Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-01


upon the pleasure of early death-'he absolute
tas,elessus,s Of life-,hr elevation Of spirit
TOO pure for the earth where Goo Piaced lis
as disgusting as il is unreasonable.
"Whom the Gods love, die young," has been
neryrr,rd bv our rbymesiers from sentence
Of poetic consolation, TO maxim OF ph'.oso-
pby and general application AS if those who
remain on earth are not as deserving OF love,
things being equal, as those who are taken a
way.
These people would have US think youth the
happies, portion of existence, and age so
miserable that those who escape may be cons.
sidered fortunate: il is common assertion;
though the confluence OF the love OF lite even
TO extreme old age does not seem to sanction
H. and unless that love be considered, even IN
tho wisest men, a mere instinct 1t wonld seem
| conclusively TO retu,e IT,
We believe old age the happiest part OF
mans existence, unless the lndiscre'ions "i
youth have doomed him to suffer continual
disease. A celebrated French philosopher and
proicien, in literature, has in his old age de-
ciared, that If he could return again 10 the
world after his death, he should choose 10 ie>
turn in the form and with The feelings oil an a.
eed man. The convenienoes, privileges and
| indulgences always awarded by civilized peo>
! ple to the old, ei,,, IN his opinion, preference
TO tina, stage Of human life. He was light
! The old man, who hu, lived through his past
DAYS in temperance and activity, breathing the
| fresh and hracing atmosphere OF he.hh, far
from the sound of spinning jrnneV' the intox-
! ica,on of the wine cup, the Establishments oil
corrupiipg passions, may enc! The treasures
| Of wisdom, gainrG from nsetul experience; the
calmness OF spirit unrUfil d BY storms; the
security Of Traveller who has escaped from
danger aud who is Trading the Soft green Slope
Of The descending pa hwav that l. ads 10 MS
| home, with The sun SHINING WI II a ofiened
! light. conrrnted "a ne moves and not arxlous
for the future The thought Of good deeds
done, rises ike incense TO cheer him; M Know
| dpe of aEe changes and varieties OF life,
preserves him from the chance oil dlsappoint-
m-nl.
In this las, security is, perhaps, the great
blessing Of life; and all u uan's lie might be
happier, if The humility e his hope were con-
staut SAT guard from the chill Of deceived ex-
pec,ations The old man stands in hut title
danger from dis ppoiutmen'; for he has know
ledge TO guide him. IN place al vague conjecture.
He has seen friends die, and hr flowers bloom
over hem and perish, in Their 'urn; he has
witnessed the mutations sffortune aid he balm
| Of time has sofened his regrets; wisdom has
changed the exnilira,icn Of hope to the calm
ness and certainty Of content. He has nothing
| 10 lose which he would b. surprised al losing;
and draws comoI, from the fair sky, and he
briph, earth, and he blessed sounds CT afec-
tionate and social lIfe--leaving, without any
convulsive regrets. such as r"ni the bosoms OF
the young, the vascillations OF fa'e, 10 the con-
trout OF that Supreme Power whose DEGREES
does not attempt 10 fahom, or presumPiuously
dare tn impugn.
Tbs s?f tie h88RTnns hItpsf @
has not Gained; the refusal to submit TO
fate, of which age perceiyes at once the utility;
the spiri, that, like the Gagged eagle, tears itself
gains, its prison, in the vain hope Of an escape
from humiiarion-these make the morning of
lif. stormy and temp s'uous, though ehequered
nv gorgeous flashes Of Itch light and visited by
hours Of bright enjoyment. BY stunning the
storms, youth nigh, have more happiness; but
knowledge is wanting TO the plat. Age brings
this; and CAIN and gentle progress over the
waters, with he ripples breaking sleepily, and
danger far aloof, succeeds to painful ailerna-
ions, and hear, rendjng vicissitudes.
The young IN u would be great, would be
! Distinguished, would be rich, would be su-
! p,emeiy blss, The old man knows, that con-
zen, with ,hs, which fate bes,ows, and a gene
raj security from disappointment, are all tina,
can br rea'iz d
To the OLD man comes confidence Of friend
slip, ard the petitions of inexperiencc; he is
asked fur he fruits Of thai wisdom Which time
Gradually CONVEYS, and which death alone can
perfect. He is impartial-his selfish interests
are dead-hIs prsjudices have been sofieaed-
his ornsures are no longer darkeued ny severi-
ty. The young tell him Of their hopes and fears;
and he feels the gentle influence of benevoPnce,
as ne teaches how disappointment may be "a
Welded. The youth confdes his hopes Of love;
the blushing maiden owns the innocent artIfice
OF that coque,ry which nature teaches. The
man in LIES strong prime, entrusts 10 the old
mans ear the plans of his ambition; the fall Vi
high hope is prevented the deceptive snare
displayed, the destruction OF generous pride
avoided, by The old mans kind advice.
The old man lives in the life OF the young,
without the intense suffering or rapturous JOY,
which almost equally wear them out and con-
duce to their unhappiness.
The celebrated elephant, Columbus" died