The American patriot., 1855-08-04
The Bible and the Discoveries of Science

The following eloquent passages are from
Lieutenant Maurys late work, the "Physical
Geography of the Sea-"
The Bible frequently makes alluson to the
laws of nature, their operation and effects.
But such illusions are often so wrapped in the
fold of the peculiar and graceful drapery with
which its language is occasionally clothed, that
the meaning, though peeping out from its thin
covering all the while, yet lies in some sense
concealed, until the lights and revelations of
science are thrown upon i; ; then it bursts out
and strikes us with the more force and beauty
"As our knowledge of nature and her laws
has increased, so has our understanding of ma
ny passages in the Bible been improved. The
Bible called the earth the round world;' vet
for ages it was the most damnabe heresay for
christian men to say the world is round and,
finally, sailors circumnavigated the globe, pro-
we'd the Bible to be right, and saved christian
men of science from the stake. 'Canst thou
tell the sweet influence of the Ple;ades?"
Astronomers of the present day, if they have
not answered this question, have thrown so
much light upon it as to show that, if it ever
be answered by man, he must consult the
science of astronomy. 1t has recently all but
proved that the earth and sun, with their splen-
did retinue of comets, satellites and planets,
are all in motion around some point or centre
of attraction inconcevably remote, and that
that point is in the direction of the star Aclyon
one of the Pleiades! Who but the astrono-
mer, then, couldtell their sweet influences?
And as for the general system of atmosphc-
rical circulation which | have been so long en-
deavoring to describe, tile Billie tells it all in
a single sentence: The wind goeth towards
the South and turneth about unto the North;
it whirlcth continually, and the wind rcturncth
again according to his circuits"
WEST PoISr AcApEMy,-Many applicants
for admission to this institution are rejected,
and for the information of parents and others
the New York journal of Commerce states:
"The fact is, that the highest degree of
physical vigor is requisite to bear up under the
rigorous discipline of West Point The stu
dents are on duty seventeen hours out of the
| twenty-four; for relaxation is as strictly pre-
scribed as labor; and implicit obedience to au-
| thority is the duty Of the soldier. They are
obliged to spend seven hours, from ten to fiye,.
in bed, without lights. The rigid discipline
of the institution has the best effect on those
who have the strength to bear it. 1t is found
to be promotive of health, chcerluncss and
mental vigor 1t can never in any degree be
relaxed in favor of the weak, for the country
is interested in the exclusion of that class, as
incompetent for the services which it proposes
to require of those there educated The object
of the institution is to train for their country's
service those on whom it can rely in exgencies
and danger. Let none but those who have cx-
hibited indications of peculiar promise be en-
couraged TO aspire to that exalted brotherhood.
Failure and dismissal a>sureclly await all who,
for want of health, preparation or ability, are
unequal to meet the rigorous requirements ex-
acted of the pupils at West Point"
| Very PoPrLAR-" Was Brown popular
man when he lived in your town. inquired
busy-body ofhis friend
~ should think he was" replied the gentle
man, "as many persons endC avored to prevent
his leaving us-so many having taken a par
tcular fancy to him; among others, the Shcr
ih,, his deputy, and several constables, followed
him some distance"
NATcHIroCHEs.-'The American party of this
parish have made the following nominations :
| For the Legislature-J. W. Norris.
| For Clerk. II. Stephens.
! For Assessor-Thomas Smith.
For Coroner-Wm, L. Hahn.