The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-14

prove their minds and manners, and you,
sir, have the hardihood to advocate imper-
Thence, | shall endeavor to instruct you
where your triling wll end. have gene
rally observed that those who are most in
the habit Of leaving their seats during the
time of preaching, and who are well known
amongst Us as se,ters-out, display the great
est share of unmeaning impudencc, which,
however, is but Characteristic ofiguoraDce.
It's astonishing with what degree OF conf
denoe and importance these pigmies assert
their notions OF men aud things--a melan-
choly reflection, INDEED, to observe in what
ignorance many of them are growing up
their leisure hours spent in trihing. And
yet they still expect To be received among
decent company, and are under the neces
sity of exercising no small share of imper-
Thence for the purpose of introducing
| themselves, when perhaps their only pre-
tensions ale founded upon their Sunday
suit. But they must learn to know that
nothing will recommend them, or even
make their company tolerable, unless they
will endcavorto improve their minds & be-
come more modest. They had much better
be at home, reading some useful book, than
itting about on old logs during the time OF
eur meeting, or insulting female meckness
when the service Is over, by vulgar un-
meaning salutations. The ladies, as was
before observed, feel a backwardness in
| repulsng these creatures, or they would,
and justly too, spura them off to their fla
vorlte logs. 1t certainly does require all
the patience Off Christian, and all the POI
hteness Of Chesterfield, even to let such
creatures suppose that their company is
acceptable.
Unless the happiness of mankind be an
insignificant concern, and desire TO pro-
mote II an inglorious distinction, he, who
from SENSE of duty, endeavors to reform,
! deserves well Of his country. This is
my object and, although | may now be
under the necessity of saying that which
! gives pain, | shall trust for name to the
, discerning, and those who know how to
appreciate the value of COED motives and
without suffering myself TO be diverted by
the humorous school boy, Zoilus, to whom
! would recommend close application to
science, and not to suppose that he will
recommend himself to the people by dis
| play of his verbs, nouns and prnnouns, UNI
less his intentions are pure. The people
have too much good sense To be thus gull
led by boy, and they have so great a de-
sire to see their children improve, that ma
| ny OF them were thankful fT my fotmer
ESSAY. So that you need moi expect to
gam their sufirages, however much you
tickle the ears OF their inconsiderate chill
dren.
Having succeeded in fixing TIE attention
of some, by selecting Concord as the scene
from which TO depict, | shall endeayor TO
pourtray the various forms of character /;
for men need not suppose that their actions
are performed with such dextcrity that
{ ey pass away too fast 10 strike the mind
OF an observer.
am not going 20 enumerate facts and
events, but shall take the liberty 10 discri-
inmate between the conduct Of many per-
sons believing that the importance of our
life latter our religious duties are perform
| ed) consists in the study of man. There
are many trains of events, which to a man
who ~ not disposed to reflect, appear un-
important. ii, however, these trains were
compared with others, you would rarely
find them unproductve. Lct us, therefore,
endeavor TO turn these things to some uc-
count. We all top have our favoritc pur-
suits. Let me, therefore, not only cndea-
vor to reform the young, but point out the
foles OF those who are more advanced in
life, that each may feel aninterest in what
] write. Holding moral and intellectual
discipline 10 be OF incstinahle value, there
are no cares and labor which well mean
ing man will finch frem, in his enGeavors
20 create an attachment to such pursuits in
the minds of youth. say the most inces-
ccssant cares and labor must be well re-
l"arded, FOR VI we can once succeed in cren-
ung part'ality 10 study, the highest in
tercst may be expected to ensue Feel
lngs of this nature will certainly prove a
sufficient excuse To every thinking man Tor
imposing these remarks on the public,
| while mary Others Ms permitting the mo-
mcnts to depart which can never be recall
led. MyohJect is 10 enlShtcn and inn
prove. do not purpose writing the me
mors Of many years. IT'S sufficient for
my purpose that my materials, which are
| valuable, be selected and reduced to very
small and modest amount for, sir, were |
to attempt record of;the various inconsis-
tencles which present themselves to my
view, how nuch more than one page
would be due to each individual who comes
under my notice 2 The thoughts, sayings
aud actions of those who are to be written
OF, would not be worthy a serious men-
ton, were it not Dor the advantage that
may possibly accrue to others, by holding
their conduct up to public view and abhor-
renee, A very large portion Of what trans
pires even in his own ncighborhood must
necessarily escape or never come underline
notice of one individual. shall therefore
be highly gratiiied if some aborer, whose
genius rs more fertile than my own, will
enter the vineyard. Depend upon it, the
cause is good one. In the space of
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