The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-10-18


We published not long since curious specula,
ton BY European philosopher upon the theory o.
the transmission of light, as afording fanciful
illustration of the way in which all past things
may be reproduced to the diseinbodied spirit. The
leading idea was that all our thoughts sayings and
actions are carried through space, iksthe undula-
tons of light, at uniform rite Of velocity, which
determines at what distance and time they might
be reproduced to an intelligence ready to receive
them. The distance of the fixed stars affords q
ratio of calculation because the time required for
light to reach the nearest of them makes era Of
| some magnitude, and many centuries aTe required
60 reach the more remote. Thus twas assumed
that SOUL rslieved from its earthly body here, and
carried insfantaneousy one of the nearest of the
fixed stars, might be ovsrtaksn again by the whole
series Of events passions and deeds Of its past life
here and sit in judgment on itself, with ilinitey
more certainty and freedom than we Judge of the
records and existenees of former generations. 1t
was an odd and impressive thought.
Something like it, man infinitely inferior degree
we have in the workings of the Magnetic Telegraph.
The world at a distance flashes upon us as it is at
the moment; the regular mails come up, at the
same times containing the vivid picture of the
same world as it was week or ten days before.
Presented to us at the instant is the present and
the past-the prophecy and the fulflment-the la
Dor and the result-tbe hope and the disappoint-
ment. We read the elaborate disqusitions upon
foreign politics, with smile, perhaps at its blum.
ders-for the lightning line has told us how false
were its prognostics, how weak its reasouings. By
the slow line, we are in the midst of a passionate
political contest-and wonder at the heats and ami
mosities it displays, because we already know that
this day the conflict is over and both parties are
quietly submitting to the result, without remember
ing that last week they thought the country in
peril, and Liberty herself endangered in the strife
for supremacy. Sometimes too, more melancholy
contrasts reach us. Fresh words of affection.
traced by some dear hand, reach us, almost with
the power of voices breathing in our ears, at the
instant when the electric current has shocked lis
with the tidmgs of death, as though the DESTROYER
had smitten his victim in our grasp. Glowing
hopes, that parted on their way to give us ioy in
another's happiness, are Overaken by deadly chilIs
and wither ere they reach US. And treasons and
talsehoods marshal themselves before US simulta-
neously with the trusts they have betrayed. In
like manner, happily, explanations and pardons,
renewed trusts, grefs sOothed, sickness abated and
sorrows chased away, sometimes .outspeed the mes
senger of evil tidings, and enable us to meet him,
when he comes, with serenity and peace Thus
uOSs Lae lightning Telegraph mlngle the present
with the past, iumining the full record of passing
events with fash into futufity, crowding into one
field of view narrow indeed but often full of Incl
dent and instruction, causes and consequences,
errors and corrections, tbs wrong and the remedy,
the fault and the punishment. Surely, nothing can
read more impressive lesson Of caution and self.
distr1st, Of moderation in seasons Of excitement.
and tolerance Of differences of opinion, than the
habiyal contemplation of such records of mistake,
transformation, weakness, disappointment and
folly, as the fash Of the Telegraph discloses in
each days 'historyof distant events Such as we
see others, in the light of the past, while they are
acting, DOVE appear to them; and the reflection
Is well calculated to repress many hasty word of
irritation, to subdue many premature note of ex-
ultation or of despair and to- teach extreme care
fitness in the uttaance of undigested opinions or
the promuigation Of unaufheutioated facts. It
perpetual and daily lesson of the ffailty of human
opinions and the uncertainty of human expeeta-
tons and hopes.
Having fallen into this train of moralfzing, we
shall defer to another occasion what we intended
to say about some Of the ludicfOus effects of the
same uxaposition of things past with thing present