Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-21
The American Scholar.

There is no country like America. Col
umbia has no rival. The truth is, all the
lineaments, varieties and elements of beau
ty, grandeur and sublimity, to be found in
any other country whatsoever, and in all
other countries besides-are to be found
also in our own. Scotland's highlands,
Italia's balmy air, the wild and romantic
scenery of Switzerlands mountains, have
all their counterpart in America and are
here blended and united in the most agree
able harmony, and, at the same time, with
the most attractive and entertaining variety.
And all that can be said Of the country in
general, may, with equal truthfulness and
propriety, be said of our own national do
main. Possessing frontier outline of up
wards of ten thousand miles in extent, the
United States comprise, within their limits,
every variety Of climate and scenery, and
well-nigh every variety of production to be
found in the known world. They embrace
woodland dells, fowery plains, rocky
heights, and towering mountains. They
are washed by one ocean upon the East,
and by another upon the West. Majestic
rivers roll their. richly freighted waters
every where over their surface; and lakes
of the vastest extent and magnitude serve
as the medium of trade and commerce, far
in the bosom of the interior. The health.
full pulsations of life and activity throt
through every portion of the country, and
the whole framework of society.
Evidences ofgeneral prosperity are every
where apparent. Nay-I may say, the
waves of prosperity roll down our mountain
sides and swell and sweep and spread ovel
our valleys. Cities spring up as if by ma
gic the tide of population is continual,
swelling; and the limits of the country ar
widening and extending. Sterile and inhos
fields; and the wilderness and solitar,
places echo to the merry voices of sturd
yeomanry; and brought into subjection b
the steady hand ofindustry, they soon be
come the delightful habitations of refine
and intelligent society. The very heart {
humanity beats quickly. The hum of bl
siness, the din of commerce, the clatter {
machinery, and the wild and startling screa1
of the steam engine are every where heard
whilst, with the speed of the lightnings
heaven, men whisper upon the wire bridg'
of human thought from limit to limit of o.
country. But need not amplify. [ dra
not an overwrought picture. I speak n
f the language Of hyperbole; but simply {
sert that which is attested by the univers
experience of mankind, when I affirm th
, every thing around us, above us, and
: neath us, is pre-eminently and superlati'
; ly adapted to wake up the slumbering c
6 ergies of our natures. to generate men
: activity and free investigation, and to {
e velope bold, strong, vigorous and man
$ thoug ght in every human mind. So tha
the most fervid and brilliant imaginati
:. were to conceive and portray theatre b
!. adapted to the action and development
: the cultivated intellect, know not WI
r could possibly be added to this Utopia Il
&C is not found in thee-O America
- - Gland of the brave, and home of the Free"
,f 1t will be observed that, in our remar
o. I've have assumed that scenery and elm