The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-08-10

RICHMOND. IND. AUGUST 70. 1869.
Urom The NJ. Asbsra lndex.l
Stones, Their Romance and Mystery.
BY oMA C. RAMBo,

Ruskin has defined romance AZ beau
ty, sublimity, or virtue, unusually man
ifested. 1t may be difficult to imagine
that under these conditions there could
be romance in stones. We think there
is little beauty in the great rough rocks
with which we are familiar, and that we
should 60 to any other part Of created
nature to have awakened in US assense
of the sublime. A human being, en-
dowed with life, sensation and reason,
alone can be virtuous. The objections
may, ct first thought, seem formidable;
but upon closer examination. they show
either limited acquaintance with the
subject or a non. appreciation Of the
characteristics. Let us again review
the definition and see how admirably it
applies. And first, Beauty The dia-
mond that sparkles and changes with
every motion into many different hues
we call beautiful stone. Yonder stat
ne, SO graceful in form and so perfecsin
imitation, delights. us, and we stand be-
fore it fascinated, oblivious to all shout
us, so greatly charmed that we forget it
is only beautiful stone. saOr. il may
be, the little pebble OH thesbeach, worn
by the washing Of the breakerss It's
Wilderness and smoothness apleasess the
eye, and we think i q beautiful stone--
Second, Sublimity. On tho coasts of
Scotland may be seen, arranged in sys-
tematic order, gigantic columns Of bss
attic rock. Extending over the centre,
these immense stones form an archway,
as perfect rs that planned by the most
skillfnl architect The great restless
waves pave the bottom necessarily
dashing their foam on either side-~, No
one can look on f. withous wond sr and
amazement without that elevated feel
ing which comes from looking upon
great scenes and objects. Or, did, you
never pass through rocky caveYs At
times the passage way was so narrow
you could barely pass. At other times
you were suddenly admitted intosa sto-
ny chamber, with rocks above, beneath,
and on every side; the trickling of wa
ter down the stony walls was all that
disturbed the silence that pervaded.-
Was there not q feeling Of awe as deep
and profound as you ever realized~9-
And lastly, Virtue. A most essential
clement charactcrizing rock-not di
rectly, perhaps, bat no less largely en-
tering into their nature. ~ do not be-
lieve that any one could study or~be in
timately connected with stones and be
a bad man. They have purifying, ell
svating influence peculiar to themselves,
and in this way we may have virtue in
stone. One of the chief elements of ro-
nance is mystery, and these stones have
much connected with them which is
mysterious-much that is entirely con-
cealed-while enough is given to excite
a desire for further knowledge. = ~, [ =
The records Of the world are left to
us in various ways. Most frequently
we think of them as coming down from
preceding generations. But there was
time, and longer, by many hundred
thousand years, than the existence Of
man, when not human being lived to
give the events of the past But q book
was left which gives. to US revelations
more accurate and more minute than
the most perfect history OF any century
We read page after page, as we lift its
leaves, and become acquainted with the
rocks, plants and animals Of those times.
The molusks Of the Silurian,- the fishes
of the Devonian, the reptiles of the Me-
sozic, and mammals of the Cenozoic are
distinctly portrayed, the iuplifts, the
folds, the textures, the 1depressions are
all written here. More than this, it is
this testimony in rock that has made
division among thinkers. Scientific per-
sons are divided into two great classes,
known as the Darwinians and Creation
alists. Whether one be right or the
other remains yet to be proved, but the
mystery lies hidden in the rock.
Petra tells its own romantic story
Ancient cities, and the most enduring
ediices. have long since moldered and
decayed. But not SO with stony Petra.
Its building are still good representa-
tions Of its former magnificence The
rock hewn passage.way, with the exca
waited sepulchres on either side, and its
overhanging stones, threatening for so
many thousand years to fall upon the
traveller, remain as perfect as ever
The grand old temple, with its stony
adornments, resists the action, of ages.
The theater, with its seats of stone rails
ed one above the other, and chambers
cut in the rocks of the building, are the
astonishment and delight OF travellers
The inhabitants have long since passed
away. but the city remains q mystery in
atone: sIts own grave ita own yy,on,,