Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-16
TO rHr EDITORS or rpr wn,o

Gentiemea: Having lately had occasion TO pass nm
ho&f nt an Inn, asked the landlord for book 10 eun
oIe me 10 "Vercoinc the tedium OF times who there.
upon put into my hand an old Almanac for the wa
1871. The fist thing hit upon, was n chapter iled-
lcated to giving good advice to young men a uor.
non oil 'he ADVICE therein given, equally upp-
cebc TO men q! all ages, and strikes me- from what
witnessed during short sojourn in Richmond as so
german TO the times, that have co pied and here
WIN transmit 1t to you; willing TO contribute my
mite towards reforming the drspicnb be practice AZ
~ cophantlc aduiaiom hch p evas IN the met rono
LIS o. Virginia above oil the place it has ever been
my fortune to VISIT Grcut n'cn would give them
Selves additional claims 70 general admiration # they
would sometimes shuw-as alas! they scarcrIv =.
ever do-tbnt they understand and spurn the noiivrs
al the toad eating tribe by whom they are so ant ~,
be surrounded. So for Is this from being tho case
that they generally receive tie toad-cuteT with dis
ting uIshed iavorarguing such is the VANITY of noo,
human nature) that tondys fatery and aduIa,ions
proceed not from his mean and base motives but
from ms superior saeaciy dscerning and sincerity
IN acknowledging has tile hattcred0 superior me,its
nus does sef-iove, even IN SUPERIOR and generous
MINDS contribute to noorlsh in ITS case the toad
eating propensity which Is oa he'd and tetested in ali
Others. BIT Ia the Almanac: Thus runs the nar, of
the advice which wish you to publish:
beware OF Parasites, who are The worst of enc
mics aud by whom the wiscst in peril of beino So
ducod and hurt We are nafurnHy loo ouf 10 dens-
3SelrcS; We need not to be forewurded in this folly
ny others These wrcicheS never intend any good;
hey nave no view but the advancement OF their OWN
interest, a. they always appear under the guisc OF
friends; 1t Is lie harder to guard aganst or escapc
their poison. However, there are some signatures
by which persons OF cIrcumspectiUn may know them
For Instance,n any make il prac ice 10 praise Won
to your face at the same time dspuru cling others; if
they pretend To see nothing i'll you 10 blame though
you are conscious Of being the wrong if they show
an extraordinary humility in respect of you it on all
occasions they affect to admire to applaud and 10 g.
rho your opinions. and particularly extoi them in
your hearings u Is hundred to one but this mere
ndulauo and It Is your interest consider and IIeat
II accordingly. On the other land, III proportion as
You would dctest and reject fattercr, esteem and
cherish true friend; and such you may especially
Distinguish by these circumstances: If man tells YOU
your faults IN private, with gentencss and good man
ners and ventures to counsel you against your incn-
alton; II he refuses to crafty your passions when they
are incompatible with"
Here the leaf was torn, and lose the rest of
the characteristics By which true friend may be dig
nguslcd from that lUathSome reptile, the toad cat
cri but every JudicioUs mind can supply the hiatus.
know not who the nutor Of tke above is but il de-
served to have been written by Samuel Johnson.
CASCA.