Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-11-27
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL RESOURCES

not be too strongly rnrr-~, - = ! - -" =
,urne young ofboth sexes in particular.
Never perhaps, did the most learned and
experienced moralst say more that was
useful and Impressive, aud that too, IL,
50 small compass. 1t is brief buecom-
prehensiye and pours into the mind gol
den misunderstanding US all, that,
even in this vulgar werld of ours, there
is something better than its riches and
honors.-Ed. Bait. Int.
"Stand out of my sunshine" said Di-
ogenes to Alexander, when the Empe-
FOR asked what service he could do lin.
And naughty as the philosophers repl,
may sound, it implies only the honest in
dependence which every highly gifted.
and well balanced mind may feel toward
those who merel y possess the accldent>
al distinction Of rank aud fortune. He
must be reduced TO pitful extremitie-.
who needs the condescended smile of the
proud, or the heartess fattery of the
vain. either to rouse him to exertiop. or
to warm him into happiness. The pew.
-er Of self.excitement is the most desira-
bic OF all attainments; and it is the most
rare. To love knowledge only for its
own usefulness, and thus convert it into
source of haPpiness-to form and
strengthen virtuous dispositions, only for
the sake of the deep tranquility they
bring is task performed BY few. Ye,
experience constantly proves to US tina.
there are no other means Of attaining
permanent happiness. He to whom ma
: ture is an open volume, where truths of
the loftiest Importance are pla,nl, writ
ten, may smile at the thwarting influence
OF external circumstances; and he who
can find, in the fall Of an appl:, or the
hue OF the wild flower, abundant food
for ieason and for fancy, may well sa,
to the officous world, s'stand out of nv
sunshine"
do not mean that selishness is bliss,
even where enjoyment is of the mos,
dignified kind. An cminence which
placed US above the delightful s,mpa
thIes OF social life, would, indeed, be
unenviabie; but that which places Us
above the everchanging tide # circum
stance and opinion is very desirable
The study of nature, more than any
other study, tends to produce this inter
nal sunshine, across which the vexatiou,
cares of the world are, n, the most, hut
fitting shadows. Politics, love of gain.
ambition of renown,-every thing, il.
short, which can be acted upon by the
passions OF mankind, have corrosive
influence on the soul. But nature pur-
sues ner course with the same serene
smile, whether merchant is wrecked.
or an empire overthrown. The evil
feelings OF our nature cannot defile he,
holy temple. They may indeed close
'i's portals against the restless and the
pad ;bnt the radiant goddess is evtr witt.
IN the alter, ready to smile upon those
VINO are pure enough to love her quie,
beauty. Ambition may play a might,
game-it may crack the sinews of a
whole nation, and make the cr.nglng
multitude automaton dancers to its owo
stormy music.-But sun, and moon, and
stars, go forth on their sublime mission,
independent Of its pewers; and its ut.
most efforts cannot alter the laws which
produce the transient glory of the rain
bow. Avarlce may freeze The genial
currents Of the soul: but it cannot di.
mlnl'h the pomp of summer, or restrain
the Prodigality Of autumn. Fame may
pursue glittering phantoms, until the
diseased heart loses all relish tor sub.
stahtial good; but, with all its eager as.
pirations, it can neither change or share
the Immortality of the minutest atom.
Here then is sequestered spot where
the weary may rest, safe from tile whiIl
wind OF IFS own passions. Here is Il
mirror made to reflect heaven alone, and
which the Proteus forms of human pol
luton can never darken.
i He who has steered his bark, ever SC
|. skilfully, through the sea Of politics
/ rarely. if ever, finds quiet haven
Y His vexatioDs and his triumphs have ali
n been of an exciting character. Both
i depended on outward circumstances
power which he had very limited power;
rsand when the precarious breeze had sub.
vsided, he finds, too late, that he has lived
Non the breath of others, and that happi
Fhcss has no empire wiihin him. And
'pwhat is the experience of him, who has
.ntexisted only for wealth-who has safely
moored his richly freighted vessel into
'othe sDacinus ha rhnr &c e,cca.sc,l ,-