, 1877-01-31
HAPPINESS OF TEMPER.

j WRITERS Vi every dSe nave cuucdFEI-
ed to show that pleasure is in us, and not in
the objects offered for our amusement, II
the soul be happily disposed, every thing
becomes capable OF affOrding entertainment,
and distress will almost want a name.
Every occurrence passes in review, like the
figures Of q procession; some may be awk-
ward, Others addressed but uo9e but
d fool is, or that account, engaged with the
master of ceremonies.
9. I remember to have once seen a slave,
in a fertilization in Flanders, who appear
ed no way touched with his situation. lie
was manned, deformcd, and chained
Obliged TO toll from the appearance Of day
till night-taIl, and cond mned to this for
life; yet with all these circumstances Of
apparent wretcAedness. he sung, would
have danced, but that he wanted a leg, and
appeared the merriest, happiest man OF all
the garrison. WHAT a practical phiIoso-
pher was here A happy constitution
supplied philosophy, and, though seeming
ly destitute of wisdom, he was really wise.
No reading or study had contributed to
disenchant the fairy land around him.
Everything furnished him with an oppor-
tuuity Of mirth and though some thought
him, from bis inEenSioiity, a fool, h was
such al idiot, as philosophers should wish
to innate.
8. They who, like that slave, can pace
themselves on that side Of the world in
which every thing appears ia a pleasant
light, will fad something 10 every occur
renee, to excite their good humor. The
most calamitous events, either to them
selves or others, can bring no new afHjc-
ton; the world is to them a theater, on
which only comedies are acted. All the
hustle Of heroism or the aspirations of ambi-
ton, seem only to highten the absurdity Of
the scene, and make the humot more poig-
nant. They feel, in short, as little anguish
at their own distress, or the complaints Of
others, as the undertaken, though dressed
in black, feels sorrow at a fut era),
4. Of all the men / ever rad Of, the
famous Cardinal de Retz possessed this
happiness in the highest degree. When
fortune wore her angriest look, and he tell
into the power of Cardinal Mazarlue, his
most deadly enemy, (beiug confined a
close prisoner in the castle of VaIehcien-
nes) he never attempted to supper his
distress by wisdom or philosophy, for he
pretended to reither. He only laughed
ut himself and his prosecutor, and seemed
infinitely pleased at his new situation. II
this mansion Of distress, though denied all
amusements and even the conveniences
of life, and entirely cut off from all inter
course with his friends, he still retained
his good humour. laughed at the little
spite of his enemies, and carried the jest
so far as to write the life of his tailor.
S. All that the wisdom of the proud
can teach ia to be stubborn or sullen
under misfortunes. The cardinals exam
pie will teach US to be good humored in
circumstances of the highest affection. 1t
matters not whether our good humor be
construed by Others into insensibility or
idiotistn it is happiness to ourselves;
and none but o fool could measure his
satisfaction by what the word thinks
oft.
6. The happiest fellow I ever knew.
was of the number of those good-natured
creatures, that are said to do no harm to
ANYBODY huk thernselvaS WhonAver ho