The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-28
From the Saturday Courier.
'orf tT1e ouFuruTJ O0uFTcI'
THE ARCANA OF NATURE.

From the Saturday Courier.
THE ARCANA OF NATURE.
To him who is accustomed to trace
in the order, the beauty and variety of
Natures work the evidence of a desi gn-
ing mind, and to investigate with phi
losophic minuteness, the phenomena
daily occurring within the narrow circle
ofhis observation, the Arcana of Ma
ture present an inviting field for labor
ious research, obStruse speculation, and
bold experiment. The veil Of mystery,
which hangs over this untrodden re-
glon, serves to awaken curiosity and
fan into flame, the zeal of those indo-
mitable spirits who are striving each
in his appropriate sphere to extend the
domain Of science and "briug to light
the hidden things of darkness" With
cautious tread the chemist seeks to en-
ter thatvast laboratory where Natures
agents are actively employed in decom-
posing and recognizing the varied
forms OF fmatter, animate and inanimate
giving to each imperishable atom its
shape and cooring, and breathing into
the inert mass that vitality which will
prepare it Tor the several stages Of pro-
gress and decay. He gazes in mute
surprise upon tie exhibitions of that
inlmitable Power, which confers with
such rapidity and ease upon all its fair
creations, their distinctive properties
and varied combinations. Natures
hand hath given to the diamond its
brliancy, moulded the crystal in its
unrivalled form, and unaided by the
alembeck Of the alchymest, she is daily
transmitting into purest gold, the base
alloy other impenetlable mines. Deep
in the secluded gloomy cavern she
hides The dashing torrent, the pendant
spar, and the unhewn pillar; yet will the
geologist thi,her bend his footsteps in
quest of some faint memorial rescued
from the oblivion of an antediuvian
age. No frutless search is his, for
there embedded in the primeva rock,
are concealed the images Of those living
forms that have long since passed away
and been forgotten. Nature hath con-
signed to the coral caves of Oceans
bed countless store of her choicest
treasures. There in rich prolusion,
are scattered The pearls of price unto d
the shells ofrainbow hue and match
less form, and the sea-girt halls, where
the tabled mermaid spreads her couch.
From those unfathomed depths comes
up the confused hoarse murmur that is
caught by the listening ear, and inter-
preted in the language so eloquent and
impressive of universal Nature. There
too the raging whirlpool, not inaptly
styled the hell OF waters!
"Where they howl and hiss,
And boil in endless tortures,''
yawns ready to engulph the presump-
tuous wretch who dares venture within
its circling eddies. We'll may the ter
ror stricken mariner tremble in view
of that maddened Malstrom in whose
dark abyss his frail bark would find its
last--long resting place. Safely guided
DER the "bounding pillows" by his COM
pass and chart, he vainly asks why
turns the needle to the Pole? nor will
Nature reveal to him the causes of that
perpetual ebb and flow, which speed
wave after wave in quick succession,
over the wide waste of waters. From
Oceans broad expanse rise the mists
and eXhalations that are to gather
about the mountain tops and folm their
clou1y canopy. What vlewless mes
senger draws them upwards, and con-
veys them thither! What unseen hands
CONCEAL the ice bound glacier upon
those lofty SUBMITS, where the eagle
spreads not his pinions and the startled
chamois fears to climb? Whose is the
strength to hurl the laundering ava
lanche from the Alpine heights, and
crush beneath its weight the devoted
inhabitants of the lowly vale9 Where
do the winds Of Heaven find a prison
house, and who heapeth up the treas
ures of sleet and hail, to be scattered
in Winters pathway? We ask, and
the echoes die away unheeded. We
know not where the storm spirit makes
his dwelling place, nor when he will
ride forth on HE ,yb;rl min 90, .oll;n