Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-01


cessary, barely to refer 10 what took place after
the battle Of Marathon, and to the simple but
noble inscription on the monument erec'ed to
those who fell with Leondas at Thermopy,s-
$50, stranger, and tell at Lacedemon that we
died here in obedience to her sacred laws
After all the conjectures and learned researches
that have Been made concerning the famous
Pyramids Of Egypt, i, is now generally thought
and admitted that these huge piles, which have
de6ed the ravages of time and the destructive
hands OF oarbalians, and in which "art seems,
for once, 10 have We'd with the durability Of ma
ture," were raised TO serve as burial places for
the Egy,isn Kings. Nor did this sentiment, so
common, expire with the glory Of Greece and
Rome. Ityet exists. England has her West.
minister Abbey crowded with The stones she has
placed there to-commemorate her ncbles, her
warriors, her poets, and her philosophers; and
there is not country in Europe but has some
work of the kind, which may tell to the passing
stranger the yenerat!on felt for those who did
honor u the land.
Ii is not now the time to tell OF the folly Of
these works-These are not the days to say that
"the records Of history, the "reminiscences Of
| the biographer, and the lollier honors Of the
Muse, will supply the place o: the pencil and
chisel" Will the spirit burn, and the mind
fire, while reading the pages of history, as they
do " hen contemplating The monument on which
nation has engravcr the honors won by her
departed fasoritc? Will the sublimest effusior
Of poetry kindle the energies as much as
sight of the " lap Of earth" where rests the head
Of genius, and talent, and vir:ur! Standing be.
fore The sepulchre OF one whose fame is begin.
ming to brighten by age, how many recolec.
tons, how mary ennobling sentiments crowd
upon The mind! We pause, and survey with
admiration the splendid column, and the polish.
ed marble which marks his resting place. We
cali up the remembrance Of lie well ami ho>
norably spent, and, if a spark of noble feeling
exists in our bosoms, such scene mus, awaken
aud kindle II into action. Goldsmith has Ie-
marked, that the Sparans and Persiars made
6ne political use OF sspulchral vanity; they
permitted none TO be thus inferred, who had
no, fallen in the vindcalion OF their country;
mos ument thus became real mark Of disrinc.
lion, il nsrved the hero arm with tenfod yieor,
and he fought without fear who only fought for
grave. Indeed these feelings arc natural, and
perfectly consistent, with the best principles
which possess. We cannot imagine any
| ili iu,t h.,
ing Tor his country Than the reflection, that if
he falls he will not be forgoteD-tllat after ge-
nera.ions will visit his lomb & learn from the
mem oriaI which grateful nation h.s erected to
reverence his memory, and initiate his actions.
The creates. minds have acknowledged III.
force OF these sentiments, and happier exam.
| pie could not BE- produced than the gallant Mel
son, who, in the last splendid battle in which hr
was engaged, exclaimed, as he gloriously led on
the fleet to battle, Vieio>y or Westminster .ay,
| 6ey!"
We are sorry that The Statesman has impE.
edly chimed in with the too common remark in
this country, that national monuments are use.
less. We Say implicitly, because what is said
in the paragraph we have quoted a, the begin
Ming OF this article, does no: expressly condemn
them. Professor Carter is himself a traveller,
and we would ask him, what he thinks Of the
works Of This kind in Europe, and whether they
did not always leave = favorable impression on
his mind, after visiting them, as to the char-c,
ter Of The people by whom they were erected
The art Of printing has, al the lurlhcs', only
partially superseded their necessity. History
looks forwards to the future-We arc cot cou'
tent until we can do something ourselves. lis
melancholy satisfaction TO endeavor, although
we know The attempt is saiu, TO "sooth the dull
cold ear of dea,hi ND fbsa cry same principle
which would tsssts percent TO place stone o
YER the grave ms Child, would impel ma
ton to raise monument to the memory ola
favorte son.
BOLIVAR