Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-04

make NJ apology, Mr.. Editor, Tor sending
YOU his, as is the custom with most modest
xcribblers when submitting their lucnbra'ions
for he press; nor give II with what, IN nine
cases out Of ten, are insnoe'c excuses, aud hat
seeming diffidsnce which is never tel.
I am one OF those who take great drilsal III
works Of the imaeina ion, and have been per.
hans too prone to indulge rly own IN It's flights
and reyerics. Let those who spend their days
:, The investigation Of orders and invoices, and
their nights in balancing The tedious pages oil
q ledger; let the visionary moraiis', and the
: 5rssase-us, II mean, VINO Nave Je5U accus-
toned 10 walk III the howcry meats Of
fancy, and revel in tho pleasures which there
meet US at every sIep--let them laugh al US as
they lis,,-they cannot experroce the enjoy
m'nt We do But | must cautinr yOu against
mis:akiug me for one who has given his whole
time and alrention too wrapped up his very
soul in the brguilins mazcs Of fancy aud action
would no, have YOU consider me as such, for
there are extremrs III all things A person, by
over carefuines, I his health, NAV inddcc dis
ease: in ( e same manner, one who bays tOH
much aten, ion % the cnl,ure Of his imapina
ton, may bcget in IL such 4 morbid excitabiIity
as will b. very pernic'ons TO him; or, 10 make
figure. concerning whose proprieiy there may
he a difference Gf opinion, he may stretch lie
sine VS. Of his imagination 10 such an tXirnt
that they will crack w,'h the very tension. Nor
would be considered as an advocate for lis in
diligence, TO The exclusi, N of other and more
important concerns and studies. What | con
TEND for is ,his-and lrt those who prefer the
rio,ings Of dissipation, or The gosspings ofide-
ness advance aught 10 the contrary, it hey
can-,rat there is nothing more soothing in
misfortune, or under afliic ion, than TO LIT The
fancy soar into unknown regions, pcopiag and
heautifyng worlds of lis own creation, or con-
template the gorgeous pictures which it may
have called into existence But OF misFor,unes
| will not speak much, for | cannot say ,ha'
have experienced nanv; but even from the pet
" vexatlons &c every day life, YOU may find
refuge in the works # che poet or The novelist
After close application to a dry logical or me-
taphyscal study, what can be more refreshing
than TO con over the magic words, treasure up
the lofty ideas, aud revei in he bright thoughts
Of Shakespeare, or Milton, or Byron? Or, af
ter the tedious details Of business, Is it more in
vigoraing 10 rest in supine indu gencc, think,
ing over losses and gains. or 20 weave round
the brain 4 chaplet of fancy's flowers, that will
serve as as charm against The intrusion Of re-
collections that tend only TO fret and perplex?
But when person gives himself up TOO much
TO the guidance OF his imagination, ne is apt to
become TOO sensitive, and, if unacquainted with
the world, will flnd that the realizes of life do
not accord with the golden visions which have
been the most pleasing subjects OF his fancy -
There is kind OF vitiated appetite, a romantic
taste for works Of 6clion, which is apt 10 dis
gust an ordinary observer; and therefore il is
that many so indiscrimins,ely condemn all pro-
duc,ions Of this class as injurious. A too free
perusal Of those things called romauces, and Inc
novels Of The German school, will undnu bcdly
beget that unnatural, overwroughg sebsibiIi y,
which never fails TO DISCUS, men Of taste and
refred Judgment These ] utterly condemn,
while. q, the same lime, would be willing tina,
the whes, should be separated from the chaff
for allow that there are some things among
them worth laying BY for another DAY. And
here let me remark, thar I hold as absolutely
inju, ous all that stuff which is circulated so
widely now a-days, under the amt Of poetry
In srlec:ing Tor reading of this kind, the bes'
models and most approved authors should be
chosen