Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-01-24
MESCEEL ANY.
For the IStaunton Spccfutor.

FOR me StGuRton Spectator.
Mr EDIToR.-i often muse and anon
commit my musings to paper aud l have
no ohJscti"n, occasionally, as no one but
yourself knows whence these things are. to
zee my scrIbbiings in the columns oi your pa
per- have not the folly TO suppose that
could wTite book, nor do presume that
my reflections will produce on the minds Of
others The interes, they give myself. In
deed, lear, that ! often read and think and
write for mere selfish qualification And
am not So sure but desire TO gee an article
CT mine in your paper, for the Same reason.
Ana who has right 10 complain? Surely
your patrons will not, unless l should prove
Troublesome. And il others Lalk much and
not TO edificalion, and write but little OF the
same Character, we are about equal Aud
II II ha the pleasure OF some To- abuse and
scandaIize their. neighbors verbally, and
thereby mar the social circle, il is clearly
mine, u choose 10 exercise il, TO write a.
gainst both. But sir, this is not my direct.
present purpose. For while would con
denim IN unmeasured terms the man, who
would "flCh' from his neiehto CHS coed
name" end equally detssi all manner Of de.
fraction, have the hagr,ness to believe.
'hat there is as small a PARTON of this little
ness oil soul among us as may he found in
any community OF the same cXtcnt Ii ID
true that we occasionally have dish of scan.
Dial very de!iCateiy and sometimes ingenious,
" served up, but go few of our citizens have
tastes suited 10 its luxuries, that il has been
iaid aside as unsavoury. Audit is founreiish
able, (wih your leave) 10 myself, that YOU
Will pardon me when say, that hope ii
will depart The limits of our village. with
out even sigh for ills loss.
But OF offences, at must needs ne thai
4 UncuceS mi no
by whom the o!lence cometh." /, is un.or-
tuna'e!y true that we often have cause OF
offence, but II is more generally tue, that
we imagine causes which 90 mol eXis,-A I'D
! II wc would but take the trouble in The pro-
| per way, TO ascertain The motive Of The per-
son, when we suppose has in ured US, we
! would have but he more strkingly deve,op.
cd The weakness Of poor human nature.
These are but PREDATORY remarks sir, to
/ few on another subject 4 md if you shout,
tmd The preface longer Than the book all
can 'sy 10, II must be so. And by The way
II 'hi' article is worth The reading and should
excite moments criticism, either for STYLE
or substance, will not compIain-pfov ided
! however, ii is done as IL ia written, in Dart
Tor PastIme, and wholly in pure good m
! lure; but not without the most settled con.
| victlcn OF the importance Of the subject.
Man is a social being. His love Of order
comfort, respect, bis laudsbIe desire for dis
! lincIioD, his love of kindred, may be said &c
result from his love OF society. All The bet
ter feelings OF his heart impel him 10 seek
that sw eel intercourse, which sympathy and
the interchange Of eniig hiened and virtuous
minds impair; 10 the soul. He feels and
knows that he is Dope ndent upon others for
comfort and for happiness He is interested
with the varied occupations ofliie-he seek
sweet converse" with the great and the
! good through his books, and they but the
more emiDently qualify bIm for that society
which he feels il his privilege TO enjoy. He
may there discourse relIgiously and wisely
or indulge the play fulness OF his nature BE
may eulighteD and amuse, and listen with
interest and pleasure 10 others. And he W i'll
-Xs siY 10 ioTiuy lssID sqIlsqI 1epuom usiIo
| Islence will permit SO unworthy an nhiect Ia
enjoy so much And if his mind is directed
by that spirit which is uherring, he will ev-
er be thankful COR his privileges, and fear 10
abuse, lest he may be deprived ofthem.
There is IN the intercourse with each 9th
| er, when minds are Congenial, pleasure
| more readily conceived Than described -
And 10 say nothing of the benefits ~ hicf
would and do follow as a consequence froir
social intercourse, 10 both male and female
! and especially the former, in The improve.
! iDent OF mlud, manners and temper I will
just say, that the cheerful air, The gay sot
! innocent smile, The interested countenance
oil of which are bu, The effect of the viriu
Gus social circle, tell their own happiness
| And although surDe persons from their hab
lis do MOI enjoy society as others, and others
again from perhaps peculiar Temperament
| or circumstances cannot, vet il may b,
TO them a real pleasure, 10 wiincss the en-
! joymeDl Of their friends.
The Great Author OF nature created mai
social, and he's fitted him for the various oc
cupsiions OF life; consequently sociabiIu,
and industry ore duties, both contributin.
TO our happiness An ndolent and Idle mn,
iss nuisance ; no wins is purely selfish i
| rreas morose men will be syoided. nbc
10 who ia irctfal and impatient is perhaps Il
be pi'ied; while tho Ipon who is cheerful