Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-11-27
The Atmosphere.


We must now try 10 conceive of III,
atmosphere as whole, and TO realize
clearly the idea of lis unity. And wha, &
Whole, whn, uni,y i, is. Ii possesse,
properties 80 wonderful. and so dissimilar
tha, we are slow TO believe that they car
exist together. 1t rises above Us with it
ra,hedral dome. arching towards tha
heaven Of which il is the most familia
synonyme and symbol. 1t floats arount
US like that grand object which the aposll,
John saw in his vision-''a sea Of glas.
ike unto crystal" So massive is it, tha
when il begins to stir. it ,osses about greal
ships like rIaythings, and sweeps cities and
forests, like snow. flakes, 10 destruction be.
tore il. And yel it is SO mobile, that we
have lived wears in it before we can be
persuaded ,ha, il exists at all, and the great
tulk OF mankind never realize the truth
Iha, they are balhed in an orean of air
lis weight is so enormous, that iron shivers
before i, like glass; yet soap ball sails
through i. with impuni,y, and The ,iniesl
tnsect waves i, aside with its wings.
Il ministers lavishly 10 all The senses.
Ne touch it moi, but il touches US. Its
warm south winds bring back color to the
pale face ofthe invalid; its ceol west winds
refresh the ievered brow and make the
blood mantle in our cheeks; even its north
b!asts brace into new vigor the hardened
children Of our rugged cline. The eye is
indebted to i, for all the niagnificence of
sunrise, the full brightness Of midday, The
chas,ened radiance the cleaning ,and the
"clsuds that cradle near the setting SUM-
But for ii the rainbow would want its "tri-
umphal arch," and the winds would not
send their fleecy messengers on errands
around the heavens. The cold ether would
no. shed its Feathers on the earth, nor
would drops Of dew gather on the flowers.
The kindly rain would never fall, nor hail
storm, nor fog diversity the face OF the sky.
Oar naked globe would turn lis tanned,
unshadowed forehead 10 the sun. and one
dreary, monotonous blaze Of ligh; and hea,
dlzze and burn up all things. Were there
no atmosphere, the evening sun would in
moment set, and, without warning, plunge
The earth in darkness. Bu: the air keeps
IN her hand sheaf of his rays, and lets
Them slip but slowly through her fingers
80 iha, the shadows Of evening gather by
degrees, and the flowers have time 10 bow
their heads. and each creature space 10
'nd place of rest, and 10 nestle to repose.
In the morning, the garish sun would al
enc bound burs, from the bosom OF night,
and blaze above the horizon but the air
watches for his coming, and sends at frs,
but one little ray TO announce his approach,
and then another, and by and by handful.
and so gently draws aside the curtains OF
night, aud slowly lets the ligh, fall on the
face OF the sleeping earth, ill her eyeids
open. and, like man. she goelh forth again
10 her labor ill the evening.
To the ear il brings forth all the sounds
Iha, pplsaie through 1.-THE grave elo.
qlence Of men; the sweet songs and happy
laughter Of women the prayers and prais-
es which they utter to God the joyous
carols Of birds; the hum of insect wings
the whisper Of the winds when they breathe
gently, and their laughter and wild chor.
asses when they shrek in their wrath; the
flashing Of fountains; the murmur of riv.
ers; the roaring Of ca,arac,s; the rus,ling
Of forests the trumpei-nute Of the thunder;
and the deep solemn voice OF the everlas,.
ng sea. Had there been no atmosphere,
melody nor harmony would not have been,
nor any music. The earth might have
made signs 10 the eye. like one berell Of
'peech. and have mu,tered from her depths
Inarliculate sounds, but nature would have
been volceless, and we should have gazed
only on shores "where all was dumb" To
lie las, Of the senses the air is no, less
bOunliiul than to the others. 4, gathers to
Itself all perfumes and fragrance; from
beau-Ge!ds in flower, and meadows of new.
mown hay from hills covered with wild
thyme, and gardens Of roses. The breez-
es, those "heavenly.winged thieves" wait
ihem hther and ,hi,her; and the sweet
south wind "breathes upon bands Of violets,
sealing and giving odor.''
l
lad:c not that you be no, judged.