Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-20

and Of the diver that descends in his metal
lie saloon to gather the coveted treasures
from the cavities Of the deep.
Staid by this anchor the mind descends
to the centre Of the earth, unfolds the yastI
stony leayed volume, and reads on its mas
sive pages the incontroyertlble facts recorded
by the lapse Of numberless ages. Thence
she wings her flight to the azure armament,
ranges among the countless stars that bios
som in the Garden Of Deity, and collects in
her fight intellectnal gems Of incomparablef
value Who can look son the picture illus
trating the feath-bed scene of John WesleyE
without being pleased with the skill shown
in the execution Of the work aud with tfft {
ffuthfulncss 20 Ka g1Fpg AntF WI does fslssEg.
know that the artist would not so sedulousIyA
have applied his pencil for three successive
weeks to one hand Of this picture had he not
hoped that it would, when finished, amply
compensate him for his toll. With similar
failures and successes has each one nearly
of the master pieces of art been produced.
Dark and foreboding were the clouds ofig-
norance and superstition that enveloped the
intellectual horizon during the middle ages.
These clouds have, by energetic exertion,
been chased away like mist before the morn
ing sun. Instead of few scanty books, the
| press now sends forth thousands Of her lead
4 Sh AiOooSuSCIs, UCdLllIS dnO
instruction to all who will receive them
The nation that then regarded the harmless
meteor as an evil omen. and the phenomenon
of lightning as a terrific mystery, can now,
! by the same fluid, rend asunder the finty
rock consume the most refractory substan-
ces, and compel it to bear her thoughts with
| incredible speed to the remotest points.
! But as yet only a few of the gems that
Il sparkled on the suburbs of the intellectual
world have been claimed. The interior
abounds with diamonds of the first water.
with which the genius Of the present and fu-
ture age may deck his coronet of frenown.
To the youth of this highly favored land I
would say the mines of science are open
t before you, 90 dig for gems" The high bar
riers which formerly surrounded these mines
/ have been removed, and you may easily ex-
: tract the scintillating treasures that lie just
| beneath the surface.
Would you, enjoying SO many ennobling
{ privileges, live a mere drone in society? The
r helpless bird, that is to-day dependent on its
It parent bird for it's scanty meal, tomorrow
n mounts on full fedged pinions and makes the
n forest melodious with its vocal strains. The
]. rose that is Just peeping from its dewy calyx
r at morn, is the full blown queen at noon.-
is The pearly rain-drop is not stationary, but
% winds its way through many rills to the great
n reservoir Of water, then floats on the zephyr's
is breath and again returns to cheer the droop-
ing flower. Then why may you not aspire
l. to write your name in legible characters on
l. the highest pinnacle that science, in any OF
e her departments, rears? Why may you not
3 plant in the garden of literature a vine whose
i ciasping tendrils shall entwine around the
= hearts of nations? A vine that will not on.
,e ly afford tempting shade to the literati o.
- the day but will also instill its salutary in
4 fuence in the minds of all that repose under
H. its verdant branches.
s. The individual whose society is generally
tlcourted and whose example is held up as
"A paragon of excellence, is always ready t.
o. practice self-denial for the comfort of thos
lie around him and to view all circumstances il
IA cultivate firm, upright, moral character
yy must stem the current of vicious influence
7e. which, at this day, assume such pleasin
be form and look forward to the glorious palm
lrs which an honest, steadfast purpose will ult
IN mately win.
nd See yonder mariner riding on old ocean
he angry pillows. He keeps his eye fixed O
he one star that sheds it's propitious beams o
,us surrounding darkness. Suddenly a clou
it'll shuts its light, and the bark of the marine
ger left in chaotic night strikes against the brea
wn ers and ne is swallowed up in the watery
,on byss. So, when the rays of hope are exti
our guished, the soul sinks in a dark gulf fro
the which there seems no egress. And alas
ion how many sharp breakers and forbodir
vn, precipices stand disguised in the garb of i
his nocence even in the so called highest circl
Dpe of society. Go to the ball 1oom-there v
nds see woman, whose love beaming eye and e
cep chanting smile are peculiarly fitted to W
II IL, h IL L., L.,
ne these charms to the delusive dance. We S
ich her at the card table, wasting not only
liza own time and talents, but inducing others
hat barter for nought their souls eternal hap
au. ness. Alas alas we sometimes even S
ives her throwing her mystic veil of enchantme
ght around the beaker that has often crush
ind the fondest hopes; laid low the loftiest as
cav rations, and even buried deep in ignomi
AIRY and shame the most extraordinary talen
ired Where is the true woman that does not blu
ish- to own that her sex sometimes profers
urn glass, in the sparkling contents of which
hing concealed the heinous serpent which stir
r la the present and everlasting peace of its V
his tim Oh Intemperance, how much wea
ev- hast thou consumed? How many tears h
d he thou wrung from broken hearted widows a
Duld perishing orphans. How many soul -pierci
ex- shrieks hast thou sent through the culpr
fas cell and maniac's dungeon That wea
need would, if rightly applied, supply every ph
ious ical need of our land. Those tears collec
d would fill an ocean. Those cries conden
title would be louder, yea, thrice louder than
the loudest thunder The mind is Mortified wi
phil it contemplates the sufferings of those
most writhe in the gulf of eternal despair VIII
d. hope ever comes. We are forced to the c
lths, clusion that as the liquor vender is inst
ples mental in the destruction of so many of
that fellow men;so must his sufferings be more
Why, gravated in the lake of unquenchable fire
ID to Behold that frail bark exposed to the n
ge of ciless storm. The winds beat agains
who with increased fury but it is anchored
xclu- good soil and remains firm against the Il
misty ing of the waves that overwhelm the sta
tenn ship which has no anchorage. So the ch
ITS in tian whose hope is anchored in Christ is
les to harmed by the most furious assaults OF
oubt- wicked world. Stern old winter, crow
stiga- with crystal icicles sat for long time
h the throned on his snow white throne. But
mlted tie spring has at last returned, chased a
{ that his chilling winds and bhghting rains,
cceed now the richest flowers crowd around '
from unusual loveliness. So the devout pilg
which will be released from all care and sorrow
otless bloom In spotless purity around the Etc
t may Throne. The mind expands apd he
uld be with emotion too sublime for utterance v
overed it contemplates the consummate wisdom
e, and benevolepee of the Deity by which it is
'tween the happy recipient of such divine favo
fading The Christians hope. Who can compu
imme- value. Gould all the powers on earth
of the bined staunch the unalloyed pleasures