The Arkansas banner., 1847-02-17
From dss Phii. Saturday Courier. LEADING X GENTLEMAN'S LIFE.
DY GEORGE HAYDN.

aIow extremely delightful it is, leading a gentIemau's life!n said Peter Caperton. to his friend, Henry smith, as he knocked the ashes from his segar, and spun out from his lips a long, slender thread of smoke, that went cir scling in tieecy wreaths to the ceiling
 sAh, indeed, and will you be sn kind as to enumerate the delights of gen,leman's life. which, believe, in the general accepiation of the term, is an idle one,' said Henry Smith.
 sYes, willingly, if ] can but prevail upon vou to give over the mercantile business with the vexatious. drudgery, and disquietude of mind, which attend it, and live in peace aud comfort on your income, which, by this time, have no doubt, considerably exceeds my own,'' replied Peter Caperion, narrowly scanning his friends countenance.
 That, Peter, can never be, for you must reflect that have mother and sister, who are psrtIy dependent upon me for a support; and even assnming that had not, have been so long habituaied 10 life of active employment, that were l to relinquish it, should be miserable; my very existence would become burden to me, and should be ren- dered totally unfit for the social duties of life. believe it to be not more ancient than true adage that 'idieness produces rice, ,cant and miscryn'
 That, like many other old women's say- ings of similar nature, may hold good in some instances, but not in all'
 Now you are mol arguing from a sense of what you believe to be right, but through ob- stinacy, frailty of human nature, by which those who soar alolt into the atmosphere of reckless extravagauce, but too often contrive to become blind to their error. till Icarius- like, theswax which cement their wings, is melted by the sunbeams, and they tumble from the lofty pinnacle they have attained 10 ruin; for you know the maxim to be incon- troyeriible But, to return. In what consists the pleasures of the gentleman's lie, which you profess to lead;'
 sWhy, unlike you, my dear fellow, have none of the many and onerous duties of bu- siness to call me from my bed at the first dawn of morning, but can retire a. two and rise al twelve if feel so inclined; frequent ly crack dozen Of prime Madeira with a set of jolly companions; am punciuai Tn my attendance at the theatre; read the latest and most fashionable Herels;; s6gure' in the best society that the city affords--in fine, enjoy all the luxuries and pleasures of life, with out having my mind burdened with any of it's cares.'
 There you are very grossly deceived, and if you would only take right view of the matter, could not fail 10 perceive it. Man kind, in the aggregate, aIe apt 10 become too deeply fascinated with the pleasures result ing from any pursuit to regard for moment the ills with which these pleasures are ac- companied In the present ntinstance you have only looked at the fair side of gentleman's life; but turn to the other, and you will per- ceive it wears quite a.difEerent aspect. Now not one of the pleasures you have reckoued up is without it's corresponding Ills; keeping irregular hosrs, besides being preiudicial 10 health, invariably leads us into habits of in- dolence, from which i, may require the ex- ertipns of years to exircate ourselves; crack ing bottles of tcine, you may deem absolute ly essential tn sociability, and 1t moreover, no doubt, uckles your vanity 10 overhear exquisite saying 10 comrade 'Egad, Caperion's noble fellow; he's trump of the right sort, and no mistake about is he can hip-hip-hurrah. and drain bum per with any man of the cityr This, re- peat, no doubt tickies your vanity, but be- iieye me it is one of the allnrements which tempt the unwary 10 forsake the path of righ,eousness--ii is certain prelude 10 drum kenness. and healre-ggirrg and ,s0reI-re1L- ing, every one will concur with me, if indul- god in to an excess, not only swallows up the time which should be devoted to the m re solid improvement of the mind, but tend to corrupt the morals. And as to fguriag in soeieiy, must acknowledge that l know of none better calculated for it than yourself i; for you are possessed of fine conversational powers aud fascinating manners, or, m the words of Pope.
 .Bless'd with each talent and each art to plesse, and wherever you yisil moy meet with what