The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-10-07
S!lencs of the 0csal.

There arc many kings of stiffness. There
is the silence ot a study or library,-as it
were the calm, reflective broodiug of thought,
quiet she'd from the spiritual prescuce OF
the gifted minds of other times, and which
always soothcs tho spirit and retrcshcs tho
heart. Ihoro is tho hush OF tho summer
woods, silence that seems to roprOach US
us though VIZ had started somo huler pres
cnco from its proper solitude by our pro.
fame intrusion. There is the stiffness of
streets at midnight, the moro impressive
from our knowledge of tho restless life and
busy passions that only slumbor noar, and
which few hours will awak on to intonsu
aud noisy toll. There is tho silence of II
grand cathedral in its weekday emptiness,
IN which to recognize tho solomnity of its
coGsocralcd uses. and which we fear instinct
ively tC dcsecrate by loud or careless speech
And there is n stiffness in room of death.
which throws sudden spoil over levIty
itself, too mysterious ard STANCE for our
analysis. But the silence of tho ocean is
diferont from all. How thrilling how over
powering is it when the night shadows have
settled deep over tho waves, aud tho sky
aud tho sea are alono together. 1t is :he
typo of silence; il is eternity commuuing
with its material symbol it is voceess,
being dImb from reverent consciousness Of
its own mystory-muto order gazing into
the bosom of muto awlessness
! For how many agos havo those countless
| lights looked down upon tho soa, observed
! its stormy and its noseless wrath, witnessed
| the dark gathering and spent energy of tho
! tempests or seen their own dim radiCncu
mirrowcd in its peaceful depths. How
many tragedies have they not looked down
! into-the midnight murder aud tho mid
night wreck how many shreks of wild
unchastenod terror; how many calm and
trusting prayers from mortals sinking toI
tho last time in the remorscless waves have
assembled toward them equally unechOed
from its still and solemn vault Its waves
lift themselves up noiselossly to tho impulse
of tho winds, and hut few feet beneath
tho cffurvescenco of the surface, its silont
currents flow upnoticed and unbrokeu like
the constant purposes of Providence below
the apparent chance and tumuIt of humar
n history.
Especially is tho desert sionce of The
ocean impressive to the sou! of tho novice
on its waves for tho first timo cut off from
the channels of Intelligence and from the
intercourse with tho woild. Tho breezes
that travel from tho eastern hemisphere
bring no tidugs with them of tho course o
revolutions and the fato of Kingdoms. Ii
our musing and eager hypothesis about th,
progress of freedom, and tho triumph o
right how does tho sea mock us with it
seemingly conscious and intentional indf
ference to tho destiny of man. us though i
would say to us, vain child of u year, an
other century, perhaps, and these Kingdoms
will have gone, while tho play of my blIowl
shall DO as fresh rs when the ships of Tar,
shish and tho Grecian fleets flratcd owe,
them in safety, or sank into their bosom
Tho winds that blow from homo watt nc
tidngs of tho steady changes with which
tho shortest absence starles the heart
They give us 40 hint of the death of friends
they whisper not word of tho departure
the gifted and tho good whose genius wat
attuncd TO harmony with every force anC
element of nature. whose friendship wa
one of tho choicest pleasures of existence
They breath not lisp of tho SORROWS o
others to which we would respond by an
swering sympathy. Tho sea i9 the thron,
OF silence. Upon it VIC are thrown on ou
resources, and there s health for our mora
nature in its quiet, Christening, elevatInl
influence. The silence of the groat deeI
suggests thoughts Of the Infinite and Sab
lime.-EVeni"g Transcript!