Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-24
COMMUNICATIONS.
THE CLUB-No. Ill.
Quantun nuutatus d6 10 HeefOret-VIRGi

Yolyed upon me!-me, whose shoulders are
ever ready 10 sink from the support of the
slightes, burden. Nov, hold i, 10 be most
mischievous art,hce this OF Squire WiGeINs,
who, no doubt, actt d a. the insIiga'ion OF hat
IA her Of all misc hief, MARIGoLD-I mean Of
the mischief which happens in our Club-and
such a reservation will leave him but Hmi'ed
f,mily; for we are quie, sorts pf bodies. YES,
I mold |, 10 be d most misc hievous article thus
70 force on his poor HATcHEM the deinea:ion
OF his own character. Only think, reader! q
eschew The agnomen Of" gentle" both because
il is common placed, and, to my own iudivi-
dual and fatal experience, frequently mispIac-
ed Only thirk-and am sure the thought
will command your superintendent deal
of trouble this will oco aston! The memory
will have TO remain seated on her throne for
more than one good hour; and il any thing
should appear in this hasty sketch OF days gone
by unworthy of inser ,oI, you must attribute 1t
to the uncomfortable situation Of my judgment,
who sits so diSectly ris uis to that Of memo-
~, and has been So often brushed by the dewy
wing Of imagination, tina, il is totally unfit for
the occupation OF her ladyship Nevertheless,
there she viii be compelled to sit, and may, q,
least, be permitted TO make wry ces at the re-,
hearsal, however apt such line Of conduct
may be TO spoil the look pou,iheal which she
has, for the last ten years, aeen attempting 10
put on In this attempt, according TO the OPT
MON OF the other constituents of the mental
kingdom, she has made mos, aboypina5le fail
urs; but her own opinion, thanks TO her SELF
sufcieacy,--oh! comfortable virtue, gui miscmf
uiie duici, and which, whatever mo'a iIsts may
say the contrary is q, leas, her greater, if not
her better parts quite The reverse.
| have been, am no, now, days, dream
er Delightful anticipation was the food Of my
early childhood, and continued, for some time,
10 be the supporter OF my existence.
Could my hand be prevailed upon 10 disclose
the curtained memory Of the past, how many
fopd decisions and sickly phan ases would II
exhibit. How many dropping nowcr would
b. seen, which, planted in The sunshine of INA
ginaiion, ard pur'urrd by the smiles Of hope,
has been nipped by The frost, the killing fros
Of old. relentless ,ali,y, and now lies wither-
ing bcnea,h the frowns Of disappointment
Thinking Iha, my mind would be uammeled
If directed 10 any particular profession, and
cramped in its exerIions IL restrained within
thu beaten paths of law medicine, | deter
mined tha, i, saonid, by lis exertions, carve out
4 path TO fame IN ncw-and untrird direction
Heroes in war and sages in lfarning were, 10
me creatures OF too ommon occurrence, either
10 excite my admiration by their excellence, or
TO urge me TO follow their footsteps bv their
performances as certainly was in my designs.
Mine was 4 spiri, always upon the rack OF ex-
c,ation and ror urine anxiety. None OF my
plans were ever executed, because, between The
time OF heir TO nation and intended perform
auce, some o, her project crossed my visionary
mind Such was the chaotic state Of my incl
lec,. tlatit v ouid have be- n impossible 10 have
drawn one regular, j will not say practicable,
system Of ideas from out its rude and undigest-
ed mass.
Ambition had fastened itself on my heart,
ard it's ,ul,ure fangs were always pre}ing on
m, vi;als. The ion had entered my soul, and
around il fesiersd desire OF fame which, from
Us very extent and nature. nothing could graz
,ify Hype, too, WAS there; bu, hope without
a. Object, or al least with one so iudistinc' that
j, cau,d hardly have told for wha, II hoped
Year rolled on FER year, and still the phan-
tom chase continued. Allength the harrsssed
body could no longer bear The indefinite extr-
,lans Of spiri, whic h hurried it, with self-lor
meeting fury, from place 10 place, and from
- oceunatiou TO occupation. The hand Of sick
mes came upon me in Southern land, where
! had gone in hopes Of 6ncing some child Of
It's sunny SOL with spirit as restless and (my
he ter Judgment now forces the confession from
me) as foolish as nv own. II were vain TO at
Temp, he description of that hour II seemed
rs ir my veins run lava, and that the source Of
lite had been changed into volcano Tedious
and long and doubtful was my recovery. l
arose and left the scene of my misfor,unes, the
better for the rude reception had mel. How
changed were nv feelings! 1t seemed as if
y,i, Of blood had been torn from my before
shrouded sight. and that now beheld things.
for he 6rs, time in my life, in their true aud
natural colors AS for he rest, it matters not,
say. tina, my good fortune directed me to this
place, and my better star (which now seems to
have made its appearance ON the horizon OF my
exis,ence) 10 the acquaintance oil my friends,
WlccISs and MARIeoLp. surely he whose
b.s, homes have been wrecked on the shoals OF
en- husiasm, may, at least, be allowed the poor
privilege Of warning others of us dangers; and
such shall be the object--not, however, the ex.
elusive one-of your humble servant,
PHILOCLES HArCHEM.