Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-03-18
For the Times.
The American Scholar Visiting Classic
Lands.


1t is interesting at all times 10 trace the
progress and gradual development of human
character. And it is one of the highest
sources of pleasure TO revert to the history
of those ages which are past, to those'events
and characters which are never to return.
Especially is it SO with the scholar, whose
imagination has pictured the manners and
customs and quaint peculiarities of nations
long dead-who has acquired a certain ven
Grafton for antiquity, and receives with de-
light whatever carries him back to the con-
sideration of ancient times, and gives him
a more intimate knowledge of the illustrious
characters whose writings still continue to
delight, and whose actions animate TO the
pursuit of all that is good and noble. This
attachment to the past, often, indeed, indis-
eliminating and individious in its COMPARE
sons with the present, induces him to be-
hold with kind of religious awe, whatever
vestiges remain of days gone by. Such
sensations of the mind are naturally the
most intense when in the actual contempla-
ton of places, once the scene of actions that
perhaps decided the fate of empires, estab
lished the laws of government, or rescued
an oppressed people from degration and su-
perstition.
! But it is TO the eastern continent that the
| American scholar, endowed with an ardent
and cultivated imagination, must look for the
satisfaction of feelings so natural. His owr
country may furnish him with all that j:
sublime and beautiful Of natural scenery
but without associations halowed by age, anc
history mingled with romantic fiction, there
is no mystery to awaken his curiosity, moth
ing strange TO excite his wonder.
Hence it is that the American scholar ha
been and continues to be so often travelle
in what may be termed classic lands. An'
favored being is he among the multitude
that frequent the same haunts from othe
climes. Our national existence has beel
too brief to allow the formation of those in
veterate antipathies which often obstruct tn
pathway of other travellers. So the Amer
= ican scholar finds not only an open road t
the objects of his veneration, but ope
hands and enthusiastic hearts 10 receive hii
wherever the name of America is knowr
{ The ploughman at Marathon, we are tolc
! blesses the wanderer from country whic
: sent her tribute for the relief of strugglin
5 Greece, and reared the standard Of popula
y education at Athens. The Italian gaze
with affection upon one of nation who's
: contest for liberty has been made familiar
him by the graphic pen of BOtta. Ever!
where he is welcome and honored guest
;. The pleasure and profit arising from sue
privileges, must, after all, depend upon Il
ardor and imagination of the traveller
y Possessed of these qualities in great d
gree, he will know what It's to feel the wi
expectancy of the arrival, the fearful excit
to ment of the departure, the teeming la
III guage Of new scenes and unaccustomed S
d. ciety, the sights, the sounds, the sensation
the thoughts and emotions incident to p
grimage. They will be TO such an one,
sc stirring and memorable experience. Eve
new locality will prove an inspiration--t
tomb of genius will be as a holy shrine---t
- mountain top as an altar of God-the bat
- ground will vibrate with the murderous 7
IS, gcantry of war, and the fertile valley breat
the peacefulness of Eden. He will m,
Shylock on the Ralto, and hear the echo
of Tuly's voice beside the temple of Ju
EMS ter. Chivalrac legions will beguile h
- upon the ramparts of Malta, and he "
ich reverently recite the Beatitudes in the oil
Ss- gardens of Palestine, To him it is no IN
terry that the Moor drew from Desdemona
- "a prayer Of earnest heart,
That he would ali his pilgrimage dilate,"
ary nor that the story won her.
''E All that history has chronicled and
y etry cOnsecrated will mingle and glow in