KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 
of periodical, distemper, deducts something 
from the strength and structure of his frame. 
Some leaves fall from the tree of life every 
time that its trunk is shaken. It may thus 
be disrobed of its beauty, and made to betray 
the dreary nakedness of a far advanced 
autumn, long before, in the regular course of 
nature, that season could even have com- 
menced. The distinction, though incalculably 
important, is not sufficiently recognised, 
between stimulation and nutrition ; between 
repairing the expenditure of the fuel by a 
supply of substantial matter, and urging un- 
seasonably, or to an inordinate degree, the 
violence of the heat and the brilliancy of the 
flame. 
The strongest liquors are the most weaken- 
ing. In proportion to the power which the 
draught itself possesses, is that which it ulti- 
mately deducts from the person into whose 
stomach it is habitually received. Ina state 
of ordinary health, and in many cases of 
disease, a generous diet may be safely and 
even advantageously recommended. But in 
diet, the generous ought to be distinguished 
from the stimulating. This latter is almost 
exclusively, but, on account of its evil opera- 
tions upon the frame,very improperly, called 
good living. The indigent wretch whose 
scanty fare is scarcely sufficient to supply 
the materials of existence, and the no less 
wretched debauchec, whose luxurious indul- 
gence daily accelerates the period of its 
destruction, may both be said to live hard. 
Hilarity is not health; more especially when 
it has been aroused by artificial means. ‘The 
fire of intemperance often illuminates, at the 
very moment that it is consuming its victim. 
It is not until after the blaze of an electric 
corruscation that its depredations are exposed. 
Stimuli sometimes produce a kind of 
artificial genius as well as vivacity. They | 
lift a man’s intellectual faculties, as well as his 
feelings of enjoyment, above their ordinary 
level; and if, by the same means, they could 
be kept for any length of time in that state of 
exaltation, it might constitute something like 
a specious apology for having had recourse to 
their assistance. Unfortunately, however, 
the excitement of the system can in no in- 
stance be urged above its accustomed and 
natural pitch, without this being succeeded 
by a correspondent degree of depression. 
Like the fabulous stone of Sisyphus, it 
invariably begins to fall as soon as it has 
reached the summit ; and the rapidity of its 
subsequent descent is almost invariably in 
proportion to the degree of its previous 
elevation. Genius, in this manner forcibly 


raised, may be compared to those fireworks 
which after having made a brilliant figure in 
the sky for a short time, fall to the ground, 
and expose a miserable fragment as the only 
relic of their preceding splendor. 

199 
It is no uncommon thing in this dissipated 
metropolis for a woman of gaiety and fashion, 
previous to the reception of a party, to light 
up, by artificial means, her mind as well her 
rooms. ‘This is done in order that both may 
be “ shown off to the bestadvantange.” But 
the mental lustre which is thus kindled goes 
out even sooner than that of the lamps; and 
the mistress of the entertainment often finds 
herself deserted by her spirits, long before: 
she is deserted by her guests. In like man-. 
ner, a man who is meditating a composition 
for the public is often tempted to rouse the 
torpor or to spur the inactivity of his facul- 
ties by some temporary incentive. Gay, in 
one of his letters, observes that ‘he must be 
a bold man who ventures to write without 
the help of wine.” But, in general, it may 
be remarked that the cordials which an author 
on this.account may be induced to take, are 
more likely to make himself than his readers 
satisfied with his productions. The goodthings 
which a person under the influence of ficti- 
tious exhilaration may be stimulated to say, 
are often, in their effects, the very worst 
things than he could possibly have uttered. 
From a want of sufficient steadiness or dis- 
cretion, sparks sometimes fall from the torch 
of genius by which it is converted into a fire- 
brand of mischief. 
We are apt to complain of the heaviness 
and wearisomeness of volumes, where the 
pains taken by the writer have not been 
sufficiently concealed. But the apparent 
result of excessive care is much to be pre- 
ferred to the heedless effusion of a mind over 
which itis too obvious that the judgment has 
in a great measure suspended its control. 
It is far better that a work should smell of 
the lamp than of the cask. 

THE LONELY BIRD. 

Brown Autumn is flying, 
Stern Winter is nigh, 
Sweet flow’rs are dying, 
Hali-withered they lie. 
The warblers have left us, 
For bright summer skies ; 
Cold winds have bereft us 
Of Philomel’s sighs. 
Far wanders the swallow ; 
Alas! only one, 
In our wooded hollow 
Still lingers alone ! 
She tarries, a mourner, 
Her offspring are gone ; 
Now sadder,—forlorner,— 
She tarries alone ! 
Ye tempests, pass o’er her, 
Disturb not her rest, 
Till sweet-smiling FLora 
Breathes life on her nest! 
Mortey. 

