Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-11
SELECT. sVARIET5Y.. Is
"TH1s, TOO. SHALL PASS AWAY"

sIJherei IS scarcely anything which conduces more
| to the humbling of human pride than general
knowledge of history In these annals of man n
kind may the rules and progress, the exalta-
tion and decline of the most powerful States and
empires, and trace the cases of their dissolution
from the first rudimens Of decay 10 its final COM
pletion. The prospect W e thus explore is indeed
huniliating in the extreme, as it presents little but
scenes of violence, of horror and devastation.
| But review of it may suggest to the attentive
mind many instructive and profitable reflections.
1t will teach us the instability ofal human things.
and "tend to lessen our dependence upon them"
1t will show us what man is, when he revolts from
that which alone is capable of governing him a.
right and is left to the impulse and direction Of his
passions. We shall see that everything beneath
the sun is subject 10 change and decays and BY
! observing what the causes were that brought the
greatest empires to an end in former ages, we may
in some measure learn I'd guard against them in
1 the present times. 1nl kingdoms and empires
there seems to be gradual progress to maturity
and also of degeneracy and decay not unlike that
seen in the human body. From state of infan-
tileweakness both gradually increase in strength,
vgor and stability till arrived at the summit of
| their destined perfection and glo1y From this
point they progressively decline to state OF obyi-
Gus weakness and decrepitude-the certain pre-
llude of approaching dissolution The fame of
the first Assyrian monarchy is very ancient, it be-
/ ing founded more than two thousand years before
the commencement of the Christian era. 1t was
doubtless great and of long duration, yet time
and the imperfection of all human things brought,
it to an end. The glory and splendor which tick
hbited through long succession OF years were oil
e1aced, and its pnwer undermined by the deprayl-
ty of the people, and at length totally lost through
their cowardice and treachery when conquered by
the weak and effeminats Sardanapalus. BY like
necessity, arising from causes nearly similar, the
great succeeding empite of the Medes and Pers-
ans fell, and afforded ah opportunity for the "Ala-
/ cedcnian mad man. I'd establish lis throne on its
ruins The Grecan States while united and gov-7
l,erned by the ancient laws of the Republic were
the admiration and terror of the East But their
wisdom is departed, and they long aince ceas-
ed to terrify. 'The glory of Athens is laid in the,
dust.". .5s7gaE tlsidI; aIlai 9iIu d. t.j4 gbhga
Il Tyre, once the "mart Of the nations, is no more
crowded with Ships Her merchants are no longer
princes, nor numbered among the honorable OF the
earth. The prophecy of the Evangelical prophet
Il is accomplished and where proud navieS, freight
ed with the richest treasures of the East, were
wont to wing their way, the fisherman now spreads
his net in solitude and silence. Thebes, Palmyra
and Persepolis have long been the seats OF desoa-
tion, and only present the penslye Traveller VINO
texpIores the remaining yestiges of their ancient
magnfcence with q striking proof OF the instability
OF all human things. Of Persepols it has been
truly said: a.l 4.i. gl5lue .ogu yhlsa 5iGt pJ Of
tYour waste where roaning lions how, .4ot! s@ sii
YouE isle where Ssm; The sTsyeysa sdae @
once an earth earthly S,nper e
Whore sports the warblng se fancy sublime
Neither has the once mighty Roman Empire nor
its proud capital found an exemption from the gem
4 eral fate It was founded on basis deemed i'm
pregnable to all human attacks, and guarded By
laws we'll calculated to secure its stability and du
rution. 1t was long protected and governed by
Consuls, Tribunes and Dictators, eminent for Wis
dom. probity and tvalor 1t grew great by the ac-
dor was increased by the pomp and riches of innu-
merable triumphs. by successive victories 1t be-
came SO powerful that for many ages it could not
be shaken. But at length the prevalence and eff
Cd re ,pdn p,pl
1.-The gradual decay of its military discipline and pub
lie virtue and the influence of ambition and inter-
nal discord its native strength was lost, and its
forces were turned upon ITSELF to the annihilaior
lofts ancient liberties, happiness and greatness.
BY degrees it declined, like aged body deprived
fof its vital nutriment ana was soon totally sIb-
verted From these causes and by these gradations
Rome fell, and became an easy conquest for those
barbarous nations over whom her eagle had former
ly trumphed. Ignorance and superstition uslrped
the seats of learning and science. Eoquence and
the Fine Arts were now fled forever Her temple:
rwere sacked-"H Her towering structures which had
been objects OF universal admiration were demol
ished orremained only the defaced and melanchol!
vestges Of her former glory. From the instability
CEof ali human things like fate will in all probabil
ty attend the present and all succeeding states and
nations "A certain portion Of greatness, dominion
and glory, is permitted to'exist in this world; bu
even that is subject TO change. 1t yerges like ths
light of the sun from one part Of lie globe to- tbs
m other succeeding empires are raised on the runs o
those which have fallen, and Upon all we may
plainly discern t. e Interchangeable decree OIL iths
King of Kings A This, too, shall pass away
s lY.I -
"a uToo Much Enucaa II ION NJ !" For my part can
o deceive what on airth addcation is commn to-
When was young gal only gndertood the .S;, IHe;
OF distraction, provision,
Land the common denomnntor, and knew all abou,
the rivers aud their obitnan the coryelits and
ldornitofes the provinces and the pmpires, ithel
Ihad addication enough. But they have 70 STUD,
bottomy, algier-day, and have to dertonstrate sup
"a positions about sycophants Of circusses, tangent
land diIeoriils Of frarallegrams, 10 say nothing
atouttie oshides. cowsticks, and abstrss!e sj,t q
~ angles sg5 rs s'tS.' - ,.sis So
And The old lady was SO conf fused with the tecit
- nical names that she was forced to stop