The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-10-23
TIE FIELD OF THE lNCuRABLE5.
Thad a dream, rhieh ea, rot all dream

| know Of no sight more ridiCu.
lous. and nj the same time more
provoking. than the appearance Of
hale, hearty, healthy. hypochon-
driac. There are some men who
seem born To be- miserable, and To
waste their lives in frnitless com
plainings and unfounded apprehen
sions whose highest felicity is, to
inhale the odours of an apothecary's
shop, or to swallow. with greedy
zeal, the most villainous com
pounds of unrighteous medicines.
Some men seem to receive from ma
ture this disposition To watch over
the operations Of their bowels and
to mark, with the utmost care. all
the disgusting and Illuminating pro
cess going on in the inner maa.--
Others are by nature of happy
temperament, easy, placid, and
contentcd; never sending their
thoughts into the region Of conjec-
ture. or fixing OIL their vigorous bo-
dies all the tremendous diseases, to
be found in the theory and prac-
tice Of physic.' But | have known
such men, suddenly transformed
from this know-nothing, fcar-noth-
ing character, into the most learned
and miserable expounders of symp-
toms, pains, diseases, and dangers,
to which flesh is heir. Aud it is
my belief that there is no one cause,
which operates so frequently to
produce this wretched effect, as n
smattering knowledge, CLEANED from
a partial perusal Of medical works,
or tho half understood language of
professional men. Sumo one disease
becomes the favorite of the magma
ton, and no matter with the con-
stitution or habits or liability of
such disorder. every thing in nature
is made to bend 10 the sudden fancy.
| was revolving thoughts like these
a few nights since, after had retir-
ed to my bed ; and musing on this
self induced misery, my waking
thoughts were soon changed to Wis.,
inns OF sleep.
Methnught | was in an extensive
plain, which as far as the eye could
reach. presented a level, smooth,
and fertile aspect. At first sight,
there was an appearance OF calm
serenity dlif'used over the landscape.
and nature seemed rejoicing under
the inyigorating influence of sum
mer sun. But as advanced farther,
this appearance gave way to one Of
a more gIoomylcharactcr. The sun
still shone in its splcndor, aud the
earth still retained its peaceful hue
but there was an indefinite and in.
describable melancholy, which per
vaded the landscape as whole, and
gave it sombre hue. As stood
musing what this might mean,
saw a man standing near the bound,
airy Of the field with most laugh.
ing, loving and quizzicaI express
sion of Countenance, watching the
different individuals who were NOV.
ing around us. To him | applied
for information, aud In answer To
my inquiry, he said 3: This, sir, i
| the field Of the incurabieS.' Those I'M
happy beings, said /, who are doom
ed to drag out hopeless existence.
under all the anguish of a remcdl
less disease. But why, sir, tina
laughing face. so unsuitable to Thu
melancholy scene ? My friend,
answered he, Il call them incura
bles, not because their diseases arr
past remedy, but because they hav
no disorders of which to be cured.
Sick men without disorders, cxclaim
ed |. Look above you,' said he
and sec the presiding genii of thi
region raised my eyes in the di
rection he pointed, and saw floatin!
in the air thousand cerulean be
ings, who seemed indeed to be .air
nothlngs,' almost without sub
stance or even form. Aud whar
my friend, do you call these wretch
cd looking sprites ..1Sarc demons,
said he. Commonly called blue de
, ellis in our land of plain language
The very same observed he
land they hold the whole of this re
! gion under subsection, distIlin:
i their pestilent influence from the re
gion Of air. producing the mos
laughabIe effects upon the braves
and healthiest men, think, salt
|, | will walk around and see if
l can distinguish my old friends il
the heap. Beware said my in
: formant, show you trust yoursel