Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-17

moreIthan bodily strength; as il that which is
called soldiership, by us who profess II, did
not iaclude acts Of va!our which none but per-
sons Of uncommon genius coulo execute; or as
il the toll OF warrior who has The charge OF
an army, or commands in town that is be-
sieged, doth not affect the mind as well as the
5ody:is it to be supposed, that by mere corpo-
real strength, he Can penetrate and discover the
intention Of the enemy! To anticipate designs,
bate strataeems, surmount difficulties, and
prevent the mischief that is to be dreaded, are
all efforts OF the understanding, in which the
body hath no share;if the profession OF arms,
therefore, requires genius,as well as that OF
letters; let us see which Of the two requires
most mental toll. and this question may be de-
termined, BY considering the end and aim o,
each: for that occupation deserves the highest
esteem; which hath the noblest purposein view
the end and scope Of letters. speak not here
of that divine learning, whose aim is to raise u
conduct the soul TO heaven; to an end SO Inn
mite, no intention whatever can he compared:
speak Of human learning, the ultimate end OF
which is, 10 regulate dislributi,e justice, rem
der TO every one his due, aud 10 understand and
protec, the equitable laws; an aim Certainly
generous, and highly commemdable! yet not SO
deserving of the most sublime praise as the
profession Of arms, the object and the end Of
which is peace the greatest good that riorials
can enjoy; for the first blessed news which this
world and mankind heard, were those pro-
nounced by the angels, on that night which
was our day, when they sung IN the air, Glory
be 10 God on high, and on earth peace * good,
will towards men,! and the salutation, which
the best master either in heaven or in earth,
taught his adherents and favourites; which was
10 say, when they entered any house, peace be
to this houser Nay, he himself, at different
times, said NV peace give unto you. My
peace | leave with you. Peace be among you.
A level and legacy well worthy OF him who
left il! Jewel, without which there can be no
felicity, either on earth or in heaven. This
ne ace is The genuine aim of war; for arms and
war are the same; s. this being taken FOR grant
ed, the end ofwar is nob!er than that OF learn
inr: wherefore, let Us next consider the Bodily
toil sustained by each, that we may see on
which side the balance lies, in that particular
In this sensible manner did Don Quixo,e
continue his discourse, from which no body
that heard him could distinguish that he was
mad; on the contrary, his audience consisting
chiefly Of gentlemen, to which title the protes~
sion Of arms is annexed, they listened with
great pleasure, while he proceeded thus:
The hardships OF student say, are these;
frs, of all, poverty (not that all students are
poor, but that we may suppose the worst that
can happen;) and when have named his indl-
gef,ce the whole Of his misfortune is mention
cd for he tina, Is poor can enjoy nothing that is
good, but must endure necessity in aiil's forms,
sometimes hunger, sometimes cold, sometimes
nakedncss and often all three together, never
theless, his necessity is not so great, but that
he eats, though perhaps later than usual, or,
though he may feed upon the leavings OF the
q sChoTar r-a..--d,go a'sopp'ng, as thef
term il: then they are always admitted 10 some
charitable persons hre-side or chmDey-corner,
where if they Cannot warm themselves etfectu-
ally, they may at least defy the cod, < al night
they sleep under cover. need no, descend to
minute particulars, such as want of linen scar
city Of shoes, flimsy and thrcadbare clothes, nor
the surfeils which they so eagerly incur, when
their good fortune se;sa plentiful table in their
way by this path, rough and difficult as
have already described it, after many tum5-
lings, slidings, risngs and falings, they al last
attain to the wished degree, which being gain
ed, we have seen many who have passed with
favourable gale of fortune through these
uuicksands aud straits Of Scylla aud Charyb
dis: say, we have seen many such command
and dictate 10 the world from chair Of state;
their hunger being changed into safety; their
cold into reireshment; their rags into apparel;
and the mats, which they lay, 10 the richest
dam ask and finest holand ecpnipenee which
their merit mos, justly enjoys but their la
hours when fairly stated and com ared, are in
finitely short Of the warriors, as l shall now
clearly demonstrate
The knight proceeded thus: "Since we be-
gan with the student, representing his poverty
in all its circumstances, let US see if the soldier
be more wealthy: and we shall 6nd that poverty
itself is no, poorer: for he is restricted TO his
miserable pay, which comes always late, fever,
er 10 what he can plumber by force, with the
imminent danger of his life and conscience; and
frequently his nakedness is such, that his slash>
ed buff doublet serves him instead of coat,
shirt, and all other parts Of apparel. In win
ter campaign. while he remains in the open
field, he has nothing TO mitigate the severity Of
the cold but his own breath, which, as il pros
cerds from, an empty place, must, believe, be
cold, contrary 10 all ihe rules of nature: but
stay ill the approach OF night, when i, is TO be
ha1 III 10 amanda For oil hoe