Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-29

Ladies' Departments.

the extent and origin Of happiness ; and
many Of my sex, as we'll as the opposite,
have been led to believe that it is conferred
in this world. Many gay, u~nthinking
youths imagine tito dwell in. the palaces
Of the opulent and great the ball, and
play. where Hirt the f~rolicksome and faunt
the gay. Many who are roaming alone in
this cold and unfeeling world, without a
mate for the poor lonely heart, say if such
blessings we're shOwered upon them as
upon Adam in the garden of Eden, their
happiness would then be perfect, and there
DO conferred, amid those rosy bowers, choice
fruits, and blessed by the smiles Of lovely
woman I But they would yet find a vacu-
um left, for the subtle searching reptile,
Discomfort aud thorns intersperse the rosy
path they planted to walk, and cling with
the utmost tenacity to the anchor Hope
and emphatieally exclaim-" Oh ! Happi-
ness, where art thou centereC 7"
It seems to be the fate of man to seek
all his consultations in the future. The
present is very seldom able to, fill desire or
|, Imagination with immediate enjoyment, and
they are therefore forced TO supply the de-
fciency by recollection or anticipation. Ey,l
cry one so often experiences Ae~ fafhcious- Z
ness Of hope, aHd the inconvenience of
teaching themselves to- expect what q thous-
aud accidents may preclude, that, when
time hath abated the confidence with which
youth reaches out to take possession of the
world, they should naturally endeavor, or
wish at least, to find entertainment in the
review of life, and to repose upon real facts
and certain experience. But so full is the
world of calamity, that every source Of
pleasure is polluted, and tranquility disturb
ed. When time has supplied us with events
sufficient to employ our thoughts, it has
mingled them with so many Affections and
disasters, that we shrink from the remem-
branco of them, dread their intrusion on
our minds, and fly from them to company
and diversion. No man that has passed
the middle point of life, can sit down to
feast upon the pleasures of youth, without
finding the banquet embittered by the cup
of sorrow. Many days Of harmless frolic,
and many nights Of joyful festivity, will
recur ne may revive the memory of many
lucky accidents or pleasing extravagancies,
or, if he has engaged in scenes of action,
and been acquainted with affairs of difficult
ty and vicissitudes of fortune, may have
the noble pleasure of looking back upon
difficulties firmly supported. dangers reso-
lutely encountered, and upon oppression
a%rtfully defeated. Our distinguished Hero,
much noted for his numerous exploits, very
properly comforted his companions, when
after the horrors of a storm they had land
cd on an unknown aad desolatc country,
with The hope that their miseries would at
som distant period be recounted with de.
light. There are perhaps few higher graf
i~ications than that of evils surmounted,
when they were not incurred by our own
faults, neither r%eproach us with cowardice
nor guilt. But this kind OF felicity is al
ways abatcd by reflection, that those Will
whom they would be most pleased to share
il, arc now in the grave ; and they are
here led to e~xclaim, oh! happiness, whcr
art thou conferred p
A few years makes such a havoc amongs
the human race, that they SOON see them
selves deprived Of those with whom the
entered the world. The man of enterprise
when he has recounted his adventures, j
forced at the close of the narration to pay
sigh TO the memory of those who contrib
uted to his auccess aud he that has speu
his time among the gayer part of manhood
has quickly his remembrance stored wit
the remarks of rePartecs, and wits, who's
sprightliness and morriment are now los
in perpetual silence. The trader, who's
industry has supplied the want of inheri
lance, when lac sits doWn to enjoy his fol
tune, repines in solitary pleRty, and lament
the absence of those con ~panions wit
whom he had planned out amusements fC
his latter years. Aud the scholar, who:
him from obscurity, looks around ia val
from his exalted station for his old frienC
to be witnesses of his long sought for afll
ence, and for them to partake of his bount
Such is the imperfection of all human ha'
piness; every period of life is obliged
borrow its enjoymonts from the time
come. In youth we have nothing past
entertain US, aud persons who are advances
in age desire nothing from the retrospe
but ~fruitless sorrow. And the theme
ever dwelling in their hearts, oh ha
piness where art thou conferred p
Theloss Of friends impresses hourly up
the living the certainty aud necessity
their W departure. They find that
their schemes are quickly at an end, a
that they must lie down in the grave wi
the forgotten multitudes of former az
and yield their places to others, who /
them, shall be driven a while by hope
fear about the surice CT the earth, a
then like them be lost in the shades
death. Beyond this termination of
corporal existence, We are therefore obi
ed to extend our hopes; and every one
dulges their Imagination with someth
that is not to happen until they have lost
power Of perceiving it. Men, for instal
amuse themselves with entails and sci
ments, provide for the increase and per
uation Of families and horors, and cont
to obviate the dissipation of fortunes wi
It has been the business of their whole |
to accumulate. Others, pore refined
exalted, congratulate their own hearts u
the future extent Of tlfeir reputation,
lasting fame oftheir performances, the
= erence Of distant nations, and the graft
Of unprecedented posterity. 1t is not, tt
fore, from this world hat any ray Of {
fort can proceed, to cheer the gloom of
last hour. Then, Why is it, that we
ever building some fairy castle, and plan
- onuoamonte whieh MO form bann;,