The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-06


A few evenings ago, / happened 10 Be ia
company where the subject Of mans inabilitS
10 see those defects in himself which he has M
difficulty III discovering in others, was very
freely discussed, aud many different ideas anc
opinions stated. When returned home ms
thoughts still dwelt upon the same theme, an6
reaching down an old volume OF Esop's Fa-
bles, l read with interest the story of Jupi-
ter gift OF the spectaCles to mankind. In tht
midst Of my musings upon the subject, Esol
dropped from my hands TO the floor, and fell
asleep and dreamed dream.
Alothought there appeared before me an an
cient and venerable looking parsonage, attired
in loose and flowing robe which reached
nearly to his feet, and with long aud silvery
white beard, which added no little to the Dig
nifty OF his appearance. Lis head was bound
with clrclet OF bays, aud under his arms he
carried huge volume bound in some dark
leather and heavily clasped with brass. re-
garded him for some moments with astonish-
ment before found courage to address him.
Seeing, however, that he appeared to expect
me to speak, | at last thus questioned him:
"Who art thou, reverend Sir, and what are
thy commands
Il am, - he replied, 'the genius of wisdom.
1t Is my duty occasionally to appear to NOR
take place, or cautioning them against some vice
they are about to be led into. Too often alas
are my warnings disregarded, and | myself
notwithstanding my great age--for compared
with me yon world is but an ephemera, thing
Of one day--treated with contempt and scorn
When Napoleon BOnaparte was about to invade
Russia, | stood by his side and endcavored to
dissuade him from the rash war, not against
man or the might Of man, but aginst the ele-
ments and the almighty power of God; but
ambition whispered In his car arguments more
powerful than | could use, and he embarked
IN the enterprise which was the first step in
his swift career Of ruin.
Through the voices Of Phillip the Second, the
Queen DOwager, and many others, besought
the brave but unfortunate Don Sebastian o.
PrOtugal, to relIuquish the attempt to subiu.
gate the Moors, which cost him his kingdom
and his life. could enumerate till yol
WOUldtiro the nance Of lhca, Uiis se5iile Goa
trary to my Counsels have been irretrievabi,
ruined On the other hand, Others by follow
ing my advice have attained the creates
heights Of prosperity and happiness. | was
fast friend to Washington, and it was by my
counsel that he adopted that course which ha:
Justly obtained for him the title OF the tathel
of his country, and procured him the admlra-
tion of the world as a model OF patriotism and
greatness. But time passes on; ask me what
thou wilt and | will answer thee"
Reverend Sir, quoth l, ''since you con-
descend to answer my questions, why is it
that man, the greatest, noblest Of created
things, is yet so blind to his own failings and
vices, and to those Of them whom he loves,
while he eau perceive and even magnify the
same faults in those whom he is Indifferent
Look around you, said the genius, "and
tell me what you behold.
''The scene,' said l, sis changed, l am no
longer in my own room, but in the midst Of a
great city, with all the appliances Of vast
wealth aud population aronnd me. The port
is filled with shipping, the streets with men
hurrying to and from the busy haunts oi
trade. %
Tell me, " said my instructor, if you see
anything remarkable in their appearance?'
Nothing" said |; they are all we'll dress
ed and comely race Of men; no want Or poverty
among them-but yes, | see that every person
has before their eyes pair Of glasses, and nc
two pairs are Of precisely the same hue, but al
the colors Of the rainbow appear to be here re-
presented, and | perceive that even the samt
glasses change their hue when the wearer view
different objects. Even the black ones seen
to have no effect in diminishing the sight o
the owners, though they must much affect tn
appearance of the object gazed upon.
You are right, said he; $50 little effect ha
it upon the vision, in any way but in changing
the color Of things around them, that you will
perceive that not one OF them is at all sensibl
that he has anything before his eyes"
The genius stopped, and waving his han
before my face, bade me again look round, an
when | did so perceived magical change
| The interior Of the houses seemed to open
my view, aud beheld pass before me in whi
! which it would require many years in re-
life to enact. Each person saw things in
different light, and governed his actions az
| cOrdingly. Here was a merry fellow with
pair OF very red spectacles, who passed throug
life as ii it was but pleasant summer da,
or without no anticipations for the future bl
of that sanguine hue which his glasses cause
them to assume. Another gentleman with
pair of lead -colored spectacles, could see notl
ing but gloom and darkness around him, loo
which way he would, aud much troubled wit
nervous diseases, never could persuade himse
to enjoy to-day, for fear he might have
mourn tomorrow. A singularly ugly lookin
man whenever he looked into o mirror, 50
through his glasses his own image, change
| and flattered into an adonis, and struttf
about proud as peacock, looking upon me
far more comely than himself as persons inf
nltely beneath him in point OF beauty. An
lobserved that there was no one, however, di
agreeable in appearance, who did not imagI
himself to be ut least good looking. Ia7
cobbler who made but little use Of his stra
save to whip his wife withal, was looked upC
by that wife as q model of perfection in Il
shape of man. A lady who was certainl
neither a Penelope nor Lueretia, was admi
ed bya doting husband as pattern Of yirtul
perceived men plunge into speculation
which every one but themselves could PEI
ceive were utterly hopeless and foolish. Thu
one gentleman expended his whole fortune
improving and perfecting machine for hgh
ing and heating the city by means Of moor
shine, and only failed Of success because
was discovered that the moonshine could nj
be quite enough condensed to answer that pui
pose. So many ridiculous things did | q
that felt completely out Of patience with Il
folly around me, and turned TO my cOndu,
tor.
" Genius 2" said !, " is this city people
with Bedlamites, or what strange illusion po
sesses them that they cannot see these Gun
! brOus glasses before their eyes, which are col