The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-06-27
SoLUMBIA.-
Tuesday Morning, June 27, 1865.
The Genius Loci.

one OF the prophet WHO keG )! mile or
mo efter his i,eui was off. Scclticism
readily admitted thu to prove that he
had walked only single step, under the
circumstances, would suffice for its convic-
tion, and the saint need not trouble him
self to make so long q. progress with his
head inconveniently under his arms. We
have our heads very awkwardly situated.
no doubt, but certainly we are not re-
duced to the straits OF the head!ess
prophet. We csa take our first step VIII
less discomfort. but that first step must
needs be taken before ve eau walk at all
Are we to walk or not? If yea, then the
beginning is the ,hing-tist essential. We
must each make g beginning, and take our
first steps .heedfully, even. as one who,
somewhat lame from 1iis wounds, goes
forth at dawn or dusk. over an unknown
way, in broken country, full Of rocks
aud pitfalls. Feel your way anu take the
first step No doubt that world OF courage
.is implied in the voluntary assumption Of
laborious enterprise, at THE outset of
career, especially when yot have lost not
only all your former resources, but all
YOUR ancient landmarks; and hepce it
was, that in the first dawnings of a rage,
God always endowed the people with an
inspired leader-a prophet and guide, as
we'll as master. Such, in our day, in the
. absence of any direct inspiration and in
the absence of all miraculous interposi-
tion, are the Master 81 the Lamp and Ring
those ceni of oriental fiction who sym
bo]ize art and labor. These, Blending
their offices for q people, become the
Genius Loci, and but have faith in him and
follow him revercntlv and with duty, lie
will lead YOU where the waters flow in
secret-conduct you to hills Of treasure
and Ivy the use of The divinng wand. which
he will carry in your hands, he Will com
nensate your tolls with all the treasures
of your region. He will show to the
nation what is lying at its feet; declare and
direct the uses of its otherwise purpose
less object and unsca!c'the domestic
vision In this day OF embarrassment and
deficient resource, we are really in the
condition of people Just beginning %
co!"nize in ~'ra"-c land, whoSc rcsou:ceA
We do no. kaow, and winch We cannot
discover, unless by concen,. ',n@ every
faculty of thought and vision u,nn the
little round of earth immcd lately about
our feet. In seeking and finding out lis
resources we deve."pe our own, and this
is the great object Of mans existence-the e
very secret Of all manhood For this we
need to circumscribe narrowly the range o.
thought, and resolutelv Y abridge our sur
vey TO the Immediate precinct. There is 4
moral, no less than a PHYSICAL near-siG ht-
edness, which is one Of the truest sources
of peoples genius. And while there is
no qua lily genial, SO general. SO surely
catholic anG cosmopoIitan as genius, there
is nothing so sectional, so exclusive, SC
honaely, resolute TO make lis empire ou,
of the little domain OF home. How Il omer
illustrate and make glorious his own tribes
of island ti>hermen! How Shakespeare
makes English everything that he touches!
What tributes have Burns aud Scot: drawn
from the surrounding nations, with which
to crown with verdure. the balk, bleak
hills of their own petty domain! Aud
how natural ,lfat this should he so! Our
affections and sympathies are of little use
scattered over all the domiriops of man.
Mnd. We better prove ounnsympathies
with the rest, when we attach ourselves
to one of its sections, and eNpend o,:l
strength, our art, our affection upon that