Gazette Of The United States

ABSURDITIES.

THAT the children of those, who by a fortuitous concurrence of circumstances, or by industry and the practice of the severer virtues of economy, temperance and sobriety, have acquired a fortune, should be educated to the practice of similar virtues, or any virtue whatever, in order to preserve what their fathers have acquired for them.

That discipline should be thought necessary to form the body or mind to activity, health and virtue—when other animals, which it must be acknowledged, are less manageable than the human species, are trained to usefulness, without restraint, bit or bridle.

That vicious indulgences, idleness, profaneness, lying, baseness and cruelty, should be considered as indicative of an education that will lead to infamy, to depredations on society, to ignominy and a premature death.

That the art of speaking is better than the art of boxing—and that to inculcate the principles of justice, clemency, and sensibility on the minds of children, will probably make them better members of society than the arts of petty peculation; a shameless contempt of the miseries of the unhappy, and a savage delight in doing mischief.

That learning, virtue, honor and fame, are the result of discipline, study and diligence—that the hill of science is steep and difficult to ascend—and that a total relaxation of all rule and order in society, whether on the larger or smaller scale, is pregnant with disgrace, disappointment confusion and ruin.

IRONICUS.