Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-11-12
AUTuMNALIA.

AUTUMNALIA.
f, The Madison Tsiior concatcnates chap
ter on autumn, which wo adopt rs quite the
thing for the season; worthy of these REQ
lear.falling days." as the Home Journal re
marks:
"The summer, with its long and sultr,
davs, is over, and autumn, magnificent ant
pompous auumn"-as poor Ollapod was
wont to call it--.wilh trailing clouds Of in
Vulnerable tints, with leaves that fill the ali
with solemn whispers and paint the viewles:
gusts in hues Of beauty, cometh "wilh dyee
garments of glory" The evening shadow;
Of the year are beginning to fall upon US
with pleasant and soothing. sensation o
relief, after the glare and: heat Of summer
while the delicious mornings aud evening:
make US regret that the
Soft twilight of the slow, declining year.
cannot last forever. 1t is u singular fac
that nearly all the old English poets speak
of this season in the saddest and most mel
aneholy strains. Shakespeare terms it "the
chilling autumn" while Collins speaks of il
rs "lhe sailor antnmn." Wordsworth ad,
dresses il us autumn, melancholy wight.
and Shensone writes,
''Oh pcnsire autumn! how grievc
Thy surrUwing face TO see,
When 4nguid suns are taking Leave
OF every dropping tree"
Further quotata!ons Of the same character
might be made from CHANGER, Snenser,
Dryden, Milton, Thomson, and indeed the
entire list Of early English pnrts. Those
of later years, with an occasional exception,
have treated The season Il little more respect
fully, and seem to have appreciated its beau.
ties. Instead OF" autumn, melancholy wight,
wc find suc.l expressions as gay autumnaI
tints," aud
Autumn, thrice happy time,
les, portion Of the various year"
Indeed, one would be justified in believing
that there had been Il great change in the
nature Of things, since The days of "WiII
Shakespeare, the baliE's SOIL" Aud yet.
VIC imagine, the Only change has been in
public sentiment Cowpcr, the Christian
poet, WAS the first 10 discover that autumn
was not melancholy season, and now lhele
is no lack of English poets who ale able to
see and appreciate beauties in its landscape,
to which their IurcIathers were entirel ly blind.
In the eyes of American pnets,s this season
uf the year. seems always 10 have worn, a
theerfth. aspect! ii.rae, Bryant" lin one OF
his poems. speaks of -.
'tThe melancholy days 4
The saideSt Of The year: g.,
OF wa;li:,g winds and naked woods,
Aud meadows brown AMI scrc."
Bu. he seems afterwards to have rcpentcd
himself, and writes:
''Oh autumn.
'1'wcrc lot too blrst,
Forever in Thy coure'l shades to stray
A sweet poeless of the South, now dead,
Mary f. Lee, thus spoke Of autumn:
''Tliry cal thee brown, but not because
Thy robe is cOlurc,l with Il RUSSO, hue,
For thou HIS, beautiful attire. ana likcst
E'rn at thy will Il drappcry ever new;
No, one 'mongst thy companions can unfold
Such stores Of emerald: topaz. ruby, gold"
Scarce one Of all oar poets bnt has some
graceful tribute to this soaSun-so full Of
pensve beauty. We question if the Eng
Iish autrlunS are as full Of loveliness as ours
Even here, in Middle Georgia, we miss
much of tic magnifcencc of the "many-
cn!ored woods" Of the Northern Stales. or
more northern portions of our own-bul
with us there is much to he seen and admir-.
ed, after the season is sufficiently advanced.
A walk, few weeks hence, in The
viricgated woods when first the frost
Turns into beauty all Octobcr's charnIs,"
will reveal to the eye ga bright bow of ma.
ny colors hung upon the forest tops Each
tree seems to have a peculiar fancy Of its
own. The great family Of oaks are clothed,
some in brilliant rcd, others in glowing scar.
let, and still others in splendid yellow. The
sweet gum takes a bright verInillou hue;
aud the chestnut clothes herself, from top
to toe" in golden.colorrd vestmen,s. The
dogwood is dyed lake color, while other
trees take unto themselves garments Of so.
Der brown. In every direction, ou hilltop
and in the valley, nature wears every variety
Of tint, mingled in the widest and yet sweet
est confusion. Many persons complain that
the change in the foliage at this season Of
the year oauSes feelings Of melancholy,
arousing sad and snrrowln ideas, like the
flush on the hectic check" But we cain see
no such import III its meaning. Here is no
sudden blight of youth and beauty, no sweet
hopes of life are blasted, no generous aim
at usefulness and advancing virtue is cut
short: the year is drawing 10 its natural
term, the seasons have run their usual course
all their. blessings have been enjoyed, all
our precious things are cared lors there is
nothing of unIimclinrss. nothing Of disap'
pointment, In The shorter days and lessrning
heats of autumn. As well may wo mourn
over the gorgeous coloring of the clouds
which collect to pay homage to the setting
sun, because they proclaim the close of day
as well may we lament the briIIi:ncy Of The
evening star, iindahe >siIvcry hrightness 2
the oresreBs Elonn, just ascending inIn tlit
heavens, because they declare tho approach
of night with her shadowy train'!- lp very
truth, the glory Of these last waning days
Of the season proclaims grandeur of bepn
ficenee which should rathor make our poo
hearts swell with gratitude at each return o
the beautiful autumn accorde@ y u.s."
FIVE WORDS N SEAsoN-Abont two osn
turirs aud half ayo,' !Ee lesIsiIltElfe o
I ii 4: 4 u