borrowed from the heart,
whose second planet, Inhibition. is not
so near to it as love, and therefore re-
ceives from it less degree Of warmth.
Ambition has likewise its moons, many
of which shine extremely bright; For
instance, Bravery, Magnanimity; while
others reflect but dismal light. as
Haughtiness, arrogance, Flattery. The
largest Planet in this system, the Jupi-
ter of the human heart, is Sst-interest,
which has numberless satellites. Rea.
SON has also little corner she is our
Saturn, who steals away 80 years be.
fore we can perceive that she has made
one revolution. The comets in my
system are no other than Oscillations,
Reflections; which after many aberra-
tons, gci, in a short time, into the yor-
tex of the passions. Experience has
taught us, that they have heither per-
nicious nor beneficial influence; they
excite in us a little fear, and that is all;
the vortex continues its course as be-
FORE"
The astronomer smiled with open
mouth, like one who does not compre-
bend thing, but out of poIiteness, raj.
SEES no objection to it. 81 proceed
little farther STILL" continued the lady.
sThat involuntary sentiment, denomi
mated Sympathy | compare to the power
by which the magnet attracts iron.-
Both are inexplicable. The solar spots
may probably be the effects of age,
when the warmth of the heart gradually
decreases for who can answer for it
that our sun will not be by degrees ex.
tinguished? Then will the universe be
as dark and cold as the heart OF an old
man or conqueror. The thought is
enough to Chill one. Farewell ~
The lady skipped away to forget, in
vortex of a sprightly dance. the whole
system Of Dcscartes. The astronomer
looked after her shaking his head, and
compared her to shooting star.
A man of rank and worth having a.
great and unexpected loss in his reye
nues, thus addressed his wife: So Cou-
rage and economy are our chief resour-
ces. You know | submit to many de-
priyations, and among others have dis
missed two old and faithful servants.
II is painful to speak of your favorite
chambermaid, but your own good sense
will suggest that we cannot afford to
keen her., The Countess retired, and
summoning the maid, impaired to her
the sad necessity Of their separation.
The poor girl, bursting into tears an
swered, Madam, yon know ! work
well at my needle, and can easily get
nv bread. Suffer me then TO keep my
little chamber, and eat by myself, and
| shall always be delighted to serve you
as usual, but without any wages, or any
expense to you whatever" The tears
became reciprocal, and the lady went
to acauant her husband, who was great
Iy affected, ard soon showed that he
scorned to be surpassed in noble and
generous procedure. For when he en-
tered the dining room with his wife, he
ordered another cover, and the lady
asking if he expected friend, he an
swered, (" Yes, madam, real friend.
Il Il n