Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-17
oRIGIEAL PAPERS
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Facts worthy Of Contemplation.
(coNTrNUEp PROM our LAST


We find much that is interesting and in
structive by mere cursory view of the
objects and scenes around us but, when
we examine them infinitely, we find, even
in the most insignificant, that its Author is
omniscicnt omnipotent just and good.
The beast, the bird, the fish; the insect, are
all suited TO their place and purpose. The
most minute grain Of sand has its own pc
culiar form, aud is as much designed for
some important purpose, as is the lofty
mountain, or gigantic animal. The most
minute animalcule which helps to make up
the dust Of the fg, has its own peculiar or
gauization and circulatory system and is
the object Of divine care How numerous
and interesting the facts which natural phi
losophy reveals to the inquiring mind
How intricate, yet harmonious the laws
and operations Of the material world. How
pmanifest the wisdom Of the Deity in the
adaptation of these laws to their respective
functions, and how plain His guardian love
in the apparent departure from them
The rain-drop obeys the laws of heat and
gravitation in its transformation from wa
ter to vapor, from vapor to the crystal
stream through all its mystic windings to
the boundless deep. Why then does it de-
part from these laws, when 1t reaches thir-
ty-nine-and-a-half degrees and become
lighter as the temperature decreases until
1t freezes Suppose IL followed the gen
eral law. Each layer of ice, as it was
formed, would sinkto the bottom, and eve
ry body of water on our globe would be
CONCEALED into a solid mass. Consequent
" Ill water breathing animals would be
DESTROYED. Nor would the Suns rays, with
their present intensity, ever thaw this huge
mass OF ice. Where then would the great
iron horse find road to travel, OF, the
majestic ship channel through which tc
bear the wealth of nations No cooling
shower would fall to cheer the gratefu
flower, or snow-drift to purify the vitiateC
atmosphere. Vegetation, deprived of tn
necessary moisture, would cease to yield
support for the animal kingdom, and tn
human family would be left without susie
nance. Thus we see that slight disar
rangcment OF Gods immutable government
would, other things being equal, be sui
versive Of the whole economy of nature
How mysterious yet well authenticate
the fact, that the fluid which is seen in a
the terrific grandeur Of lightning may !
generated by rubbing piece of sealing wa
over any non-conducting substance. Th
fluid can burn up the most refractory sui
stances rend asunder the calcarious rocl
bear intelligence from pole to pole wit
lightning speed, give rise to the roarin
thunder, and keep the world turning 0
its axis, it is supposed, and yet we may /
SO highly charged with it that every ha
on our head stands erect and not be incon
moded by it. Can we weigh or define il
Any chemist will testify that we are dali
subsisting on substances in combinatio
which are destructive to our constitutio
in an elementary state. What is more nj
merous than chlorine, or less salubriol
than sodium. What food would be pal
table, or even wholesome without commo
salt which they, chemically united, form
There are only about sixty elements, al
how numerous the compounds formed
the union of these simples A compom
formed of certain elements in one propC
ton frequently has properties entirely u
like one composed of the same elements
little different proportion. In one pl
portion the compound may he a dead
poison, in another the most nutricious foe
Many substances which are destructive
our constitutions in health are the m,
powerful antidotes against disease HI,
unlike tho use, appearance and propert
of vinegar, sugar and starch. Are tn
not composed of the same ingredier
slightly modified Any substance Il
will yield vinegar by the vinous fermen
ton, will yield sugar by the viscous. II
soon we would breathe our life out in
atmosphere OF pure oxygen, or sutfocat,
one OF nitrogen. Why does the heaN
of these gases, contrary to the univel
law Of gravitation, rise and mingle with
lighter, to form an atmosphere which
perfectly adapted to our constitution
pose the carbonic acid which we MON
tarily exhalc, should depart from the 50
law and ascend also how long would
atmosphere support life 7 How pleas
and instructive the change of seasons, Fl
Winter to Spring, from Spring to Sum-
and from Summer 10 Winter again. )
pose the sap should fail to ascend at
appointed time, how many trees would
on their mantle Of green, or how m
vegetables grow to supply our daily wa
or should it fail to descend at the clos
Summer, how would Autumn mature
golden harvest TO store up against
Winters blighting Winds Suppose
earth should weary and stop in It's END
pa h. what would occasion the nIea