Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-02
GAZETTE
AN EDITORS SCRAPS.


and Won. uncorteous reader, who are now sheer
ipr at the affected title with which we head these
scraps, are unwit;ingiy paying homage to out
acuteness in placing it there. by being provoked
into reading what otherwise you would have skip.
ned oyer. 10 hurry on to ''lhe accident depart
,poentn What's in a name? We will answer
that ouestion, when YOU find Mary who has
not blue eyes aud golden hair; an Eliza that is
not Intelligent and sprightly; Louisa that Is not
short. with black hair, piquante figure, and
mise somewhat retrousse; a Julia that is not gem
lie. or Kke brisht-eyed and spirited. WHATS
in names Ask thine own heart, surly ques.
toner If the attrition of this rude world hath not
efface,l all fond records-al pressurcs past, that
Yuuth once copied there, il there, are not some,
The sound Of which can even now startlc thee
from thv worldly stoicisn, aud belle the charac-
ter thou wouldest believe thine own.
with address," SAYS a'shrewd writer. &" one
can make vanity reveal things which would not
be conlided even to friendship" Manga mark
of regard which years of affection could not call
forth has been elected by single stroke of fiat
terry Still the language of compliment is any
thlng but the language Of the heart; and at the
shrine Of love as at the altar OF religion, we can.
not be ready with slip service" when the soul
is swelling with devotion.
.Hls words fell from him piecemea, interrupt
ted as If he had first to think what he was to say
then how il was to be said, and as ii after all it
was only by an effort of continual attention he
completed sentence" How perfectly this
passage from Scott describes the slovenly habits
into which some people allow their conversation
to run; and yet nothing eau be more impertinent
than thus dawding subject OF conversation be-
hos suht IN tay
people to listen to what he is not sufficiently in
terested in to give it his undivided attention for
the moment. "A habit of strictly attending TO
that in whic we happen to be engaged, whatev-
crit is" SAYS Scotch philosopher, "produces
slearness and readiness Of comprehension pre-
sence of mind, accuracy Of knowledge. and IA
cility of expression" To which we might add,
as general caution against indulging IN what is
called .absence OF mind" that in most OF the
transactions OF life, he whose "wits are wool
sltherins," is pretty sure to get fseced.
We forget who it is that says, "One don't
please loug in society when he seeks il only be-
cause tired with himself" but there is certainly
much truth in the observation. Ennui, like
yawning, is contagious. aud there should be qua
ran,ine established at the door of every gay as
semblage TO prevent infected persons from enter
ing.
Ia Col Todd's Annals Of Rajasthan, just pub
lished speaking Of voluntary martyrs among the
Eas, Indian Brahmins, the Col. relates:
s'We have seen one of these objects, self con-
demned never lie down during forty years, and
there remained but three to complete the term.
H. had travelled much, was Intelligent and
learned, but far from having contracted the mo.
roseness Of the recluse, there was a benigisy OF
mien and a suavity and simplicity of manner in
him, quite enchanting. He talked OF his pen
ance with no vain glory, and OF its approaching
term without any sensation. The resting posi-
ton of this Druid {rQnaperis) was by means of a
rope suspended from the 5oush of tree, in the
manner Of swing, having cross bar on which
he reclined. The first years OF this penance,
he says were dresdfully painful; swollen limbs af
ected him to that degree, that he expected death,
but this Impression had long since worn off,"
So much tor the effect of custom. To what
strange uses may we come at last! Think OF a
living man never once lying down tor thirty-sey-
en- wears! And yet, so thoroughly does use breed
habit in man, many become recOncied to the
penance. and even comfortable under its en,lur.
ance. What lesson, exclains the m0ralist,
might be derived from such an example Of human
pslience to>teach fortitude under hardship, and
perseverance in the formation Of good habits.
Pomposo is one Of those men whom you can
never see in private. Should you meet him
alone on one Of the solitary keys Of the Florida
coast, he would accost you as if receiving com.
pany at levee, and apologize. for the sand bank
sfording him no opportunity Of Offering you a
chair. He ever reminds US Of Madam de Stael's
observation, that one cannot have tete-a-tett
with an affected person. for the assumed charac
Ter will always make third party.
No man in town is more liked by prudent mo-
Tiers than the insipid I.ucus. 1t is CONNER
error. says clever writer, to mistake vanity tor
virtue, aud ignorance for innocence.
They who, in religion or politics, will make n,
sacrifice to prejudice. but would force all men tt
their own way Of thinking. remind us in times o
public tranquility, of the Persian preiate, who IL
the reign OF Theodosius the younger, brought de
ISOLATION upon the once nourishing homes OF III,
Christians, by the rash yea! which induced hin
to destroy temple Of the Guebres. "Thos
SINNERS OF stone," las the Arabs called those
whom the love Of gam urges to every extremity
who to enrich the shrine at which they worship
would destroy portion Of this Union, should
tremble lest when the sacrifice is made it ma
no' involve them in a general destruction.