The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-07-09

The W1Np.-A truly mysterious agent is the wind;
viewless itself, yet having an eye, withal, towards
which, if one finds himself moving. he will be sure to
feel its force if lie does not see its form. 1t is strong
armed also, beating down opposition with resistless
strength. Its voice is terrible sometimes, and some
times softer than a flute. Now it has the plant OF
an seolian harp; then life-like whistles, loud and
clear. 1t sobs among the pine cones, rustles in the
chestnut's summer leaves, and rattles in the bare
branches and falling foliage of the autumn. Almost
noiselessly does this invisible tenant OF space above
US seem to creep, though in fact unseen, along the
waving grass and corn, which bend in reverence as
it passes.
The wind has been said already to have an eye. it
has breath, too, now shifting in the sirocco or SIMEON,
now cutting men down with the northern, and pros
trating in the hurricane. Generally it may bexln-
ferred that it possesses a good character. The COM
mon saying that it is an i'll wind that blows nobody
any good, implies that usually it is a good creature
enough. It blows our vessels to pieces sometimes, IN
deed, but thea how many more does it blow, with
their rich freight of men and merchandise, across the
oceansi Winds derive their character, as men do,
from the country of their origin. Those from the
land of Boreas are apt to be savage in their attacks,
as the white bears of the pole, while those from the
tropics softly kiss our cheeks and WOO us to repose.
1t makes itself useful in a thousand ways, one of
which is turning mills, and powerful felplng all
sorts of manufacture. As an entertainot is unri-
vailed. How sublimely it brings up the thunder
shower; how beautifully it floats along the sky the
billowy cloud. 1t causes the hail or rain-'rop to pat
ter againgst the window; and, if you are a good-for-
nuluiuE ONS VI hetC ~ yO0A
will drive the snow and water through the broken
pane or dilapidated roof. While fishing in the lake,
or lying under a shady tree upon its banks, the wind
IS ever ready to amuse one. Now it stirs up myrlads
of ripples. running after one another over its surface,
and now it fans the lounger with the big branches OF
the chestnut above hs.head.
1t is not always, however, that it appears as master
of the revels. In the character of avenger it now
and then rusles upon the stage and makes its audi
ence tremble. Wide forests are instantly laid low by
its irresistible, yet viewless arm; dwellings are torn
asunder and crushed beneath its weight; men and
animals are lifted up and whirled about like snow
fakes in a winters storm. So it is on the land.
At sea its power is terrific. The ocean is dashed
into rolling mountains. Earth and the heavens meet
and mingle together in night and chaos. The ele-
ments put forth their voices, but alb We all their hor-
rible thunder the wind rides triumphant, and utters
its trumpet-summons to the universal uproar OF bat
tie. 1t RACES, it screams, it shrieks. Over all other
sounds the blast of the invisible is heard; and that
power which is the cause of the boiling of the deep.
the agony of the cracking ship yet is itself forever un-
cQon