Transcribed Letter - Geni
Transcribed Letter from Mr. H. Humphrey1 to Joseph Ridgway Jr.2 (1800 –1850), written at Newport OH, November 27, 1822 Newport Dec 2nd Mr. Joseph Ridgeway jun. Columbus Ohio Newport Nov. 27th 1822 My dear friend_ I now sit down deliberately to write you a long letter and if the fountain of my head does not run dry you may expect for once to be well tired. What particular information would be interesting to you it is impossible for me to anticipate. However judgeing your feelings by my own I conclude nothing would come amiss from a friend. In my present situation I enjoy myself as well as could be expected. My business for the winter is to keep school and keep up with my class in the University- this I can do but it makes devilish hard work. The society in this place is the best I have met with in the state- being principally independent, intelligent farmers, and they are perhaps not excelled by the same class of men for information in any other place. To tell you the truth such is the society I delight to mingle with where poverty does not intrude his wrinkled brow nor luxury show her pampered visage. This is the soil most friendly to virtue- ‘Tis true this class of people is not perfect, we find some unpleasant things among them; but, then where is perfection to be found? They are generally open, candid, plain and honest and in every one of these qualifications there is a peculiar charm for me. The females too see to be devoid of that ostentation and vanity which characterizes those of higher life, at the same they have not the same incitements to vice, unpampered by the heating diet of the rich. They are generally modest, and intelligent and make good mothers and good wives- I say good mothers because when a young man is seeking for a companion he should consider this point in particular especially if he expects to be a father. As you know the ancients chose their Pythia and vestal virgins from this class, believing them to be more virtuous, so I believe if I were to choose a wife I would follow their example. From the samples I have seen of high life (I Mean such as is generally understood By high life) I confess I am not much pleased with it. If ever I should have any thing to do in that society I will “stalk into their drawing rooms with my coat of old fashioned armour” and out again as soon as possible. I hate formalities of any kind. One spark of genuine feeling is worth all the “bows and scrapes ever practiced or taught by a dancing master. There is a sort of natural sympathy by which the feelings of friendly hearts flow into one another and which you and I have so often experienced in each others society. It is this that pleases me and it seems to blunt the thorns of life and extracts the poisonous stings of adversity- Adversity is a monster and we must all be favoured with her company more or less. More true to a man than the wife of his bosom. She never entirely deserts him- Though we fret at her company and call her Hag! She heeds us not she still continues faithful- but alas! Her faith is of that kind that for the good of the soul she torments the body and whenever she can she strikes to the quick. But what are to do? Shall we “take to ourselves despair” another devil if the same brood? No, the dignity and honour of man forbids it- every moral and social principle forbid it- what shall we do then? Why in the “calm light of mild philosophy” be resigned to our fate after we have done all we can to better our condition, Our earth is not a paradise nor are men angles, neither is it a hell (unless we make so) nor men devils- Seneca says “that a virtuous man struggling under misfortunes and at length rising above them is a sight upon which the gods may look with pleasure”- I have not yet commenced the world; you have just ventured forth-
you may be successful and you may not- I was sorry to see the idea you hazarded that if you did not succeed it might possibly prove your ruin- yet if such is your opinion I am glad you mentioned it; for I would if possible assist you to guard against such an erronious notion. You may fail in your first undertaking and yet succeed and do well in the world. I would say to you get married and raise up a family of children; the care that a wife and family would claim would keep your mind from despondency. Perhaps you will reply that this is fine philosophizing and say in the words of Shakespere “I could easier be one, and instruct twenty than be one of the twenty and follow my own instructions”But this is not always the case; with an energetic mind “to plan and act is the same.” A little philosophy you know, my friend, together with a little indifference to the world is a fine thing. I was always celebrated for a kind of stubborn philosophy which partook somewhat of insensibility; but nevertheless I had as much feeling as any one, as you very well know- the main point is to govern and restrain our feelings. There are many enjoyments in the world; and I believe it is the duty of man to partake of those that are innocent. Among the most innocent perhaps the association of friends may be reckoned where there exists a similarity of taste, and that taste in particular which is attendant on literary pursuits- The state of Ohio it must be confessed is as yet wretchedly deficient in these respects. Comparatively speaking there are but few who care anything about books or learned men. But the cloud is breaking away and the Ohio will undoubtedly equal any of her sister states in time. She is at present like some overgrown inexperienced youth- that has in a few years attained the stature but not the experience of manhood. The region about Washington County is the oldest but by no means the improved part of the state. The black hills