Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-17
JOHN H. EATON.
o THE EprroRssor THE WIG.

Gentlemen: Having lately had occasion r. n,es a.,
hoEr at an inn, asked the landlord fora book 10 enn
ole me TO overcome the tedium OF time; Who there
upon put INTO my hand IN old Almanac for the wear
i784. The first thing hit upon was chapter de6.
lcated to giving good advice to young men. A nor
ton OF the advice therein given seems equally arn
caole 10 men OF all ages, and strikes me, from what
witnessed during short soiourn in Richmond ms So
german to the times, that have CO pied and here.
with transmit 1t TO you; willing to contribute NV
mite towards reforming the despicnhe practice OF
sycoPhanc aduiation which prevails in the metrono
lis OF Virginia, above all the places il hos eyer ba
my fortune TO visit. Great men would oive tben,
selves additional claims to general admiration if thew
wouia sometmes show-as alas! they scarcely, if
ever do-that they understand and spurn the motives
OF the toadeatng tribe, by whom they are so mt IN
be surrounded So far is this from being the ease
that they generally receive the tcad-eateT with dis
Ting Iisiea iavor-arguing (such is the vanity ofpoor
iuiiai nature.) that toadys fattery and adulaions
proceed, not from his mean and base motives brt
from MS superior sagacity discerning and sincerity
III acknowledging has 1.-THE fattered) superior merits
Thus does selfove, even in SUPERIOR and oenero,e
ds contribute TO nourish in its own case the toad
eang propensity which is loathed and d. tested in all
otherS. Bat to the Almanac: Thus runs the part of
the advice which wish you to publish:
beware OF Parasites, who are the worst of enc
miles, and by whom the wsest peril of beipp Sc
duced and hurt NE are naturally too ant to fatter
we need not to be torewarded this folly
oy others' These wretches never intend any rood;
they nave no view but the advancement of their own
interest, as they always appear under the guise al
friends; it is e harder to guard against or escape
thelf poison. However, there some signatures
oy when persons OF clrcumspection may know them
For lance,lf any make it practice to praise YOU
toy. to your face at the same time dsparaging others if
they pretend TO see nothing IN you to blame, though
you are conscious OF being in lie wrong; if they show
an extraordinary humility in respect of you; if on all
occasions they affect to admire, to applaud and to g,
'ho your opinions, and particularly to ex,ol them in
your hearing; it is an hundred one but this is mere
aduation and it is your to consider and treat
1t accordingly On the other band, in proportion as
you would detest and reject flatterer, esteem and
cherish a true FRIEND and such you may especially
distinguish by these circumstances: Ia man tells Won
your faults IN private with gentleness and good man
ners, and ventures to counsel you against YOUR incn
atom he refuses to crafty your passions when they
are incompatible with"
Here the leaf was torn, land we lose the rest of
the characteristics by which true friend NAV be dis
tingushed from that loathsome reptile, the toad eat
or; but every Judicious mind can supply the hiatus
know not who the author of the above is but it de-
served to have been written by Samuel Johnson.
CASCA.