unbending the mind, and promoting the health. How often an hour's cheerful converse with friends or acquaintance, has scattered the darkest clouds of melancholy, every dyspeptic can testify. Nor is the influence of the intercourse hardly less improving to the mind, than study itself; although it is the study that renders the intercourse profitable. We are thus brought into direct contact with other minds, and learn how the subjects that have engaged us intently, are regarded by them; and some new views are most commonly elicited by such a discussion and comparison. It is literary society therefore, that is generally most profitable to the student: and he has a fine opportunity for such intercourse, living in the midst of so many companions, whose tastes and pursuits are congenial to his own. We need not wonder, therefore, that friendships formed in this manner, are among the purest and most enduring in life; and that the student never afterwards recollects his college friends, without strong and peculiar emotions. The influence of social intercourse upon the manners, is another of its most valuable effects. But here I confess that students labor under a peculiar difficulty. For in order that the manners should acquire that refinement and delicacy which is desirable, virtuous and respectable female society is, I believe, indispensable. Men associating together alone, will not conduct towards one another with that respect and suavity which genuine politeness demands. There will be a grossness and roughness in their mutual treatment, which they would not dare to indulge towards a refined and respectable female. True, even this is better than dandyism; which shows its head sometimes even within college walls; and which I would not be understood as advocating; for this is the opposite extreme. It manifests itself in the wasp-like figure—the finical aspect of the whole dress and accompaniments-the watch chain-the breast pin-the tasseled cane-the exquisite cut of the hair—and above all, by the shallowness of the soul;-a characteris MUSIC AS A RECREATION. 293 tic proving most conclusively, that this is an exotic within college precincts, and cannot flourish without a green house. Music. One other amusement only, I shall notice in this place. "There is a charm, a power that sways the breast; Bids every passion revel or be still; Inspires with rage, or all your cares dissolves; That power is music." Cultivated at the proper season—that is, at the close of severe study, to calm and divert the mind;—and not in defiance of law and good breeding, to disturb the stillness of the hours sacred to mental application, its effect is most happy. But its virtues have been so often celebrated, that I need only repeat the poet's penegyric. "Music exalts each joy, allays each grief, Concluding remarks. I have now finished, young gentlemen, according as I have been able, the system of Diet, Regimen, and Employment, which I proposed to develope. In conclusion, I would occupy your attention a few moments in briefly bringing together the most important advantages that would result to literary men from its adoption into their practice; although most of these advantages have been incidentally mentioned in the course of my remarks. This dietetic system is a safe one. In the first place, there is safety in adopting this system. Many, I know, will feel that the dietetical part, is little short of starvation;-that the regimen is severe drudgery; -and that the rules as to employment, are unfavorable to a vigorous prosecution of knowledge. But after all, is there any one, who will contend that this system will shorten life? Death is making ravages all around us; but how seldom do physicians tell us, that excessive abstemiousness, or too close attention to regimen, is the cause ! True, instances have occurred, in which individuals have actually starved themselves; but 999 out of 1000 die of repletion; yet the single case of starvation is more noticed, than the multitudes of an opposite character; simply because men wish to prove to themselves that abstemiousness is dangerous, that they may not be compelled to practice it. In spite of their wishes, however, long life and freedom from disease, are so generally the rewards of temperance and regularity in living, that they are unwillingly forced to acknowledge, that safety, if not happiness, does attend the adoption of the system for which I plead. It is an antidote to poverty and crime. Secondly, the adoption of this system by all classes of the community, would free most countries from nearly all their poverty and grosser crimes. And for this reason, that ex original source of these evils cess and extravagance are the in a vast majority of instances. Three fourths of the pauperism and crime in this country, result from intemperance in drinking; and probably the largest moiety of the remainder may be set down to the account of intemperance in some other respects. But in order that the lower classes in society shall practice rigid temperance, the example must be set them by the higher classes. And who so well calculated to take the lead in this matter as literary men? It is favorable to health and longevity. Thirdly, the thorough adoption of this system would preserve the life of the healthy, and secure them, for the most part, against acute as well as chronic disease, to extreme old age. Here again would I appeal to experience. Can there be an instance produced, in which persons in good THIS SYSTEM WARDS OFF DISEASE. 295 health have found the practice of temperance to be productive of disease and early debility; unless it were pushed to a degree of rigor for which I have not contended? On the contrary, have I not brought forward a multitude of instances in which continued health, cheerfulness, and happiness have attended the practice of this system of temperance to extreme old age ? I have a right, therefore, to conclude, that such would be its effects in every case, were it faithfully adopted. That is to say, two of the greatest blessings of this life-health and longevity-would be the rich reward of following out the system. "Some will tell us," says Cornaro, "that old age is no blessing; that when a man is past seventy, his life is nothing but weakness, infirmity, and misery. But I can assure these gentlemen they are mightily mistaken; and that I find myself, old as I am, (which is much beyond what they speak of,) to be in the most pleasant and delightful stage of life." It is such an old age as Cornaro's that results from temperance; and not the "labor and sorrow," the fretfulness, melancholy, and infirmity, which are the lot of all the aged who, in any respect, violate the laws of temperance. It would cure most chronic complaints, and mitigate those that are incurable. Thirdly, the adoption of this system would cure most chronic complaints, particularly nervous maladies, or render those subject to them more comfortable, prolong even their days, and smooth their passage to the grave. Most chronic maladies are brought on by overworking some part, or the whole, of the system. It is rational, therefore, to conclude, that by suffering the fatigued organs to rest as much as possible, for a time, they would probably recover their original strength. Temperance gives them this rest; or requires them to labor only enough to keep the animal machine in play-demanding no superfluous effort. The consequence is, that if the disorder under which a man la bors, be curable, temperance will cure it. And it has cured many when medical skill had exhausted its powers in vain. But if the constitution be too far reduced, and actual organic disease has proceeded very far, it may be too late for any thing but a miracle, to save a man from the grave. But even in such a case, rigid temperance will alleviate the symptoms, enable the powers of life to hold out longer, and give finally a gentle discharge from life. Even then, if the invalid is not sure of restoration to health, by the adoption of this system, he may confidently calculate upon most important benefits from it. For when we feel disease to be triumphing over nature, how great a blessing do we deem a respite of even a few months, especially if it be accompanied with superior tranquillity of mind, and followed by a release from life comparatively easy and peaceful. It would free men from most of their pains and diseases. Fourthly, it follows, that the adoption of this temperance system, would free men from the largest proportion of those pains and diseases that now afflict them. For it is the neglect of these rules that brings the greater part of these sufferings upon us. True, some causes of disease and pain would remain, were men perfectly temperate and regular: such, for instance, as some of the unsubdued passions, which temperance would not restrain; various unavoidable accidents, &c. But after all, it is intemperance and irregularity of some kind, that are the most prolific sources of disease and and suffering. Few, indeed, will believe this; but it is not for want of proof;--and whoever lives in the millenium, will probably have before him an ocular demonstration. It gives strength, and sustains privations and hardships. Fifthly, the adoption of this system would greatly increase the power of sustaining privations and hardships of all kinds. It is not the men of full feeding and full muscle, whose appearance is healthy and vigorous, that can ordinarily sustain the severest labors, vicissitudes of weather and climate, |