Smyrna times., 1856-12-10
@tiaiaal: l::sAttitle.':.. {.
,55a, Written for the Smyrna Times. = r..
The Importance of Mental Culture.

The Importance of Mental Culture.
re '''" CONCLUDED from our last.) s..a,-, !
.,,The Areopa gus. the Athen@um, the Iiyceum
and the porch were the living lights Of the
land, and constituted the magical Egis of MI
nerya, with which she long protected her favo-
rite people from the rough bolts of Fate. Wis
dsm formed the resplendent halo of glory that
surrounded Greeia's name, it being composed of
bright scintilations of burning thoughts from
the brains of her sculptOrs, painters, philoso-
piers, orators and bards, who shone with unrl-
vailed splendor in the galaxy of science, litera-
tare and art. While she continued TO advance
10 mental culture and to promote thereby the
noble arts of peace, she was truly great and
aIatchless in her might; but when she lost her
love Of learning, in efeminating luxury and
ease-no Plato taught, no Demosthenes ide-
claimed, no. Homer sung--she sunk, alas! in
wild anarchy and wo,-the proud monuments
Of her grandeur and renown becoming thence
prey to vile Vandal hordes, many of which
siilI remain in broken beauty, the wonder and
adnniration Of the world, - g..s,, NJ.
When Rome arose in iron. majesty, like,
mailed maiden, on her seven hills, and swayed
-hernighty sceptre soser suppliant thrones and
principalities aud powers, aud, made her COM
mon citizens respected as noblemen in, every
land she was the proud patron of lore, and
bossted many a. sage profound and pure. Tally
and Marc led the van in the mightysma rch'o
miaa, and gave their native land a Dame o
glesy IN the archives Of ages that will neVe
die. When Rome lost her intellectual vigo
10 the love of lucre, luxury and low delights
her. political decadency began. The Peopl'
were oppressed, while vice .in high places wen
unpunished. Petty iealousies were, rife, dis
content drove peace from the land and rebelio
shook the government to its very center, mal
ing her rotten dynasties to totter and tumble i
quick suecessionfrom the throne OF the Cesar
until her house was divided and her nationals
forever crushed when the few fickerin
lights of learning were aextiDguishedj in tn
swelling food of northern Vandalism and vi
lence which made Rome 50 the Niobe ofnatioHs.
.Forsges after this sad event the world os'
.wrapt in thick dsrkness,, which was scarce
broken save by the dim rays which sometim
glssnmereds taroughe the cracks of cloister
wbithef what little light was left had chief
fed. superstituticn breathed its blightipg m
dew on the mind, squalid want and indOlen
cursed the Masses bat little law was kno,
save the will Of petty rulers and Knight Ezra
TVS unwritten code Of honor. wild anarc
prevailed, and centuries of reckless strife, CT
slty, rapine and bloodshed, passed away a
sunk in the dark lethe Of iliteracy, leayin
page almost blank in the history Of our ra
Bat thanks to the good genii Of mind !, Fl
time To time through that dark period, 50
lovers Of learning, though (so and far betrOe
ssuse like beacon- fires along benighted CO
ard .pariiaIIy dissipsted the. eimnerian glo
sliad stimulated mind, thought kndled thoul
aud kpoHledge slowly emerged The spiri
s.rnesl inap.sy wssawakenedi inspiration
iHbsked lrosa The smusty tones of yore !; I
s,osvlsts were evolved, new systems establ
ed. and tl1e Sun Of scienee gradually Al
sgain 90 earih with more than redoubled sp
dar.l. New priue pies in Astronomy were tas
sxaicls sssossssssssxed- wifoie ~systeas
led 10 the discovery Of a inexlcontinent bey
AElsnia,s swelling gwsye,wilh all it's eoDseq
dressings. The North-S.ar Pointing Con
was iasen,esl. ti,e art Of priating Sas disco
Cd. whereby ussiul kno~ledge was read
accessible 70 the masses and widely ditfdss
Laws. morals, MANNERS, cQsl loAaa sad. q
SeSs hhpF5ssfs evefy eslsb sblished art and
enre culmina,ed lifefafure received vot
Ma.f4s out shsaeaths sneient sATans 10
greatest glory !; and We nos IN the m'ds
-. -. sssa isnrsfi haa I y