Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-05-26


ticular creed of religion demands that unweari-
ed efforts be made to sustain it against its RI
vals. Fourth-They are sure of salaries suffi-
cient at least to procure luxury, and among most
denominations more We do not affirm that
all are actuated by these latter thoughts when
choosing their profession, but where one is ac-
tuated entirely by the former, without consider
ing the latter, which should be the only one ac-
tuating him. ten are actuated entirely by the lat
ter.
The fourth and not the least of the great pro-
fessions, includes men who WELD mighty in
lluence among their fellow men I'VE mean Au-
thors. To them field of labor is presented far
different from either of those we have consider
ed. In it are mountains and valleys, deserts and
plains, forests and cultivated lands. In it labor,
from the most vile to the most dignfed is found
and thousands performing each kind except the
latter, to day breathe terrestrial air. The mis-
anthropist, the bigot, and the libertine, present
the author in his most oathsome aspect The
labor of these and the motives which actuate
them, are abominable, yes devilish Next come
scholastic authors, using the term in Its broad
est sense, including editors, advocates of party,
and popular humbug writer's. The labor Of
these stands on par with that of the lawyer,
the doctor, and the clergyman, as also do the
motives which actuate them. The next class Of
authors in which we include the remainder, are
medley throng Some are men of upright in
tentons, and would fain follow the dictates
of duty, but material necessity, poverty, compels
them to write to suit the taste of their fellow
men. No matter how corrupt that taste may
be, the wherewith to keep soul and body togeth-
er compels them to corrupt literature, and write
that which their fellow men will read. Others
whose intentions are strange compound of
sefshness and indifference-who are as willing
to write evil as good, and good as evil, write ex-
pressy to suit the taste Of the age. Fame is
their object and they are brilliant opponents of
that saying exemplifed by ninety-nine hund-
redths of professional men, "ambiton is the Sc
rious game Of life"
Others again, possessing the noblest of vir-
tues, magnanmity and courage, together with
an uncorrupted will, follow the path Of duty and
exempify the true dignity of labor No obsta-
Gle swerves them, ambitions Turing voice is un-
needed, the world SCOTS and sneers, they list
not; but on, along the path Of duty with minds
untrammeed by prejudice and superstition, ask
ing no reward, nor needing any but the voice of
clear unperverted conscience. Such stand
forth as beacon lights to those coming after
them on the stream of time, and thanks to God
that a few men have lived and acted as men
should live and act The soul sckens with dis
gust as it contemplates the treatment such men
have received while living. Glancing at the page
OF history, we see that murderers have had di-
vine honors paid, them and have been titled
Gods. Selfish and ambitious men have received
the approval Of public opinion while they have
lived and ended their days in obscurity and pow
erty. This class it must be confessed is SMALL
nor does it include many men of unquestioned
genius. 1t does not include many whose works
will be read and loved forever. Of this class
was Dante, to whose raised spirit even in this
life the world had passed away. Such was Sell
Ter, who struggled twenty years up the topess
pinnacle of thought, unconquered by physical
pain and never losing sight of his receding ideal.
Such was Shelly, as he lived and endured the
most excrucating physical anguish. The heart
bleeds when contemplating his life and death.
Such was Wordsworth as he wrote poems amid
the sneers Of those around him for succeeding
generations to read And such above all was
Milton, whose career exctes an emotion of
grandeur. To fully appreciate and understand
his courage, indomitabe will and fear of God,
we must consider the age in which he lived, an
age unequaled in influences to corrupt and de-
stroy all that is most noble even in the most
SHteu. hOOhlIS dL HILl III tHlS iBHt, Hc, WHICH,
compared to other men, assumes an angel ap-
pearance. AS we see men catching at fiimsy
pleasures and breaking their necks to hear one
word of appreciation, making it appear as tho
life was no object unless enveloped by whirl-
ing maze of pleasure or by bursts Of applause,
the path pursued by the authors above referred
to seems drear indeed. No friends, no smile of
appreciation, no distinctions, no honor are theirs
but apparent bleakness and despair. But such
is not the case. Mans happiness depends in a
great measure upon the qualification of desire
If he desire not thing not obtaining it gives
him no unhappiness. Milton desired not the
applause of men; his soul was raised above
them; their actions affected him not, but passed
by him as did the whistling wind His happi-
ness was to come from higher source, purer
fountain, fountain which no revolution of hu-
man affairs can thwart or destroy, and death it.
self but opens more widely its streams. Milton
was not miserable, no pangs of guilty con-
science, no thwarted desires Of an earthly ambi-
ton were his. Far, far above his contemporaries
his abusers he scared, with angels singing, along
the path traced out by imagnations all-piercing
eye.
IT'S somewhat strange that many authors
whose memories we cherish, whose writings we
read and admire for their chasteness and the
spirit of morality that dwells within them, were
at the heart wickedness ITSELF 1t is fact that
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