The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-06-07

these mighty agents, which have done much
to soften the condition Human life and which,
though they nave not banished all causes OF sor-
world, have ameiorated the one, and diminished
the darkness OF the other. There is nothing
more coDspicuousy displayed in the vast COM
muuity OF man-nothing that arrests the atten-
ton Of the mind with more attractive influence,
than the consequences which have arisen from
the cultivation Of Hierature-that fair offspring
of intelligence which enchants the heart with
its purity, and charms the understanding
with its native dignity and elegance. AS it is
the origin of public refinement, so il is the source
| from whence emanates the most exalted private
enjoyment-a band which unites every faculty
of the mind in the great purpose Improvement
and binds the feelings of the heart to deeds
of "noble praise" The rugged but powerful
| and obnoxious passions which assail the human
| bosom, may be disarmed of their asperity by its
influence--the corrupt emotions, to which it is
| the fate of man to be subjected, may be stifed
| in their clamorous calls for gratiicaton-for it
Yields with alertness the energies ofreason, aud
| opposes an enlightened understanding to the
solicitations of Irregular desires. He who
moves through the flowery ways of elegant lite
nature, is surrounded by luxuriant profnsion
of beauties not less charming TO the mind than
| the gayest landscape of nature in her deepest
bloom to the eye; the laurels which crowned
successful genius in ages long since passed away
are spread before him-yet bright and unfad-
ed, the deeds of heroes glitter in his vew-the
words of wisdom, and the voice of eloquencc
| break upon his ear with a harmony that
leads him back unconsciously to the days when
Greece and Rome were in their utmost glory.
! BY studying the great masters of literature,
both Of ancient and modern times-by acquir-
ing regard for their purity, and induigining
that admiration which the dignity of their
sentiments invariably inspires, a genial and r-
resistibe influence is thrown around the heart,
which modihesits every feeling, imparting to its
impulses the energies of virtue-and if assidu
ously cherished, would restrain its wild and ir-
rational desires, and assimila,e the actions OF
men to all that is amabe and excellent Where
is the man so obdurate of feeling, SO impervous
| to the splendour of great and noble deeds, that
can peruse the page Of history adorned by the
| name of .ArisiideS, consecrated by the mild
philosophy of Socrates, without emotions of the
purest character, forgetting the baser cares of
life, to surrender his mind for a moment to the
| pleasing vision, and walk with the Grecan
statesman through his path of fame, or breathe
n fervent aspiration that the philosophy of the
sage of Athens might be his. These impressions
though enthusiastic, may be rendered highly
useful they arrest the attention of the mind
and familiarize it to contemplation they demon
strate the Importance of integrity of principle,
and, IL carried into the fuctuating scenes of the
| world, may preserve from thoughtless career
of dissipation, by divesting thephantom of plea
sure OF IFS delusive embellishments. But we
need not recur to the distant periods of antiquity,
nor invoke the genius Gifts ilinstrious names for
this source of improvement; modern literature
is equally refined, equally copous, and as highly
capable to t'rase the genius and improve the
heart" as that of nations which now exist no
more. The grandeur and sublimity of Milton,
for whose vast and comprehensive mind no
thought was too majestic, though perhaps too
far removed for individual power ever to equal.
is bouudless field in which wisdom itself NAV
be instructed-wherc fancy may roam and revel
in qualification, and the sternest philosophy re-
lax its rigid brow, 10 minge with its reflections
the charms of poetry. The elegant pages over
which the spirit Of Addison has diffused its
classic light, filed with sentiments too sacred
to morality, and too dear to literary taste ever
to be forgotten though less splendid than the
radiance of Milton, they throw mild and tran
quill beam over the heart, which, like the soft twi
light of evening, soothes it to silence and repose
insensible indeed would be the man who could
delight; discordant would be the feelings, and
corrupt the mind, that could rise from their stu
dy without acknowledging their influence, OF
participating in the purity which they nculcate.
Every path which leads through the vast ex-
panse of knowledge, however wide, or circum- |
scribed in extent, conducts to some point of use
funess, or elucidates some important truth, for |
such is the order of creation, aud the arrange. |
ment Of the laws which govern il, that 10 what. |
ever part we direct attentions we shall find a !
productive subject for examination, fertile i'm in.
struction and abundant in reward As man is
the only rational creature amongst the multi.
fude Of natures works, il becomes his duty to