Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-20

allegiance to this mysterious representative OF
liberty. The sword should glitter over every
mans hearth not that il may be ready to
shed innocent blood, but that it may be
welded to protect that hearth, and the affairs
which ennoble and sanctify it. Dulce ct deco
rum est pro patria mort. Death is our portion,
whether wa be bond or free, noble or ignoble.
or all common-plaoes none is SO common
plpce as this +; yet are we slow to draw from
II the inference that death in the service Of
liberty, on the red battlefield, when, by an
upright and honorable life, we are prepared to
die, is mere desirable than the tranquil breath.
ing out of our souls on feather-bed in a
close room. The reason is, that when we
take up arms in good cause,we are conscious
Of performing sacred duty. God gave us
life, that we might preserve it at any price,
but that we might know when and where to
lay ii down at his bidding. War consequent
ly,is not TO be denounced because 1t occasions
the destruction of life no less certainly orpro-
fusely; for from peace proceeds security
from security, false conhdence-from false con-
Adence, the too great increase of the popula-
tion-from this too great increase, poverty and
distress, and famine and pestilence, which dig
more graves ON the earth's surface than the
most destructive wars. But it is not for the
people to determine, in inonarchies, whether
there shall be war or peace. Kings and their
ministers decide for the nation. This is an
evil, because the war that arises out of their
decision may be unjust. If so, however, there
may be justice OH the other side and when
force is employed for the preparation of evil,
force may surely be employed for the perpe.
tration eff evil, force may surely be employed
for the prevention OF it. Consequently, If
you demonstrate the wickedness Of war, con-
sidered from one point Of view, you only
prove how humane and defensible it is when
regarded from the other side.
This, own, however, was a strange topic
to be discussed on such an occasion and |
voluntarily put an end to il by proposing that,
as the diligence crept along at something
worse than a snail's pace, We should all get
out, and walk up the mountains. Mypropo
siton being approved of, we alighted; and,
separating into couples, got accidentally di-
vided from Madame Carl. | selected in her
stead one of our bug-bitten companions, who
turned out to be very agreeable fellow and
with him walked on ahead. Never shall
forget that morning. Far in the distance be-
hind us, the submits Of the Bernese Alps,
blanehed with snow, pierced the sky, while
the bright moonlight seemed to repose with
pleasure on their cold, glittering peaks. To-
wards the southwest the sight plunged down
series of dark valleys, partly lighted up by
the moon, partly enveloped in shadow, while
one solitary lamp, from some window, perhaps
in Brigg, sparkled like star among the rocks
below. Scattered masses of white, sivery
vapor lowered over the distant valleys and
lowlands far beneath, and looked like bro
ken floor, through which the moons rays
penetrated to the earth. Close by the road
chasms which in the moonlight appeared of
prodigious depth, wound along, while rapid
torrents, whose white foam was once or twice
visible between the dark pines, brawled and
rOared at the bottom. Here and there, vast
conical mountains sprang up from these
abysses, and their white heads, clothed with
preternatural beauty by the moonlight, at
once astonished and delighted the magma
tion. The stars shone with amazing bright
ness, and the constellation of the Great Bear,
in particular, seemed to have brilliance and
beauty | had never observed before. But the
exquisite beauty of the dawn surpassed ev-
erything. The snow -sprinkled peaks of the
Alps now seemed to become transparent !;
while starlight, moonlight, and the pale vel
low metallic brilliance Of the sky, flushed
with the first approaches of the dawn, diffu-
sed over every rock, and glen, and stream, and
forest, and glacier, wild, sparkling, mystic
rious, unearthly beauty, which electrified the
very soul. see am repeating the same
terms again and again; but language, with
all its plastic power, is insufficient to render
with fidelity the numerous exquisite emotions
which at such times crowdupon the mind. |
was certainly for time literally s'wrapt, in
spired." Heaven appeared to touch earth,
and Poetrysat enthroned upon the mountans.
But such raptures cannot last. With the in
crease of light, much of the gigantic sublim-
ity of the scene dwnded away, though enough
AohioiHeu " FeHuer the pdhSdBe OF Tue Sim
plon one of the most remarkable scenes in the
world.
We walked on to Persal, where we took
second breakfast, among the delicaces of
which was some of the most delicious honey
had ever tasted. We still continued to as
eend for several hours. But | was now tired
Of walking, and got into the cabroet of the
diligence, where could see the scene at my
ease. My companions, who all seemed to have
taken great liking to me, brought me deli
cious Alpine raspberries and strawberries,
with curious little fruit called embrock, pc
euliar to those elevated regions. The leaves
of the aforementioned plant, Redeemed by the
autumn, literally Illuminated the whole face
Of the mountains i'll several places. At length
we reached the top of the pass, and saw the
streams turn their back upon Switzerland, and
roll their sparkling waters, against the morn
ing sun, towards Italy.
CHAPTER X.
MADAME CARL.