Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-17

atmo,Dheres, aud these are inhabited ny birds
that space is filed by fuctuating nebuia which
are drawn together by attraction, aud thus the
work Of creation is necessarily going on, and
will continue until time shall be no more. That
the comets are orbs Of bituminous matter,
which, becoming ignited, burn on Tor ages unr
til ex,iuguished for want OF fuei; and, as their
gravity and attraction undergo constant change
their course is e%rratic aud uncontrolled by the
surrounding atmosphere. have read un'li ]
became like a sip IL the midst OF the ocean,
without compass or polar Star to guide II, arc
then the philosophers pronounced me mad
and expelled me from their fraternity. II they
were to deal thus with all mad philosopher:
the number would soon be reduced to a chosen
few
now directed my steps towards a maniac
who. from an elevation, was addressing about q
dozrn auditors, who appeared to listen to hin
with attention. His head was grey and bare
hi, coun,enance animated, his gesticulatior
w,Io, and he spoke with a degree Of vehemencs
thar impaired a corresponding excitement il
the minds Of his auditors:
The world is mad. l look abroad, ant
whatever my eye falls upon goes TO establish
the truth Of MY position. Behold yon hoar,
headed father boarding his wealth for his thank
less child, depriving himself Of proper susie
nance to add anolher mite to The mountain tina
he has already accumulated. A lltile longe'
and we shall see tears Of Joy she'd upon the ole
mans grave the mountain Of wealth levellet
with the valley, The stream that was formed
drop by drop, rush oul in torrents. And ye
| the world prunounces tic dota' d full OF wisdom
and prudence =,
The world is mad the world is mad
wildly shonted the crowd around him. Th'
preacher tcontinu.d-s Behold that paid ant
emaciated being by tne. midnight lamp. III
sun rises, sets and rises ngain, and still we hnt
! him in the same position. consuming hi, lite
even as The lamp is consumed that stands be
side him. The main objec, Of life is neglec,
ed, and the Joys that the world presents arr
spurned as things unworthy OF notice. H'
whole soul is absorbed with one idea. but on
wish that succeeding ages may know tina, HI
existed, and TO accomplish this, he renders tina
existence a burthen, heavier than the fabfet
Atlas has TO bear. The world will tell US he i
a model of human wisdom; bu: if this be wis
dom, why build walls TO eon6ne luna,ics? Wht
is there So frantic among US as to sacrifice eve
ry enjoyment Of life. with the vain hope OF al
tanning :ha, which, when attained, he will b,
insensible to, aud incapable OF enjoying! Thu
world is mad, since wisdom itself is madness.
The world i. mad, The world is mad! shout
Bid forth his auditors, and the exclamation was
re-rchoed from different parts Of the yard.
Behold that young mother, watching BY the
cradle that contains her infant child. II is
midnight, and no. a soul is near her. She bends
over him. gazes on his dirnpled cheeks, and
kisses his ruby lips, while tears Of anguish how
from her eyes, languid for wan' OF sleep. Iii
midnight, and her head has not. YET reposcd
upon her pillow she has trimmed the lamp to
guide he stray one to his home, but l. i, USE
less, for the morning sun will rise before hi
leaves the scene Of his hearlless debauchery.-
And yet she olings, with the fervency OF pure
friction, TO him who has deserted her and her
little babe; who has trodden on her heart, and
leaves her to want, suffering, and shame. 1t is
written, If thine eye offend thee, pluck il OUT
and though hr is dearer to her than her eyes
why tamper with a disc member, that is in.
durable, and, if not lopprd of, must bring her
20 an unrimely gravel The scene is changed.
Behold her now. She is still alone in the
chamber. Her face i. bent down to her lap,
and buried in her hands. She is still weeping.
| Whist is i, tina, lies stretched on the bed beside
her? II is the bud oil beauty tina, lately she
sprinkled with her tears, now as pale as The
lilly Of the valley, and as s~enseless as the clod
Of the valley TOO. Weep not, thou stricken one,
for no ref,eshing shower will call the blossom
forth again. 1t is dead, and she mourns her
loss in the bitterness OF soul-but wherefore
should she weep? The child has gone 10 bliss
il would have been reared in misery and shame
i: has died unspoted and in innocence, and ye'
she mourns that il was NOT reserved for a life
Of pollution and a death Of guilt. She is mad;
for rather should her lips pour forth the song
OF re joicing that the innocent has been remov'
ed, before il entered upon the guilty path ofits
father, or tasted Of the bitter cup ,ha, its mo.
Their has quafrd to the very dregs. But say
that fortune had strewed us path with flowers
its courre had been as uprufled as the sunny
stream that seeks the waste of waters, and its
death the death O! the righteous. VIVA, then!
Is there any enjoyment in life to compensa.c
for the misery even the most prosperous are
doomed 10 endure-any knowle dye that will
repay for a knowledge OF the human race?-
Blessed are We who die in ignorance Of your