THE DESULTORY REMARKER.--No. I.
At lucre or renown let others aim,
I only wish to please the gentle mind,
Whom Nature's charms inspire, and lore of humankind.
_Beattie._
Perhaps there is no nation existing, amongst whom there is so large
a proportion of readers, as may be found in the United States. The
freedom of our form of government, and its appropriate concomitant,
the freedom of the press, impart the requisite facilities for a wide
dissemination of knowledge, and furnish the motives and the means
for cultivating it with success. Of newspapers, we have, if not
a redundant, at least a copious supply. They are introduced into
almost every nook and by-place of our extensive territory; and no
individual who can read, need deny himself the gratification, of
poring over their pages, and learnedly descanting on their contents.
The moral influence of these popular vehicles of intelligence,
may therefore from these facts, be properly estimated, and the
importance of their being judiciously conducted, will at once be
acknowledged. It is not the ponderous volume, the learned and
elaborate dissertation, the abstruse researches of the ontologist,
that moulds the sentiments of the great mass of any people, and
implants in their bosoms the every-day principles of action; for
to these they are utter strangers, and the laborious student may
continue to monopolize them, without exciting in their minds the
slightest regret: that however, which is brief, and simple, and
practical, in other words, that which will be _generally read_,
cannot fail to produce a deep and lasting impression on the public
mind.
With these convictions on the subject, it is contemplated, as
leisure and inclination may suggest, to furnish a series of
occasional papers, under the title indicated above. The plan of
the writer, like those of his illustrious predecessors, is broad
and liberal; unencumbered by systematic restraint; he intends to
ramble over hill and dale, to seek for admission, not only at the
cottage, but also at the mansion of opulence; and no topic shall be
excluded calculated to promote general utility. To liberalise the
public sentiment, to enlighten the public mind, in fine, to _make
men better_, and by a necessary consequence, to promote public and
private happiness, shall be his cardinal and favourite object. Human
life and its incidents, men and things, literature and morals,
will all be kept in view; and facts and illustrations, which may
be subservient to his purpose, whether derived from observation or
reflection, from society or from books, will not be forgotten or
disregarded. Of the negative qualities of his proposed papers, he
can speak without reserve and with entire confidence; they shall
never offend the eye or ear of delicacy or of virtue. Immediate and
personal observation, is entitled to a decided preference where
it is possible to be consulted; but to him, the extent of whose
migrations have been merely "from the blue bed to the brown," this
is a resource which will often fail. Distant countries and former
periods of time will therefore be contemplated, to use a significant
phrase of Dryden, "through the spectacles of books." By thus
cultivating an acquaintance with the generations which are past,
and by thus holding converse with the mighty dead, we may augment
the power of useful information, fortify our good principles, and
become better qualified to perform the respective duties assigned
us in the world. Human nature continues to travel onward with her
venerable but untiring companion, Time, without the least change of
character. Every feature, which appertained to her, six thousand
years ago, will still be recognized by the discerning observer. It
is, therefore, extremely desirable, that experience should not be
lost upon us; but that her beacons should serve as a polar star, by
which to steer our course with safety, through the dangerous and
perplexing labyrinths of life.
There is no question, that the very essence of papers, which shall
successfully prefer claims to popular favour, or to practical
utility, _must be variety_. The strength of Johnson himself could
not shield his great moral work from the charge of unvaried and
monotonous solemnity. He inculcated the doctrine, and exemplified it
by his own writings, that even "uniformity of excellence" will at
length nauseate the palate, not merely of the fastidious reader, but
of him likewise whose only object is truth.
A prominent purpose will be attained, if the dominion of fashionable
folly shall be narrowed, and the attention of her votaries withdrawn
from the frivolous and giddy circles in which they revolve; and
steadfastly directed to the great interests of society, the cause of
sound morals and unsophisticated virtue. Is it not a fact calculated
to awaken the most profound regret, that many of our fellow
citizens, particularly in the wealthy metropolis of Pennsylvania,
who are invested with an elevated rank in life, and enjoy in
profusion its good things, appear to live only for themselves? Men
of this description, are really blanks in existence; and mistake
most egregiously, the great errand of life. They may appropriately
adopt the language of Pomfret:
Custom the world's great idol we adore;
And knowing this, we seek to know no more.
Now education more than truth prevails,
And naught is current but what custom seals.
Thus from the time we first began to know,
We live and learn, but not the wiser grow.
Although sometimes assuming the province of a censor, the _Desultory
Remarker_ will on all proper occasions, delight to unbend the stern
and rigid brow of reproof, to mingle in the circles of innocent
mirth and cheerfulness. He who increases the stock of "harmless
pleasure," makes the public his debtor; but in order to ascertain
that such is the character of pleasure, the requisite tests must be
faithfully and rigorously applied. Cheerfulness uniformly shuns all
intercourse with vice, but virtue is her favourite and appropriate
companion.
The innocent are gay--the lark is gay,
That dries his feathers, saturate with dew,
Beneath the rosy cloud, while yet the beams
Of day-spring overshoot his humble nest.
The _Desultory Remarker_ having thus in a spirit at once unreserved
and candid, introduced himself to the reader will for the present
respectfully take his leave; but with the hope of having other
opportunities of cultivating a further acquaintance.