Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-30
Things Wonderful and True.

With very near approach to truth, the
human family inhabling the earth has
en- estimated at 700, 900 600: the annual
loss by death $4,000, 900. Now, the weight
of the animal matter of this immense body
cast into the grave is no less than ga, 400
tons; and by its decomposition, produces
5000, ,O00 100000 cubic feet of gaseous
matter The vegetable productions of the
earth clear away from the atmosphere the
gases thus generated. decomposing and as
similating them for their own increase
This cycle of changes has been going on
ever since man became an occupier of the
earth. He feeds on the lower animals and
on the seeds of plants, which in due time,
become part of himself. The lower ami
mails feed upon the herbs and grasses,
which in their turn. become the animal {:
then, by its death, again pass into the at
mosphere, and are ready once more to be
assimilated by plants, the earthly or bony
substance alone remaining where 1t is de-
posted and not even these, unless sufii-
ciently deep in the soil to be out of the ab-
sorbent reach of the roots of plants and
trees. Nothing appears SO cannibalising as
to see flock Of sheep grazing in a coun-
try church yard, knowing it to be an unde-
niable fact that the grass they eat has been
nurtured by the gaseous emanations from
our immediate predecessors then follow
ing up the fact this said grass is actually
assimlated by the animal, and becomes
mutton, whereof we may, perhaps, dine
next week. 1t is not at all difficult to prove
that the elements of which the living bod
les Of the present generations, are compos-
ed, have passed through millions of muta-
tions, and formed parts of all kinds of ami
NAL and vegetable bodies, in accordance
with the unerring law of nature and con-
sequently we may say with truth, that frac-
tions Of the elements of our ancestors form
portions of ourselves. Some Of the parti-
ticles Of Cicero's or Esop's body, ,peradven-
ture, WELD this pen. Why may not imag-
ination trace the noble dust of Alexander
"Imperious Caesar, dead, and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away;
Oh, that that earth, which kept the world in awe.
Should patch wall to expel the winters haw!"
Don't be Discouraged
Don't be discouraged, if in the outset Of
life, things do not 60 on smoothly. 1t sell
dom happens that the hopes we cherish of
the future are realized. The path of life,
in the prospect, appears smooth and level
enough, but when we come TO travel it, we
fndit allup hill and generally rough enough.
The journey is a laborous one. and wheth-
er poor or wealthy, high or low, we shall
find our disappointment, if we have built
on any other calculation.
To endure cheerfully what must te, and
elbow our way as easily as we can, hoping
for little. striving for much, is perhaps the
true p an but don't be discouraged, if oc-
casionally you slip by the way, and your
neighbors tread on you little p; or, in 9TH
er words don't let failure or two disheart-
en- you, accidents will happen; miscalcu
lation will sometimes be made things will
often turn out differently from our expecta-
tions, and we may be sufferers.
1t is worth while to remember that for
tune is like the skies in April sometimes
as clear and favorable and as 1t would be
folly to dispalr of again seeing the sun, be-
cause the day is stormy, so is it equally
unNise to sink into despondency when for
tune frowns, since in the common course
of things she may surely be expected to
smile again.
Don't be discouraged, under any circum-
stances. Go steadily forward. Rather con-
suit your own conscience than the opinions
of men-though the last should not ALWAYS
be disregarded Be Industrious, be frugal
BE honest; deal in perfect kindness with
all that come in your way exercising.a neigh
borly and oblighing spirit in your whole
intercourse; and if you do not prosper as
rapidly as any of your neighbors, depend
upon it you will be happy.
A DEFlNITIoN.-We are at last enabled
to answer question frequently propound-
ed by our correspondents:
"W'hat'is Bloomer"
'Onc who paN.s for notoricty. ."-laon.