The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-17
THE BATTLE OF LIFE.
BY HON. LEONARD MYERS.

BY HON. LEONARD MYERS.
A sigh steals down the smiling valley-a
gentle sigh of breezes, waiting happiness over
the face of nature, and at the sound, from out
their beds of earth myriads of things Of
beauty wake into existence meadow and plain
and hillside glisten in fairest verdure--fowers
fling their fragrance on the gale-stately trees
wave their foliage to the passing wind-while
streams beneath dance onward to the OCEAN
and the dream-like hum that fills the air and
swells in chorus to the arch of heaven tells OF
the blooming Spring--of the transcendent
pleasures of Life.
What a glorious earth has man for habita-
tion what scenes surround him to ennoble
the soul-what examples to elevate and incite
the mind to strive for the goal OF Happiness
That goal, alas how distant and hard to
reach; thorns hedge the road the aspiring one
would tread, and weeds spring rank and
choking in the pathway, or often, when the
seeming height is won, the eminence fades to
q common level and Happiness is as distant
as ever But the soul must toll, though sue
cess is but vision-the mind must work,
although it's labors be fruitless; for there is a
Higher power controlling the actions of man
guiding his impulses and passions, and girding
him for the conflict around him and within
him.-the struggle that is ceaselessly waging-
the Battle of Life
How sweet is Fame Even now, upon mems
tongues there dwells some name whose every
syllable is a charm, thrilling to alteration.
Here patriot spirit whose fires have smoul-
dered long beneath wrong and malice, rises
superior to ills, and grasps-almost the con-
summation of his wishes; there, a warrior
from the laurelled field receives the homage of
d grateful people; or some philosopher, with
potent wand, discloses to wondering world
new discovery in Science. They stand aloft
upon the pinnacle of Fortune, and eager
crowds beneath echo their praises or envy
their success and upward still they gaze,
blind to the rugged crags that lie between
blind to the slippery height they covet--blind
TO the thousands round them on the same
great plain, breathless and bleeding from their
vain attempts to climb the dazzling steep-or
happy in an humber sphere.
All +! had they seen that lofty mind on the
chill yesterday of Adversely, with naught but
obstacles before him; who knew that Country
was upon mems lips only as a substitute for
self, and yet heard his own efforts slandered
as false and recreant, and whose high purposes
had bent before the storm only to rise un-
broken-they would not undergo the patriots
trials, even for his rewards. The soldiers
hardships in the camp, with nights cold
shadows closing round him, and no pillow for
his head save the still colder earth; or mid
the battles carnage, or on the ensanguined
field, strewn alike with friends and foes, would
look not half so pleasant to their eyes as that
exulting warrior; or had they watched the
student through long years of vain research,
poring DER musty tones till the stars paled
before the light of day, with fevered brow and
aching heart, filled with strong hopes that
time still dashed to earth-though Time at
last was destined to fulfill: the marvels
wrought thus dearly, thus hardly given to the
world, the car with wings of fire, the thought,
borne as on the lightning's shaft, the shadow
that no longer vanishes, when won at such a
cost, would lose their value, and the philoso-
pher stand unenvied though preGminent.
Men judge too oft by outward show, the
glitter hides the dross which lies beneath the
peasant would seek happiness in palaces, the
rich, perchance, see pleasures mid the poor;
all err, all causelessly despond, for place nor
circumstance alone can make life. happy; there
is no lake with breast by winds unrufhed, no
sea by pillows always unconVulsed-eyen so is
it with man. How many noble minds are
crushed beneath adversity, and pulses that
erewhile. warmed with kindred glow to
kindred energies, throb now to sorrow and
bereavement How many hearts that loved
loved, oh how fondly ARE doomed, alas tC
live, and live alone How many breathing
beings toll and travail on to gain wherewitf
they may drag out existence-how many lots
that look the brightest are fraught with bit
terest woe
And still the strife goes on, still the thronG
heaves and swells tumultuOusly, as waves
that surge against the rocks which bind them
and one unceasing current flows turbulently
onward, bearing with it the joys and sorrows
the hopes and passions of world-onwar(
ever. to the trackless ocean of Eternity.
But fields are green and flowers are fair
there is no warfare on the hills, nor in tn
groves, nor on the plains; the elements breal
in fearful grandeur above; the seasons com
and go-yet sunshine follows storms as da.
the night, and winter yields to spring. N
murmur is heard save that which tremble
through the air, of rippling streams and stiI
ring leaves and songs of sweetest music; an
the works of Nature stand forth in majesti
harmony, unmoved by the strivings aroun
them, regardless alike of the fears and long
ings the griefs and tumults raging in til
breasts of men-serene and placid despite tn
contest, and at Peace, through amid the throe
of The Battle of Life.
A CouvaYsatfon with Hon. 70, B. Wash