Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-11
GFor the Chronicle.]
HISTORICAL READINGS, NO. s.

lEoi thc OhiOhhSio.l
HISTORICAL READINGS, NO. s.
If we would compare Rome with her dis
tinguished predecessors--as We have jus
compared them with each other--we woult
say, that the characteristics of both Greece
and Egypt in great measure, re-appearet
in her sons. The magnifcence of the East
in them, was combined with the grace o
Hellas, both, however, in less degree. Ii
their boundless ambition, in the grandeur o.
their conceptions and their achievements II
arms, as well as in the mystery and cruelty
which characterized their ea.iy religious
rites, they remind us of the East. While il
their love of personal freedom, in patriotism
courage and culture, they approached NOR
nearly to the Greeks. Rome was great by
her conquests-Greece by her genius. The
former had not the originality nor the fine
taste which distinguished the latter, but sh'
had more foresight, perseverance and com
mon sense. The glory Of Greece was brill
ant as meteor, but it was also as transient
Rome rose slowly to greatness, but then i
extended far and existed long. Both nations
hs d their seasons of toll, of luxurious repose
of corruption and decay. The poverty o.
the Roman though, was the more severe, hi
luxury the more sensual, his corruption the
more gross. The Greek alternated the day
with the exercises of the stadium, the dis
putations Of the market-place, or in listen
ing to the grand masterpieces of Sophocles
and Eschlus. The Roman, seeking coarsel
pleasures, preferred the gladiatorial shows
where trained slaves or Dacian captivei
fought with wild beasts, or
"Man was slaughtered by his fellow-man
On the blood-stained arena"
Greece worshipped beauty, and her offer
ings at the shrine of her loved idol are oul
noble inheritance. Rome deied military
courage and consecrated her richest spoils II
her god. The one was well represented by
the Apollo of her own mythology as he ap
pears in the grace of youth with divinity OF
his brow, eloquence on bis lip and inspira
ton in his eye. The other by Hercules, less
divine in birth, but God of invinciblt
prowess and mighty achievement for Rome
"She who was named the Eternal and
arrayed
Her warriors but to conquer"
was never subdued until she proved faithles'
to herself. 1t was when subdued by sof
dalliance to lay aside that severe virtue she
had so long nobly worn, and become invest
ed with the Messiah garb of luxury, thai
she was consumed by the foul fires of hel
own corruption.
Egypt and Greece are gone, and Rome
"lone mother of dead empires" exists but in
name. The Turk and the foreigner now
rule where the foot of the accomplished
Ionian once trod. The graves where the
wise sages of Greece and their inquirine
audiences were accustomed to meet and tn,
temples where they worshiped, have long
since been deserted. Ruins are there still
winning admiration for the dignity ant
loveliness that yet linger
"On the vain shrine of many vanished
God"
The stranger from nations to the Ancien
unknown, now wonders among the wrecks o
Egyptian greatness, or stands upon the sum
nit of the most venerable in the world
where the sage and the poet and the warrior
pilgrims like himself stood centuries ago
like him musing DER their desolation, ant
signing for the glory that has flown.
They are gone, but for us they have no
existed in vain. Their labors and mistake
were for our benefit. Greece and its philos
ophers did for the intellectual world, wha
Israel and its inspired prophets did for thu
moral and spiritual. Both were ordered ant
guided by the same wise Providence, for th,
intellectual and spiritual progress of man
We like that philosophy which can trace
in the rise and fall of empires, In the ad
vance of science, of art, and of liberty, thu
guidance of God. 1t is comprehensive j
is religious. THE tongue of the Almighty,
says Kepler, 'is speaking to US in His word
His finger is writing to us in his His works.
And while for certain knowledge Of Goo
and His government we would ever resort
with grateful reverence, to his word, and
study his dealings with His ancient heritage
we would not, therefore, confne ourselves
to one literature for all knowledge ots Hi
ways, nor in the instance of one nation alon,
seek for the principles of His government
whose works everywhere are truth, ant
whose ways everywhere, judgment.
But, we must hasten to close this subjecr
not however, before bringing ourselves int
comparison with the Ancients, as we hav'
compared them with each other. The at
tempt to specify and estimate the severa
aspects of that superiority we justly CLAIM
over them-to point out the chief causes Il
the working of which II may be ascribed
and then, to examine the validity Of tn
grounds on which we build our expectation
of permanency, will engage us for fsV
numbers to come A task not less grateful
though not less difficult than the proceed
ing, awaits US. W.
THE Mississippi Coahomain says one OF tn
best prospect which il has noticed for
good cotton crop next year, in Mississippi