Smyrna times., 1857-03-18
Original 9ttttles,
Written for the Smyrna Times.
Evening Musings.
BY CHARLIE.


"Tu night the quiet moon hath shone
On many worthier battle-ground
Than Waterloo or Marathon"
That's true And it has shone, too on mar
that have been as ably fought, and that have
been crowned with as brilliant victories as were
those of Jenna, Jaffl and Aboukir. Not on the
tented field alone are battles fought. The mind
hath its irial al-tasks-the heart its temptations
aud triumphs.
1t is reckoned as bravery to meet death with
out trepidation, or evidences of fear mid the
roll of the drum, the thunder of the cannon, and
the rattle OF musketry. But it requires a
greater degree of moral courage to face, un-
fnchingly, the want, the toll and the tempta-
tiOns of life And 20 conquer and subjugate
the evil propensities of our nature, and bring
them under the influence Of correct moral prin-
ciple, is deserving OF higher need of praise
than it is to meet death, without fear, mid the
iron hail uf battle.
Amid the floating of pepuons-the strains Of
martial music, and the thunder Of canon, it is
not hard TO die. But, oh to meet life, as the
lOwly meet ito face contumely, reproach
and negcct,--to listen to the gybe, the ieer,
and the sarcasm of the heartless and profane,
Ito smother down the deep, strong love of the
heart, and strive and labor in an uncongenial
avocation, for daily bresd,-- see those whom
you 1--we subjected to want, and deprived of the
necessary comforts and conveniences of life;-
Oh! it is hard to live thus!
And he that can do it, and retain his honesty,
truth and manly independence of character,
has greater soul, nobler and braver heart,
than the soldier whose physical courage simply
prompts him 10 court death at the canon's
mouth. 1t requires courage, indeed, to sacri-
flee pleasure to duty; and, to bear heroicly the
thousand ills and privations Of life without re-
pining,-to trampe under foot the base tempt
ings Of fame, when that fame would lead to a
conprom sc of honor and of upright and virtu-
Gus character. Beautifully has the poet said
"'Twere better TO forego
AL luxury--all circumstance of wealth.
Palatial mansion: or patrLcian robe,
Than have the secret curses of the poor (;
And with the fraud-spot on the soul, 90 forth
Unto the clear Eye OF the Perfect Judge"
Many a b;ave-hearted youth has won as brilli-
ant victories, on the minds battle plain, as were
those of husterlitz and Morengo. And, for the
subjugation of the wild and wayward passions
and propensities Of his heart is deserving of
higher reward than the civic crown which the
ancients placed upon the brow of him who saved
in battle the life of fellow-citizen. ~
"To-nlght the moon hath shone" upon the
"battle ground" of Right and Wrong. Their
forces have been uartiailed meath its TRANQUIL
light aud if the roar of artillery and the
clashing of swords has not been heard, the bat
tie has been none the less severe. And Truth
and Right have won another trophy ia the fierce
conflict with Error and Wrong. s, s I'd
And brave hearts hail tho victory as ominous
Of the final defeat, and the eternal overthrow
of the torcesof Abaddon. God speed the epoch,
when every heart shall harbor Truth as a con-
slant guest, and submit to the rule of Right in
all the transactiOus Of life. Then, indeed, will
earth be converted into an Eden OF enjoyment,
and tho /" wilderness and solitary placer be
made glad by the dawn OF the millennium.--