The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-04-20
For the Upton Advertiser.

For the Upton Advertiser.
Distance Lends Enchantmeut to the View.
Through Wise dispensatiou Of Provi.
deuce designed to render the present en-.
durable, tho mind Of man Is buoyed up
through Asttering anticipasions Of the
future. At every step in life's pilgrim.
age, from that joyous hour when youth
casts loose his bark to venture upon the
swift floating streams of time, to chat
uncertain moment when the tottsring
frame of dscrspid humanity hovers upon
the brink Of unexplored eternity, the
heart of the wayfarer is perpetually
cheered by In allurlDg prospect of prom
ised hsppiness-a receding vision Of
perfect enjoyment. Were it otherwise
ordained by tho wisdom Of the Master Of
our destiny, at the very outstsrs Of our
career, disappointment, if not disgusted
by tho FIRST experience Of mortal infelici-
ty, We would surrender ourselves almost
iuvoluntarily, as . prey to melancholy
aud despair.
Amid the parched plains Of Africa's
burning sands, the eyes of tho foot.sore
traveller, wearied in strength, athirst for
. cool draught and oil but discousolats
through pain and debility, suddenly de-
tect along the distant horizon the CRATE
full outlines of some hospitable oasis whose
palm trees stand in radiance of verdure
and in bolduess of relief between him aud
setting sun. At the sight of this pleas.
ing, unexpected revelation, the despond.
ent soul of the traveller is moved with
refreshened spirits; boldly, joyfully and
thankfully, he wends his pathway towards
the enchanting dclusion. Hours fly on
wings of minutes, so hopefully, 50 pleas
antly speeds the intervening lapse of time,
now that his tolls boast visible end, bis
labors promise a we'll earned termioa-
tion. Miles, leagues are thus journeyed
over; until finally the receding vision,
swallowed up by the twilight shades,
disappears wholly from view. Then the
traveller, aroused from his dream Of hope,
comprehends the deception of his senses
~ he iods himself . willing victim to \
phenomenon in nature-the mirage of
the desert-an aerial phantom, whose sole
foundation had been based upon the mis-.
construction of an over wrought imagina.
ton. Schooled to the contemplation
Of hardships, and tutored to an spprecia-
tion Of the manifestations of divine pleas.
urs in the mysterious mechanism of
nature, the Arab of the desert neither
upbraids his misfortune in being deluded
BY the optical deception nor vents impre.
cations against the Author of an atmo-
spheric delusion. On the contrary be
philisophically regards the occurrence as
having been the means of beguiling the
tedious monotony of wearisome journey;
for without the hope of speedily reach.
ing his destined goal he would have trav.
eled neither so long nor so fast.
With similar resignation should we,
boa'ting superiority in intelligence and
self-roliance, regarding the many mirages
which allure us with harmless pleasantly
along the rugged path of ordinary life;
for, viewing tho aims of our daily acts in
the vista Of tho future, We inwardly ex.
perisnce that inevitable snchantmen I
distance bestows upon its presumptivs
acquisitions. Thus it is that the school
boy endures restraints and perchance
sacrifices hours of personal enjoyment, 80
his mental faculties contemplate tho mi.
rage Of manhood, promising actuality to
ambitious schemes, amid whose pleasures
he revels in imaginary anticipations.
Again, when he has arrived at the reality
Of manhood's condition and discovers bis
acrial castles fade from bis sight, he seek,
not to mourn over the ruin Of his vision.
but, with force of constant hope pursue e.
a spectre composed in its stead, il turn
to dissolve upon . nearer approach. A
compliance in an ultimate realization Of
those day dreams, ever haunting the spec.
ulative brain, can be regarded as a main.
spring Of personal exertion. Without
this reliance upon the certainty of the
future, toll would be without reward,
labor without dignity, emulation without
profit, and ambition without aim. This
anticipation of blissful future animates
working man, ~ the sweat rolls from his
brow; it emboldens the soldier seeking
the bubble reputation at the cannon 3
mouth; il solaces the student wasting
precious hours in odious research after
the hidden and unseen; it tsmpts the
statesman to despise the pomp Of glory
and pride Of kings; in a word, without
the inspiring prosprect of promised graf.
iication, man would degenerate to sens.
ual egotist, curse to his neighbor, 4
L..