Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-07-29

BsAurrruL ExTaAcr.-sH cannot b that
earth is mans only aboding place. II cannon
be that our life is only bubble, cast up " the
ocean Of eternity to float q moment upon ~
waves, and sink into no.hingness. Else why
is it that the high and glorious aspirations
which leap like angels from the temple OF gu.
hearts are forever wandering abont unsatfshed
Why is it that the rainbow and cloud come
over Us with beauty that is not OF eartn' ano
then pass of and leave US to muse upon tne'l
faded lovelinees! Why is it that the stars
which hold their festival around the mIdnigm
throne are above the grasp Of our limited Iac-
uities; forever knocking us with their unaP.
proachable glosy9 And finally, why IS It ina,
bright forms Of human beauty are presented
10 our view, and then taken from US ieas'ns
the thousand streams Of our affections 20 now
back in an Alpine torrent upon our heal's :
We are born fer higher destiny than .ha' o.
earth! There is realm where me ra'"oo"
never fades; where the stars Will be spread
out before US like islands that slumber on the
ocean; and where the beautiful beings which
here pass before US like shadows will stay IN
our presence for ever"
BURNING OF MosCow.-The French entered
into deserted city. Only the viIest OF lis
population remained. Swarming over ln"u-
merable streets they began to plumber Its chur-
ches, and bazaars, and magnificent palaces.
But when the night came on, and the meanest
soldier lay down wrapped in the costllest furs,
| aud drunken with the richest wines, the cry OF
| "Fire fire :" bursted like knell Of death up.
on the ranks. The flames shot npaEasd, and
their lurd light revealed figure "a she Win
dows Of the Kremline palace. II was the
Corsican. His hand grasped pen, and be
| was writing by the light and could any one
have looked over him he would have beheld
letter indicated to the Gar, and on Its pages
was writer "peace."
The flames were extinguished; but the next
night they broke out again in all quarters,
| spreading with such a rapid contaglon that
| they involved at the same lime the abodes OF
poverty and sumptuous palaces; monuments
and miracles of luxury and art.
The very tombs were burnt up. In the MOST
of all, the equinoctial storm arose, and raised
the ocean Of fire into great pillows, which roll.
ed and dashed against the Kremlin, and would
not retreat at the bidding Of him who stood
upon the ramparts.
| Ia the midst OF the bowling Of the storm and
cracking Of flames, the fall Of massive stEuc-
lures, and explosion of combustble magazines,
the rolling Of drums and the sounds Of tocslns,
the solemn peal Of bells and clocks striking
their last hours, the revelry Of the drunken and
the shrinks Of anguish, and all other sounds OF
a wild, exultng spectacle, were seen running
through tie streets the most squalid wretches
that ever assumed the form of humanity men
and women with dishelvelled hair with torch.
is in their hands, and the aspect of demons
revealing in their own pandemonium. NApoLE'
ON dashed out of the town on his chcrger, be.
meath the overarching columns Of flame, and
retired league distant, where the heat Of the
fire persued him. "Oh!" exclaimed he, when
he afterwards described the scene at St. Hele.
ma: sit was the grandest. most awful, the most
sublime spectacle which the world ever be-
held !'-Knickerbocker.