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Literary
January 21, 1808
The Wheeling Repository
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
An essay reflecting on sources of human affliction, including congenital diseases like stone, scurvy, rheumatism, and gout, as well as social torments from treachery, injustice, and ingratitude. It also notes humanity's tendency to invent imaginary woes and self-torment in idleness. Attributed to Fenyns.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Sources of affliction.--We see men afflicted with innumerable diseases, which proceed not from accident, but are congenial with their original formation.
The stone grows in the bladder under the same direction as in the quarry; and the seeds of scurvy, rheumatism and gout, are sown in the blood, as vegetables are scattered over the face of the earth. From these various instruments of torture, numberless are the miseries which mankind endure. Nor are those, perhaps, less numerous, tho' less visible, which they suffer from that treachery, injustice, ingratitude, ill-humour, and perverseness, with which they every hour torment one another, interrupt the peace of society, and embitter the comforts of domestic life. To all which we may add, that wonderful ingenuity which they possess, of creating imaginary, in the absence of real misfortunes; and that corrosive quality in the human mind, which, for want of proper food or business, or contemplation, preys upon itself, and makes solitude intolerable, and thinking a most painful task.
[Fenyns.]
The stone grows in the bladder under the same direction as in the quarry; and the seeds of scurvy, rheumatism and gout, are sown in the blood, as vegetables are scattered over the face of the earth. From these various instruments of torture, numberless are the miseries which mankind endure. Nor are those, perhaps, less numerous, tho' less visible, which they suffer from that treachery, injustice, ingratitude, ill-humour, and perverseness, with which they every hour torment one another, interrupt the peace of society, and embitter the comforts of domestic life. To all which we may add, that wonderful ingenuity which they possess, of creating imaginary, in the absence of real misfortunes; and that corrosive quality in the human mind, which, for want of proper food or business, or contemplation, preys upon itself, and makes solitude intolerable, and thinking a most painful task.
[Fenyns.]
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Human Afflictions
Diseases
Social Vices
Ingratitude
Imaginary Misfortunes
Self Torment
What entities or persons were involved?
Fenyns
Literary Details
Title
Sources Of Affliction
Author
Fenyns
Key Lines
The Stone Grows In The Bladder Under The Same Direction As In The Quarry; And The Seeds Of Scurvy, Rheumatism And Gout, Are Sown In The Blood, As Vegetables Are Scattered Over The Face Of The Earth.
Nor Are Those, Perhaps, Less Numerous, Tho' Less Visible, Which They Suffer From That Treachery, Injustice, Ingratitude, Ill Humour, And Perverseness, With Which They Every Hour Torment One Another, Interrupt The Peace Of Society, And Embitter The Comforts Of Domestic Life.
To All Which We May Add, That Wonderful Ingenuity Which They Possess, Of Creating Imaginary, In The Absence Of Real Misfortunes; And That Corrosive Quality In The Human Mind, Which, For Want Of Proper Food Or Business, Or Contemplation, Preys Upon Itself, And Makes Solitude Intolerable, And Thinking A Most Painful Task.