The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-02-16

NEvER be IpLE.--The Rev. Adam Clarke,
an eminent Methodist divine. whose com.
msntary on the Bible Is universally known,
was accustomed TO say, thar the old pFOyerb
as having too many irons in the fire, was
false, for that q man couldn't have toe
many Sbovsls, tongs, poker, keep them
all going, he added, By way Of illustration.
The Doctor was right. Not that man
ought ever to undertake more than he can
manage. This was far from being the
meaning of the old preacher. He now i'm
Piled that man could perform more labor.
and better, if he diversified his pursuits
little. His own experience was an illustra-
ton in point. One part Of his life was
spent in riding from village to village, in or
der to preach, while the intermissions when
they occurred, were devoted to hard study
instead Of to idle rest. Afterwards, he be-
came an employee Of the government, his
duty being to decipher old records, but he
still continued his habit ofrelaxing his mind,
not by total cessation of study, but by a
change 10 different subject. He lived to
a good old age, and thus proved that he was
right, and that idleness is never, or rarely
necessary for health.
We often hear mechanics, working men
and even merchants, complain that they have
noitime to read. They think that having la
bored gil day, they require rest in the even
ing; and on this ground justify idleness, al
that time, if not card playing, conviviaI
meetings, or other pretended relations. But
if they would emulate the example Of Dr.
Adam Clarke, and eschew ideness and dis.
spation, they would find that their health
would be none the worse for the change, but
rather better. The man who spends hi:
evenings over book calls into play entirely
different faculties from those which have
been tasked through the day; for generally
it is his physical part which Is fatigded, ant
this rests effectually while he reads. Even
the student can find relaxation by the
changing to different themes, for thea Other
faculties of his mind are exercised:--thu;
when the miatharetician turns.to poetry he
gives causality repose and sets ideali.S a
work; and this affords as complete rest as
when one, tired with walking enters car
rage to continue the journey.
| Life is too short to allow of any moments
being wasted, which can be turned TO goot
account. The apprentice who spends hi
evenings in study is sure to lay up stocl
oil ideas, which he will find, at some time
or other, will prove to him so much positive
capital. His fellow apprentice, who squan
ders his evenings at oyster cellars, or il
lounging about engine houses, gains no sucl
seeds Of future wealth; but on the contrary
impale his health by his early excuses; be
sides losing the confidence Of all who nigh
help him forward in life. Even he, VIII
avoids the follies socommon among youn
men, but yet makes fatigue the plea .fo
slee ping away the evening" or otherwis'
Wasting his time, commits serious blum
der. II more. persons would resolve OF
emerging from childhsod, never TO be idle
there would be twenty fortunes made wher
one is made now, and twenty men rise t
eminence where one attains distinction a
present. Every year, more hours are wasI
ed, of four people out OF FIVE, than would,
properly improved, have made them rich i
their old age. NEVER BE IDLE.
OF The New York Medical Gazette, f
February, gives extracts from the unput
fshed letters fayoung physician in Par
to his father, a medical practitioner. Anon
other items, this gsntlsman mentions III
annexed:
"M.--has lately been before the toul
| for refusing to answer questions propounde