Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-31
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Facts worthy of Contemplation.
CONTINUED FROM or

Opportunities for usefulness and inn |
provenent are daily Offering, vet how
many, even at this enlightened period, |
Slight all these opportunities and, aspiring
to no higher object. than sensual gratifica-
cation, spend all their golden moments
without making any praiseworthy attain
ments. 1t is true. that our nation ranks
high in point of education, vet is not the
mass of her sons and daughters deficient
even in the mere rudiments of education
Do not many possess a mere superficial
knowledge of the branches Of which they
claim to be master! How lamenta61e the
fact, that many endowed with talents which
rightly improved would reyolutionize the
world, suffer them to lie dormant, and that
others with cultivated minds lend their in
fluence to vice and immortality. The at
tentive observer sees, with the unassisted
eye, in the diamond decked canopy of
night, countless stars, each of which ex-
hibits phenomena worthy of contemplation
Through the medium of the telescope and
profound investigation he sees this number
indefinitely increased and converted into
worlds and SYSTEM of worlds, each system
and member of that system performing
with incredible velocity its revolution in
its own appointed time and place, and dis
playing in all the grandeur of snblimity,
the omnipotence, omnisciencc and bcneyo-
lence of its Author. The iliterate find
much to engage the attention in the gar
den of nature. Through the medium of
education these attractions are indefinitely
increased, the path of duty divested ofmany
OF It's mystic windings and the best method
performing that duty plainly delineated.
Does not every American contemplate with
deep interest the history of his own loved
country and does not his bosom heave
with emotions too big for utterance, when
he contemplates his ancestors, the noble
patriots that fought, bled, and died to res
cue his highly favored country from the
gaping jaws of British thraldom.
What intelligent being would remain in
active when the lower order of animals and
even inanimate nature furnish innumera-
bic incentives to perseverance, diligence
and industry. To-day the rain-drop falls
softly on the parched flower. Tomorrow
: it hastens through the silicious strata,
winds its way along the impervious rock
and unites with the hmpid stream in its
serpentine path to the boundless deep =
gPe q5HRtegFatsd EeSts Stss 2f %rt H4f Neltps I'll
similar character, or arranging themselve:
around an organic nucleus, form the dikes
veins and nodules of the solidifed rock
Whence the cleavage structure of mica anC
feldspar? Is there not satisfactory evi
g dence that the particles of these minerals
rearranged themselves in lamine after the
mass was consolidated? Do we not find
continuous metallic veins In some of the
hardest rocks which have the same FOSSIL
ferrous and Theological character as do thC
containing strata Can it not be proved
almost to the accuracy of demonstration
that the particles which compose these
veins were once intermixed with the par
L ticles Of the mineral mass, and that the,
were transported and deposited in thei
present form by the invisible agent, elec
tricity We often see cone or leaf con
vcrted into a mineral fossil, which fossi
u bears every popularity of form, structur
e and indentation that the leaf or cone die
. Were not the organic particles replace
II by the mineral simultaneously The rose
: that just peeps from the dewy calyx a
y morn, is the full blown queen at noon.-
IS The helpless bird, to-day dependent on II
. parent bird for support, tomorrow mount
Il on full tiedged pinions towards the azur
s sky and makes the air vocal with his me
~ low notes. Prodigal, behold the ant, hoard
is ing up through each long Summer da
her Winter store, and learn to economic
OF to improve the present and to prepare fc
ie future wants. Observe, ye slothful, tn
u busy bee as on unwearied wing it gather
u honey from thousand different flowers t
e fill its tiny cell, and learn that industry
q q the great lever power by means of whic
u the wealth of this world is accumulated
ne Who were Virgil, Horace and Cicero 2
!" Who were Hannibal, Alexander and Bon
a parte? Who were Watts, Newton an
lis Herschel? Who were Washington, Hoy
a ard and Judson? Heirs of Indulgence
ne sons Of industry. Who would exchane
u the true delight derived from self denyir
We benevolent action, for the sordid pleasur
ie, which the profigate and the extravaga
realize.
" The delicate tube-rose supplied vii
1e. the requisite amount of moisture al
~ fertiIizing substance, fourishes and exhal
nc most fragrant odor in its own sequester
vale. Add redundancy of these and I
II glossy leaves wither, the lovely petals f
eo and the plant, too delicate for sumptuo
'ce fare, dies. So the individual who partak
w MS sparingly of sensual pleasures and EMO
~ but limited share Of pecuniary resources
lus es makes the most praiseworthy attainmen
lu By much indulgence the physical consti
US ton is weakened, tie mind impaired a
rV- the individual incapacitated to accompl
es B the great object of life. How many in
n lnh dicious parents spend all their days in
eo' accumulation Of wealth, in order to reno
DOT their children influential. Frequently t
al ~ wealth, squandered at the card table, dril
ne ing saloon and bacchanalian reyel, pro
. the everlasting ruin of its possessor. "
" can estimate the wealth that is spent
IN that pernicious fluid which consumes
do physical constitution, blunts the most '
is'' orous talents and sends the immortal S
: unprepared in the presence of an offen'
God.
nre America can justly boast of her C
TINS of civil laws, superior in many respects