The hydraulic press., 1859-10-22
THOUGHT RAMBLES.

A powerful intellect is a valuable possess
sion. 1t begets great conceptions, and in
d1ces lofty actions; but where circumstances
are not commensurate with conditions, acute
sensibilities become mental thorns. Mind
often becomes the menial of meuials, for
want of favorable circumstances to develop
its natural qualities and incentives powerful
enough 20 call forth its hidden energy In
opposition to the generally admitted truth
of the familiar assertion that truly great
minds will eventually force their way to
their true positions, even under the most
unfavorable circumstances, it may be ad-
vanced that bright geniuses, profound rea-
Soners, and noble hearts often exist and per-
ish in the clash of this mutable world,
without being able to rend the veil of OBJ
scurity that enshrouds them, or rise superior
to the serfdem that misfortune and poverty
imposes upon them. 1t may be an unnatural
phenomenon but nevertheless, it is appar-
ent to every close observing mind, that many
of "nature's noblemen" are doomed to feed
the swine of their interiors, who repose in
the purple lap of fortune, made great by
fortunate circumstances. Take the aspect
of the world in its highest and lowest
phases. Folly upon thrones, and acisdom in
rags; the gold of the fool buys power, and
Solomon becomes serf; the painter upsets
his easel and deserts the altar of art the
poet descends from the halo-crowned nights
of thought, and grovels with his mortal
robes in the dust, to win the feeting smile
of the worlds drossy idol, Gold. Yea, gold
is mighty upon the face Of the earth-the
great Am among men. Gold is fame; gold
is honor, power, plenty, respect. Gold is
King of kings, before whom mortals "bow
and veil their faces" Genius is lofty brows
in lowly places; unutterable yearnings after
unattainable Objects visions of happiness,
realities Of pain; full hearts, empty pockets;
strong souls, starving bodies; the reign of
genius is past X x GoLD-
Bend the back and dwarf the soul sharpen
the eye, and blind the conscience; lengthen
the arm, and contract the mind--and you
have it. If your soul is as shallow as the
stream the thirsty summer has quaffed dry;
as ringless as cracked bowl; as drossy as
lead, and as sin-stained as Satan what
matters? you have gold Gold gilds all.
Power will sell you high position; Fame
will sell you renowned name, and Pleasure
will barter to you the finest linen; the richest
yiands, the fairest women. Gold will give
you prominent seat in the holy temple"
dedicated to the most high and mighty God
of heaven; and for crown Of gold his
anointed will bespeak for you crown of
glory, and swing wide the gates of moral
perfection, that you may journey towards
heaven without humility, with stiff neck
and unbended knees. And gold shall mourn
over your resting place precious drops, and
therefrom shall arise a massive monument
of classic shape, upon which, in letters of
its own bright vital fluid, gold shall prate
of goodness that was never good, greatness
that was never great, and nobility that was
never noble. Yea, verify, for gold is mira
Gle. 1t supplies all moral deficiencies; con-
ceals the blackest crimes brightens the
dullest intellects, and wells the deepest
abysses of human depravity with the beauti-
full haze of perfection. Mighty gold Fee
BILE man Forgotten God
Gid little pismire, and the whole world
will run after him.-.Sonoma Journal.