Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-02-20
THE BRIEF REMARKEH

srructoa.- never complained Of my
wrc,ched loriurn condition. hu on onr
occasion, when my feet were naked.
and had not wherewithal TO shoe them,
Soon after, meeting a man without feet
| VAS thankful Tor the bounty Of Provi-
dsncc t, IN, self, and with perfect resig-
nation submitted TO my want OF shoes"
The true secret OF living hapl lily lies
in the philosophy Of con'enmen', which
ls oli.finirely more value than would be
the imagined stone OF the alchymist,
thai turns every Thing into gold.
1t is to be lamented. however, that. in
this age of boas,ed light and improve
ment, the philosophy Of con'entment is
very little studied or regarded-From
various corrupted sources we have
learned not To be contented. but dissat-
fled wltA the ordinary conditions of
lie. And though neither shoeies', nor
destitute OF any essential article of RAJ
ment or food we are ready TO consume
our hearts with vcxation, because we
are not seated at the upper end OF For.
lune's table. The assemblance Of hap
pincss il more sought after than the
reality how, more than substance
The simple ralnness Of former days, is
despised. Plain apparel, plain fare,
and plain houses and furniture, such us
our worthy progenitors were quite con-
tented with and very thankful for, our
t',stideous delicacy regards with scorn
and we must needs he fine. and fashion
able, else pine away our lives in grief
and shame.
Nor wonld it be either so alarming. or
80 lameniable. we're thie the folly of on-
ly IA icw. But The worst of il is, it has
spread, like an epidemic, over the whole
land. and throughout almost every class
of society. Tens and even hundreds OF
thousands embracing alike both sexes.
are the miserable victims Of mo bd
sensahiliiy; and sqursmishly dash from
their lips tle cup of ordinary comfort
they are presented with, because it is
not filled to the brm or because 1t is
not 81 iced and swcetened exactly to
their taste.
And where lies the remedy? 1t is
not within the art OF the apothecary
nor in The over Of any nostrums Of par
tal and limited eif,rt. No, the people
mu,t be wise for themselves - The
great body OF the people, coming once
more To their sober seners, must agree
to return t. the plain, frugal, uncos'y
habits Of other times and must strive,
with gci eral accord, 10 bring those
long-dlscardcd habits into fashion again.
and 10 render hem honourable by the
suilragr OF public opinion.
As The want "t contentment is one of
tie most grievous Of wants that effect
human lie, it ought to be provided
ugans, with the utmost care and par
ucularIy in the following ways.
/. In training up children, scarcely
auy Thing Is Of greater Importance than
guarding them against the Intrusion of
'oo many arlifci i wants. say too
MANY. because some wants ol this sort
20 naturally and necessarily grow out &C
civilization and it is their excess only
that tends To dis;ontrnt aud wretched-
ness. or that excess the danger is
yrcaf inaSmuch as the effects are al
ways delIorable. What multitudes at
this very moment are discouentcd and
wrrtch,d. who might have enjoyed lite
comfortably had they been early taught
to coniurm their d, sircs to their conGi-
iiuns aud 10 act upon the principles Of
sober and rational economy. Nor is it
Of small Importance in training up chlI-
lren. to accustom them To useful IL
ploy. a useless lie is seldom found TO
be Il cenIentrd one. Occupation is SO
necessary 10 human quiet that to bring
up children in idlcness. is the way To
make them II burthcn o themselves us
well us 10 the community.
From this two-lold cause, the excess
of artificial wants and the neglect Of
forming habits OF useful industry in the
rnrly period Of life. there has 81 ruug
perhaps iull noiety of the disc outrn
that secretly pGeys upon 30 many bo-
SONS. ln short, important as it is To
TEA, h children reading and writing and
the usr OF figures it is Of still greater
Importance To regulate their I, mrers. to
curb III, ir wayw; ri desires, and to hAt
taen ~ habits of industry. temperance
and tsugaliry, without which the ac'
quisition oI learning would be OF little
benefit TO them.
2. The self dicpline of adult age, is
an essential prerequisite towards lead
ing and enjoying contented liIe-A
we'll dciplned mind studies TO he con
slant and most commonly is 81. 1t at
Iains its desires, by moderaiing aud
limiting them, and thus bringing them
within the compass oi its means. II ac-
customs ltscli,o view, without envy, the
wealth aud grandeur winch falls not To
Is lot. and which seldom renders their