The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-09-19

lutclicctuai powers Cd.AIol W ea,''.i'
and dmade vgorousupondainties. Thought
must be repIenished. The demand is con,
-. slant, and YOU arc not so rich and increased
in mental wealth as to be able to say;
mind, take thine case, laugh, talk, be idle,
thou hast much goods laid up in store for
many years. Now isyour seed-tlmc; I'M
prove it, and the harvest is sure.
- There is a rage for reading abroad, but
- it is misdirected. The appetite is morbid;
.y,,. the symptom of disease, and not the sign
of health. An avocation in which imagl-
nation runs riot, wild with its own enthu-
siasm; fiery steed at best, and now fran
tic from the ill-judged goadings of a rest
-. less, unsated,, Unsuitable spirit Novels,
periodicals., ANNALS TEEN from the press
ii with a fccundity strongly illustrative OF
-Solomon's declaration, that "ot making
many books there is no end" ana yet they
.:.-, fail to satisfy the fatal love OF excitement
l.. 81 that ever and anon cries, give, give, ana
= j. never says, it is enough. perverted Is
:.": taste, So great the passion for past1me,
j; :. that these are read not for Improvement,
not with reference to style or mode of exc.
=. tution, bit simply for the tale. The thrill
=, of incident, the overwhelming anguish,
X" the:suddcn 10Y; the interesting situations,
the, marvellous escapes, the happy coin.
-: .clusion; these are the charms; the spell
that hold the eye and heart awake. The
shades of character, the valuable mora,
the analysis of feelings, the uncovering OF
- 1.-THE hidden springs Of action are all over
looked and lost in the haste to see the con-
summation. Volume after volume is read,
but what virtue is promoted; what acces'
6 sion to the stock of ideas is made, what
: preparation Of mind or heart for the duties
:: of. fife? Alas, with feelings more morbid,
j; and the materials and inlets of pain fear
-, fully multiplied, with an imagination glow
Ing with the light of pictured scenes, rapt
inGdelight, as exclusive thought wanders
- amid fragrant bowers, consecrated to love,
robed in moonlight's seftest, fairest sheen;
Ile's realities pail and disgust, and the ener-
gies strung to boldest effort by tctions ma
gic, grow ,slackand powerless, shrink from
e.. duty and leave the heart in the loneliness
-: Of its grief without a solace or hope:
81 While would not interdict the class of
e. boohs to which have referred, altogether
80 the selection should be rigid, and the read
:: ing should be recreation, not enjoyment
u "a gathering up Of the fragments Of tIme'
..s md not the devotion Of the sum. If you
:. would have your understanding coPious
. in thought, and ready in expression, read
..:s not fifrlly, bat with system. Cultivate
the habit of composition as refuge and
:. lssrefreshment. If you would enrich your
= talent for conversation (the very depart
-: tnent in which woman should excei) me-
thodize yourmental powers, promote their
-; Harmonious action, collect facts-iilustra-
tons of principles, treasure up the incl
dents that time has hallowed, the remark
able Development Of character that history
records-note with care the current events
.:':'of The dav, he'coursc Of legislation, and
~: the administration of law, make yourselves
.-,:fsmiliar with the changes and improve
T. ments, with the vast operations of the
;+xchnrch-then will you invest yourselves
:; with charms which the revolution of years
cannot mar, and become the possessors
of treasures that accumulate by their use,
and enrich by their distribution. Pride,
the universal passion. if no better motive
sshould prompt you TO disdlin the compi.
ment that presumes upon your weakness
in the attempt TO fatter your vanity, to
estimate but lightly that devotion that is
rendered to your sex, while it would be
denied to your intellect. Politeness (hy-
pocrisy in disguise) may adulate, ceremony
.s,InaY applaud, but be not deceived, non
sense is nonsense still, even when it drops
in melHfuous tones from beauty's lips.
Personal charms, adventitious advantages
may give yeu currency, and hasten the
fulfImen. perhaps devoutIy wished; bu, the
effect must fail with the departure Of the
cause, and she who has no intellectual
hold upon The affections she would retain,
need, not wonder if time should work de-
ciension ant change. Will you sacrifice
to a love of ease or diversion the high
distinctions to which,you ought to aspire!
Will you tear from their eyre the eagle
thoughts born 10 soar and look upon the
sun, and doom them t, frtter in the dust
fettered by ribands? Why should ladies
linger mid the world of fashions and of
fans; hang enamSred over the color of