The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-23

PasslVn VI sel-sutnClency, or serpentlnc WIS |
dom, to operate on the feminine or tender
passions, to pursue their own course without
regard TO their former instruction.
Hence we find that inquisitiveness was
the predominate passion of our first parents,
we may properly infer, that 1t has been en-.
tailed to all of their offspring--it has lead
many to the Investigation of objects beyond
the bounds oftime, and if possible some have
attempted TO remove the vail and hoist the
curtain, thu. they might review the events of
of vast eternity:
"Where active fancy travels beyond sense
And pictures things unseen"
II is by the prevailing sublime power of
the understanding, that we are enabled to
! comprehend the existence of either intellec-
tual pain, or pleasure, or happiness or misery
The memory of man flows IN but one chan
mel, and only takes cognizance or past
events, whilst the understanding, operates
on the preseot and future.
Thus the pleasures and pains of the un-
derstanding, are more intense than those OF
memory, which produce an apparent rea-
son for indulging in dissipation. The spark
ling glass presents its fairy charms to oblit-
crate the past and present sorrow of the
mind, which conclusively proves that joy as
well as sorrow Is capable of producing in
1 temperance.
The pleasures and pains connected with
! imagination, are the next point to be taken
under consideration, in it we should bear in
mind the material difference that exists be-
tween imag nation and that of memory and
the understanding. The powers of memory
andt the understanding operate on facts, and
reason. Whilst those Of Imagination resort
to fiction and romance.
How often have we seen the associates
and acquaintance of our youthful years
strioken with the malignant disease, intutu-
alton, which rendered them in after years
the servile tools OF Imagination.
Whilst IN this state Of arieal castle building,
they have imagined that they have been led
through all the regions of earth and air.
, That they have led conquering armies unto
+ victory-in arts and sciences they we're the
most proficient, placed themselves in the
mos: exalted station. Where the greatest
marks Of beauty were 10 be seen, of every
: imaginary form, from the giant powers of a
Hercules, to the diminutive dwarf, which
has prompted many Of them to exclam whilst
=, in their arieal fit:
"Keni, Vidi, Vici!'
( Whilst in this wild career, they are moi
4 aware that their Indulgence in those imagi.
nary things is injurious to the mental and
= physical energies, by destroying the Judge.
: ment and leading themselves to imbecility
/ and disease, 4,>.-u ......
. By following their indulgence they cult
vate the passions which increase the natural
: tendency of the lusts, and thus they become
g easy victims to all the evils that frail nature
= is subject to, which shows that "whatever
0 excites the imagination weakens the judge
Q ment." ...' '...... .... -.
/ Novel reading is one of the principal aux
\ iliarys, to allure the reader to the courts OF
fiction and Imagination. The natural and
inevitable consequences on the impressoble
character of the youth, of this kind of read
| ing, with which our country is now 80 pro-
fuscly flooded, is calculated TO distract the
attention, to weaken the powers of refec-
ton to corrupt the taste, to pervert the judg-
ment, to stimulate the imagination, enervate
all the intellectual, and to deprave all the
moral faculties. ...,
Tie pleasures of imagiu alton are always
more brilliant in the youthful mind, than at
any other period in life, in the bloom Of
youth is the period when all the impressions
that are made on tbe mind, by the disclosure
of the beauties of nature and the magic
scenes of creation are novel to the youthful
understanding.
When none of the intense sorrow Of expe.
riencc clouds the prospects of q fanced and
endless felicities in future events, this is al
So the period when our early affections are
untninted by the knowledge Of the selfshness
of man, and our idolatrous devotion of the
supposed divinity Of the female character are
unalloyed by the appalling discoveries of ex-
perience and observation which teach us that
every thing human is imperfect, and unwor-
thy OF our adoration-- ...
And presents to us clearly our early faults,
Our youthful deeds and vainer thoughts.
In ths intellectual pelceptive, as well as
the physical, in The opening Of which as the
mind proceeds on its journey in science, the
whole landscape continually changes, past
impressions are relinqushed and new ones
are received; judgments formed upon partial
consideration are removed, and general con-
victions including and modifying them in ev-
cry variety of shape are formed.
Hence we may properly infer that the ne
cessity of an equivalent power, allied to n
cultivated mind is in1ispensbly requisite to
enable the inexperienced youth to resist
even unto blood against the various tempta-
tons which he has daily to encounter and
| iVe'o'' teuIcWo IL Chap verse. anu the
want of it constitutes the real vortex, in
which SO many lofty genius's have sunk to
rise no more, they reposed in the allurins
pleasures Of Imagination for happiness In
early life, never casting thought upon the
fact that they were in a world which nothing
but the exercise OF prudence, zeal and judy
ment could guard them against the miseries
and misfortunes of life, but continued to en-
joy the present, without casting thought or
look towards the future contingencies that
awaits the traveller to the cmb.
They are never aroused from their peace
ful slumbers Of iiusve visions of fancy and !
imaginary happiness, until they are clad with
the roue OF misery, and mislortunes, by the
impetuous calls CT necessity, which cannot
be appeased by visionary means.
Here they commence to reap the rewards
Of their labor in lackrymation, and unmiti-
gated pain and suffering beyond the power
OF language to express, which has often been
the lot OF the brightest genius's goaded TO
lntemperance which has precpitatec them
into ruined fortunes aud desperation. This
is the whirlpool that has swallowed scores
ofthe most distinguished men that ever OK
isted--the vortex that has entombed the