The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-07-15

G OF this witchery which strong drink exert
over the whole man ?-I will try to tell you
: After being received into the stomach, it j:
# sucked up by absorbent vessels, is carried
t into the blood, and circulates through the
t aIlmentary organs, through the lungs, mus
= cles and brain, doubtless through every Or
r gan OF the body. Not blood vessel, how.
: ever minute, not thread or nerve in the
| whole animal machine, escapes its influ-
ences 1t dlsturbs the functions Of life ; 1t
increases, for time, the actions of living
t organs, but lessons the power of that action
hence the deep depression and collapse
which follow preternatural excitement. By
habltuai use, it renders the living fibres less
and less susceptible to the healthy opera
ton OF unstmulating food and drink, its
exciting influences soon become incorporat-
ed with all the living actions of the body,
and the diurnal sensations of hunger, thirst,
and exhaustion, are strongly associated with
the recollection of its exhilarating effects,
and thus bring along with them, the resist
less desire for its repetition. Even the
brain, that most delicate and wonderful
organ, which forms the mysterious link be-
tween the other forms of matter and mind.
the healthy functions of which are essential
to vigorous Intellectual operation, is capa-
Bile Of imbibng alcohol, and having it's ac-
tons suddenly arrested. In the case of
man who WAS picked up dead, soon after
having drank quart of gin for a wager, in
the vessels of the brain was found consd-
cradle quantity of lmpid fluid. distinctly
impregnated with gin, both to the sense of
smell and taste, and even to the test of in
fiammahility.
Social VIRTUE. The happiness of this
! life consists much In the interchange Of
kind affections, and of tender sympathies
and mutual condescensions. We must live
! for each other, and we must encounter
many varieties of character and opinion,
and must never be worthy of making little
concessions, of pardoning little errors, or
| even forgiving insults. Whatever fame and
splcndor may attend commanding talents,
we always value the virtues that make us
easy and happy, and it is pleasing to think
how many have been lamented and beloved
by their friends, for their kind affection,
and amlahle and benevolent exertions.
! Since so very few of us can expect to make
this world ring with our names, our talents,
/ or any thing else, why is it not labor
most worthy of the christian heart, to endear
ourselves to those around US, so that our
presence may kindle smile through the
social circle, and our friends may rejoice
! that they are brought nearer to each other
in their mutual love of us-that in our alb
sence, they may feel that love is waiting.
and when our heads are laid low in the
grave, they may say with bursting hearts,
"We have lost him who always made us
ndPPy.
EXCELLENCE OF RELIGION. In late
! | 80, al rol
credited to Sir II. Davy's Salmonia." The
author Is one OF the most celebrated of liv-
ing philosophers and it must be gratifying
| to the humber classes of Christians to per-
ceive one so rich in talents, accomplish
ments, and the pride of learning, paying so
eloquent tribute to that religion which is
their all:
81 envy no quality of the mind, or intel
lect In others not genius, power, wit, or
fancy; but if could choose what would be
most delightful, and believe the most use
full to me, should prefer a firm religious
belief to every other blessing for it makes
life II discipline of goodness-creates new
hopes when all earthly hopes vanish, and
/ throws over the decay, the destruction of
existence, the most gorgeous of all lights Il
awakens life in death, and from corruption
and decay calls up beauty. and divinity
makes an instrument of torture and of
shame, the ladder of ascent to paradise :;
and far above all combinations of earthly
hopes, calls up the most delightful visions
of palms and amaranths, the gardens of the
blest, the security of everlasting joys, where
| the sensualist and sceptic only view gloom,
decay, annihiEution, and despair
GREATNESS OF MIND. While Napoleon
was in the possession of Moscow, a party
of French marauders entered the cottage
of a poor laborer. When they had seized
upon every thing worth plundering, one of
the brigands took the left hand of the Rus
sian, and with stained liquid, marked on
it the letter ON" The boor seeing the
figure, demanded what it meant upon
which one of the soldiers, who was Pole,
replied, A." 1t is the initial of the French En-
peror, and by that mark you are his sub
ject." On hearing this, the high-spirited
( Russian drew his axe from his sash, and
laying his arm on the table, in an instant,
and at one blow, left the disgraced hand,
covered with blood, before the eyes of the
as.onished soldiers "There," cried he,
"take what belongs to the French Empe-
ror, if it is his But still my heart and my
body belongs TO mag O,cn sovereign, and will
ever serve him with fidelity ?"
". Y. Com. advertiser.
FLEAs. The muscular power of the flea
is almost beyond belief Latreile mentions
a circumstance of flea of moderate size
dragging silver cannon, mounted on
wheels, that was twenty-four times its own
weight and which being charged with
powder, was fired without the flea being at
all alarmed. Socrates appears to have
measured the leap of flea, and found it