about Athens and Marietta well many of them be fit for nothing but for goats and sheep. I must now make a few enquiries and close my letter. Do you hear any news from Aurora? My correspondents there are all dead or asleep. I received a letter from Mr. Wheeler last spring, I wrote to him directly after but have not heard from him since. I wrote Page once at Fairfield; whether he received it or not I am not able to say however I have received no answer from him- The truth is they are all so confounded lazy! I know it is apt sometimes to be the case with me- Where in Columbus do you live and have how do you live? If you live like a clever Bachelor or if you are Married I intend to visit you as soon as possible- It may be next spring- It may not be ‘till next fall, uncertain which- the truth is I am clearly pressed with my studies. I have read Lord Byron ‘till I have committed considerable of it to memory but I have not read it quite enough yet. If I come to Columbus next spring I will bring itotherwise I will send it by some convenient opportunity. I hope you will write immediately and in case you do you may direct to Newport Washington Ohio. But if you do not write soon you must direct to Brown’s (or Brewers) Mill. When I cannot see a friend- to think by whose hand it was written, by whose thoughts it was produced and a thousand other little circumstances too trifling to mention. I cannot say however that it is the case with others; sometimes, indeed, I think I am so different from as the word that it will no longer do to judge others by myself. My heart is susceptible of friendship of any kind and sometimes I think I have a friendship for some of my old friends “passing the love of women.” That you may enjoy every blessing your genius can merit is the wish of your friend, H. Humphrey
Footnotes: 1. [H. Humphrey – researching] 2.
[Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850)]
you may be successful and you may not- I was sorry to see the idea you hazarded that if you did not succeed it might possibly prove your ruin- yet if such is your opinion I am glad you mentioned it; for I would if possible assist you to guard against such an erronious notion. You may fail in your first undertaking and yet succeed and do well in the world. I would say to you get married and raise up a family of children; the care that a wife and family would claim would keep your mind from despondency. Perhaps you will reply that this is fine philosophizing and say in the words of Shakespere “I could easier be one, and instruct twenty than be one of the twenty and follow my own instructions”But this is not always the case; with an energetic mind “to plan and act is the same.” A little philosophy you know, my friend, together with a little indifference to the world is a fine thing. I was always celebrated for a kind of stubborn philosophy which partook somewhat of insensibility; but nevertheless I had as much feeling as any one, as you very well know- the main point is to govern and restrain our feelings. There are many enjoyments in the world; and I believe it is the duty of man to partake of those that are innocent. Among the most innocent perhaps the association of friends may be reckoned where there exists a similarity of taste, and that taste in particular which is attendant on literary pursuits- The state of Ohio it must be confessed is as yet wretchedly deficient in these respects. Comparatively speaking there are but few who care anything about books or learned men. But the cloud is breaking away and the Ohio will undoubtedly equal any of her sister states in time. She is at present like some overgrown inexperienced youth- that has in a few years attained the stature but not the experience of manhood. The region about Washington County is the oldest but by no means the improved part of the state. The black hills about Athens and Marietta well many of them be fit for nothing but for goats and sheep. I must now make a few enquiries and close my letter. Do you hear any news from Aurora? My correspondents there are all dead or asleep. I received a letter from Mr. Wheeler last spring, I wrote to him directly after but have not heard from him since. I wrote Page once at Fairfield; whether he received it or not I am not able to say however I have received no answer from him- The truth is they are all so confounded lazy! I know it is apt sometimes to be the case with me- Where in Columbus do you live and have how do you live? If you live like a clever Bachelor or if you are Married I intend to visit you as soon as possible- It may be next spring- It may not be ‘till next fall, uncertain which- the truth is I am clearly pressed with my studies. I have read Lord Byron ‘till I have committed considerable of it to memory but I have not read it quite enough yet. If I come to Columbus next spring I will bring itotherwise I will send it by some convenient opportunity. I hope you will write immediately and in case you do you may direct to Newport Washington Ohio. But if you do not write soon you must direct to Brown’s (or Brewers) Mill. When I cannot see a friend- to think by whose hand it was written, by whose thoughts it was produced and a thousand other little circumstances too trifling to mention. I cannot say however that it is the case with others; sometimes, indeed, I think I am so different from as the word that it will no longer do to judge others by myself. My heart is susceptible of friendship of any kind and sometimes I think I have a friendship for some of my old friends “passing the love of women.” That you may enjoy every blessing your genius can merit is the wish of your friend, H. Humphrey
Footnotes: 1. [H. Humphrey – researching] 2.
[Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850)]
