The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-05-15
For the Jeffersonian Democrat.
Midnight Musings.-No. 1.


What 10 life We are told to live Is TO
occupy certain space assigned to us for q
given period, aud then to pass off, and give
place to another existence. We arc placed
upon. this fair earth by an unseen agency,
and removed by like mysterious power.--
We apparently have no motive--no de6aite
object. The period of our stay we term
life; when wo are removed, wa call II death.
Lifo, then. is but period between--the mid d.
die part of something elso. But, as We sup.
pose everything in nature to have been ere.
atod for some purpose, WAS not man created
for other good or evil If fo- no purpose,
why was he created with mind why was
the brain, the fountain of thought, given to
him This power Of mind gives him Eupe-
riority over all other created objects. He
has but to exert tho faculties given to him
by ,he Supreme Power. and the deep Sc
crets of nature arc unfolded to him-her
many mysteries made plain. He not
only understands the operations of ma
ture as developed in bis immediate pres.
enco, but his researches extond into the
very heavens. He 5eholds new worlds, un-
derstands tho laws by which they are gov.
erued, and harmonized in every motion.
We believe that man was created for a
noble purpose. Else. why these varied
powers' Without this purpose. man
would bo but an idle experiment. The er-
perieuce of man, from bis creation, goes to
| demonstrate this fact; tho progress of man
bears witness to it. Man is q progressive
being. When we compare the present con-
dition of man with what it was ages ago, We
can hardly believe that he is the samo
creature-moulded and fashioned by the
same omnipotent hand. Why this growing
enlightenment and civilization? II is be.
cause of this progressive character Of man.
He is becoming acquainted with the powers
that are within him; ho is awakened to O
realization of the fact that the Creator, ia
bestowing these faculties upon him. requires
at bis hands a faithful exercise Of them fol
bis own good, as cell as the good of his fol
low-men.
1t has been truly said that We live no
only for the present. but for ages to come
Each generation. as 1t passes.away, leaves III
footprints for future generations to discover
and follow. Man is an initiative animal -
He searches history for examples to follow
by which to shape his own course througi
life. He thus becomes .worshiper
aud, in bis blind admiration Of these idols
he Is apt to adopt their follies as we'll a
their virtues. Mon often seem to lack eitbe
the capacity of judging between right an'
wrong, er the power to adopt the right
0 whom they have properly Disseminated.
think they lack tho judgment rs we'll a
power. Few mon do evil from pure malice
As srule, man aims to do good, but Is be
/. trayed into evil by reason of seishness O
folly. Those heroes whom man worshipl
are sought for among tho divines, ssges {
the Law, poets, and many others, comprisln
: those who have lived for good as we'll as
bad purpose and each is type Of the ag
d in which he lived. If VIC read poet, "
. know the character of the people OF h
time. II We consult an orator, we unde
stand the passions which were operate
upon, and by this means ascertain the Il
fiuences which were brought to bear upt
him. II we look at works of art, we reali
the taste and degree of refinement whit
! marked the age in which they originate
81 Very few men get SO far in advance Of the
- > age as to form no type of it. There is SUI
= n marked sameness IN tho character of ma
kind that II is difficult to free ourselves fro
the influence of those by whom we are 81
rounded.
We learn by experience that, after all, Il
true object of man is happiness. This 10
most noble object. il rightly sought after;-
y for, most certainly, life without hsppiDa
Y would not be desirable II IL be Of the trl
y character, II will tighten all our burdens,
we'll as those ofou companions In the roui
journey Of life. SCRIBE.