Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-24
Gaaits' Department.
Mrs. n. z. GORMAE. Editress.
FoR rue SPIRIT or THE Aar-
but gentlemen, and ladies' worst.
WI cen down want o. work are crrs. prn~.

StO oAOCNo W u
potentate upon his throne-from the drivel-
ling idiot and raying maniac to the genius
which entrances the world-to make up all
the species which compose the genus homo.
Then we may reasonably expect to find some
where between these wide extremes, the in
stitutions-geaHemen and Ladies-which the
Poet had in his eye when penning the lines
above. 1t should be remembered, however,
that each Of these words admits of two en-
tirely distinct meanings at the present day.
When we see an individual possessed Of high
tored, honorable traits Of character, having
a clear view of the object for which man was
created, and cndeavoring to the best of his or
her abilities to accomplish it, we see one that
excites our admiration, and one to whom the
terms, according to our acceptation, may be
very appropriately applied. Such an one, in
the true sense of the word, is a gentleman or
lady, as the case may be.
But when we see one acting in such a way
as to be disgusting to good common sense-a
nuisance to the world at Iarge-foremost in
bowling the knee to the capricious goddess,
F~ashion-arrayed in silks and satins, ribbons,
glittering tinselry and snowy gewgaws-
redolont Of perfumes and pomatums of every
k~ind-putting on various airs and persona
ting various characters-we see one who
richly merits the epithet-geatIeman or lady,
according to its worst meaning. The class
to whom the Poet referred, is doubtless com-
posed of individuals of the latter description.
If there is any class of people which is to be
pitied, and which is laboring under an OPP
pressive whitening curse, it is certainly that
one composed of such as are cursed with a
want Of work. And yet there are thousands
upon thousands, in every land and nation,
eking out a miserable existence under the in
tolerable weight imposed by idleness. Bat
we need not go beyond the borders Of our
own fair land, which presents the grandest
theatre for usefulness ever witnessed by NOR.
cal eye, to see the III effects Of this blighting
curse. 1t is too true that our country is
grooming under it. Each one may look around
and see for himself
MhNJ p0 SOnS Sllthh lhSJ hOulu " V udppy
ifthey had nothing to do. Then they think
they would realize the many bright visions
and golden dreams of pleasure, which fiji
around them both in their sleeping ani wa.
king hours. But this is far from being the
verdict Of those who have been so fortunate
or rather unfortunate, as to obtain experience
or that subject. Pray, of what did your
brother dief' asked the Marquis of Spinola
to Sir Horace We're. lie died, SIR replies
he, of having nothing to do Alas, sir,
said Spinola, that is enough to kill the hes
general Of us all
How many thousand are literally dying Q
having nothing 10 do, in the very midst Q
broad fields for usefulnessi The i'll conse
quences Of the curse under which so man.
thousands are laboring, are necessarily nox
ious weeds and vicious growths of variou
kinds. Hence, we need not be surprised tina
centres Of fashion and courts Of royalty S
often become sinks Of vice and dissipation
Nothing can be truer than the old adage ths
the idle brain is the devils workshop
Though man, endowed with a mind that
to exist throughout the endless ages of eter
nifty, has q far higher object to a~ccomplis
during life than the mere qualification of Il
senses, yet q life, employed in business f
no other purpose than to b0 kept out Of mi
chief, is much better spent than If in idienes
The idler canRot remain stationary-no mo
than n boat on the bosom Of a rapid strea
without power to propel it. He must eth
30 up or down, and down it will be very q
tain to go. When We consider that idlenC
is such a fruitful source of mischief, we ca
not but admire the good sense and wisdc
of the old sea captain, who, when there "
nothing else to do, gave orders to 'scour
anchor
The Italian philosopher, who said that I'll
was his estate, viewed things not througl
distorted medium, but with the eyes of a sa
lie had an estate, which, if properly us
will never fail to bring in to its owner a +
and ineKhaustable income, on which he n
rely with certainty during his short stay
earth, and ON which he may lean for SUPP
when his body is called to dwell in the d
and dreary abode of death.
Those composing the institution kno
IN our country as gentlemen and ladies, tn
themselves of such vast Importance that
world cannot possibly get along with
~them. Well, perhaps this is so. Perh
they form links intbe long chain connect
the different grades of society, which, if
cluded, might destroy the whole. But
those engaged in fulfilling the high dest
of man, they appear like drones- We
not conceive Of a more worthless, useless
pendage 20 the machinery Of society,
that which has nothing TO recommend it
the skill and taste of the tailor and man
maker-than that which is arrayed in 81
thing altogether too fine for us. What
may be their notions of their OWL self-iu
lance, the world could get along very
without them. There can be no pos
use for a class of people living for no
purpose than TO do n~othing-existinl
mere cumberers of the ground. Time
far the most precious and valuable of a
tates-incOmparably superior 70 the mil
Of Astor or the Rothchilds-then, as
Richard says, wasting time must be the
est prodigsiity. Queen Elizabeth, on
death bed, cried out in the bitterness o