Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-07-06
BEYOND Tnx AIRS 11rrn ITALY.
Address Delivered on Behalf of Wash.
ington Irving Society, at the Com
menccment EXERCISES of stew.
College Literary Societies,
by l.. D. spencer of Cat.
r. 1eftgbura. Keafuclky.

by L. o. spencer OF Cat.
/ 900 2cttsbnrg, Reatucky.
1t had been a season Of victory an
joy for Carthage. The First puni
War had ceased, and long prosperit
had repaired her injuries. Her nav,
had extended its conquests to foreigl
lands, and she stood upon the roll o
nations as mistress of the sea-" Bu
the crisis was rapidly approaching
when Great Rival" should join hel
again in deadly conflict, upon thc
plains Of Italy. Saguntum had yield
cd to her victorious arms, and Hanni
bal, her gallant general, mindful of hi,
boyish oath, was leading on his troops
as the eternal enemy of Rome"
Animated by victory, and inAamct
with desire Of more extensive booty
they had made long and tiresomC
march to the foot of the Alps. There
was presented barrier, which
seemed to battle every human effort
The towering peaks, penetrated the
clouds with their snowy submits
while their vast declivities, and fright
full sleeps, proclaimed nothing bu
the gloom aud desolation of the march
Carthagenian valor began to rccoil
and where once was courage and ami
nation, was now fear and discourage
ment.
Amid this scene of mutiny and con
fusion, Hannibal reminded thcm O
their former deeds, and the victorie!
which had perched upon their ban
ners. He described the beauties O.
that country to which they were march
ing, contrasted its fertile soil and lus
cious fruits with those icy crags ant
desolate wastes; its mild blue sky and
balmy air with those thrcatenine
clouds and chilling winds. He spoke
of the rewards in store for them, anC
the rich booty which should crown
their victories. Then with animation
exclaimed, "Let as more oai Beyoao
The Alps tieh Haly" Cheered by this
account of that sunny cline" each
soldier grasped more firmly his weapon
and marched on with redoubled en-.
ergy.
How striking the application of thi.
language 1t was doubtless the ex-
preston of a mind, blinded with zeal
and fired by ambition, but it involves a
principle, indelibly stamped upon every
department of creation. Whatever is
presented to our conception, which
delights and charms bears upon it the
evidence that those attractions have
been acquired from the opposing forces
it has encountered Vegetation must
be subject to inclcmcnt seasons, before
it can clothc the earth in freshness
and beauty.
Those coral islands which gem the
ocean, have been thus formed amid
the lashing waves and howling TEN.
pest. The little acorn, must burst the
shell enclosing it, and expose a slen-
der stem to the blasts of winter before
the oak can wave its branches in the
breeze, and offer its refreshing shade
to the weary traveller.
Every object upon which We look,
confirms the assertion, that labor and
conflict are necessary for the develop
mcnt Of symmetry and beauty. Where
ever there is life there is struggle
Everything has its conflicts, from the
smallest animalcule to the king on his
throne.
1t is true in all human institutions.
The pages of history arc a connected
record of wars and conflicts. Nations
have arisen from sources of obscurity,
and through connections and trials
have reached positions of strength
and influence in the world, just as the
stream starts from the little fountain,
flows gently on in a narrow channel
leaping a barrier here and an obstacle
there, until it enlarges into n broad,
majestic river, and swcops with resist
less current to the mighty ocean. 1t
was thus with those old nations of
Greece and Rome, of which we read
so much in classic lore. At first their
infancy was weak, and their chief de-
fence was in their obscurity, or the
weakness of others. Convulsed By
political factions and intestine wars
they gathered strength from their ad-
versity, and at length reached a strong
and lofty attitude, basked in the beams
of prosperity and swlycd their impe-
rial sccptcrs over the nations Of the
earth.
We see nothing in the infant state of
the Saxon people, when the Romans
first discovered them, upon which hui
man sagacity could predicate success.
A small territory upon the neck Of
the Cimbric Choronesus, and three
small islands, was their drcary abode.
Their inhabitants were groaping in
the gloom of superstition, with no in
dustrial improvements TO encourage
while the murmering sea
lishod her rocky shores, and the tenn
pest bowling mournfully through her
forests, were a fit accompaniment to
her degradation and barbarity. From
this secluded spot they found their