The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-12-11
P'.H!G|NLX III { SUPPLEMENT-
SNYm
~sNazSN
COLUMBIA. S. c..
Sunday Morning. December IL. 1870.


MELANcuoLY.-Melancholy has been
imperaonated by numerous writer's rs
tall, sad, female with wo-worn visage,
dropping eye-lids, and dreamy, despond.
ing aspect. No wonder this mental
malady, so grievous in its influence on
the hnman mind, should be thus repre-
sented by prophet seers, as poets arc
not inaptly called. We dare aver that
most Of those subject to her depressing
INFLUENCE, describe her best. Both Cow
per and Kirke White Especially the
latter paint her in doleful colors. Me-
lancholy is something quite distinct from
that decent seriousness common to many
temperaments, mud is often the result
Of. ill-health or disappointed hope. In
either case, though sneered at by the
unreaecting, sober reasoners and gener-
GUS thinkers regard those over-borno by
her sombre presence with pity aud sym
pathy, rather than with any more igno-
ble and moro reprehensible feeling.
It were but benevolent, kind mud
charitable to win her victims, if posi-
BILE, through cheerful representations of
life, and arts known to affection, which:
ever seeks the good of those who share
it. Bodily disease is affective, aud men
tai suffering even more so. How ten
defly, then, should unfor tunntes be
treated who writhe under the latter
malady! If aggravated by hardness, in
their case, fearful results sometimes en-
cue, aud those heartless enough to deal
rndely with melancholy people see rea-
son in the end, to repent bitterly of
such course of conduct. Doubtless
cheerful temper should be cultivated,
moro especially where the natural dis
position inclines one to gloomy views
of life.
Yet it is not perhaps the fault of hy-
pocondriacs, even if they are not able to
cultivate this desirable state of mind.
It has been asserted, with what truth we
cannot take on us to determine, that
some species Of derangement pertains
to the mind of every man-.not except
ing the most exalted in intellect. A
natural dependency may be this very
gravate On evil which common humanity
should teach us to ameliorate, by gentle
and loving means?
We are making no apology for mclan-
oholy people, their own hopeless malady
being their best defence. We are only
asking charity for the mentally diseased; !;
nevertheless. is it incumbent on such to
strive manfully with this gorgon, who
should be, if possible, driven from the
mind. lest q host of horrors follow in her
dismal train. Religion should inspire
pleasing contemplation, not only of this
life, but of that which is to come.
If benevolence be the main attribute
OF Deity, couched under the attractive
name Of Love, which ull his creatures
must know, and nll nature shows is true.
then have we cause, not only for limitless
gratitude, but for cheerful temper.
Like birds of dawn, we should sing in
sunlight, not ns the evil -omcned owl
boots. covered with melancholy darkness
Mt noon-day. If not for our snke, at
least Ill consideration of those around
u.s.. wo arc best employed (supposing
melancholy our enemy when fighting
manfully against her insidious inronds.
Above all, let the Christian, knowing
himself an heir of Immortality, looking
away from transitory scenes, amidst ad-
verse aud troublous existence, when
storms revel and sunlight is withdrawn,
for that better country where no rudcly
rnftiing blast mars pleasant fields, and
within whose hallowcd precincts sin,
sorrow, nor even melancholy, dare in
trude.
Tho cotton seed oil Of the Southern
States has great future before it, second