The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-10-08

On The ropsmigrotion ofmatter.

utterly and totally dlsbclieye. But |
have often thought of the various chan
pes which matter undereoes, and the
different forms winch il assumes in the
progress of time, with feelings OF inter-
est and curiosity. The human body
presents one Of the greatest instances oil
the changes OF matter, that can be pro-
dnoed; for it has been asserted upon
close investigation, by some of the most
enli htcned philosophers Of the age, thai
in the course of a slnole year, every
particle of matter existing III the body,
is axpeIIcd from the system, and Other
matter substituted in us place. II this
be true, anu there is no reason 10 doubt
the fact, how curious and intricate must
be the structure of our bodies how
much beyond our comprehension. We
see another instance of this change Of
matter, in the wood which is consumed
upon our heartIS. \ part Of il is seat
tered in the air, to mingle with the pure
ether of heaven, while black and dir
ty substance alone remains, totally dill
ferent in its nature, from the wood which
previously existed. The grass springs
from the earth, 10 joy our hearts with
its beauteous verdure, remains for few
short months, and then, again returns 10
he dust from which it had arisen.
| was walking in secluded part Of
the town, few evenings since, when |
happened to reflect upon this very sub
iect. The wind whislled with mourn
ful cadence, through the branches of a
large elm, against which | had momen-
tarily leaned, and the notes fell upon my
ear, like the requiem of the dead. But
the sounds gradually became intclllg-
Bile, and though | had often convelsed
with the forest trees, The time The place,
and the train of thought into which had
been led, gave an unusual interest Ia The
scene.-The first words | could dslin-
gush were these, j." Vain, foolish mortal,
canst thou tell with all thy wisdom, where
the ashes OF Adam, the great father Of
the human race, repose Z Canst thou
tell what mighty hand reared the pyra-
mids, those ever during monuments Of
art Canst thou tell, why my leaves
| fall in autumn and revive agalnln spring
! Thou hyest To the sun and moon, 10 IN
vesiIgate their natures thou makest
thy important discoveries in the arts /;
thou thnkest that thou has reached the
very hill Of science, whilst the slmp,eit
operations of thy own globe, are entire
1 l.. - ~
piled, " what thou hast affirmed is III
deed so, and it is IA humiliating thought
to the man oil science, that he is still so
ignorant, and that whatever discoveries
he may make, there still exists mystic
ries winch no human intellect can pene-
trate, which no human efforts can deve.
lope. But why dost thou speak Of A.
dim, or where hast thou acquired a know
ledge of the pyramids VINO has inslruc-
ted thee, in the philosophy, and the dis
coverlcs OF modern times y
" Mortal" said the elm, receive
instruction from tree. | will disclose
to YOU, what | have never permitted
myself to disclose to others, history oil
the changes Of matter changes which
have experienced. Listen attentively /;
1t is the dust of Adam, the veneraed ia
ther OF mankind, which speaks to thee. >
For IA moment, The wind died away, and
no sound was heard | stood IN sus-
pense the blast again wbslIed thru
the branches, and the voice thus pro-
ceeded, " The great Adam died. lie
was buried near the Euphrates, by the
side of lovely fountain, where the buh-
bling waters invited the thirsty traveller
to take ro,reshment from its CLASSY bo-
som. Scarcely had the first man re-
turned to dust, when small and tender
tree, was seen rearing its head by the
side Of the fountain. 1t derived It's nou-
rshment from the dust Of the departed
Adam, and the matter which once ex-
listed IN HIM, again rose to life and or
ganizalion in the lofty cedar. The wea-
ry traveller sought its shade for repose,
and the birds Of the air warbled in its
/ branches. Then nature was III her IN
! fancy; the sun shone with a brighter
and purer lusire, and all was Joy and
gladness.
But time rolled rapidly along, and
years, and centuries, mingled with those
gone by; age began 70 seaihc the
branches which had SO long withstood
the wntry storm. Meanwhile, what a
difference had taken place in the earth ;
millions of men, descendants Of the same
great ancestor, lived upon lis surface,
and war, and rapine, and murder, had
long since appeared among them. Or
ten lie weary wanderer, while taking
repose by the side of The christian loun-
tain, would be surprised, and murdered,
aud plundcrod by some ruthless villain
and then the branches of that tree NIGH
be heard to rustic, as tho the dust oil
! Adam. was signing over the degeneracy