The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-08-09

pooted death Of friend abroad, perhaps
IN the wilderness on some savage land.
or on the ocean or ocean prairis where
the dying passenger, 20 the grave, friend
less and alone, whispers divine invooa-
tion, shroudcd and empalcd by these re.
pulsive realities.
Such arc, however, the irrepressiblc
and ineNprcssiblc dictates Of the human
heart Of which we cannot wholly diycst
ourselves, for although, we may assume
the Stole yet the attractions and ossocia-
tons Of "swoct home" aud dear friends
will cluster around us aud hesct and press
US on the confines Of eternity. These
arc ycstal influences Of conscience, which
neither the sea II or space ror wilderness
can conceal, nor even human pride re-
press. They come home 70 the heart,
whether in city or dell, and whatever in
difference we may claim in health and
while buoyant with the smiles Of society
aud gorgeousness ofwoalth, they will ul-
timately bidus audience, and even though
unseon aud unappreciated, thoy will, as
Iprovidentally intended, subscrve high
moral purposes 20 mould human conduct
and elevate human character by subduing
the arrogance, softening the usperitics,
mitigating the adversitics and mediOting
the condition OF our common humanity,
Standing upon this towering bluff, Be-
meath balmy summer sun, with the me.
anderings ofthc turbid, yet rapid and deep
Missouri on the West and the boundlcss
prairie, bcspangled with flowers, on the
East, North and South. Standing, say.
in the midst Of this outspreud panorama
Of nature, at this sequestcrcd grave, I,
was impossible TO repress these and 9TH
er kindred thoughts, inspired by the To-
culity and occasion. Indeed we are al
ways sensibly penetrated with similar re-
Elections when we revisit the repository
for the dead even where human art and
skill have been exhausted 70 cmbellish
and Hdorn il. The duties, responsible,
ties successes ayd advcrsities of life are
all there imprcssively suggested by mel
ancholy examples which, whether pleas
ing or painful, constitute imposing reali-
ties stereotyped for eternity. Memory
instinctively reproduces the past, and
fancy rcviyps and reflects the diversified
incidents Of life. We there review the
characteristics Of our departed friends
Irecounting their virtues, their trials, nnx.
ictics, aspirations and fears. Tho cb-
band flow ofuabidden tears bespeak the
subdued emotions Of the soul. While
standing by their graves we ponder mute.
ly and musefully on the sleeping dead and
the cmanation of its wonderful mental
powers, connecting events far beyond the
confines Of death and the tomb. We
cannot, five would, compound man and
the brute, nor degrade that lofty dignity
for which we entertain sincere ndmira-
tion, TO an isolated spot Of earth and q
few briel years of duration.
This speculative self examination i'm,
parts consolation and comforts to our de-
, spending spirits We become reconcilet
to the destiny Of our race and promise re
formation. Charity, incited by reflec ior
and anplifed by love, mantles tho frail
ties Of our common humanity.
The arrogance Of pride is chastenet
+ by humility, and we return and resumC
the active occupations of life, humanzct
in heart and elevated in our conceptions
/ by this pcnsive communion with thos,
whom we cannot recall but soon mus
, follow.
Yours truly,
A.R.