Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-18

Battle Between Truth ard Falsehood.
A VISION.

AAAOh cfeN dI5CuUOus
A VISION.
To impede virtue by Misrepresentation.
and blackcn innocence by calumuy, has
been the c'Trdestine employment of vice
IN every age and nation and though the
band Of time has endeavorcd to detect the
fogeries of ialsehood, and the pen of satire
has been drawn in the cause of truth and
integrity ; yet, even their united force
have proven insufficient to retard the &C.
Ierity Of scandal, or stop the current of
detraction. One would almost be inclin-
ed to imagine that there was an evil prin-
ciplo in our nature, exciting every man to
consider his neighbours wisdom, as a re-
proach of his own folly, and his neighbours
exaltation as 40 Obstacle to his own happi-
ness. Hence arise the burnings of envy,
thc malice Of comparison, and the pickering
of luminosity +; to this we must, in a great
measure, attribute the removal of merit.
the progress OF folly, and the retrogression
OF wisdom and knowledge. The CELEBRITY
OF one writer, draws after it the abuse and
dispersion OF a thousand and the beauty
OF 'ooe distinguished female calls forth all
the arrows OF c%cnsure, and gives vent to
all the poison Of malevolence the prying
eye Of envy is continually looking through
the wrong end Of the perspective, to mag
Nifty eVery blcmish, diminish every perfec-
tion no Indictments are left to animate
languor, or encourage virtue to diseptan-
gle sophistry, or investigate truth while
the great and good are only rendered more
miserable by their accomplishments, and
incur a punishment " here they had desorv-
ed n reward.
Such we're my last nights meditations
on the hard lot OF mankind, when sitting
IN my elbow chair, / INDUCED the dark
suggestions of melancholy, and listened
to the dictates Of experience, lamenting
evils which could not remove, and prob
ing wounds which | could not heal. when
that sleep which | had longin vain solicited
stole at length insensibly upon me, and
conveyed me, IN a moment, to the ideal
regions where imagination wanders without
restraint, and Reason resigns her sceotre
into the bands of Fancy. 1 found myself
on a sudden transported into a fair and
spacious plain, where | saw, at a distance.
two armies prepared for action, and on
the point Of engaging with each other I
stood for q while undetermined, whether I
should proceed TO the field of battle. or re.
tire to some place of safety, when a celcs,
tial form, with looks Of sweetness and com.
plactney, approached me Mortal sail
the aerial being, with a smile, Il read YOUR
uncertainty, and know your doubts be.
hold in me the the genius of instruction
an come to calm thy fears, and withd,av
the veil Of ignorance from thy understan.
ding. Know, then, the place, thou sees,
befJre thee is the spot appointed 10 determius
the fate OF mankind IN this decisive dav
between the rival powers Of Truth and
Falsehood, who have been long coutendiuf
Tor the empire Of the world. Come wifi
me TO yonder eminence, whence thou NAV
est view the conflict unhurt aud undiscoy
cred. Follow me aud be SAFE obeyet
with cheerfulness the command of m,
bts'euly guide, who conducted me 4