The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-08-24

GoRDIAN KNoTs.-There are kuots
which people tie, with tongue or deed,
which no after efforts OH their part Gun
unrave]. Be it reputation wounded, o
falsehood deified, or az evil seeming
given to harmless things, the tremulous
, waves of air through which the whisper
rides, seem to have the strength Of q
tempest to ravage life. It is through
the blindest workers that often the great
est mischief is done. Neither anger nor
malice may move them. Perhaps to
mike mot" they net in motion lies
and snnder that no human power can
stop. To crafty the cravings OF idle
NAMED hidden until the day of doom,
are paraded in all their naked doform-
ity. Evil ties knot which good can
not always unraye. Circumstance, too,
that scapegoat Of the world, often
makes laws Of blind inevitable nccessi-
ty, which, like icebergs. GO laundering
along on what appears their destined
way. Can we not I'LL recall some trifie
of word or look-n mere nothing, ap-
purently, but bringing strange or tragic
sequences which mako or mar lives?
The old fable of Pandora's box has n
deep and occult meaning, which even
the subtle Greek MUD failed to fathom
little movement Of what, under other
circumstances, might hive been legiti-
mate curiosity, and the full-stnturc.l
evils of humanity, like slenth- hounds,
spring forward in full CRY aud hot pnr-
suit-a chase which will never cease
until the end Of time. This is ono OF
those myths which seems q natural out
growth Of tho human mind, so sinptl-
larly do they crop ont among tue most
diverse people md in the most widely
separated countries. Tho unity only
varied by the manners aud tone of
thought OF the people amongst whom
they are born. What is Pnn.lorn, but
tho Greek Eve? The same insatiate
curiosity, the snme violation Of sacred
trust, the same disproportionnto punish
ment OF on idle deed.
But yet the germ of great truth un-
derlies tho fable. Evil, with deft and
slender fingers, ties knot which the
strength of score of giants cannot
loosen. But yet, though evil may have
it's day, its day is not eternal The hope
which lay Mt the bottom Of Paudora's s
casket, the promise which cnmo to the
mother OF mankind in her blackest hour
OF despair, show that Gordian knots can
be undone, in exceptional cnses ut least
10 be sure, they are 80 mysteriously
woven that neither beginning nor end
are visible, but bold hand sometimes
cuts them asunder. Gordian knots are
often tied by weak parents during the
childhood Of their children. Bad habits
fostered by indulgence. or the mind
warped and narrowed by senseless pre-
JUDGES, are bad preparation for the
struggles and triumphs Of life. The
Knot Ties up III useless bundle faculties
which, removed from restraint or un-
weakened by license, might benefit the
human race. The worst Cf it is, TINT
theso dwarfed people are ignorant of
their own needs or capabilities AS III
an embryo, there is merely the marks of
development to point out what might
have been. But of oil the ties OF either
human or divine law, mistaken marri-
ago is the most cruel and inexorable
The steps or voices Of young couple
accord beautifully III dance or song.
Straightway they fancy this harmony
will extend through every thought or
act of their united lives. Tie knot is
tied. not a fgurative one either, but q
clanklng chain Of circumstances hem
them III from all the beauty and good
ness tnat mlGnt nave been their portion.
A Gordian knot indeed! Not to be
broken nor cut, save under certain strin
gent laws, and even then buying free
dom under penalties, which cost more
than the snvery itself. We have not ex.
hausted tho subject of Gor,lian Knots
We will return to them ut some future
timo.
AN ATRoCioUs MURDER AND STRANGE
CONDUCT OF A MILITARY OFFICER. Re