Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-06-16
For the Gazette.


There are few words IN The English Ian
cuage that admit of a greater variety of mean
mos than PLEASURE. However opposed the
feelings, the views, and practices of men, yet
all have some fayorIte pursuit or anticipation
ranked under the denomination of pleasure.
The man whose character seems adverse 10
every species of happiness; whose conduct has
hliokted the nobler feelings OF his nature, until
he has almost become corpus Sine ammo,
has what he calls his enjoyments. His mid
nigbt revels, animated by the siren song, fill
that source from which he drinks his supply OF
earthly amusement He calls these the plea
sures Of life as il the world, with II It's rsnne-
ments. were embraced in his narrow course or
centred in the crimson glass. III TINS De
pleasure, what then is wretchedness !!
Others, Of higher grade and more sensitive
feelings, explore a wider field 10 gather the
flowers Of pleasure; and while these flowers
seem fraught with nectar, sweet as ever Juno
sipt. they never dream that the coing SER
pent has his track in those pleasant walks, and
ningies every drop with poison from his fangs.
The ball, the theatre, the banquettlng hall,
open fair prospects to such. They look with
scorn on that which delights the poor lnebrI-
ate, and boast of their integrity and honor; !;
and on the point of honor stab their brother to
the heart.
But these sources are too scanty 10 satisfy
the lofty enterprise of another class. Like the
storm-bird, they fly from tranquility and bend
their wings for the whIrlwihd and tempest.
Not contented with the ordinary pursuits Of
pleasure, they seek the field Of carnage and
blood, and try to satate their thirst amidst
the noise and clash of arms. They are insen-
slble TO the charms of social life, and dream vi
pleasure only in the echo of cannon, or thun-
der Of the cataract. Inferior ocurrences are
not sufficient to excite their sensibilitles or
Weld satisfaction. The grandeur of inarshaled
hosts, or the dangers of the stupendous precl-
pice, arouse their minds to full action and raise
them to that element in which they delight to
breathe. Examples of such are numerous.
Charles Kill, of Sweden, when invading Den
mark, volley OF musket balls being fired, in
CURED what occasoned the whizzing in his
ears! 1T is the noise of the balls they fire al
you,' said Major Stuart. Good replied the
King, then from henceforth that shall be my
music
Men ofllterary pursuits view, as they think,
with an impartial eye, the various roads sup
posed to lead to the temple where the fair
Goddess of pleasure dwells; but no course
seems so congenial TO them as through the
sages of antiquity and the inspiring verses of
the high-souled Greeks. At the shrine of an
cient lore they bend the knee, and pay their
homage in preference to all earthly things.
The pure Castalian fount, say they, is the
great retreat of the muses. Its waters are SO
refreshing. They give permanent satisfaction.
Here the weary forget their tolls, and find am
pie reward.
Notwithstanding the professions of these
characters, some are disposed to dispute their
claims TO pleasure. In the estimation of these
disputers the followers of Bacchus, the lovers
OF refinement the seekers of laureIs stained in
blood, the admirers of ancient sages, however
widely different their characters, are al! def
cient. They argue the fleeting nature of all
sublunary things, and the speedy termination
OF all our pursuits, except those that have
reference to a glorious Immortality. They
contend that the purest fount of enjoyment in
this world is saturated with the dregs of pain
and DEATH and that permanent pleasure is !
found alone IN the rich enclosures of Elysum |
That what meu generally supposed pleasure, |
is only phantom; and while in the distance, |
standing on some emnence, il seems to touch !
the skies that /. ever eludes the grasp of
mortals, and gives disappointment as reward |
for the services of its followers. They argue |
still farther, that it is beneath the dignity of I
men, after having sought SO frequently and |
received 50 many cold refusals, to persist in |
oherng Their suppilcatIons to one so false and I
determined in deception. And finally they !
urge another argument, at which the most /
acute seem perplexed, and before which the |
stoutest hearts often shrink that is, the unsat-
lsied tomb. The chill of these cold shades, |
say they, congeals the deepest springs of world |
Iy pleasure; but that enjoyment found in a |
vrtuous life gids those frigid shades and opens !
a bright entrance 10 some hallowed land where /
verna spring is never shrouded by the pail of
winter. ]. ~ |
Lewiston n, June 9, lS49.