Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-09
@tigasL 4aRrs.
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Happiness the Great Object Of Man.

Happiness the Great Object Of Man.
The spendthrift that squandcys his pat
rmonia estate, the miser that boards his
masses Of gold in hidden Golfers, are pursu-
ing by different means the same object
The tyrant, the patriot, the lordling, the
hreliug, the merchant, the mechanic, how
ever diverse their dispositions, however
wide the separation Of their respective oc-
cupatious, have one destiny to accomplish
-one desire to be gratilcd. Thus it is
with all men. They are in search OF hap
piucss But the desire and capacity for
its attainment, with different individuals,
exist in different degrees. The material
man seeks happiness in sensual gratitica-
tions, in groveling pursuits, in pouring out
his obations at the shrine of Mammon, or
some bascr god. The humane man finds
it in leaving behind him, in the retreats of
vice and the abodes Of poverty, the marks
of his benevoencc The Minister of the
Gospel by striving to elevate the mind of
sinful man, and stimulating him to look to
God Tor the rewards Of his yirtuous actions.
The poet is happy IN listening to natures
sweet music, and observing her wonderful
exhibitions Of beauty and grandeur, from
the gentle flower that opens its leaves to
kiss the silver dew Of heaven, to the gigan-
tic oak that de6es the tempest and bravely
battles with the wintry storms; from the
little mole hill to the colossal mountain,
whose summit reaches the azure vault Of
heaven, and is crowned with a sempiternaI
diadem Of snow. But sublime Genius
reaps loftier happiness, in exposing the
secrets of nature, in soaring amid the
countless number Of worlds that glitter as
gems in the frmamcnt and whirl through
yaiiuito space vita sever fading beauty.
Among such men, who doubts that there
is a difference in the degrees of happiness!
who would level intellectual with sensual
euioymcnts; or who would say that the
capacity Of the ignorant man is equal tc
the refined aud intellectual man, for rcceiv
ing true happiness! The grandest phc
nomena of the natural world make no i'm
prcssions upon the one, while the twink
ling Of a star, and the flight Of a sky lark
furnish themes Of beauty and loycliness t
the other. Upon what does it depend ?
Many would scarcely hesitate to say, it &c
ponds upon the difference Of the meEta
qualities. But more definite and col
rect answer wouid be to say, because on
has more refined imagination and sens
biltics. The man of strong inaginatio
looks forth upon the world through mor
transparent medium. lie can find Joy an
wonder in things that never would attra'
the notice Of the ordinary man. lie ca
see cause for lamentation and sorrow
things, in the very midst OF which 9th,
men would be content TO live forever.
Hence the sudden and alternate elevate
OF spirits that characterize men Of this elias
When they look upon the bright side
the picture of life, they are more elate
more joyful than other men when thc
look upon the dark side, they are more d
pressed and gloomier than the other clas
bnt about such men there seems to be
most always fatality that compells the
to turn to the dark side. 1t is their 4
light to withdraw from society and WI
themselves in the gloomy solitude Of til,
own thoughts. With material things th
are not satisfied, net coutented.
Such, upon a little reflection, will be
ideut to any one. 1t is founded upon
diSputable facts Hence the coucusi
follows" Whatever imagination does
reality, it certainly can he made very
fcient agent for increasing the happin
OF every one. The cold and listlcss N
can without emotion walk around the
ins Of Rome, or gaze upon the splendid
mains of the Pa1thcnon; while the lima
nation OF the Poet will Immediately ira
port him to other DAYS, when those ru
were splendid cdifices, when majestic tC
pies glistened in the sun, when croN
swarmcG about them to be cnraptu
with songs commemoratng the deeds
heroes, or to catch the words of eloque
as they fell from the lips OF the grea
orators the world ever knew. This
truly intellectual repast-but repast
nished by the Imagination. The ctfec
the same wherever he bcholds any me
rable work OF art, or any grander seem
nature. They both excite within him
bIimc thoughts The first gives him n
exalted ideas Of man; in the latter be
cognizes the finger OF God. 1t is his
aglnation that iiads such moral beauty
rapturoas pleasure in m rblc, after it
received the touch Of the sculptor's ch
it is that which makes the canvass seel
be alive, and breathing with real chl
tiers; il is that which almost throws
into commissions as lie listens to the ST
that flow from tue lyrc Of the heroic /
The poor Indian around the council
may pay passing glance at the pre-
may speculate little upon the futu
but il is his especial delight to reyt
the twilight Of time, clothe it with II
tic terrors, aud dwell amid its shades
as its glorious deeds fit before hin