Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-09-24
FoR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.


DIR. EDIroR,-It has been said, that " time
travels in divers PAGES with divers persons"
and to the most casual observer, the correct
ness ofthe observation is obvious. 1t is deep
iy interesting. and not always unpleasant, to
mark the use that is made of the only treasure
we can justly claim, the space between the
cradle and the grave. In the dull apathy
with which many dream away the hours of
their existence, and in the light-hearted, care
less squandering of life by others, we are al
ternately shocked and enlivened; and in the
busting activity of some who seem to take the
redemption of the lost time of others on their
hands, life seems to acquire an importance,
proportionate to its worthlessness, lin the hands
Of the idle man.
Although time is treasure, valuable be-
yond all others, it seems to be one that is the
least improved. 1t seems not enough, that it
should be sacrificed to the acquisition Of
wealth or pleasure-it is not enough. that it
should be squandered upon the artificial wants
and cravings of what we call our natures
there might be some palliating circumstances
in these, to excuse its waste. But many, very
many, with kind of malice prepense, with
sober and fixed determination, set about
numbering it, as if they had been born for no
utes, hours and years, enjoy equal delight
with the conqueror who has slain his thou
sands.
How many awake in the morning with
sigh, that another day has opened upon them
which they are to get rid of at some rate !;
and lie down at night with the high satisiac-
ton that task so irksome has been perform
ed. And how few can look back upon their
lives without bitter pang, that so many days
and years have been uselessly spent in the
ohace OF idle pleasures and tasteless Joys.
Were thar class of men who cheat themselves
OF their best treasure, content to be alone in
the sacrihce, others might lament their folly,
but would have no right to complain. But in
most of them, we find disposition quite the
reverse {; they seem, in their efforts to kill
their own time, DESTROYS of performing the
duty OF executioners to that Of their neighbors,
however thankless their Office, or ungrateful
their manner of doing it.
There is kind of non-descript class of men.
who seem eminently entitled to this character,
who are known under the term of Lounsers.
heartless, listless, ubiqeous race of animals,
that nature, in moody fit of fancy, formed to
vex and teaze and hypochondricise the busting
and active part Of her creation. From their
intrusion, mo spot is sacred, and no place is
free 5" and in the gnawing tedium Of their
hanging on, every ono feels that he is falling
back from the elevation on which industry
has placed him. 1t is, however, the real
Iounger alone, whom this character will suit.
There are all the intermediate grades from
such an one, to the active, happy and useful
citizen, that distance so great can admit of.
Without some Of these, life would be dull
monotony; without some one who delighted
to enliVen us with a tale, Joke, or a song /;
and in such pleasures take no note of time +:
even industry would flag and the mind of the
scholar would scream and mantle like the
standing pool" Without the idle scheming
caStle-builder to draw our thoughts from the
sober realities Of life, their very reality would
soon become irksome. These, and MANY
others in the various stages of lols,lgabilitv,
are indeed the very seasoning of life, from
Which 1t borrows much of its zest and pun
gency. But no redeeming quality can ever
make the confirmed lounger siderable. The
time, the business, even the very existence of
another, to him have no Importance, and claim
no regard. Without business himself. he suf-
4. iers no one else to pursue any-without
thoughts himself, he chaces the thoughts of
the most rejecting from their brains, and
ieaVes nothing but confused vacuity of
hina, that seeks in its retreat from existence,
to avoid the tedum of the same dull round
OF oull remarks, which the confirmed lounger
deals out to all men, at all times, and on all
occasions. There is one use to which some
Of them are often put; they become pack
norses Tor the news OF the village, and seem to
strive, IN the recital of the slips and accidents
Of their neighhors, to return some equivalent
s soI what tney rob the luckless wight who
Almost every crime which human inyen.
tlon' however monstrous, can devise, has its
name and its punishment. The man who
steals my purse, though he take but trash, -
hnds his career closed by the bars Of dun.
geon. He who ruins my fame, may feel the
hand Of justice heavy on him and even the
man who makes the vulgar laugh at the stale
jokes and low wit of Punch and his wife.
does it at his peril, and startles at the name Of
a constable, with more horror than Alice in
the play at the ghost of her mistress. But no
code OF laws reaches the case of the lounger,
even to define a sin so CRYING in the Land or