The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-05-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Celestial Rail-
road,
Br NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
Concluded.
'HANIEL HAWTHORNE.


dwelt two cruel giants, Pope and Pagan,who
had strewn the ground about their residence
with the bones ofslaughtered pilgrims. These
vile old troglodytes are no longer there; but
into their deserted cave another terrible giant
has thrust himself, and makes it his business
to seize upon honest travellers, and fat them
for his table with plentiful meals Of smoke,
mist, moonshine and raw potatoes, and saw
dust. He is German by BIRTH aud is called
Giant Transcendentast but as to his form,
his features, his substance and his nature gen.
orally, it is the chief peculiarly of this huge
miscreant, that neither he for himself, nor any
body for him, has ever been able to describe
them. As we rushed by the cavern's mouth
we caught hasty glimpse of him, looking
somewhat like an ill-proportioned figure, but
considerably more like a heap of fog and
duskiness. He shouted after us but in so
strange phraseology, that we knew not what
he meant nor whethert to be encouraged or
affrighted.
1t was late in the day. when the train thun-
dered into the ancient city of Vanity, where
Vanity Fair is still at the height of prosperi-
~, and exhi bits an epitome Of whatever is
brill liant, gay, and fascinating, beneath the
sun As purposed to make considerable
stay here, it gratiied me to learn there is no
longer the want ofharmony between the towns
people and pilgrims, which impelled the for
mer TO such lamentably mistaken measures
as the persecution of Christian, and the fiery
martyrdom of + aithful. On the contrary, as
ihe new railroad brings with it great trade and
d constant influx of strangers, the lord ofV an
ity Fair is its chief patron, and the capitalists
of the city are among the largest stockholders.
Many passengers stop TO take their pleasure
or make their profit in the Fair, instead of
going onward TO the Celestial City. Indeed,
such are the charms of the place, that people
affirm it to be the true and only heaven: stout
contending that there is no other, that those
who seek further are mere dreamers, and
that, the tabled brightness of the Celestial
City lay but bare mile beyond the gates Of
Vanity they would not be fools enough TO go
thither. Without subscribing to these, per-
haps exaggerated encomiums, | can truly
say that my abode in the city was main
" agreeable, and my intercourse with the in
habitants productive of much amusement and
instruction.
Being naturally of seriou turn, my atten-
ton was directed 10 the solid advantages de-
rivable from residence here, rather than to
the efiervesent pleasures, which are the
grand object with too many visitants. The
Christian reader, ii he have no accounts ofthe
city later than Bunyan's time, will be sur
prised TO hear that almost every street has its
church, and that the reverend clergy are no.
where held in higher respect than at Vanity
Fair. And well do they deserve such honor
able estimation; for the maXims of wisdom
and virtue which fall from her lips, come from
as deep a spiritual source, and tend to as lof-
ty religious aim, as those of the sagest phi
losophers of old. In justification ofthis high
praise, | need Only mentlon the names oil the
Rev. Mr.. Shalow-deep; the Rev. Mr. Stun
ble-at-Trnth; that fine old clerical character,
the Rev. Mr.. This-tO-day, who expects short
ly 10 resign his pui pit TO the Rev. Mr.. That
tomorrow; together with the Rev. Mr..
Bewilderment the Rev. Mr.. Clog the-spirit,
and, last and greatest, the Rev. DR.. Wind-of
doctrine. The labors of these eminent di-
vines are aided by those of innumerable lee
turers, who .dilfuse such a various profoundi-
~, in allsubjects ofhuman orchestral science,
that any man may acquire an omnigenous
eruditon, without even the trouble of learn
ing to read. Thus literature Is etherialiZed
by assuming FORTS medium the human voice;
and knowledge, depositing all itsheavier par
ticles-except, doubtless, It's gold-becomes
CXndlpu Us steals
into the ever open ear of the community
These INFECTIOUS methods constitute sort of
machinery, by which thought and study are
done to every persons hand, without his put
ting himself to the slightest inconvenience in
the matter. There is another species of ma
chine for the Wholesome manufacture of indi-
yidual morality. This excellent result
is effected by societies for all manner
merely to connect himself, throwing, as it
were, his quota of virtue into common stock;
and the president and directors will take care
that the aggregate amount be well applied.
All these and other wonderful improvements
in ethics, religion, and literature, being made
plain to my comprehension by the ingenious
Mr.. Smooth-it-away, inspired me with a vast
admiration of Vanity Fair.
1t would fill volume, in an age of PAM
phlets, were to record all my observations
in this great capitol of human business and
pleasure. There was an unlimited range
of society-the powerful, the wise, the
witty, and the famous in every walk of
life-PrInces, presidents, poets, generals,
artists, and philanthropists, all making
their own market at the Fair, and deeming
no price too exorbltant for such commodi-
ties as hit their fancy. it was well worth
ones while, even if he had no idea ofbuv.
ing or selling;to loiter through the bazaars,
and observe the various sorts of traffic that
were going forward.
Some of the purchasers, thought made
very foolish bargains. For instance. a
young man having inherited splendid
fortune, laid out a considerable portion of
it in the purchase of diseases, and finally
spent all the rest for heavy lot of repent
ance, and a suit of rags. A very pretty
girl bartered heart as clear as crystal,
and which seemed her most valuable pos
session, for another jewel the same kind,
but so worn and defaced, as to be utterly
worthless. In one shop, there were a
great many crowns of laurel and myrtle,
which soldiers, authors, statesmen. and
various other people, pressed eagerly to
buy; some purchased these paltry wreaths |
with their lives; others by a toilsome SER
'itude.of years and many sacrificed what
ever was most valuable, yet finally skunk |
away without the crown. There was a
sort OF stock or script, called Conscience,
which seemed to be in great demand, and
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