Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-29
MEDIOCRITY,


maxim, also, of Cleobulus, of Lindos ON,
of the seven sages Of Greece, that a state
of mediocrity is the best condition of life
Without having recourseto the authorit,
of ancient writer's, every man is aware
that but little is necessary for the pur
poses of happiness, and that an accumula
ton of riches is usually accompanied By
an augmentation ofcare. Yet of all the
wishes that agitate the human heart, there
is none more generally INDUCED than the
desire wealth; and of the evils which
1T deprecates, none is avoided with greater
eagerness, or endured with less fortitude
than poverty. That the latter state is tc
be summed, on accountof the comnlicat.
ed sorrows and calamities inseparably con.
nected with it, none will DENY but he
who is removed beyond the reach of ne.
cesslty, who has all the demands ofreason
gratifed, cannot be considered poor /; and
experience has clearly shown that e7eryster
beyond this is removal from happiness.
1t will generally be found by those who
examine intothe validity of the complaints
men utter against poverty, that the evil is
seated in their minds, not in their condi-
ton; and that an increase of fortune
would not lesson, but augment their infe-
licity. To attempt to sliun, by moder-
ate acquisition Of wealth, the thousand
vexations and annoyances that infest a
state of utter poverty, is reasonable and
correct; but to spend life in the accumu-
lation Of golden heaps, which not even the
fictitious wants fashion and folly can dis
sipate, is a perversion of time that de-
mands the reprehension of philosophy
The seaman who prepares for the vicissi-
tudes of the ocean by supplying his bark
with the sails and rigging, which, in the
event of storm he will require, acts
wisely; but he who should crowd his YES
sci with stores that no exigence could
make necessary, and load it with provis-
ions more than he could hope to consume,
would be but defeating the object of his
voyage, by retarding his progress with
unnecessary membranes.
The attainment of wealth, like intoxi-
eating draughts, creates a fever of the
mind, thirst of soul, more and more in
satiable with each successive acquisition.
To him who is selling mp the ascent of
riches, new prospect is opened from
every elevation "Alps on Alps arise"
each more alluring than the last, and each
seeming'to be the termination of the Jour-
ney. But there is no termination the
mind refuses to be satisfied; and when
all is attained that it can accomplish, like
Alexander, it sighs for more worlds to
conquer. Look, says an ancient Latin
writer, =" Unto the lives of Cyrus and Cam
byses, and the whole Persian line, and
you will not find one man of them all,
who died contented with what he had
acquired" The same writer remarks, in
another place, that the happiness of man
is not to be estimated by the dust of his
retinue on the highway for that the
despised footman ofentimes enjoys more
true felicity than the prince in his chariot.
1t does not require much depth of OBJ
servation to learn, from the countenances
of men, to what class belongs the most
enjoyment, and he who forms his opinion
from this standard, will have no difficulty
in adopting the maxim of Cteobulus,. that
mediocrity is best. The brow of riches is
darkened by care or pallid with riot, and
the countenance Of poverty is sallow with
want. or emaciated by disease but he
who occupies a middle place between
necessity and aff1uence, is denoted by a
cheek of health, and an eye of brightness,
by the hilarity Of his heart and the elasti-
city of his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Telegraph.
ISABELLA, pATRoNEss OF COLUMBUS
Contemporary writers have been enthusiasts
tic in their description of Isabella, but time
has sanctioned their eulogies; she Is one OF
the purest and most beautiful characters on
the pages ofhistory. She was well formed, of
the middle size, with great dignity and
gracefulness of depoftment, and mingled
gravity and sweetnes of demeanor. Her
complexion was fair her hair auburn, inclin-
ing to red; her eyes were OF clear blue,
with benign expression; and there was a
singular expression of modesty in her coun-
tenance, grazing as itdid, wonderful firm
ness of purpose and 'earnestness OF spirit.
Though strongly attached to her husband
and studious Of his fame, yet she always
maintained her distinct rights as an allied
princess. She exceeded him in beauty, in
personal dignity, in acuteness of genius, and
grandeur Of soul. Combining the active
and resolute qualities of man, with the softer
charities of woman, she mingled in the war
like councils of her husband ;-engaged
personally in his enterprises; and in some
instances surpassed him IN the ilrmness and
intrepidity of her measures ;-while BENG
inspired with truer idea OF glory, she IN
fused more lofty and generous temper IN
to his subtitle and calculating policy
Washington hving.
aThe fable" says DIR. Rush, of Prone.