The New York herald., 1871-10-15

on and W0nder and learn, as the world Ii
called upon to look on and wonder and learn
te-day. This Chicago affair marks an epoch,
not in the history of Chrlstendom alone, not
in the history of the modern world alone, but
in the history of the human race. 1t is . land
mark, and most encouraging landmark, in
the history Of time, in the history of human
progress. II is more than posslble--nay, IL is
certain-Ihat catastrophes quite as serious
have in the past not unfrequentiy occurred.
A great city on fire, great city burned to
ashes, is no new thing in the history Of the
world. We cannot forget the great cities OF
| the East-cties which were old or in ruins
| when Rome was young, or before Rome began
| to exist. What schoolboy is not familiar with
the sad tale Of burning Troy, and pious
| FIneas, when the cause was lost, dNtifuliy
bearing on his shoulders the aged Anchises,
his father, and carrying him safely forth from
the flames? With the burning of Jerusalem.
the complete destruction of its unrivalled Tenn
pie aud the sad scenes whica Immediately
followed, leading to the inal dispersion of the
chosen people Of God, every ordinary reader
of history is acquainted. Carthage, with
Scipio Africanus sitting sorrowiug amid the
ruins which he himself had created; Rome
dozen times in flames, often in ashes, but ever,
like the phoenix, rising afresh, youthful, beau
tiful vigorous as ever; the great historic
London confagration, as described by De Foe
and commemorated until this day BY one Of
the most cherished monuments of the ancient
40 ~;s ~,
think of these, their partially told disasters
and their imperfectly known sorrows. We
think of these and many other similar cases,
both in ancient and modern times; but this
Chicago confiagration, with it's accompani-
ments and its immediate consequences, stands
out singly, solitary, alone. 1t is new thing
in new age. 1t marks new era.
Let Us look at some facts. II had begun to
be believed that in our modern cities great
destructive FIRE, similar to the great destruc-
tive fires Of the past, was impossible The
attempt which was made 80 recently to de-
stroy Paris, and the complete failure thereof,
encouraged that belief. 1t was supposed that
such fires as those which destroyed many Of
the great cities of the past, and with which in
comparatively recent times we have not
been unfamiliar, had been rendered i'm
possible by the discoveries and appliances
Of modern science. But suddenly all these
nne imagiuings are scattered to the winds of
heaven. A great city, city well supplied |
with water, city full Of energy, city want |
ing in none Of the scientific requisites for the
resistance and destruction Of fire, is caught in
the flames; and, in spite of all that human
energy and human skill can accomplish,
the fire demon dominates the stua-
ton until its best and most beautifu
portions are in ruins, until millions Of dollars
worth OF property is destroyed, and until thou
sands upon thousands of people who have
not been caught in the destroying element are
!, left penniless and homeless. 1t is new and
F., humiliating lesson to the world. 1t shows
! that there is power still mishtier than man
! q force not yet seriously affected by human
ingenuity. 1t does more--it proves that the
| fate of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other
Cities OF the Plain is still probability. Nay
more, this Chicago disaster, taken in connec
ton with those dreadful fires which with de-
structon in their breath have swept like a
fierce whirlwind the Western prairies, merci-
lessly regardless of human homes, Of human
treasures or of human life, forbids US to come
to the conclusion that q world in flames,
second and universal Deluge, but a universal
deluge Of fire, is vain and foolish dream,
worthy only of the muddled brains Of prophets
who belonged to a dead and buried past.
History repeats ITSELF and repeats itself With
such wonderful precision that it is not unnatr-
raj for the thoughtful mind sometimes to in
quire whether, after all, these latter days are
better than the FIRST. The pride of the human
intellect has perseveringly for centuries been
rearing tower by which TO reach the heavens.
| Let us hope that this tower may not prove
| another Tower of Babel---a cause Of confusion,
dispersion and weakness.
| The unprecedented character Of this Chicago
| disaster, with it's sccompanments, finds its
best illustration, its best commentary, in the
stir and excitement it has produced, not In this
country alone, not on this Continent alone, but
throughou! the wide domain of Christie ndom
1t has fallen like thunderbolt on the nations.
One might almost say. il he took sufficiently
gloomy view OF human nature, that it has
frightened them iato goodness. This, how
ever, it is safe to say, that whether from love
or fear, from sympathy with human sorrow,
| or from wholesome dread of possible
| impending punishment, the civilized world
! has not been so stirred in many genera
| tions-we had almost said in many
centuries-as il is to-day. Never be-
fore did the world 50 rush to the rescue of
the suffering. Never before did man so burst
through and bound over the barrier lines Of
race aud religion, and language and taste, to
| the aid Of his fellows. II is new revelation.