The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-01-13
For The TRIBUNE.
TRUTH vs.. FICTION.


Ed. TRIBUNE Some seem to have
an exceeding relish for fiction devouring
it with great avidity, and perhaps we
all might, if we knew less of truth.
Why truth. to say nothing of its i'm
portance otherwise, is infinitely more
wonderful than fiction, and is progress
sive. Indeed truth is always progress.
sive. Like the pent-up fires of sub
terraneous magazine, truth, for time,
may be concealed, remain in obscurity,
or be kept out of the field of human Wis.
ion; but it will out: Though perhaps
again, very unlike those on ignition, it
may not burst forth suddenly, full orbed
and in its transcendent splendor to shock
and overwhelm, but gradually developing
itself, sheds its genial rays abroad, scat
tering and dispeling the surrounding
darkness; and to undertake to circum.
scribe its influence, or limit its boundar-
les, would be as irrational or absurd as
to deny the expansive force of steam, or
the upward tendency of an earthquake.
Take physiology for instance, which
reveals the wonderful interior of oursel-
yes, =" distinguished link in beings end
less chain, and we startle at the ex-
quisite workmanship, the adaptation of
means toan end, the mysterious operation
OF the various and powerful internal
forces for the accomplishment of given
purpose, and the harmonious action and
play Of all the organs of the body with
out conflict; or geology, and delve into
the bosom of the earth, and examine the
different strata by which its duration
and manner Of formation are calculated;
contemplate its vast wealth of minerals,
the secret of volcanoes, &C. or chemistry,
and experiment with electricity, learn its
power and adaptation to useful purpos-
es, the laws Of affinity, Of definite pro-
portions, of chemical combinations, the
composition of the atmosphere and the
changes that take place in it in respira-
ton, and is there nothing wonderful in
all this ? is there nothing exciting, moth
ing enchanting, nothing stranger than
fctien2 In the simple experiment of
the burning of steel wire in oxygen or
the decomposition of water by the bat
terry; or the explosive union of oxygen
and hydrogen by the electric spark re-
sulting in the formation of water, with a
report equal to that of pistol; or the
rapid and dangerous combustion result
ing from contact of potassium with vat
er, indicating the mode of the develop
ment of earthquakes. there is more that
is interesting and even startling than in
all the tales of modern times. Also in a
single flower, Or dewdrop sparkling in
the rays of the morning sun, or micro
scopic view Of the eye Of common fly, or
Of the wing of butterfly, or of the cir
culation OF the blood in the web of the
frog foot, there is more Of the sublime
and transcendently beautiful to the stu
dent of nature, than in all the novels of
Wayerly, or Dickinson, or Ballou, or
Walter Scott, Or Henry Ward Beecher
even. Fiction and romance however are
well enough in their place. but a certain
amount Of the real is indispensable to in
telligence, and any amount in any case
will do no harm and be no less interest
ing. Admitting, as we do, some utility
in novels, the brevity of life itself evin-
| ces to us that there is no time to be
squandered upon imaginary objects
since there is SO much of the real to en-
gross our attention through life, toe
much indeed to admit of anything like
the familiarity with it desired. X.