Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-11
Spirit Of tge 9ge, 8aIeigB, 1ortB
FOR THE spIRIr OF rHE AGE.

FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
DEAR Mr.. EDITOR: / am quite certain.
when / seated myself to write to you this
evening. itswas umler the impression "a vain
one, / admits that [ had something of i'm
p~ortance to communicate. But it is often the
case after having reached that self-compla-
cent point, some slight incident. or new train
Of thought or feeling, sweeps in upon the
heart, laying all its boarded treasures waste,
leaving US leveled again not only to the SIM
plest claims of actual life, but realizing more
deeply than before the utter vanity of all our
boasted strength. This has been peculiarly
my own case. For with the prospect of a
long solitary evening before me, | drew my
little table to my side, arranged my writing
materials, all the time full of excited interest
in the thoughts | was to give you. But al
most in the very act of dropping my pen in
ink, I quite Internationally dropped myself
into one of those long, dreamy r~eyefies which
Welcomes at times, no one tells how or through
what mysterious agency, upon the SOUL
And so here | have sat, perhaps an hour,
perhaps longer, for time was n~oiseless in his
flight, gazing into o bed of glowing coal,
holding my pen idly between my fingers I'M
til the ink has long since dried on its point,
and all those self styled important ideas have
NANA uPOh +" IA AANeAhSAHAC
shape. And now what is to be done? Shall
| wipe the black stain from my pen, fold up
my desk and allow this good opportunity Of
q social chat upon paper to pass by? Byno
means. For one of the most deeply priced
lessons which time and experience has taught
me is, that even in our pleasures we should
not be led by capricious impulses alone, but
though the prompting voice to an act be
absent, still approved Of by the calmer die
tates of a rational judgement, it should be
entered upon as tending not only to disci-
pline the mind and prepare it for the varied
vicissitudes of life, but eventually giving a
healthier direction to all it's energies.
OF course, you will understand me here as
applying the sentiment to the various duties
belonging to the social and moral relations
which we acknowledge ourselves to sustain
for upon the disputed point of how far the
affections may DO regulated by the exercise
of reason alone, | dare not venture. Very
certain it is, there are manyminds sufficiently
we'll balanced to resign without a moments
hesitation all intercourse with one who has
been proved unworthy the high character
their love and Imagination had invested them
with, but whether that proof and all its con-
sequent train of argument can entirely de-
stroy the feeling Of appreciation which grew
up before any such Knowledge Of unWoTthI-
ness dawned upon them, | an not even pre-
pared to give an opinion. 1t is in the calm
Consideration OF what IS right, what wrong,
or what will afford lasting pleasure to the
soul, that this decisive course should Nv ali
means be followed out, systematicallv and
firmly, even though the pulse has novor
thrilled beneath the extacy of a bnrnino i'm
pulse, or the eye kindled and cheeks glows+
from the sudden enthusiastic @SS-~tn
which sprung up wishj~f indeed I ver4
oat;on If thzPhe opinion that an investi-
;nst;L~&4e ~strictest character should be
- Wp6fel as to the origin of every such I'M
y pulse, and the effects which might be expec-
. ted to attend its ~cnaction as a legitimate re-
: suit.
dare say, this reads very cool and pas
sionless to the youthful and gay who, to eve
~ call, either Of duty or pleasure, gives back
3 the conclusive reply, 'ifI feel like it. But as
a long years come and 60. each burdened with
Q their respective cares, though still varied by
T the brightness of spring time and the mourn
full dirges of the winters wind, they will fine
themselves nee sssarily compelled to endure
so much really unpleasant if not absolutely
heart-rending, tnat they will wonder at las
how they could have ever entertained tin
Ie vague thought Of subiecting the decree 0
nature and of natures God to their owl
Is will. And hence, in consideration OF the es
y innate we place upon our existence as "a
"a tional and responsible creatures, the stud.
y should be, not SO much what gives me pleas
~ ure this passing moment, as what Will be tn
u bearings of it's mere impulsive qualification
upon future years. Observation early teach
rs ', es us the pursuits most beneficial to tn
III mind and heart nav, even more than thu
st - -. 49, 4huca nrpduatIVA Of th
ne most excited state of enjoyment rarely cor
r. duce to happiness of a durable nature $
nlg that it is but the part Of wisdom to emplo
y the discriminating powers we possess, ms
er Letting, arranging and pursuing, from q
abiding conviction of the durability OF Il
no pleasure or benefit they impart, those dutl'
h9 and enioyments which a kind Provldent
;, saw fit to mix up with the cares OF our pr
!, stationary life. Nor until we have thus ella
me sifed ana followed out the resources OF ha'
piness which within and about US lie, shou
va we dare to impugn that wisdom and love,
often termed in our blindness the har
me Of fat9"-and which indeed decreed that
Sc should be born in n certain CLINE, OF pee
q liar competition and form, and under INN
diate circumstances OF Il favorable or 9
OF pressing nature but Citing us at the sar
Ihu time with capabilities and energies WIN
might seek ana almost Always, Il plopei
I'M directed, attain any real desirable good.
is an easy matter to arraign fate, or destif
N I before the tribunal Of human wisdom; y
on the whole would it not be wiser and .
ald ter to employ the time thus idly spent, IN
om;n;nr = oanacitins mnroyina our or
APP iIegcs strenotheninp our energies, aud abe
Cuh all in considering the good, not the evil
rev lone, which checkers our present life.
an / have heard of letters being half exct
for not having written sooner, but here
'om l moralizing at length upon the fact OF v
ting at all. The truth is, Mr.. Editor, | hi
'alu fallen into a train of thought widely differ
les; from what | hadintended but tlen 'wha
ner writ is writ" Good night. LORA
JUL
ron TIE SPIRIT OF THE AGE