The Virginian

CASTLE BUILDING.
From the Ironton Emporium.
How delightful, especially to youth, is the employment of castle building. How beautiful in their estimation are the airy fabrics they rear--how symmetrical, how well adapted to afford ease and contentment. What young person is there, who does not occasionally, as the hour of sober twilight approaches, when soothing, pensive sadness succeeds to the bustle of his daily employment, soar into the regions of fancy, & conjure up to his imagination bright hopes and anticipations of future happiness. This creation of "houses not made with hands," is certainly one of the most exquisite enjoyments of life; would that the mansions were "eternal as the heavens." Every man has a "summum bonum," a height of enjoyment suited to the refinement and capacity of his mind, these day dreams are always adapted to that standard. But there are certain distinguished characters which run thro' them all. Every young person, in forming these aerial structures, in acting in the imagination these delightful dramas of visionary life, has some form, that of a dear and loved one, who is the hero of every scene. In pursuing these flights of fancy the feelings will sometimes be worked up, the passions roused, & the mind so much agitated that the effects will not cease for many hours. If we could see the visions of these dreamers it would be more effectual than any other means of studying and ascertaining their characters. It is then that a man acts his part without disguise, and the ideas which enter his mind are the genuine offspring of his temper and disposition, produced without reserve or restraint. As these fancies are hidden in the mind that conceives them; I cannot tell whether the dark twilight of age is illuminated by these bright halos of unreal blessedness. But I do know that from the time the mind is able to form desires that cannot be gratified, or to fancy a condition preferable to that which it enjoys, so early will mankind be gladdened by imaginary bliss, or weep at imaginary woe. The school boy felicitates himself with the contemplation of happiness in some region where the voice of authority will not be heard. The youth as his mind expands and the warm feelings of his soul are brought into action, excites his imagination and gratifies his love of pleasure, by wandering in fancy through flowering paths and shady bowers, by the side of his best beloved. What exquisite delight is there in these imaginary joys. He conjures up to himself obstacles to his love which serve only to heighten his joy by being overcome. He conjures over to himself expressions glowing with love and tenderness by which he intends at his next meeting with his mistress to express the ardor of his passion. At other times, if he be a youth of pride and ambition he may be observed to tread the ground with a high & haughty step as the images of his fertile imagination pass across his mind. Now he fancies himself thundering with eloquent vehemence at the bar; anon he arranges himself with the grave counsellors of the nation, and is not satisfied until he is placed in the presidential chair, the highest office freemen can bestow. If we mark him when his mind is filled with such ideas, we will find, that instead of the melting languor of love-sick softness, he uses the earnest and expressive gestures of roused ambition. With clenched hands and elevated brow, and head erect, he seems already to enjoy that power, which exists only in contemplation. Again his fancy takes another flight, and forsaking all the bounds of probability and even of nature, launches into a chaos of bliss, and revels in the imaginary ecstasies until it becomes fatigued, and at length sinks into total imbecility. This is the moment that our dreamer pays most dearly for the fickle though ecstatic pleasure he has enjoyed. See with what pale & haggard expression he mingles with the world, which for the moment he loathes, while his spirit is too much fatigued to continue its flight, to the regions of felicitous vanity.
Castle building has the same effect upon the mind as voluptuous living upon the body. It occasions an indolence, an inactivity, a listlessness, which renders a man totally unfit either for the business or the pleasures of the world around him. He loses the relish for the common affairs of life, & wastes his strength both of mind and body while indulging in these foolish dreams. This will always be the case with those who indulge to excess in this fascinating amusement. As a means of enjoyment, it has been given us by the author of our existence, and should be used as such in moderation; but whoever goes beyond this moderate use, will pay dearly for his pleasure. I believe that many of those who are of melancholy habits, owe their disease of mind to this pernicious practice of treading the clouds for joys that never can be realized, and weeping over woes that never may be feared.
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