Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-02-08
COUNTY Pa THURSDAY FEBRUARY
Romance of the Nineteenth Century.
By HORACE GREELEY.

! We are in no danger Of estimating too highly
the extraordinary character of The age in which
our lot has been cast, and of lhe influences by
| which we are surrounded The Present is the
tproper theme of poetry, the fitting scene. Who
ever shall family realize the mighty events, the
string impulses, the lofty character of our times,
is in no danger of passing through life grove
ling and unobseIvanl The dull beast that crops
The lhisles by The way-side. The Past has
It's lessons, doubtless, and well is ii for those
who master and heed them but were it o,her-
wise, the Present has themes enough of emo.
bling interest to employ all our faculties, to en-
gross all our oughts--save as they should con-
template the still grander, vaster Hereafter.
Do they talk 10 US of Grecian or Roman hero.
ism They say well but Genius died not
with Greece; aud Heroism has scarcely re-
not parallel. What momenary deed of reck-
less valor can compare with the lifelong self
devotion of The Missionary, in some far cluster
of Indian lodges, of Tauar huts, cut off from
sympathy, and f.om ear hIy hope! How easy
how common, 10 dare death with Alexander !
How rare to live nobIy as Washington, and feel
no ambition but that of doing good! Take the
efforts for he elevation of The African race in
our day-il-directed as some of them appear
and ye. Antiquity might well be challenged
to produce anything out Of the sphere OF Sa-
cred History, half so heroic and divine. Let
US then waste lille lime in looking back % ear
lier ages for higher examples, and deeds that
stir the blood. LIE, US no. idly imagine that
The Old World embosoms scenes and memorials
dearer to The lover of Truth, of FREEDOM and OF
Man. than hose Of our own cline. Let US re-
pei alike he braggarl's vain glory and The self
disparagement of degeneracy yet cherish The
faith that nowhere are there purer skies, more
ins spring ,ecolleclions on magnificent land
scspes, han those in which our own green
land rejoices.
Those daily acts, those common impulses,
which viewed individually, and with microsco-
pic or with souIIess gaze, seem insignificant or
trifing, OF take diffefen. aspect, if regarded
in more catholic spirit. Those myried ham
mers, which, mpeled by brawny arms, are
ranging out their rude melody, day by day, and
contributing to The comfort and sustenance of
man-those fleets of hardy fishers, now chasing
the whale on The other side of 'he globe 10 give
light 10 The ci,y mansion and ceierily the wheels
of The village factory-those armies of rappers,
scattered through the gIens ofthe Rocky Noun
tains, each in sieal,hy solitude pursuing his
deadly trade, whence DANES of London and
bellies Of Pekn alike shall borrow warmth and
comeliness-let US contemplate these in their
several classes, unmindful of The leagues of
wood or plain or water which chance 10 divide
them. Readily enough do we perceive and ac-
knowledge The grandeur of the army which
some chief or despo, assemblies and draws out
10 feed his vanity by display or his ambition by
carnage but The larger and nober arTes
whose weapons are the maock and The spade,
who overspread the hills and line the valies,
until beneath heir rugged skill and perserering
effort highway of Commerce is opened where
lale The panther leaped, the deer disported-ls
not theirs nobler spec,acle-more worthy of
the orators aposlrophe, the poets song! Let
US look boldly, broadly out on Natures wide
domain. Let US nole he irregular yet persis-
ent advance of the pioneers of civilization
the forest cOnquerors, before whose lusty strokes
and sharp blades the ceniury-crowned wood
rank after rank, come crashing loihe
earh. From ages have they kept apart the
sunshine, as they shall do no longer. Onward.
sill onward, pours the army of ax-men, and
snl before them bow their stubborn foes. But
yeslerdy, their advance was checked by the
Ohio 10 day, 1t crossed the Missouri. The
Kansas, and is fas, on the heels OF the flying
buffalo. In the eye of true discernment, what
hos, of Xerxes or Caesar, Of Frederick or Ma
poeon ever equaled this in majesty, in great
ness OF conquest, or in true glory
The Mastery of Man over Nature--this is
an inspiring truth, which we mus, not suffer,
from It's lamiliary, TO lose its force. But from
The might of his intellect. Man has not merely
made The elephant, his drudge, .be lion his di-
version, The whale his magazine. but even the
sub,les, and most terrible of ,he elements is
made The submissive instrument of his will
He lurns aside or gamers up the lightning The
rivers toll in his workshops; The lides of ocean
bear his burdens; The hurricane RACES for his
use aud profit. Fire and wafer struggle for
that he may be wisked over hill and
valley with the ceerily of the sunbeam. The
Stiffness of The forest midnight is broken by he
snorng of the Iron Horse, as he drags The
ong train from lakes 10 ocean with slaves
1ociiy-a giants strength. Up the long bill
he labors. over the deep glen he skins, the tops
,f the tall trees swaying around and below his
narrow track His sharp, quick breathing be-
speaks his imPeiuous progress stream of