The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-05-16
Misfellaneons.
Mental Dissipation.

of arrogant man, to the furtherance of His own
holy purposes. The assertion is truism, yet
what is new? or who shall say have created
thought unknown to some other one of my
kinds This does not, however, detract from
the ustre of genius; for as Notwithstanding
the presence of some features common to all
landscapes, still may the difference in their
arrangement constitute distinct view : so, al
though the same idea shall have taken lodge
ment In two brains, yet may that thought de-
rive shape and color, from the quality of mind
wherein it has penetrated.
The various "i>ms" of our day, though preg
nant with much of evil, have nevertheless been
fraught with at least shadow of good. Thus
temperance, even when made an instrument of
selfaggrandizement by misguided men, has d.
rected public attention to the topic.
But while many have enrolled themselves
under the bright banners of Cold Water, there
is species of intoxication rapidly increasing
in our midst, which is treated by persons who
would scorn to debase their bodies by the con
sumption of stimulating fluids, with a danger
GUS apathy. Need it be said, reference is had
to Mental Dissipation9
1t is not my purpose to enter protest
against fiction en- masSe, or novels individually;
whosesale abuse is usually more potent in mis-.
chief than right; and besides one may be ad
dicted to this vice without having penchant
for "stories" Long may the day be, ere
enter the list of those valiant individuals, who
finding it easier to assert than to prove, seek in
their own ignorance a cover under which to
battle.
Mental Dissipation derives its source from
the unnatural thirst of u brain, which owing to
some inherent malformation, and an education
injudiciously acquired, Graves constant excite.
ment Now, vast as is the army of drunk
ards, each discovers in some particular COM
pound of alcohol greater charm than in an
other; and so, one mind delights to riot in po-
etry, (?) while second affects the metaphysi
cal. When the victim of the wine cup, by long
wearings of the fearful chains of iron habit be.
onmcs more debased, he Graves stronger stiIn.
ulant than light cordials; and following the an
aogy, the debauchee in books, at last comes to
luxuriating in dag dreams.
Far be it from me to discourage those airy
visions which innocent hearts, throbbing in
youthful warmth, delight to frame of future
usefulness and honorable ambition; but do
protest against making "air castles" the only
abodes Of ile-the heaven ola morbid mind.
Perchance some individual whose faculties
for observation are imperfectly developed, here
exclaims most sapiently, that the greatest au-
thors have been and are victims of this vice.
Excuse me! differ with you; it is our
worst writers-our literature dabblers-that
fall under this head. The pure creations of
the true poet the healthy fctions of the man
as it really is, with its shades and its sunlights
the speculations of the true philosopher, are
far removed from the withering atmosphere of
Mental Dissipation. On the contrary, it finds
its slaves among those who mistake the mis-
anthropic glass Of their own creation, through
which they view Universe, for the poets keen
sighted vision; who seeing one human foible.
ignores the nobler traits Of character, and fam
cy this picture of society and among that
more depraved class, who in wanton mo-
ment, led on by Ambitions 6endish witcheries
will own no God but Intellect, and cry Il am;"
and who dazzled by sophistries a thousand
times refuted, mistake the phantoms of dis
eased imagination, for the inspiration of all.po.
tent truth.
The universal diffusion of knowledge in our
favored land, though productive of large sur
plus Of good, like all worldly advantages may
be misdirected; and facts prove that though
we boast many scholars, yet our savants are
none too numerous While the theory that all
are endowed with equal talents has crumbled
into atoms, before the touch stone of expert
ence, still every day witnesses the furious at.
tempts Of "scrlbblers" to attain "place" in the
literary world These works may see an
ephemeral popularity among certain class of
readers, but posterity will repudate the false
notes so lavishly circulated. True, mind will
have an influence, be it powerful or weak; as
the insect will make its sting felt, even if the
sufferer survives.
The chief encouragement Of this species of
intoxication, may be found in the fact that the
world with its wonted obliquty of vision, at
taches no shame to the mental inebriate; but
He who judges not as feeble man, must view
the debasement of mind with greater disfavor
than that of body; for unkindness of friends,
deep grief and "the numerous ills that flesh is
heir to" may palliate, while it can never excuse
the enormity of sensualism. Not so the man
who has allowed his mind to become sea of
mental proaigacy. What shelter shall he HE
his coward soul to, who has prosttuted his in
tellect-that mark which distinguished man
from the brute-when the day of retribution
shall arrive?
A word and have finished. 1t is word of
earnest, heartfelt counsel, given from pure mo.
tives, but which Cike all who assume the Men.
tori will render its utterer liable to the gbe of
the very mortal who most realizes its truth.