Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-23

81 9kh, 1S59.--- re--a
'Such then is the power of educated mind
yer mind, and mind over matter too, that
( 'hereyer it is found, all other forces aeknowi-
dye its supremacy, and weld to it ready
Z nd willing obedience; and therefore, Its
dornment. by cultivation and Improvement,
- a necessity, one that cannot he dispensed
yith unless we wish TO relapse into barba-
ism, and find our equal in the wolf and our
superior in the bear.
This may look like extravaganza in speech,
but just reflect upon it a moment.
Suppose you strike from the hand of this
generation, all and every means of improve
ment Draw up, if you please throughout
the world, your schools of learning-gather
together your books of science, and add to
the mountain pile-the rolace of the rica
and poor-the Book of Books, your Bible
apply the torch; and let this mystic lore
this accumulated wisdom of ages, pass off
into dust. Prohibit the introduction of these,
and bow long would it be before this Eldora-
do of earth, this happy land, now teeming
with beauty and elegance, would become a
vast bowling wilderness? Despoiled OF its
beauty. peopled by devils, degraded and
stained by crime. Could such things be. the
curse upon Babylon when God said to that
glowing city: Thou. Babylon, shall not be
dwelt in, from generation to generation; but
wild beasts of the desert shall dwell there;
that owls shall dwell there; and Satrys dance
there; that wild beasts of the island shall cry
in your desolate houses, and dragons in your
pleasant parlors."
Such curse | say, though frightful and
freezing to the soul; and terribly awful.
would be blessing, compared to the moral
desOlation and darkness, such an act would
spread throughout the earth.
To the moral world il would he like strik-
ing the sun from the heavens, and leaving not
even twinkling star, to cheer the chaotic
gloom ofeternal night, more awful than the
hood when ocean met ocean, and the waves
swept on without shore"
If we look over this earth's surface, we
can find living proof in many nations, that
too. close upon the borders of civilization, to
demonstrate that our picture is not too high
ly wrought
Our own condition compared with many
others is truly enviable.
We live in an age, and particularly in a
country, where the rights not only of man,
but of woman, are resp cted, where they are
reverenced and loved. for their knowledge
and gentle virtues,-and worshipped for their
beauty. .--
Here the hand of lawless violence cannot
touch them. without meeting its adequate
punishment; here, young ladies, you are left
free, to mingle and mix in society. and none
dare modest, or make you afraid. Even if
the law did not project, the gallant hand OF
chivalry is always ready to defend, and re-
dress your wrongs,-here the world is open be-
fore you and the cloistered cell known to
you only in name,-no sordid parent with
threatening brow, and tyrant hand makes
traffic of you, to hoary crime and wrinkled
age. but you are permitted in prudence. to
make your own selection, and bestow your
hand in keeping to him who first attuned,
your fresh young heart to happiness and love.
These, my fair young friends are the bles-
sings of civilization. and of an enlightened
age, and it is the culture of yonr minds, and
your devoted hearts, that has lifted you from
the drudgery, degradation and slavery i'm
posed upon yoH by ignorant and savage men.
By this pure and elevating refinement, man
no longer frowns upon you for the sinful APP
petite, of our Mother Eve,-he no longer signs
over the eaten apple or mourns his Danish
ment,-but when he leads you to the "nup
Iial bower, blushing like the morn,' he feels
that the flaming sword is already removed
from the walls of paradise, and that he is
once more permitted TO enter the lost garden
and pluck the ambrosial fruit
He no longer regrets the vespcr birds that
sang of love, and mingled with the song OF
cherubim, as the day closed over Eden" walls.
He can now have in his own vine-clad bower
from these nurseries. bird OF his own, that
can discourse sweet music to his soul. In the
halo of your enlightened presence he finds his
'Elysian upon Earth"
1t is to science. yOnng ladies, that we are
indebted for our happy homes in this land of
freedom. Turn your eyes back three hun
dred and sixty one years, and you will dis
cover it was science that directed Christopher
Columbus in his search of n new world. 1t
was his knowledge of Geography, that led
him to believe for twenty years before the
effort had been made. that an undiscovered
Continent could be found; and his faith
based upon this knowledge, induced him as
you are aware, to porsevere in his efforts, and
to sustain untold hardships, trials and disap-
pOintments.
alt was his knowledge of Astronomy that
enabled him to set his compass, and by the
light of the twinklng stars he was guided.
and kept his direction until at midnight on
the llth of October, 1892. Roderigo De
Triano. one of his mariners being on the look
out announced with shout, that thrilled
every bosom, land ahead! Like Moses when
he crossed the Red sea, the threatened and
expected meeting of the waters that had inn
pended over him. quellrd, aud songs of
rejoicing and thanks were offered up TO him
who said to the proad waves, be stayed hither-
to shalt thou come but no farther
"Ths discovery, however, was one of the
Bahama Islands, aud not the main object of
the search
Other voyages were made and other Is
lands discovered until August LIST, 1898, this
grand and mighty continent, that stretches
from the Arctic to the Antarctic circle was
discovered. Ii is true. when discovered il
was and had been inhabited. and that too.
perhaps for multiplied centuries. by human
beings. But, then. il was new and untOuch-
ed in all its fresh beauty. and native gran
deur. rs If just launched from the hands OF its
Great Creator. The plough share had never
touched its virgin soil.
It's tall and majestic forests clad in russct
green, had bowed alone TO the storm and
tempest.
The ring of the wOodman's axe had never
disturbed its silent repose. The prowling
wolf the bounding deer and 'imid fawn, had
yet TO hear the first keen crack of the hunts
mans rife
But bark i! the tread of ciyiliza-
ton is advancing. Her footprints are on the
sea. The Indian looks out upon the Ocean
and for the first time incountless ages-sces fly
ing before the wind this ship of destiny. The
pioneer is landed aud the work commenced.
The forests disappear, fields are oprned, corn
is planted, schoul-houses and churches erect
ed, towns and cities built. The hum and
crash and rattle of machinery are heard
throughout the land. The loom and anvil
are At work. The rugged mountain is mare
to yield up its iron, gold and silver. The
valleys their cotton, grain and fruits. The
rivers are made subservient 10 our wants, and
become our common carriers.
The chained tightening is our servant to
do our bidding, and bear our messages, and
all nature pays tribute TO enlightened man.
Away then with the wigwam The
Poet in his ntopian dream and sickly sympa-
thy may weep over the Red mans wrongs.
Philosophy and christianity teach us that
this mighty continent was not made for the
idle and the slothful. This fruitful earth was
made TO be worked and by mans sweat 10
sustain its millions OF Co.'s happy crea-
lures.
Yes, young ladies, il is civilization. the OF
spring Of science aud christianity that has
done this mighty work.
IL l. scinnce that scnns the haaxens that