The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-02-11
AN ESSAY.
Read before the Calais Literary Asso
m citation, January 8, 1857. EF,t
..,i,. BY DIR. JAMES NJ. STOUT.


Unthinking man is careful of all things
but the one-in which he is most interested.
Wealth, fame, political or religious pop
ularity, preferment in any branch Of sci
ence or trade, oecnpy the. mind of one
class, while the more superficial are con-
tent with trying to excel in making a fine
show, attracting the attention of the Curl
Gus, and becoming the admired Of all ad-
mirers without spending one thought. in
reference to the science Of time, or why
it is that this clay tenement is kept in
state of animation, or what the result
would be, if, time was declared to be no,
longer, in reference to our individual self.
Since time was, this has been the case.
Since man first began to live in, the world.
to excel seems to have been mans princi-
pie object. The Philosopher to excel in
Philosophy-the. Astronomer in Astron-
omy-the Attorney in the Legal Profes-
sion-the Physician in the healing art
the Teacher in teaching-the Merchant
in merchandising-the Mechanic in his
trade-and last we find the Ministry filed
with ambition to preach the most "fowery
Sermon" to: get the applause of men.
Time rolls on unperceived by man.. Day
succeeds day, night succeedshight, season
succeeds season in rapid succession; when
one is gone, we enter upon another .un-.
perceived.'s2a4gs baa ds!aisz ,ist.4A
a"Time we oughtto consider as a sacred
trust committed to US by God, of which
we are now the repositories, and are to
render an account at the last. To every
thing there is season, and time for
every purpose under heaven If we delay
| till tomorrow what ought to be done to-
day, we over charge the morrow with a
burden that belongs not to it! We load
the wheels of time and preventthem from
carrying us along smoothly. The bulk
of men arein nothing more capritious and
inconsistent than in their appreciation of
ftime.ie When they think of itas the meas
ure Of their continuance on earth, they
highly prize it, and with the greatest
anxiety seek to lengthen it out. bat when
they view it i'll separate parcels, they ap-
lpear1to hold it in contempt, and squander
1 it with inconsiderate profusion. bGoyet-
Gus of every other possession Of time
w, f,.t
In the year that has just closed, how
many incidents have taken place, of which
we now have 10 account, and how many
ehanges have come over, 81 the spirit of our
fdream" that we little thoughtaof at the
commencement OF the year. Yesterday
I we formed new acquaintances, and our
hopes have been baoyant in the prospect
tof interest and advancement in social life.
to-day ournew acquaintance has vanished
Tand while time rolls on we may never EN-.
,Ijqy the pleasure of another Interview.
One wave OF the sea of, time rolls into on,
family circle, "a dear friend or a beloved
d.
frelative,. another wave PASSES along 'and
sweeps him FROM our embrace forever
| One breeze from the ocean, of time bears
kapop its breast fair prospect Of the fQture,
another ilrePz sweeps from US eprlfona
'thope. and diseaHeat reigns till another
gale comes to our relefa Now9tlfc a'lfead
\ winter Of our uistontcnt" :" IS nude 'sg1o-
strious SUMNER by,some freak Of time; ,and
iFnow we enter upon. a new volume efaVld
lmother time, ysome iwithaf afairoai.tli
with dim prospects of the futuress SAail
ttllis volume close. and find the sa.it FER.
Fsons prosperous and happy? or shall Tx
1.-TWO classes be reversed? or shall we all bt