The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-02
rHE FIELD OF rNcURABLEs.
l had dream, which was not all dream.


Byron.
know of no sight more ridiculous, and
at the same time more provoking, than the
appearance of hale, harty, healthy hypo-
condric. There are some men who seem
born to be miserable, and to waste, their
lives in frutless complainings and untound-
ed apprehensions, whose highest felicity is,
to inhale the odours of an apothecary's shop,
or to swallow, with greedy zeal, the most
vilainous compouds OF unrighteous medi-
cines. Some men seem to receive from ma
ture this disposition to watch over the ope-
rations of their bowels and to mark, with
the utmost care, all the disgusting and hu-
initiating process going OH in the inner man.
Others are by nature of very happy tenn
permanent, easy, placid, and contented; never
sending their thoughts into the region OF con-
lecture, or fixing on their vigorous bodies all
the tremendous Diseases to be found in the
:" theory and practise of physic." But have
known such men, suddenly transformed
from this know nothing character, Into the
most miserable expounders of symptoms,
pains, diseases, and dangers, to which flesh
! is heir And it is my belief that there is no
one cause, which operates so frequently to
produce this wretched effect, as smattering
knowledge CLEANED from partial perusal OF
medical works, or the half understood Ian
guage of professional men. Some one dis
ease becomes the favorite of imagination, and
no matter what the constitution or haD-
it's or liability to such disorder, every
thing in nature is made to bend to the sud-
den fancy. | was revolving thoughts Ike
these a few nights since, after had retired
TO nv bed; and musng on this self induced
misery my waking thoughts were soon chan
ged to visions Of sleep.
Mcthought I was in an extensive plain,
which as far as the eye could reach, pre-
sented level, smooth and fertile aspect
At first sight, there was an appearance Of
calm serenity diffused over the landscape,
and nature seemed rejoicing under the in
yigorating influence of a summer sun. But
as / advanced farther this appearance gave
way to one of more gloomy character. Inc
sun still shone in its splendour, and the earth
still retained its peaceful hue. Rnt there
was an indefinite and indescribable mclan-
choly, which pervaded the landscape as
whole, and gave it sombre hue AS
stood musing what this might mean, saw
a man standing near the boundary of the fele
with a most laughing. and loving and quiz
zical expression of countenance, watching thu
different individuals who were moving a
round US. To him I applied for informa
ton, and in answer to my inquiry, he said
" This Sir, is the field of fiacura6tea." Thos'
unhappy beings, said !, who are doomed tt
drag out hopeless existence, under all thu
anguish of remediless disease. But why
Sir, that laughing face. so unsuitable to thi
melancholy scenef My FRIEND" answere'
, he, "I call them incurables, not becaus
|, their diseases, are past remedy, but because
they have no disorders of which to be cured.
i. Sick men without disorders, exclaimed
+" Look above you," said he "and see th'
presiding gcni of this region" l raise'
my eyes in the direction he pointed, and saw
| floating IN the air thousand cerulean beings
, who seemed indeed to be " airy nothings,'
almost without substance or even form. Ant
what my friend, do you call these wretchet
looking sprites? .'Aznre demons. sai'
| he. Commonly called 6lue devits. in ou
, land of plain language. The very same, an
swered he, and they hold the whole of thi
, region under subsection, distiling their pes
,ilent influence from the region of air. pro
slncins the most laughable effects upon tn