Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-10-21
&tptU1uuttatiott.
yoR The GAZETTE.

'Despair, rage, sometimes malignant joy.
Attended with inquietude, were by times de-
picted." SMITH.
IL we were to survey with calm
composure, the sublime intellectual en-
tertainments by which we are surround
ed. how could we for a moment hesitate
upon the pursuits of this life' On every
side, objects worthy the attention OF the
soundest head, press with inviting sin
cerity. Nature, in all her glory, calls
aloud for our consideration. The ethe-
real armament and lerraqueous globe
afford abundant themes for the career
of this life. Ia one. the central power
and his obcdient interiors; in the other,
the varie gated face Of external things,
and the internal sources of philosophi-
cal speculation. Notwithstanding the
variety of useful occupations to which
this life may be devoted, we see every
day doleful examples OF abandoned
profligacy. On one side, we view the
heavy sot Supplied with the fumes OF
wine; on another, the inane idie., poor
and ignorant; and on third the pros
pect is darkened by the appearance
Of the unprincipled gambler, whose
z oomy character takes up the whole
catalogue of repulsive improperly. II
we view the gambler in the light of pub
lie example, how distorted appears the
mani Again, if we survey him in the
social relations of husband and father,
the Imagination recoi!s at the prospect
1t is invariably the case that when ga
lning is looked upon as virtue, all the
useful occupations of life are abandoned
to the pursuit of this Utopian good-all
the advantages of agriculture and com
merce are forsaken, and the votaries to
this curse of society suspend their pros
poets upon the throw of dice or the
uncertain issue of cards; absorbing eve
ny faculty in the interest of the game.
The man who pursues this life cannot
be so infatuated as to suppose that the
wheel Of fortune will always turn pro-
pitious TO his interest. At some period
reverses must ensue, and then how hor-
rble the reflection, whenwe consider
that his conduct involves the prosperity
of, perhaps, an aflectionate wife and
interesting child. Bat such is his prin-
ciple that, whilst sting for the stake
on which depends the welfare of these
innocents, he dreams of the possibility
Of success, leaving the probability of
events to their issue. If he should lose
the last stake, he staggers home TO his
wife's bed, i'll humored and pennyless.
The cries of his offspring for the susie
nance of nature, tell him, but too late,
of the grossness of his conduct; in a fit
OF despair, he abandons himself to some
frightful precipice, or other desperate
source, to cure his disordered brain,
leaving helpless widow with her lisp
ing infant the sad remnant of his last
hours of perverse practice. Let such
as feel propensity to this abominable
practice, reflect upon its serious conse-
quences, upon the lost character, for
tssken wife, and abandoned child. These
are thoughts, which, if INDUCED In,
must certainly have a salutary effect on
the mind; for What principle in nature
can be more imperative than that which
directs mans conduct in favor of the
partner of his life, and their mutual
offspring? That man who wantonly
sports with this principle of nature.
must be devoid of thought, indeed a
-scou ge to his family, pest to society
and votary to all that tends to assimu-
!. late man to the Prince of Darkness.
PHILANTHROPOS.