Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-08-07
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE

80 ' amount vi property (nlty
dollars, we think should be required as
qualification for voting. The Doctor
was opposed to it. " Today" said he,
" a man owns Jackass, worth fifty dol
lars, and he is entitled to vote: but be-
lore the next election, the Jackass dies.
The man in the mean time has become
more experienced; his knowledge of the
principles of government and his ac-
quaintance with mankind are more ex-
tensive; and he is therefore better quail
fed to make proper selection of rulers
but the JackaSS is dead, and the man
cannot vote. Now, gentlemen" said he,
addressing himself to the advocates of
that qualification, spray inform me, in
whom is that right of suffrage, in the
man-or in the JackaSs ?''
Taking lounge in some of our nu-
merous and elegant Bookstores yester-
day, the piles of learning. from the pom
derous tome to the elegant miniature edi-
ton, brought to our mind the following
article which we cut out of the Charles
ton Courier some time since.
Com. .Adv.
The twin arts Of PRINTING and Book
BINDING appear to have passed the chry-
sails state, and glitter and are gay as but
terilles. There is upon the back of ma
ny volume more gold, than its author
ever had In his pocket, and many works
exhibit magnificent covers the writer's of
which were invested with the paraphena-
liza of rags. Next 20 pretty women and
pretty flowers, there is something plea
SAINT and refreshing in pretty books---es-
pecially when the milky purity of the
exterior images forth the innocence of
the thous hts within, and the gay deeora-
tons Oh The artist reflect the beautiful
fancy OF the author.
=" In the growing taste for ornamental
books, we perceive the trotriety Of
Learning, which adap,s itself to the So
ciety in which it lives, and arrapsots per-
son in fashiceable robes. When. as I'M
fortunately rap long, learning was COM
PEELED to associate with monks and law
ycrs, who kidnapped her on earth, and
thought they could conceal her from
heaven. she was dull, gloomy, and me,
rose-shc wore black, spoke mysterious
ly, and looked like the dcvil-she was
often chained, lest she should make her
escape-~and locked up that she might
not be discovered. AT last Size set fire
TO the c,oistcrs, and abandoned them like
light. For light is the beautiful per.
soniiication OF Learning, being the intel
hgence OF the Almighty revealing his
works. In her wanderings over the
world she was mallreatcd and abused.-
Priests involved her in polemics---Law-
yers embarrassed and confused her
Physicians clipped her words, that they
might astonsh the ignorant, and Critics,
miserable caitifIs, pared her nails and
cut her hair. She saw through and held
in contempt her would-be masters, while
she reluctantly submitted to their pedan-
tic forms, their morose zeal, and mock
solemnity; for Learning IS cheerful, be-
ing the intercourse OF the soul. And
those are pretenders only, who think
that to look denure is to be thought
wise, and to be grave and taciturn is 10
be accounted deep. OF all tricks that
were ever devised, the tricks OF gravity
are most aborllve and ludicrous.
Leaning being innocent and cheer
full, for she is the lovely messenger of
Truth, sought repose and society among
the young and the fair. She left the pro-
fessions to their jargon and their cere-
monies, who began to deprecate her in
fiuence, it being deemed derogatory in
professional man to be "a man of letters,
and customary to rebuke Genius for its
gratuitous splendor. The graces OF
Literature soon won tine esteem of Beau
ty, and they s;rove mutually to adorn
each other. Poetry proclaimed the
praise, ere it asked the applause Of In
nocence, and hallowed and purified the
thoughts, which were to repose on the
pillow of virgns.-Thc innocent maid,
drawn into contemplation, like Narcis-
sus, by her own picture, fell in love
with Literature for the sake Of Innocence.
She rejected the gaudy decorations of
the body for the glorious furniture of
the mind, and became the purest wor-
shipper at the altar ofTruth. The Arts,
the channels of beauty, mingled their
streams to replenish the fount, and cups
white as marble, and glittering with gold,
conveyed the waters of Literature to the
lips of LONELINESS.
"Letters are in favor with the gay and
the polite, and dress accordingly in hol-
liday garments. May their society last
and improve-till every good book be
beautiful, and every beautiful girl be
learned"