The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-10
THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT.
From Baird's Travels in Europe.

and touches at Gehe, Hudksvall, Hernosand,
Unica, and other points on the western coast of
the Gull of Bothnia Nasa on the eastern, on
its way up TO Tornea, at the head of the Gulf.
This voyage is very pleasant one and gives
an opportunity to those who wish to 90 up to
that very northern city at the summer solstice
or on st. Johns day, when from the neighbor-
ing mountain they can have their faith con-
frmed in the truth of the Copernican system.
For, at that epoch, the sun, to those who are
on that elevation, does not descend below the
horizon, but is seen to decline to The northwest,
and verge more and more to the exact north,
until it reaches at midnight its lowest point,
when it is just visible above the horizon. In
n few minutes If is seen to commence its up
ward course towards the northeast, and thus
continues its glorious progress until it reaches
again its zenith in the south. Even TO one
who is at Stockholm, at that epoch, the nights
for two or three weeks are sufficiently light,
from the refraction of the suns rays, owing to
its being so little beneath the horizon, for the
performance or almost any business. We hap
pened about the time four years ago, TO be 60
ing up to the promotion Of Upsala, and were
obliged TO travel all night; and VIC have dis
tinct recollection of reading letter at mid
night, with ease, even whist passing through
a forest. And the year after at the same sea
son, we often whed away our leisure moments
by setting at the windows of the house where
we stayed, on the English Quay in st. Peters
burgh, a city which is situated in the same
degree north of Stockholm, and reading until
midnight. During that period scarcely cloud
was TO be seen in the sky, which had both day
and night, that light blue which is peculiar to
these northern regions at that portion of the
year, and which is occasIoned by the rays of
the sun striking the atmosphere Of that portion
of the earth at so small an angle. Scarcely a
star was visible in the heavens at night, and
the moon even when full, hardly formed shad-
ow. At that season, there is something unnat-
ural and death-like in the appearance Of things,
as night sets in. Business comes TO an end
before the sun goes down, all nature falls into
stiffness and repose, whilst it is yet light. And
if YOU have heen unaccustoncd to such state
of things, you seem, as you pass the streets,
whether it be of Stockholm, of St Petersburg,
Hernosand or Tornea, to be in the midst of a
city which is uninhabited. No living thing,
perhaps, is to be seen any where, as you pass
street after street, save some solitary sentinel
with his grey coat and musket.
Proceedings of the Congressional Total Ab
stinence society at a meeting held in The Hall
of The House Of Representatives., Friday, Feb
), 1912.
This valuable pamphlet containing several
able speeches has been repubiished IN hand
some style at the office of the American Ten
perance Union, and is worthy of the perusal
of every citizen of our Republic. The follow.
ing is the conclusion of Mr.. Marshalps most
eloquent speech, showing his estimate of the
pledge.
Sir, if there be within this Hall an individual
man who thinks that his vast dignity and i'm
portance would be lowered, the laure's which
he has heretofore won be furnished, his glow.
ing and -conquering popularity at home be
lessened, by an act designed to redeem any
portion OF his colleagues or fellow men from
rum and shame, all can say IS that he and
put very different estimate upon the matter. /
should say, Sir, that the act was not only The |
most benevolent, but in the present stale of
opinion, the most polite, the most popular
Cooking down at Mr.. Wise who sat just under
the Clerks stand, Mr.. NJ. added with smlle)
the very Wisest thing he ever did in his life.
Think not, sir, (said Mr.. NJ sill regarding
Mr.. W.wilh great earnestness, think not that +
feel myselfin ridiculous situation. and like
the fox in the fable, wish TO devide with Others
BY converting dcformi;y into fashion. - f
Not so; By my honor as a gentleman, not .
so. was not what | was represented TO be.
| had and | have shown that have full power
over myself But the pledge which have TAX :
en- renders me secure forever from fate more
terrible than death. That pledge = though
confined to myself alone. and with ref
erence to its only Ell Ct upon me, my mind
my heart, my body.--I would not exchange
for all earth holds of brightest aud of best. No,
sir; let the banner of this temperance cause go
forward or 90 backwud-let the world be res
cued from is degrading and ruinous bondage
to alcohol or not-I for one shall never, never
repent what have done. have often said
this and feel il every moment ofmy existence
waking or sleeping.
Sir, would not exchange The physical SEN
mere sense Of animal being which
belongs to a man who totally refrains from all
that can in,oxicate his brain or derange his
nervous s,ructure-ihe elasticity with which
he bounds from his couch in the morning--the
sweet repose it yields him at night-the feeling }