Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-10-07
nIFFFaRNT Views OF DEATH.

PHILIP LYSCHs Editor ana Trob
ALE. DOTEN Associate Editor
VIEWS OF DEATH.
It Is singular to note in how many
different ways death is regarded by
and the variety Of feelings
produced BY Its consideration. To some
It Is an object Of hope, to others Of
dread some love to ponder on its i'm
port and bearings others turn from 1t
with aversion, aud dismiss 1t imperi-
ously from their thoughts. Some think
Of 1t but as . door, which, opening,
will lead to more complete develop
ments and higher existence, while to
Others It appears to be a termination to
all their plans and aims, a sudden cut
ting short OF life, with all Its varied
excitements. To some It is a theme
which enkindles the Imagination and
inspires the soul, to others it suggests
chiefly Its outward trappings and SYM
bols, the body arrayed for the tomb,
the funeral, the house Of mourning.
the grave. 1t is not only the varied
opinions men hold as to the meaning
OF death as an entrance to a future life
which operate to produce these differ
emit effects on the mind. Natural tenn
permanent, habits Of thought, courage
or timidity, the tendency Of the mind
to dwell on the material or the spirit
ual, all contribute to tinge the subject
with their peculiar coloring. 1t Is no
ted Of Sir Walter Scott that amid his
boldest fiourishes of martial enthusi-
a,m, and his most charming passages
of natural description, there is a con-
slant tendency to return from subjects
Of life. TO dwell on death; and 1t is
mentioned as illustrative Of the popu-
lar character OF his disposition that he
loves to depict its outward symbols,
and fingers fondly owe the images Of
death and the details OF funeral cere-
monies, at times V going out Of his
way to describe these scenes with a
minuteness that shows them 10 have
held Il large place In his m~editations.
1t Is rare to find one so full Of rich VI
tally, and with so ardent a love for
nature in all her living forms o beauty
as Scott, who likewise loves to dwell
on the theme Of death. Yet whilst 1t
may tinge his writings with a shade Of
tender melancholy, he docs not invest
1t with that calamitous and hopeless
character with which so many clothe 1t
In their thoughts. Apart from the nat
ural and inevitable grief which must
attend the parting from dear friends,
death in itself considered Is not a woe,
nor should our meditations upon 1t
partake wholly Of sorrowful features.
That they so frequently do, and that
they are for this reason so generally
avoided, Is chiefly owing to q current
belief that the things of this life are
hostile to mans spiritual being; that
time and eternity are so a~ntagonistic
In their nature, that there can be no
congenlality or harmony between them.
The love Of life, and all that Il known
by experience to constitute life, Is
strong in man, and hence the shrink
ing from what is supposed to be at va
rance with 1t. A firm belief In the
wisdom, consistency, and harmony Of
the workings Of Divine Providence
will dispel this error. As we already
occupy a definite place In the arrange
nents of this world, rs these arrange
ments must be parts Of a great whole,
under the same government, and rs
our Happiness and interests are pro-
NOTED here only by faithful fidelity to
duty, so the same great principles will
underlle any other world or different
state, and the same power and love up
hold and regulate it. A pure and vir-
tuous life will more than all beside
strip death Of the terror and gloom so
often thrown around 1t. The nature
Of all vital force Is cumulative. A fall
ing body does not gather momentum
more surely than the character gathers
force In whatever direction 1t Is guided.
The energy Of the will augments with
every volition the capacity Of the be-
nevolent affections, the sense Of honor,
the love Of truth and goodness are for
ever Increasing in those who cherish
them. To the sensual passions, un-
holy desires, selishness, pride, avarice
all that tends to crush goodness out
Of the soul, gain power with fearful ra.
pidity In those who suffer them to take
root In their hearts. This is what gives
to immortal life all It, dignity, and
only a. we TAKE In this idea a We
form any adequate notion OF Its power.
To those who regard tho material part
Of life as all in all, death, coming only
to dissolve It, will seem n cruel tyrant.
crushing all that is most dearly priced;
but to those who think Of life as ONE
thing nobler than mere physical exist
ence, who recognize the ever increas-
ing power Of character, death will be
but the agent which sets the spirit free
from earthly limits, and as such will
bring no terrors.
The PARIS FoRrs.-The Germans
have been paid their Indemnity, aud,
In accordance with the s%tlpulations Of
the treaty, they have evacuated the
Paris forts. The French ~tri-color again