Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-08-18

exhibitions and in the retirement of domestic life
there are wholly absent those natural communi-
cations of childhood-the look of kindness, the
inquiry of affection, and the remark of innocent
and affectonae solicitude. How shall the want
of these common and natural associations of So
cial and conventual interests in these children
be accounted for! Man, it is true, by his edu-
cation and requirements, loses much OF the in
herent feelings incident TO his early training
He can by strict discipline, escape and defy spec
ulation-elevate or depress himself by the skill
and energy of acquired advantages, but it is diff
fcult to stiae or overcome the first and benevo-
lent emotions inspired by a mothers kindness.
1t is impossible to contemplate these retro
grade movements of Nature Cor such they de-
cidedly are) without acknowledging that an OBJ
scurity rests upon them which neither science
nor physiology have as yet been able to remove.
The facts, the astounding facts are before US
we see and contemplate a reality which battles
inquiry, rejects reason, and bewiders specula-
ton.
The interest which these little beings have
excited in the bosoms of the thousands who
have seen them in the city of New York, has
been unparalleled in the history and production
of those natural phenomena which have in this
or any other age been presented to the world.
derfu There is in such presentation incul-
Gated great moral principle, which it is to be
feared has been overlooked, and which il be-
hoves the Christian philosopher, as well as the
learned Psychologist and the distinguished nat
uralist to consider The great question in re-
lation to the Aztec children is, for what purpose
have they been made the representatives before
the civilized world and the American republic,
of supposed or unknown race, yet in ignor-
ance, superstition and moral degradation! Are
there no moral purposes in the just government
of the Deity to be accomplished by such reve-
lation? If there yet exist such race as have
produced the unnatural disclosures of moral and
physical degeneracy so singularly apparent in
the development and unnatural organization of
these children, it is certainly the duty Git should
be the pride) of government, the boast of phi
losophy, and the glory of religion, to explore,
regenerate, and restore such a race to that NOR
al and mental elevation in which man finds his
greatest happiness and his noblest employ
ments.
Such subject commends itself with an alb
sorbing interest to the abors of the statesman
and the mind of the patriot, and should find a
ready and jealous advocate in the bosom Of ev-
cry intelligent freeman who cultivates the soil
of liberty, or in any way desires the glory and
happiness of his fellow-man.
The moral regeneration of that country, the
very ruins of which have acquired such interest
from the pen of Stevens-the exploration of its
hidden resources, and its re-establishment to its
ancient grandeur renewed by moral and polit-
ical regeneration, would outvie the advantages
of twenty expeditions for the purpose of i'm
proving the commercial condition of the Japan
ese, or humbling them into unconditional SUBJ
lection to the power of a superior enemy.
CONTROL OF TEMPER.-Reader are you hap
py? If so, you are promoter of happiness
The source of wretchedness to others is always
himself wretch! In domestic matters, Tenn
per is everything" Have you been taught to
control your temper? If not, you have great
work before you.
Who is he that says he cannot help being an
CRY, or sulen, or peevish? tell him he de-
ceves himself We constantly avoid being so,
when our interest or decorum requires it, and
we feel near those who we know are not bound
to bear our whims, or who will resent them to
our injury; but what strangers will not endure
we cast upon friends. That temper can be cor
rected, the world proves by thousands of instan-
ces. There have been those who set out in life
with being violent, peevish, discontented, irrita
BILE, and caprcious, whom thought, reflection, eff
fort-not to speak of pety--have rendered, as
they became mature, meek, peaceful, loving, gen.
erous, forbearing, tranquil, and consistent. 1t
is a glorious achievement and blessed is he who
attains it,
But taking the argument on lower ground
which do unwillingly, you continually see
men controlling their emotions when their in
terest demands it. Observe the man who wants
assistance, who looks for patronage, how well,
as he perceives coldness or hesitation, does he
crush the vexatiou that rises in his throat, and
stiles the indignation that burns for expression
How well the most proud and lofty descend
from their high position, and lay aside their or
dinary bearing, to earn suffrage from the mean
est kind And surely those who hang around
us in this life, those who lean on u.s. or on whom
we lean through our pilgrimage, to whom our
accents and our deeds are words, to whom a
word may shoot a pang worse than the stroke
of death-surely, ] say, if we can do so much
for interest, we can do something for goodness
and gratitude.
And in all civilized intercourse, how perfectly
do we see it ourselves to be the recognized laws
of decorum; and if we have not universally
good feelings. we have, generally, at least good
manners. This may be hypocrisy, but it ought
to be sincerity, and we trust it is. IT, then, we
can make our faces to shine on strangers, why
darken them on those who should be dear to