Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-06
From he Boston Csntinel.
TIE KALEIDOSCOPE.

name,
Thou plaything for sages and mystery Tor
bows,
Thou prettiest of wonders and gravest OF
toys.
Sure we never have seen, and we never
shall see, ,,,
In this age of phenomena, aught ike unto
thee.
The musical box and the musical ring; :,
The invisible girl, who could prattie and
sing
We're but ,rihes to thee, with thy shapes
andt,y hues,
AMI thousand of thousands Of varying
views.
Do look at it, Tom! there, just shut one
And close to this hole lei the other draw
nigh.
Now give but turn, OF touch, or a shake,
And Behold what new figures and forms
you eau make
Keep looking, keep turning and looking
" Te pewers."
You exc'aim, and Good gracious, what
millions of flowers
!" Methinks Fam unwinGing long role oil
prints,-
" Which they stamp upon room-paper,'or
chintZ,
"or such n,gniiel snow drops it seems to
GAS the Encyclopedia describes in the
plate.
~Pray what is inside, that brings forth
such creations,
AMI muItipies thousands OF new COM
l,aa.in,rc
-"In the very sumo mould every figure is
cast,
e" And vet each differs vide asc can be from
the last.
Sometimes they begin from the centre to
change
" Sometimes from the border their parts
they arrange, >, >.
sometimes they take leave with l'nger-
inc motion,
cor dart into view like fish from the
ocean.
"But tell me how far will this long series
run
Say, is it not wound up ? will it never
be done ~
No, 10, Tom, you talk like an ignorant
goat, :.
Come hear me explain the philosophy OF
Take couple of mirrors-no, stay,i Tor
got -
You've but che in the world-oh, well, that
matters not,
I've another-now lei them be set face 10
face,
Join'd below-but at top let them open
Now snatch from Maria the rose she is
While | hold the mirrors [well done, you
are daring ,
Hold now the same rose, with It's leaves all
complete,
Just where at an angle the two mirrors
meet
And then, where the mirrors reflect UNDER
meath; ...,
You will see most perfect and beautiful
wreath.
And such is the myst'ry and principle,
Tom,
Which they have borrowed this wonderful
instrument from,
Within That tin tube you will find by IN
spectiAg,
AT an angle two small looking glasses re-
Recting,
Then in lieu Of the rose there are small bits
Of glass,
Ofall colours, and sizes and shapes in a
mass.
Now FOX cv'y appearance those pieces
present.
A circular six-fold reflection is lent,
And the least agitation these peices sustain,
Breaks W. the old shapes, and forms new
ones again.
Why I've hearda great mathematician de-
clare,
Who is deepcrin such things than you and
1are,
Tha, if ever since Adam was fcrm'd from
the Ground Ioscope round,
There was some one who turned kaleid-
And brought new figure each second TO
view, he two,
There might never, in all points, resembling
But now let US leave permu,atiohs and COM
Binations for thoughts we like better, dear
Tom. counting,
We are poets--and poets don't oft tase 10
But on TROPICS and SMILES love 10 be mount
ing. Ieye,
lie, us glance at this toy with poets fond
And to gather moral Wen soberly try,
Say, what is this world that we live IN be-
low?
Kaleidoscope only-a plaything for show:
Like the vanishing figures before us, we men
just melt into being and melt out again.
Perhaps our whole lives, like these figures,
supply, [eye,
A moments amusement to some anxious
Tha, peeps from an opening II. yon dis
tart sphere, ing here.
And list'essly views US while slmmer-
Butwhy at this thought so subdaed do YOU
seem? here hut dream,
- e may wake IN iscYhere-'hough tits
Then, nv friend, let US aim with unwea
rving strife,
To -er5ect this flee'ing, Kaleidoscope life,
ADd ev'n ii rs figure and color alone,
Re. rs shaoe il and brighten il well-iill It's