Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-21

Yours, respectfully, NJ. ChkEi.
Philadelphia, September 18th, 1927.
PRIZE ESSAY;
Which obtained the premium Of Thirty Dilars Uttered
BY the proprietor Of the Philadelphia htbta"'.
BY MISS FRANCIS
ON TIE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL
RESOURCES.
Stand out Of my sunshine, said Diogenes 10
Alexander, when the emperor asked what scr
vice he could 60 him. And naughty as the
Philosophers reply may sound, it implies only
the honest independence which every highly
gifted, and well balanced mind may feel toward
those who merely possess the accidental dis
,inction Of rack and fortune. He must ne re-
duced 10 pi,iful extremlies, who needs the con-
descending smile Of the proud, or the hear'le's
fia,tery or the vain either 10 rouse him 10 eXer-
ton, or to warm him into happiness. The pow.
er of self excitement is the most desirable OF all
sttainments; and it is the most rare. 10 love
knowledge only for its usefulness, and thus con.
vert il into source Of happiness TO form and
strengthen vir,uous dispositions. only Tor the
sake Of the deep tranquility they brIng-is
task performed by few. Yet experience con-
stanty proves 10 US that there arc no other
means Of attaining permanent happiness. tic
to whom nature is an open volume, where truths
of the Hottest import are plainly written, may
smile at the thwarting influence OF general cir.
cumstances, and he who can 6rd in the fall Of
an apple, or the hues Of the wild Hover, abun-
danl food for the reason and for fancy, may well
say 10 the world, stand out ofmy sunshine.
do not mean that seihshness IS bliss, even
where enjoyment is Of the most dignifcd kind
An eminence, which placed us above the de-
ligh,ful sympathies Of social life, would indeed
be unenviable; but surely-that which places US
above the eyerchanging tide Of circumstances
and opinion is very desirable. The study oil ma
ture, more than sry other study, tends 10 pro-
duce this internal sunshine, across which the.
vexatious cares Of the world are, at the most but
flirting shadows. Politics, love of gain, ambi-
ton, renown,-every thing in short, which can
be acted upon by the passions Of mankind, have
corrosive influence on the soul. But nature
pursues her course with the same majestic step,
the same serene smile, whether q merchant is
wrecked, or an empire overthrown. The evil
feeling of our nature cannot de6le her holy tenn
pie They may indeed close its portal against
the restless and the bad: but The radiant goddess
is ever witbin the altar, ready 10 smile upon
those who are pure enough to love her quiet
beauty Ambition may play mighty game
il may crack the sinews Of whole nation, and
make the cringing multitude automaton dan
GERS to its own stormy music. But sun and
moon and stars, go forth on their sublime mis-
sion, independent OF its powers; and its utmost
cannot alter the laws which produce the tran.
STORY glory Of the rainbow. Ayarice may freeze
the genial currents Of the soul; but it cannot
diminish the pomp Of summer, or restrain the
prodigal,y OF autumn Fame may pursue gilt.
teIing phantoms, until the diseased heart loses
all relish for substantial good; but with all its
eager aspirations, il can neither change nor
share the Immortality Of the minutest atom.
Here then is a sequestered spot where the
of its own passions. Here is mirror made to
reflect Heaven alone and which the Proteus
forms Of human pollution can never darkcn.
He who has steered his bark ever SO skilful-
ly, through The sea of politics, rarely If ever,
finds quiet haven.-His vexations and his tri-
umphs have all been Of an exciting character
Both dependent on outward circumstances,
over which he had very limited power; and
when the precarious breeze had subsidized, he
finds, too late that he has lived on the breath Of
others, and that happiness has no empire acith.
in him. And what is the experience of him
who has existed only for wealth, who has safe
" moored his richly freighted vessel into the
spacious harbor Of successful! commerce? Does
he find that happiness, like modern love, cam
be bought with gold? You see him hurrying
about, purchasing it in small quantities, where
ever taste and talent offer it for sale; but the
article is too ethe ia to be baled for future USE
and it soon evaporates into the vacuum of his
intellectual warehouse-Hc who has lived for
fame only, will learn that happiness and re-
nown are scarcely speaking aeqlaintance. E.
ven if he grasps tbsFaHboY he has 80 madly
r r passing elou4z SeeisS Y1XYs5ssnsss..
ing ray. Nor is he who has TASTED @-sAer-
gies Of his youth in disentangling the Enoay
skein of controversy more likely to End the e.
,enlng OF his days cloudless and serene. The
demon of dogmatism or of doubt, will grapple
him closely, and convert his early glow ofleel-
ing, and elasticity Of thought, into rancorous
prejudice of shattered faith! But the deep
stream OF philosophical knowledge is untinged
by one drop Of bitterness. Its gurgling wa
tiers constantly speak of Heaven, from which
they aow, and the quiet sound lulIs the listen