Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-06-03

new planets To tho proud galaxy Ol nCa-
ven, until the astronomy OF to-day pla-
ces worlds far beyond tho orbit of Her
schel where the winged thoughts of
man had never before dared to soar.
We need not coDhne ourselves TO this
department of science alone 10 verify
the fact that her Developments are be-
ing made with qulckened ratio I'M
precedented In the annals of timo.--
Our own little sphere, with its cloud
capped mountains and spreading
wales, its plunging cataracts and deep
roaring oceans, furnishes material for
every branch Of science, and by It's con-
slant and increasing contributions TO
tho storc-houso OF knowledge Is making
rapid haste toward that millenlal fu-
ture which seems as yet down al the
very horizon OF thought. All nature
seems impatient 10 reveal 30 man her
hidden treasures--to crown his efforts
with jewels more precious than gold,
and lead him, a. II by enchantment,
from natures truths up TO natures
God.
Science, like sparkling rill bound
ing I'm wild delight, reveals new and
greater mysteries and now, though
it has hardly left the summit from
whence IL feebly emanatcd four thous-
and years ago, It Is rushing onward.
revealing ifs buried diamonds with &C.
celebrated speed, aid will. yet astound
the thinking world OF future ages with
truth and power unknown. Or like a
blazing meteor hurled from a lofty
height whose brilliant Hight its path
way traces, ut first with moderate pace
1t wings lite flight through fields of
ether; but yielding to tho laws which
limit the sphere OF man, holds worlds
In place and guides them In thelrorbits,
as II impatient TO reach lts destined
goal 1t fits through every stage with
quickoned and a brighter glow until
at length aglaring light IL seems to leave
a strand Of fire bchind.;Iand that which
now seems bright grows dim In the
presence Of what Is brighter still.
To-day standing upon the temple OF
science erected by the efforts of other
| ages, basking in the genial rRys of the
same sun which the stern astronomy
| of Copernicus commanded TO stand still
while the earth wheeled In haste upon
| its axis, looking back at what has been
and knowing what is now, we can see
the spirit OF progression fixed upon ma
lures course and stamped upon the
works of art, ever impelling onward
the moral intellectual, and physical
world toward their inevitable destiny.
| Then to what are we fastening? Let
| the wonderful, hought-propelling en-
| ergy of the past foretell our destined
| future. Stemming the rough and bois-
ferrous ctirrcnt OF time, travel back
with the man of Nree-srOre Years and
ten TO the days Of his childhood. As
sembie tho wise and great, aud with
prophetic voice tell them that the
world Is just emerging from its night
of lethargy that the light OF knowl-
| edge has just begun to shed its radiant
beams dispelling the dusky haze Of ig-
noranee and superstition that Genius
has shaken OF the fotters that have
| bound her down to her dream of ares,
and now comes forth unshackled in
| her infant robes. Paint TO their minds
in glowing colors the advanced skill
| and wisdom of man ere the declining
years of the nineteenth century has cast
long shadows upon the dial-plate oi
eternity. Tell them thatthc hoIUenbOrn
messenger who quit his cloudy home
and fell submissive at tho bidding of u
Franklin, bounding o'or metallic road
with native speed, Will become the
courier of thought from shore TO shore.
| Show them that tho age in which they
i
| erosion, shall call forth Fulton to
shackle with iron harness and tamt
the fiery vapor, which shall plough
the crested waves with the speed Oi
the swiftost bird make their mountain
gorges to echo and ro-echo its hollow
veico. and with defiant step rush head
long through tho very jaws OF yawn
ing chasms. Tell them that wher,
their forest wilds now tower in quie
majesty, and Eolus sports in playful
innocence amid their peaceful shades
there the strong arm of industry, will
the light of science to guide IL will
raise up populous cities and flourlshln,
villages, whose cloud-reaching spire
and domes shall catch the earliest hu,
of morn, and battle their lofty head
in the rosy tints of evening shades
Tell them all this, and more tell thi
| TO YOUR your grand sircS, your sages
hundred years ago, who believed tina
their age was the favored summit ston'
upon the pyramid OF knowledge; tina
the giant Of discovery had almost ruI
his race, and soon in meek submission
would lay his harmless sceptre down
Hsthinn see their seOrnful look.
And hear thsir mosking snssrs,
AZ they, you proph-.ying took
| Por undisesrning soers,
Yes, II one-half had been told tina
has since been accomplished, the com
bined voices of a hooking multitud
would have hurled the divining one
+ into bedlam as a 1T companion for raw
! ing maniacs. How different with tn,
sages of to-dayl With the testlmon,
of declining years as their criterion
they look up inqulringly through tn
reflected light of coming ages TO tn
. omnipotent Ruler of the Universe an
receive the assurance utterored by In
q spired lips in ages past that yet %
knotO OnlV IN part Then whithe
arc we tendlng?, Does not glorlou
: future await us? Though revolution
A may shake the political world and al
: parently drive back or retard the or
q ward march of civilization, yet whel
e in the blissful future can the sobeI
q thinking mind of to-day place the Gu
4 mination of this grand and increasin
n race of progression =? II another d
n cade shall urge IL forward with u
a same rate Of speed, what new discove
\ les and inventions, now buried
l. times great areana, will greet the, ei
A ger eyes of many now living? ORA
II aside the dusky veil that dims the ligl
a of the glorious future, and you see Il
il mind of man staggering beneath u
i crushing weight of truth reveale
If For hardly has 1t claimed the laur
l. wreath in contest close, and with pa
n ting breath chased home the nigh
a giant OF discovery till he rushing for
q with energies intensified, mocks Il
,r powers Of mind and offering anoth
" field for conflict hurls a swift challenI
n at their concentrated might.
le Thus the mind-the mighty conqut
a or--with an insatiate thirst for trut
N Ia fast approximAting the zenith 0.
DT glory; at each successive step addil
X new symbols OF power to its triuI
l. pant reign.
ir oh what Joy and inefflble pleasu
a. must the educated and philosophi'
TO mind experience 10 see life In all Il
81 ture; 10 converse with rocks and plaI
Il as living beings; and rambling throu
IL the mysterious labyrinths Of u
10 mighty creation, 20 comprehend, a
rs rest In rapt delight amid the soul-st
of ring revelations of future ayes
a a. Il "A. a Il. 4