The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-02

ed hirn with kick that sent him off the
BENCH The pure idleness is the best, but
| shall never enjoy such in Europe again.
Journey 10 Cairo.
Hshodcs.
The chivalrous relics at Rhodes are very
superb. i know OF no buildings, whose
stately and picturesque aspect seems to cor
respond better with one notions OF their
proud saunders. The towers and gates ARE
waflike and strong, but beautiful and aristo-
cratic: you see that they must have been
high-bred gentlemen who built them. The
edihces appear in almost els perfect con-
dltion as when they were in the occupation
Of tho noble knights Of St. John; and they
have this advantage over modern fortifca-
tons, that they are thousand times more
picturesque. Ancient war condescended to
ornament itself, and built fine carved cas-
Ties and vaulted gates: whereas, to Judge
from Gibraltar and Malta. nothing can be
less romantic than the modern military ar
chltecture; which sternly regards the fight
ing. without in the least needing the war
paint. Some Of the huge artillery, with
which the place was defended, still lies in
the bsstions; and the iouch-holes of the
guns are preserved by being covered with
rusty old coIslets, worn by defenders of the
Tort three hundred years ago. The Turks,
who battered down chivalry, seem to be
waiting their turn Of destruction now. In
walking through Rhodes one is strangely
affected by witnessing the signs Of this
double decay. For instance, in the streets
OF the knights, you see noble houses, sur
mounted by noble escutcheons Of superb
knights, who lived there, and prayed, and
quarrelled, and murdered the Turks; and
were the most gallant pirates of the inland
seas; and made vows Of chastity. and rob-
bed and ravished; and, protesting humility,
would admit none but nobility into their
order; and died recommending themselves
to sweet st. John, and calmly hoping for
heaven in consideration Of all the heather
they had slain. When this superb frater-
nifty was obliged to yield to courage as great
as theirs, faith as sincere, and to robbers
even more dexterous and audacious than
| The .noblest knight who ever sang a can't.
Gle to the virgin, these halls were filled by
magnificent Pashas and Agas, who lived
here in the intervals Of war, and, having
conquered its best champions-despised
Christendom and chivalry pretty much as
an Englishman despises a Frenctman.--
Now the famous house is let to a shabby
merchant, who has his little beggarly shop
in the bazaar; to small officer, who ekes
out his wretched pension by swindling, and
who gets his pay in bad coin. MaRome-
tanism pays in pewter now, in place of sill
yer and gold. The lords Of the world have
run to seed. The powerless old sword
irightens nobody now-the steel is turned
toPewter too, somehow, and will no longer
shear q Christian head off any shoulders.
In the Crusades my wicked sympathies
have always been with the Turks. They
seem to me the best Christians Of the two;
more humane, less brptally presumptuous
about their own herits, and more generous
in esteeining their neighbors As far as |
can get at the authentic story, Saladn is a
pearl OF refinement compared to the brutal
beeiealing Observation-Disclosures Sir Wal.
ter Scot! has led all the world astray.-
When shall We have real account Of those
times and heroes-no good-humored page
ant, like those OF the Scott romances-but
real authentic story to instruct and fright.
EN- honest people Of the present day, and
make them thankful that the grocer governs
the world now in place Of the baron!--
Meanwhile man Of tender feelings may
be pardoned for twaddling a little over this
sad spectacle OF the decay of two of the
great institutions Of the world. Knighthood
is gone--amerl; it expired with dignity, its
face TO the foe: and old Mahometanism is
lingering about just ready to drop. But il
is unseemly to see such Grand Potentate
in such state Of decay; the son of Baiazet
llderim insolsent; the descendants Of the
Prophets bullied by Calmucs and English
and whiPPersnapPer Frenchmen; the Foun.
tain OF Magniiicence done up, and Obliged
to coin pewter Think of the poor dear
hours in Paradise, how sad they must look
80 ehc oatNuiS VI biiC II dltIlul become less |
and less frequent every day. | can fancy
the place beginning TO wear the fatal Vaux.
hall look Of the seraglio, and which has
pursued me ever since | saw it the foun.
tains Of eternal wine are beginning to run
rather dry, and Of questionable liquor-l
the ready-Ioasted meat trees may cry, "come. |
eat me- every now and then, in faint
voice, without any gravy in it-but the
Faithful begin to doubt about the quality
OF the victuals. OF nights you may see
the hours sitting sadly under them, darning
their faded muslins: Ali, Omar, and the
lmaums are reconciled and have gloomy
and the Chief Of the Faith
lul himself, the awful camel-driver, the su-
pernatural husband of Kadisheh, sits alone
in tumble-down kiosk, thinking moodily
Of the destiny that is impending over him;
and OF the day when his gardens of bliss
'hall be as vacant as the bankrupt Olym.
,us.-Jou,ney 10 Cairo.
TheuEbts OF Heaven,
No STIFFNESS fbaro 4