Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1834-05-29

Philosophers and EoAaOsoeAy-There
is not a parish in London, and there is
scarcely town in the kingdom, in which
any fdgety little. prig. who has nothing bet
ter la do with his time, might not get up !.
philosophical society. If you have tel
Escape, and an almanac, and a pair Of
globes, and il you look at the moon will.
your nightcap on your head, You are a phi-
sosopher; It you have, an electrical Mfas
chine, and serve your friends shocking
tricks, you area philosopher; if you have
a barometer, theraIometef, hygr0meter, x.
nydrometer-if You chronicle the clouds,
aud tell the world once a week which way
me wind blows. you arc q philosopher; if
yoah q mantlepiece covered with brick 1
bats, alldia bureau full Of .black-beetles and
cock cl'afers, your area philosopher; ifyou4
roam about the fields aud the bitches vii,
tin box in your hand, picking up chick
weed, grounded, and duckweed, YOU are /.
tPhilosopheri If you become cats butcher.
and Kill mice with al air ltiSsap, YOU are
philosopher; if Jon risk the blaWing np of
your house with hydrogen gas or other
IcombustibIess you are q philosopher; if
You hunt for a soul with dissectina knife.
and then, because yOn cannot find one. say
that there is no such thing, you are phi
losopher: if you read German metaphys.
les, and talk moonshine thar nobody can
understand, yon are q philosopher; III YOU
tisbelieye what your neighbors believe,
and believe what your neighbors disheliape,
yon are philosopher. If YOU do NOT
care who Is hanged or drowned, Or whose
cat has kittened, you are stole pbiloso-
pher; If you growl at every body and ev-
cry thing you are a cynic philosopher; If
you have a fancy for fish, flesh, and fowl.
and like good cookery better than bad, yon
are an epicurean philosopher; in short, /
verify believe that the difficulty now Is to 1
avoid being philospher--the whole mir
aud the whole nation is thoroughly beplIi-
lesophized---saturated with philosophy;
we cannot open our eyes or ears but wis
dom must come ir--we cannot open our
mouths but wisdom must go out. Even
thing is made on philosophic principles
wigs, whiskers, boots, breeches, and bed
posts SO that we are almost all Of US for-
ced 10 be philosophers. whether we will Oh
no.--E English paper.
Prejudice. Prejudice operates upon
the mind.as color does upon The glass thro'
which va look upon an object, giving il
that particular Indebtedness and tint which
l. aatuEml, and INC coiur which stains ill.,
Ehe. iRtaI lacts 6f many ase like Sc naany
varied acolored mirrors, each rejecting Tho
subjects presented to il, according 10 The
tastes, antipathies and errors itshas imbib-
cd, and of course the impressions it re.
ceivos vary in proportion To- its recsdure
from or advancement to the truth. Now,
before the light of the latter can break up
on such mind, il must first be willingly
turned towards the rays Of the guiding In
minary, or it will only resemble dark cav
crn turned away from the light.of the sun.
1t must feel conscious that il knows com-
paratively nothing; that il must empty IT.
self of all its preconceived notions and mis-
takes, and examine and seek after informa-
ton in the spirit of little child, who i&
anxious after instruction. All this is hard,
very hard. to perform TO those who arc
wrapped UP in the ignis fatuus oftheir vaI-
ity and ignorance and this is the very
reason why there are osmany the victims
of their prejudices and errors, as they iind
il much easier to follow the current Of their
despotic humors, than to overcome them-
selves, and love and pursue truth for its
own intrinsic value 0ening Star.
Ansasement.-If d bow be always bent,
it will soon become weak and useless-and
if the mind be continually engrossed upon
study, its powers will diminish BY degrees,
and perhaps suddenly become nnstr1ng mt
an unexpected moment. This illustrates
the necessity ofaMusement, rational, ,iDno-
cent aud occasional for If it occupies ms
much Of our time and faculties as tho ordi-
nary business Of life, il reverses the object
for which il was intended. and ranks itself
with, other idolatrous occupations. Asa
bow which is never bent is at lass incapable
Of being devoted TO its ! proper hse--so
the mind which Is continually unstrnug a.
mid effeminate pleasures, relaxations and
follies, becomes finally unfit for any manly
or worthy pursuit; and like useless bow.
is thrown aside, aud rejected, when if il
had been properly trained to the high pur-
poses Of its being. it had reached as lofty
mark as tho most illustrious of its coiem-
poraries.-Ib.
A gentleman having appointed to meet
his friend on particular business, went to
his house. and knocked at the door. which