The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-10-23
'Becau:e have the misfortune to bs

inc OVeT~zchiOus proIesSOTs VINO instead
Of mildly and firmly cautionipg him a.
gainst indulging the selfsufficient pride
Of human reason, in opposition TO author
tiles sanctioned by time, by the belief of
millions of men of all countries, and by
the words of the Omnipotent himself,
bad denounced that great faculty which
Is indispensable to the comprehe of
trarh, as the agent and the source Of
falsehood and unbelief But TO return
from an explanation which seemed ne
cessary to correct any nisconce ptiou of
our meaning, which is not to rldicule the
pious and honorable professors Of divinity
but the excesses and abuses of fanatical
and fiery zeal. which 'o'erleaps itself,
and falls on the other side
The misfortune to be reasonable
being--what do you mean? never
heard you accused Of that BEFORE
Frank explained as we'll as he could
and announced his determination to be-
come physician.
you'd better
%, / know exactly what you are going
to say. For my part I'd rather take my
chance, and go wrong fifty times than
stand stock still doing nothing. like you.
Have you hit upon a profession yet?'
'Why--no. have consulted all my
friends and acquainrances except six,
and as soon as ] get their opinions shall
decide irrevocabIy, once for ALL
DO they agree in opinion T.
%, Lord, no there arc six Of one,
nd kalc-o -In1au of IL nsao.t
You must be sadly. puzzled
To death. don't know what to do,
or which way to turn myself I've a
great mind to ask your advice
'Now don't-Pve enough to do to steer
my own barque clear Of the breakers, let
alone yours Besides, I'm in a great
hurry to begin the study of physic.'
Yes, you're always in haste. You
plunge head foremost into the first moose
that comes in your way, and lose your
whole life in crawling ont backwards.
You'll never get along in this world
I've often told you so, Frank
well, after all, Moses, I'n just where
you are. Nay, I'm better off, for have
learned that sailors life is a dogs life
that law is the perfection of reason
and that what is an excellent thing in
law is good for nothing in gospel. By
the time | have tried every one of the
liberal professions, ! shall be qualified
TO make choice, while you will be still
at your calculatons-and then / shall
rettle down quietly in
In the grave said Moses, interrupting
him.
We'll, well, that settles all doubts, by
relieving us from the necessity Of choos-
ing at all.
But you'd better consider-'
NO mean to decide first, aud trus,
the issue 80 chance
Remember, Frank, how you tumblsd
down stairs at school, and sprained your
thumb for want Of calculating the steps
And recollect, Moses, how you tum-
bled down the same stairs and broke
your nose, for want Of calculating the
number Of steps right
They parted as formerly, each laugh
ing at the other in bis sleeve.
The doctor with whom Frank was to
pursue his studies. had several other stu
dents TO whom he occasionally delivered
lectures, on the principles Of his profess
sion, in the evening.
He began one of these as follows:
According to the results of reason and
experience, il must be evidsnt-'
my dear doctor,' interrupted Frank,
reason is mere will-o'-the-wisp, de-
coy with which the pride of human ma
ture deceives itself to its utter ruin--a
firebrand snatched from the bo,tomless
pit-a@
Pray, young gentleman answered
the doctor, pulling off his spectacles With
great deliberation, and looking wistfully
at Frank; pray. young gentleman,
whore did you learn this extraordinary
respect ofreason p
'Oc tho famous professor, DR.. Cyrillus
Fulgentius Plum, SIR
very well, all have to request is that
you will unlearn il az fast as possible
Without reason and experience, assisted
by the seven sciences, no man can be a
physician
'lmpossible-quite impossible, sir--I
can't think ofjeopardising my future hap
piness merely for the sake Of little
worldly prosperity
Then, sir, you'll not de- for doctor
no, sir, not even horse doctor, or a
quack.' And Frank was Immediately
dismissed with the following note.
'SIR-Your son 10 the most unreasona-
bio aud absurd young man I ever knew.
for a reasonable being. He denounces
reason as will-o'-the-wisp, and heaven
knows what besides. have no doubt he
is mad. and recommend q strait-wsistcoat
as precaution. Yours, SO