Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-05-11
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
THE DREAMER.-NO. l.
BY SIMON sNoRER, ESQ.


but wearisome labor, as | was sitting
before the remains OF good IRE, medi-
tating on the all-eDgrosslng subject which
now interests the good people OF our state,
and viewing it in its moral as we'll as
political character, l was insensibly led
10 think on the fate of those nations which
in former as we'll as more recent ages,
have pursued the selfish policy of COM
pelling other men to labor for them with
out remuneration. Egypt, Macedon,
Greece, Rome, have all fourished in
splendor and in power. In the days OF
their prosperity they became proud, lux
urous aud ndoent, and dIsregaldng the
natural rights OF others, were willing to
obtain by force, relief from the toll oil
procuring their bread by honest indus
try. Slaves were compelled to toll and
sweat without the nope of an equitable
return, or even of distant release from
their abject situation. The naughty up
pressors had the power, Obtained per-
haps by ccident-certsinly by war and
bloodshed, and they most cruelty exer-
cised it.
Where are those nations now! And
how have they fallen from their high
estate
Rioting in luxury, and accustomed to
depend on others for their very subsist-
ence, they became effeninate and vi
cious. AS the successive generations
grew, they Mingled in their tender years
with slaves, and al the very time when
lasting Impressions are most easily made,
they were suffered to receive those i'm
pulses from men degraded by servitude !!
Thus the Incentives of virtue grew weak
er and weaker---vice spread her domi-
Mon wider and wider, until growing mo-
rally and physically weak they were pre-
pared for deslruction--and were success
siyely ovcrwhelmed-to be known only
as nations that had t1ourished--degenc-
iated--and decayed
Pondering on these things, was ire
sisliby drawn to the application OF them
to ourselves and was proceeding in the
gloomy task, when faiigued by the la
bors of the day, fell asieep.----
vagaries which the mind is wont TO III
dulge in dreams, on some aerial height,
whence could survey at one compre-
hensivc view, the whole OF that vast re-
gion which lies between the Gulf o.
Mexico and the great northern lakes,
Ii lay before me in all its real vastness
and magnihcence, and for a time my
faculties seemed absorbed in admiration
of the wonderful and mighty whole. A
length, however, began to examine il
in detail, and TO contrast the frozen
North" with the sunny South" The
bleak mountains, the rocky surfac e
and comparatively steril soil of the for
mer, seemed TO promise little for the
prosperity Of It's Inhabitants, while the
fertile plains, the balmy air, the grange
groves, and the sugar plantations of the
latter gave lively idea of the wealth
and enjoyment of its favored children.
| - Hsppy mortals," exclaimed, show
DELIGHTFULLY."- do your days pass away, and
how sweet your s'umbers, famed BY the
delicious odours OF your aromatic groves
But hard, indeed the lot Of your north
ern brethren, who have TO toll amid
rocks, and ice aud s,eril mountains,
for scany portion of homely fare.''
I AT this instant my soliloquy was in
terrupled by a dazzling light which shone
around me. raised my eyes, and was
conscious of the presence OF celestial
being. Her lovely but majestic form
filled me at once with admiration and
awe. Her commanding figure was
moulded in exact symmetry,
6. Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and e,"-
Over her ETHEREAL form was thrown a
robe Of purest white, confined to her
bust by cincture of cerulean blue,
which was adorned by several spark ling
ornaments that shone like stars of Twins,
! light One, particularly, which she wore
on her bosom, resembled miniature
constellation composed as l found on
closer inspection, of tweniy-tour bright
stars, nlermingled with several small.
points OF light, which seemed to twink lie
as if ready TO burst forth in splendor Xix e
the others. Her auburn hair, encrcled
by wreath of oak intertwined with lau-
rel, descended 10 graceful curves on her
temples, and waved in rich luxuriance
over her alabasier shoulders. But it is
vain to attempt description. l gazed
in specifies wonder on the glorious
apparition, and forgot to consider that
was in the presence of an inhabilant of
higher worlds. But when at length my
faculties resumed their functions, be-
came aware OF the reverence due 10 such