The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-06-14

truly feel and say, with the greatest of
moralsts--"far from me and from my
friends be that Indifference, that could
visit unmoved any scene dignifod by
virtue, or sanctified by association" N.
b Il may quote the DR.. little different
from what he stands, as L have no aid but
memory. Such men are of that class,
who, if they visited Mt. Vernon, would
occupy themselves in hacking canes out
of those trees that we're planted for other
purposes, and should be left to beautify
what was the home of Washington. Such
men, without sentiment, during the late
civil war, occupied themselves in appro.
pricing Southerners' family heir-looms.
Gen. Butler will ever stand as tho great
exemplar of this class, as the EXTREMIST of
those SO disregardful, Of that which is as.
ISOLATED in the minds of the truly great
and good, as venerable, or sacred, or true,
or lovely.
"Superstition "-such men write it over
that cross, the memento of faith in Sa.
vlour. Its erection over the grave, as
typical Of the faith of the departed in
Him who died upon the cross, is--supcr-
stition. Respectful attention to a priest
in his pulpit, if he is not eloquent, is-su-
perstition. And to show they have none
oft in them, they tramp out of church in
the midst of his sermonizing. 1t is well
for such men that the days of miracles are
over, or their fate might be like that Of
those children cursed by the prophet
But let us drop such people from our
pen, as unworthy of intelligent notice.
They are the children Of ignorance, and
welded to folly, aud therefore are deaf to
reason and good manners.
1t is to local association, therefore, we
are to refer the appreciation men have of
nature. The city born and bred man is
no true understander or true lover of the
beauties of nature. So when he aspires
to a countryplacc, he conjurcs around him
an association of art in his lighthouses,
aud rare trees, and rustic Every much SOY
seats. These make his country. All be.
yond this to him is mere barbarism.-
"Vocal woods" mean, in his ear, those
Austrian and Scotch pines, those silver
poplars, and little bird cages hung up in
in them. He talks of the country, but it
has no voice, no beauty to him. The
trees he has planted, the house he has
huidod, opoalr of himself, gratifying his
pride; and this is all of nature that he
cares for.
Dickens has shown up the character of
a city devotee-one deaf to country
sounds, and blind to country sights, in
the character of "Tim Linkinwater." -
This is especially manifest in that scene
where "Cherryble Brothers" q don't be-
lieve there over were two such men. Ii
they had been women | would have be-
lieved in them-but men and merchants,
no, Mr., Dickens, that's asking too much
of my credulity,) tell their old clerk
''Tim" that he must go in the country
now and then, for the fresh air. otis
forty-seven years." said Tim, "since l first
kept the books of Cherryble Brothers.,
l have never slept out of the back attic
one single night. Here's the same migni-
onette box, and the sume four flower pots,
two on each side, that | brought with me
when [ first came. There's not such a
square as this IN the world. There's
not such a spring in England as the
pump under the arch-way. There's no
such view in England as that out of
my window" "Tim's" notion of pleas.
ant burial ground is in the same vein
Speaking of poor "Smike," he said -
~ wish we could have buried him in
town. There isn't such burying ground
as that little one on the other side of the
square ; there arc contingencies all
around it, aud if you go there on fine
day, you can see the books and safes
through the open windows" have no
doubt '.Tim's" whole idea Of Heaven was
contained in those words, "lt is City,
If "Tim's' example were not sufficient to
show that it is local association which
makes for us the beauties of nature, and
those who have no such associations have
no such love. l might quote from a let
ter received this morning from friend.
"You talk Of trees and flowers,' she
writes-'I am in tho country, but in
vain do l seek for an interest in such in
animate things. Rather give me the
shifting crowd met with in city stroll.
They do interest, but what can you find
in the mere color of green, either to
please the fancy or engage the Affection
What calamity it is to be born and bred
in city. To have all our associations of
this description. Be thankful, reader,
that yours are totally different. Cherish
our love of nature, for it does not inca.
pacitate you for the study of man. When
nature locks away her treasures in the
winter months, you can seek companion,
ship in the city, but shall return to rural
scenes with the same unaltered love-
"And lost in lonely musings, in the dream
Confused, of careless solitude, they mix
In thousands, wandering images of things,
Soothe every gust Of passion into peace
All but the swellings of the soften'd heart,
That weaken, not disturb the tranquil mind"
NJ.