The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-07-21

of al beauty. lie never forgcts the poetic
truth, and the more real because poetic
that the sounds and motions of naniInate OBJ
.jccts are the means by which they express
alteration: all uniting in choral chant to
Him who sis michtier than the noise of many
waters yea, than the mighty waves of the
sea-
! "Star Papers is composed mostly of arti-
cles originally printed in The H3cpcndent
newspaper over the signature of star, and
with the exception of the Letters from Eu-
rope, are entirely devoted to rural affairs.
! We have not time to speak Of these Let
ters as they deserve; bat copy from one of
them an account of visit to Oxford
One can scarcely realize he treasures of
literature and Of art which are gathering in
to this city. Besides the libraries of each
College, which are large, there is the I'odlc-
ian Library with books and manuscripts e.
nOuGh to turn the heads of the whole nation
Each College has in pro.usion. beside arch-
tcctura treasure. bu>tS and statues Of distin-
guishrd men. pictures by all the great mas
tcrs of art, in great numbers: prints, coins.
IN! literary and acknowledgement curo>ities
without number, and cabinets of natural his
tory. stood in the midst Of such treasures
as helpless and as hopeless of ever looking at
them with a more individual. recognition. as |
was when first tr"d a prairie, iourncvinc
from dawn TIL dark through the dwarf floral
groves. and hchcld millions Of acres of flow
crs. passed by rare treasures without a
look, which. at another time, would have ca
ccrlv occupied hours. TIC mind was stated
with literary riches
rs | stood beneath the arches of Christ
Church College, was impressed with the
immortality Of earthly influence when right
" cmbolieI. Wol>cv's design for rational
education have gone through generations per.
.ormin. the nolic>t services. and rrrprtua-
ting among men the blessings which his lie
and personal conduct failed to render 10 his
fellows. His cnlowmrntS have been noble,
undyin", unleraying. Nay. Time. that wastes
monuments and pluck> up the longest lived
forests, has but conSoil1atcd his gifts to learn
mo. Renewing their strength in every gencr-
alton. They are stronger, more vigorous,
with a surer hope OF good for the future,
than when in the freshness of their original
youth. 1t were not an unworthy ambition to
desire such po>thumous influence, having
ones name gratefully mentioned through
hundreds OF yca-s, amidst scenes vi learning.
hv the noilc>t spirits. who were deriving
their very HE from youl bcnci;,, ton
Every one. familiar with his own mind
knows how differently that subtle and mys-
tcIlous agency works within him, on differ
cnt days. Bat never felt the difference 80
>trikin.ly As since have been rancin.
through these. historic places and find that
the keen, and fine eXitcment which incvita-
hIy steals upon one in the walks and GALE
ricS OF these venerable Collcrc>. is precise
ly of the kind favorable for the appreciation
of pictures. They cease to be PICTURES
They are realities. The canvas is class, and
You look through it upon the scenes repre-
scntcd as if you stood at window. Nav,
you enter into the action. For, once pos
>c>scd with the spirit of the actors or of the
scene, all that the ar list thought lives in YOU
And II You are left. as was once or twice,
for an hour quite alone, in the halls. the lu-
sion becomes memorable. Iou know the per
I
tor. You gaze upon the Apostles of Guido.
and ii is not the ideal head that YOU see. but
the character. the lite, the career. extend in
stadowv length before YOU. At last YOU are
with them No longer do YOU look through
the eighteen hundred wears at misty shadows.
The living men have moved down toward,
You. and here YOU are face to face was
much affected 10y head of Christ; not that
1t met my lca! Of that sacred front. but be
cause ii took ne in mood that clothed it
with itc and reality. For one blessed mo-
mcnt was with the Iold. knew Him.
loved Him. My eyes could not close for
tears. My poor tongue kept silence. bu: my
heart spoke. and loved and adorrd The
amazing clrcult OF ones thoughts in so short
period is wonderful. They circle round
through all the past. and up through the
whole future, and both the past and future
are the present. and are one For one mo-
ment there arose keen anguish. like shoot
ing pang. for that which was, and thought
my heart wouid break that ! could bring bu,
only such a nature to mv Lord: but in a mo-
mcnt. As quick as the fash OF sunlight which
follows the shadows of summer clouds across
the fields, there seemed to spring out upon
me- from my Master, a certainty o: love SC
great and noble as utterly to consume nv I'M
worth, and leave me shining bright as if i,
were impossible for Christ to love heart
without making it pure and beautiful bv the
resting on i. of that illuminr affection ius,
as the sun bathcs into beauty the Lomclics,
object whcE he looks full upon it. But why
should seek to imprison in words the
thoughts and feelings that nothing but the
heart itself had power to utter? Words be.
long to the body. But when We are "in the
spirit" thoughts and feelings are expressed
by the very act of existing. and SYLLABLE
themselves ly their own pulsations.
In the same mood stood before the busts
and portraits of England's most illustriou,
names. But volume would not suffice tc
record the experience of a single hour, even
If my memory could compass the blessed it,
luSion with words
, Few places affect me more than the Libra
rics, and especially Tie Bodleian Library, re.
rutcd to have half a million printed books
and manuscripts. walkcl socmnly and
revcrentIy among the alcoves and through
, Tie halls, as if in the pyramid of cmbalmcd
>ouls. 1t was their lifc, their heart, their
mind that they treasured in these book -urnS
Silent as they are, should all the emotions
that went to their creation have Inference
could the world itself contain the various
sounds They longcd for fame: Here j,
is-to stand silently for ages, moved only to
be du>ted and catalogued, valued only as u
nits in the ambitious total, and sazcd at oc-
ca>ionally, by men as ignorant as | am, of
their name, their place, their language, and
their worth. Indeed, unless a man can link
he written thoughts with the everlasting
wants Of men, so that they shall draw from
them as from wells, there is no more immor
tality 10 the thOuobtS and fce!inos of tho souI