Smyrna times., 1858-09-02
o II | G. N AL.
e S S A Y
Read Saturday. August 21St, before the Teach.
ers' Institute, Smyrna,
BY o. N. BASS, A. B.

BY o. N. BASS, A.B.
Darkness reigned in the western world, II
darkness OF ignorance, superstition and barb;
risin. The seasons. following out the design
Omaipotence, fulfil the wOnted circuit of IN
year; suns rise and set with their usual prec
son and regularity; not title of the splcndo
which now radiates and enlightens this mum
dane sphere of ours was detained from scndin,
forth ITS Illuminating and life giving influence
The bounteous earth could send forth from it
iuxurlant bosom what might be nutriment to
t4emng' happy population, by the pruning han,
of the culturist sced-tme and haryest.tima
summer and winter, each fills up its appointe,
calend; the timely vivifying rains and tho
gently distiIling dews of evening descend upon
lnanlmate nature, giving it healthy, verdant
and reJuVenated appearance the wild songs,ers
OF the grove make merry in the woodlands and
bowers, with their morning carol and eyenino
hymns of praise ;-and yet this favored land of
cur adoption and refuge-the New Worlds
sunken beneath the dark pail of ignorance and
barbarlsm,-shrouded and shut from view by
many, many desert leagues of old oceans drear
exPanse. No human being possesses or occu-
pies this highly favored and yet neglected part
Of the domain of the Creator save the wild red
man OF the forest, rejoicing in the vicissitudes
and recklessness of savage life, nor caring for
anght else IN nature save the qualification of
the calls OF the present, or the safety of his
terocous animal desires,-avoiding every ap-
uroach tn civilization. as ruda ~ r6 ,,,oJoootoJ
as the wild beasts that scaled the rocky cliffs of
their mountains or hid themselves in the dreary
caverns OF their valleys; and who, although
he knew not the God of the Revelation as
known 10 modern Theologians, or worshipped
Him IN stately temples wrought out by mems
device, where the rich the proud, the young
aud gay assemble, to mock with the solemn pa
geantry of show and cquipa ge,-but who oaIv
recognised controlling, guiding destiny in
that divinity or agency which spoke to his un-
tutored mind in the whirlwiud's mighty crash,
which prosrated the giant oak of the forest or
rent 10 sunder its tenacious, adhcrng fbres
who saw Him in the golden sun which rose
from behind the eastern hills at morn, bathing
the hlllsdes and meadows with its radiance OIL
purple aud crimson, and which sunk into its
bosom at night; in the reverberations of hea-
vens artillery, which, speeding upon the wings
OF the wind, uttered forth the depth and solem.
nIiy of It's voice, sending forth lis ochoes far
and wide; who knew his goings alike in the
mighty tempest's blast which heaved the un-
tathomable depths of the sea into one sublime
and continuous eddying whirlpool of wave and
spray, or in the modest zephyr's gentle breath
which quietly raised the noiseess ripple that
mildly kissed the bow OF his light canoe, as
gliding over the CLASSY bosom Of some favored
lake or haunted slreamlet, he hied him onward
with the arrows precision to his place of des-
tination. Here buried and shut out from the
view of intelligence and advancement, laid a
world of interest and fraught with destinies of
a mighty nation which time was ere long to de-
velop. Nowhere was heard the sound of the
mechanic or husbandman following onward in
his accustomed round of labor, improving the
vast domain Of nature. as well as contributing
to the contingent necessities in the case of an
emergency. No respectable habitation presents |
itself TO view,-nOthing attractable or worthy
of admiration may be- seen to relieve the tire |
some monotonous desolation which seems to
have pervaded all things connected with ami
mate creation,-all seems gloomy, desolate,
dark and dreary. But pause for moment, 10
view the surrounding prospect. Behold in
the eastern sky small but lurid flame sends
forth its radiations of heat and light, which,
like the sacred blaze that harmlessly licked the
golden hair of the young Julius, was but the
precursor of a still more grand and we-inspi-
ring manifestation which was soon to follow
after. But see the far-of beacon approaches,
and settles in the far-of wiIds of the country
we now possess. A light is kndled glo-
rious sun beams forth, and some magic power
Immediately brings its influence TO bear upon
the surrounding circumstances, and strange,
mysterious result cnsues. Some unseen hand
has stretched forth It's magic wand, and caused
an unaccounlab'e, mysterious change,-has
caused this desert, dreary wilderness, TO bloom
as the rose and become the seat of prosperity
and happineas-the goal around which, as the
great ceaire Of attraction, the oppressed and
anfostsnate of every age, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, delight to congregate to
experience the protecting bencGcence of WISE
ty-ordered and kindly.operating institutions,
@hefe honest merit and true worth is the only
test or requisite desidcraium TO enable each and
every one 10 become participant who claims
.he penehls Of her munifcence. No gorgeous
asplag otregal splendor or earthly ponp draws
,"e "Ones' earnings Of hara.handcd toll and in
aus'ry irom its rightal possessors, to corrupt a
"a0sa'y assemblage Of royal sycophants,--no
"a'iSe array Of glitteriug bayoncts or servile
sOldIery present their savage columns 10 awe
az Order-loving aud peacc-desiring people into