Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-28
To the Editors Of the Compiler.
The case being altered, alters the case.

OLD ADACE.
Ofall the old fables which we have Conned al
school, know Of none which has more good
sense in it, than the story Of the Count:yman &
the Lswyer. 81 mistake, sir, (exclaims the
shire d countryman,) it is your bull which has
gored my OK" "Ah, (quoth the limb OF the
law that alters the case"
Ihaye frequently thought Of this saying, as
have seen self-interest shifting the glass to the
observer. Mr.. Owen contends. that man Is
nothing but 1.-The creature of circumstances.
I shall not pay 50 poor compliment TO human
nature, as 20 urge that the views and principles
ofevery man vary with the circumstances III
which he is placed; but this may be safely as
serted, that self interest has considerable as
eendancy over the minds of many men; and
that too many men are disposed to think a
thing right, which in an opposite train OF cir
cums,ances they are content 10 think wrong
Such variations Of the moral sentiment are too
common in the world; and there is not an OBJ
server who has not been struck with this effect
Of circumstances upon a mans opinions and
conduct.
let us take few cases by way of illusta-
ton We may multiply the cases ad sndefnl-
tum.
Some children are of that sanguine temper
ament, that they are apt to think, every thing,
which belongs to them, better than what Is an
others Tell him that Of two toys the one Is
his, and the other is his brothers; his mind Is
made up 10 love the one which has been pre-
sented to him by mistake; but when the mis-
take is corrected and the one really intended
for him is set before him, his mind promptly
acouiesces in the change, and he thinks il even
more beautiful than the other
AT school, boy is easily persuaded that ii
is right to take place of his class mate: but as
soon as his Incidence has thrown him to the
foot Of the class, he sometimes undertakes the
distinction, and considers the arrangement as
ridiculous, or insulting.
AS he grows up in life, and his relations 10
society become more complicated and urgent,
according as selfinterest draws him the one
way or the other, he has more frequently >oc-
casion to shift his views of :hings
A NAH, when he is poor, thinks ii hard 10 be
dunned:-Change- his relations to others, put
him on the Creditor, instead Of the Debtor side
OF the Ledger, s. he considers it equally hard to
be deprived OF his rights, and kept out OF what
Is fairly his own. IL is then your bull goring
my OK
When one lives as the tenant of another's
house, he considers his own interests most cri-
tically: he asks every thing TO be done, which
his convenience prompts Let him but change
his relations, and become himself the proprie-
tor of houses, it is then that he sympathizes in
the miseries of the landlord. 1t is your bull
goring my OK.
When farmer owns cattle himself, he some
times thinks it strange that his neighbor should
be so indignant at their breaking into his fence.
Bat let the fence be the farmers, and the cat
tie his neighbor's, it is Immediately the story of
the bull goring the OK. 1t is strange in his
eyes, that his neighbor does not keep up his
Cattle or yoke them: his own hedge appears all
in his eyes; the neighboring cattle as
The most intolerable nuisance.