Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-10-07

such verses, he was dismls
honors, and his sons were
madmeu for making the acct
now to write an Gpldus Coloneus. such
is the revolution that taste in literature has
undergone, that the critics would pronounce
il am evidence of incurable insanity.
have lived a century before my time. and
postcrity wiz enjoy the epic that has con-
siguedus author to bedlam" How ma
Dv authors do we not see at large laboring
under similar delusioni
Alta short distance from the poet was a
painter, busi.y engaged in his art. We
approached hlm, and the keeper enquired
of him what he was about.
drawing a map ofthe moon, was the
reply.
And what DO you mean by that palace
upon which YOU have bestowed so much
care}7
"The residence Of the man in the moon
to be sure
sis the drawing accurate!"
cav: even to the smoke that YOU see as
cendmg from the chimney. Behold, have
laid down with precision, all the rivers,
oceans, mountains, and wildernesses; and
I VIII stake my reputation that the picture
is as faithful as many of the representa-
tons Of the globe we inhabit' Not be-
inc prepared TO dispute the point with the
maniac. passed on and ne resumed his
labor.
he worked with intense earnestness, but
in the world we daily see hundreds as
busilv employed, and to as little pur-
plse.
The next we came too was an OstronO-
mcr. looking through telescope. "What
Lawson. viii you never have done with
your astronomical researchesl" said the
keeper 10 HIM.
"Nevcrg.u0 death puts period to them
Had ! been created at the time that the
w0ndrous fabric was frs, put IN motion,
when each sphere ruug forth It's first faint
note us % slowly moved on It's axle; aud
had I studied daily until the present hour,
sulI the kuowe ledge / might have acquired,
compared with that beyond the grasp of
tha human mind. would have been as an
acorn compared with The towering oak OF
he forest
"And what has been the result Of your
reselrchcsl"
Uncomfortable confusion. I perceive
that space IS IllmiabIe. and that thought
alone. IS beyoud the stretch ofthe human
uad 10 reconcile vita things that are
bounded aud circumscrlbed. There Is
nothing ln nature that comes IN compar-
son with Tins phenomenon. lhavc thought
of It until NV brain became as howlldered
as that of the tenant of an hospital The
keeper smiled Mt the comparison, and the
maniac proceCded--'I have been told the
planets maintain their position by gravity
and attraction; that the atmosphere be-
comes lighter and more rari6ed as You
r.ccic from earth. and that of consequence
ne globes .o=ed IN this pure element.
must be of lighter cons steucy than that we
nhabit one visionary tells me, that
such an orb Is composed of matter as hight
rs water. another orb of weighuer consjs /
taucv. and that the animal kingdom every
where Is adapted To the planet on which
90 rs created So thlt where water prevails .
the tritons and the mermuds, which IN F.
This sphere exist only lu the poets brain, .
have there the fuucuouu Of vitality. 9th F.
er and the most remote OF the heavenly bO-
dies are nothing more than dense atmos-
s. res. and these arc Inhabited by birds,
a.. space is filed by fl Ctu1tng nebule, .
which are drawn together by attraction,
and thus the work of creation is incessant-
Iv gong on. aud will continue until time
shall be no more That the comets are
ar5s of bItumnous matter, which becom-
nr i-1ited. burn on for ages, until eXtIn-
rrshed for want of fuel; and, as their
gravity and attraction undergo constant
change, their course IS erruuC and uucon- .
r0IIed by the surrounding Atmospheric
I have read until ] became ike a ship IN
the m,ds. II the ocean, without compass
OF polar star 90 guide IT., and then the PHI
Iosophers pronounced me mad, and ex-
PEELED me from their fraternity. II they
were 90 deal thus WIN all mad philosophers
the ma Der would soon be reduced TO o
chosen few.
now directed my steps towards a ma
MAC. who fom an elevation was address
M. about d dozen auditors, who appeared
10 listen 20 him with attention. His head
was gray and bare, bis C0untenanCe ani- (
mated, his gesuculauon wild, and be spoke
with q degree of vehemence that caused
corresponding excitement IN the minds OF
ms auditors.
''The world is mad. ] look abroad,
and whatever / see goes to establish the
.t,rtb of my pDcIttou PohoId Won hOafv|