The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-12-30
McGREGOR IOWA, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 80, 1863
Reminescences-War, &c.

In an old book, many years out Of date,
an excellent book however-the name Of
it was "The English Reader" the author
was LINDLEy MURRAY, one Of the first
Grammar writer's for the million-all Amer
leans who went to school 25 to 30 years
ago will remember the book as we'll as they
do the plays and spelling schools Of early
life-In the book or compilation was di
alogue between two philosophers: one was
named Heraclitus 1--WE guess) and the other
was Democritus (maybe). 1t has been
long time since we racd it and we are not
sure of names after such lapse of years,
but no matter. In this dialogue one of
them laughs at the whole world and the
other cries. When school boy we always
thought the laughing man had the best cf
it and experience has since confirmed our
pre-opinion. If any thing were wanting
to convince us that the laugher had the
most philosophy, the present times turn
up just at the proper hour to settle doubts.
Reader,-wc mean you who are 45 or so,
out of the draft and surrounded with
grand-children--do you remember you read
Rollin, aud Livy, and Tacitus, by the light
of chimney fire? half reclined on the
hearth perhaps, to get the full reflection Of
the beech or hickory blaze as it licked its
way over the "back log'' and up the hue p?
Yes, we see you remember. Well, then,
do you also call to mind your boyish feelings
(the girls of those days did not read war
books much) on perusing the stories OF
Alexander, Fabius, Hannibal, Pyrrhus,
Marius, Caesar, Pompey, Scipio and all the
rest-do you remember with what anxiety
you strained your eye-b balls to see how the
battle "came out" and how much you
desired to be witness of the bloody COM
batants with their war chariots, their
spears, their scythe-armed elephants and
other means of destruction OF course
you do not forget the readings, the
thoughts, the sentiments, the ambitions,
the hopes, the motives, which were thus
early and indelibly mixed up with gather
ing corn and hickory nuts, playing button
at apple parings, galanting playmates from
singing schools, reciting lessons in day
schools, going to "huskings," and "chop
pings" and "raisings," and "rollngs,' and
all other hardy as we'll as light amusemcnts
which the settlement of wooden country
thirty years lang syne brought with it,
You and we and all others who lived then
are reminded now,-mournfulIy perhaps,
when we remember how many Of our
young companions have been garnered by
Death, we are vividly reminded by the
battles of '6l, '62 and '63 in our own coun
try of the slaughters which seemed tobe un
ceasing in the natonalities then represented
in the solid, old calfbound works given to
us Ly our parents and friends to read. We
need no longer indulge the desire that we
could have witnessed, or lived at the time
when, the Battle of Canna where the Ro-
man legions and the Carthaganians covered
miles Of territory with the slain. We have
those battles among US right here! But a
few hours ride will take you to the dread.
ful scenes Of recent slaughter or land US
in close proximity to a point where Chick
amauga, Shiloh or Fredericksburgh may
be re- enacted. We need not read History
to learn the horrors of 'war-the tragedy
of History is now being played on the
stage of the Republic and all Of us have
seats where We can see the actors, hear the
groans, witness the agony and feel the
horror which man arrayed against his
brother, can infict. We are making His.
tory for the unborn to read as we read
Rollin thirty and forty years ago. And
such history! The happiest people or
the earth began quarrel about an abstrac,
idea, ard being to proud to reason, went te
devastating their country, tearing down the
landmarks of Law designed for the protec
ton Of all, exhaustng their resources, ex
posing themselves to the derision more
than to the sympathy Of mankind outside
their own country, and finally-but We
cannot see the last act, and forbear to pre-.
dict.
Let us Danish gloomy thoughts. Ball:
and parties are the order North, while ball
and mortars are the order South. Even in
the White House, where dwells the nation.
Head, levees and the dalliance Of love
(mixed possibly with some hypocritic adul
alton Of power and envy of position) arr
as common and as joyous as in the days o
Peace. Thanksgiving days are ordered b,
the President with rapidity that keeps u
hesitating between preparation to NEE
their requirements and wonder as to wha
they are FOR; money is made by the mil
lion; dressing is more extravagant thar
, ever before; the church oratory o, the day
is more facetious and sclfsatsfied than il
any age ever witnessed-every body seem
prosperous and happy Then why no
adopt the maxim Of Dsmocritus and laugl
at the follies Of mankind? Can you hell
its fate by tears? Will the swearing tha
Mrs. JOB advised her husband TO emplo,
toward Deity avail anything? Man is al
educated aLimal he is taught from tn
| rrullo that ba ~, on C,,ro &c mar;