The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-10-23

AN IcEBERG.-Then there are at sea particular
spectacles of enhancing interest one, at least, of
which [ must take leave to describe. l refer to our
encounter with a large company of icebergs. Perhaps
no other sight in the world makes an impression
more unique and profound. Being in a steamship,
we could, in the daytime without peril draw near to
then, and get good views, at greater and less distan-
ces, Of their motion and bulk. There they lay, float
ing along in fellowship, the strangest sort of host,
of ali things living or inanimate in the world. Like
the migratory birds, they were seeking a warmer
clime-not, however, to refresh, but lose their exis-
tence. Bits of the pole, they had broken off from
their parent source, with the cold instinct of death at
their heart that they must hurry on the waste away;
and as each day they missed something of their icy
frame, and turned uneasily with their shifting weight
to and fro In the waters, they were themselves so
many prophecies, that whatever is frosty and forbid
ding In the creation must melt In the mildpess of
equatorial airs and the tropic floods of eternal friend
ship and love. Meantime, they themselves made a
pretty sharp winter around US; though, so great was
the curiosity to survey them, we willingly, at the
early dawn, breasted the boisterous and cutting wind
to gaze long at their solemn troop; and one seasick
invalid of our party was lifted in arms from her
couch to gaze through a round window in the side of
the ship at these new monuments of power and tok-
ems Of purity. Of all shapes and sizes they silently
swan upon their way. The Lord loves variety in all
things-the crystals Of the mine, the flowers sf the
field, the mountains of earth, and also In what before
hand we might think only monotenous--these cones,
and donles, and spires, and pyramids-or shall they
not be called chains of icy hills? upon the sea- So
Tic eye was QIdNn u eAdL1Ine, Will eNcr-ucN SuI-
prise and delight, this manifold architecture-Egyp-
tan, Grecian and Roman by turns. In the greatest
draft of water required for their enormous and solid
bulk, they are thrown about among the pillows as
the largest ships are, but seem to sail on In sublime
and stole disregard, or with but at Least faint respect
fr wind and storm. One tremendous mass heaved
;4 bulk not far from us, and, as it swept along,
seemed a temple of God upon the Geep. Its founda-
ton sank low where beneath the superficial action of
the fercest waves, it could rest wi hout rocking upon
waters, quiet as the solid grant of the land. Its
tower shot up like an aspiration to the sky. Full in
front of the rising sun, it swept onward its steeple
blazing as never upon the earth blazed marble in the
light of the day; and whatever use it did its part to
serve, in the great economies o. nature, it at least
answered well for any thoughtful observer the pur-
pose of worship in the ministry Of the soul. Slowly
southwark it moved and faded by degrees away, bear
ing some holy thought in it shrine of material sane
tity, and taking its place in memory ~forever-though
its temporary and fugitive being is long since dis
solved-among bethels of prayer--BGrtot's Pictures
Of Europe.