Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-19
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1859.
.. ''E ~ ICoAxrSlcArED,
INFLUENCE OF HOPE.


A Paper read betore ihe .M,id'ebu'y Lyce''m,
BY JAMES u. .BAkER.- CoNCLu DED.
Hope not only gilds the heights of fame
and lifts the arm that aspires to reach them,
but she also throws her light in 'poverty's
scouestered dale and cheers the hearts of
such AS are "unpiticd by the world, unknown
to fame As we see the humble peasant
toiling on, day after day, spending the
strength and flower of his days for the pres
sing necessities of life, AZ she deals his seam
ty store
We might think that life was all a blank to
him, that surely Hope found no lodging
place in his bosom, and had no word of com
fort to whisper in his ear. But she tells him
that fortune will not always press with so
heavy hand upon him; that though he may
have to bear the heat and burden Of the day,
the evening of life will be protected and
made pleasant by those very little ones he is
now struggling to shelter from the blast;
that though the ascent of the hill has been
difficult and toilsome, the downward side
viii! be smoothed and his last resting place
will be watered by the tears of Affection
Thus his burden is made light. and he for
gets the sorrows of the present by looking at
the joys of the future.
Hope not only accompanies man from the
cradle to the grave, takes up her abode
equally in the palace and the hut, but is
the main spring that gives motion to all the
actions of life in all its various departments.
If man we're left to grope his way IN dark.
ness, if there were no rays from the star OF
Hope. lighting up the object he had in view,
and illumining the road that leads to It's at
tainment, sad, indeed, would be his condi-
ton The 6irest want would scarce be able
to rouse him to action, and mere desire.
stripped of the expectation OF success, would
be utterly powerless tO overcome his inertia
But with this latter element it forms the
strongest and most beautiful part of his
composition, and moves him not only to do,
but to suffer, even unto death.
The man of science or inventive genius
feels it's inAuence, as graphing with some
mighty thought, which his mind has seized,
he makes it the object of intense study by
day, and the prominent figure of his dreams
by night. lie tolls on day after day. or even
year after year-failure succeeds failure
but still he works OIL, strainlng to the utmost
every power of mind and body. Hope
urges him on. telling that success must
crown his labors, and will place him in the
highest niche of the temple of science or re-
cord his name in blazing characters as one
of the greatest benefactors of his race.
Finally, the point of his desires may be
reached, and bounding with joy ne makes
known his discovery to the world: but wise
in it's own conceit, incrcdulous and unappre-
ciating, it only laughs ut him w. the blind
devotee of mere within of the brain. DE.
spair struggles to get possession of his soul
and drive him from his object; but Hope
guards all the ENTRANCES and repels every as
sault. lie still clings with unAinchlng grasp
to his long-cherishcd thought, and as the
result Of his tolls he forces skeptlcal man to
WELD the mighty power OF steam, OF send
his words with thought-like speed along the
wires of the telegraph.
Again, we see men struggling tor years
for liberty and against the most tremendous
odds. Their country is still i'll its infancy
and weakness, and their foe Is people
standing first in the world in all the elements
of greatness. The other nations still look
on with chilling indifference. and refuse to
acknowledge the business Of their cause or
manifest their sympathies. They are badly
feu, Scantlly clotiieu, anu S.i' "O''> f
While the enemy is comfortably qhlrtereu
in their cities and homes, they are exposed
to the incemency Of winter. when the emil
ling winds whistle keen and searching
song amid their tattered garments, and every
step leaves its bloody mark on the frozen
ground.
What was it that caused the men OF Is to
suffer so much and so long. when at times
scarcely ray of light penetrated the night
of darkness which enyelOped them! Hope
cheered them up with the thought that We
tory would finally perch on their standard,
and with it would come NIL the joys and bies,
sings of peace: That their country frecd
from the letters of tyranny would rise up IN
majesty and power. and though they might
suffer. or even fall in the conflict. still their
children would reap rich and abundant
harvest from their tolls. and generations yet
unborn would rise UP and call them blessed.
Had il not been for the influences of Hope,
the shrill blasts of Valley Forge would have
sung the last dirge of liberty, and the drlv-
ing SHOWS would have been her winding
sheet-despotism. in proud confidence, would
have raised still higher its hideous head, ana
chuckled fendish laugh as he rl'eted more
tightly his, CALLING letters on man. IL Is q
glorious privilege that man at all times ana
under all circumstances is permitted to cheer
his heart, and lift from it the el"Id' OF
gloom and dependency by the indulgence
Of Hope. The young. especially, most as
siduously pay their devotions at her a!tar,
and by them it should be remembered that
the realization of Hope is usually the result
of action. Hope is the guiding star that
leads us on to the attainment OF our pnrPo-
SEES; but seldom, very seldom. does she bless
man with the possession of his desires wh'ie
he himself remains inactive. :,
Our Hopes will be but AZ day -dreams w'th ,
ont effort on our part. Demosthenes hopcd
to be an orator, and hoped too, it would seem
under many disadvantages. But did nc
quietly sit down, and with folded arms wait
till some happy stroke of fortune should iii
him to the desired position, or till the v'g0r
of his mind by it's innate strength should
rise superior to opposing obstacles: Ger
tainly not: but he sensibiy thought that what
was being hoped for was worth being worked
for, And for years. we find him graphing
in single fight with each and every ditheuity
that stood in his way; and rs the result OF
his abors his highest hopes were realized
and BY universal consent the crown OF orat"-
nv was placed upon his brow, where 1t has
remained in all its freshness-undlmmed