The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-24
What is Life :

Hiie 10 uul ueatli's yestibule, and
our pilgrimage on earth is but a
Journey to the grave, thepulse that
preserves our being beats our dead
march, and the blood which circu.
lates our life is floating it onward
to the depth of death. To day we
see our friends in health; to NOR
low we hear of their decease. We
cIasped the hand of the strong man
but yesterday, and to day we close
his eyes. We rode in a chariot of
comfort but an hour ago, and in a
few more hours the last black char
lot must convey us to the home of
all the living.
Stars die mayhaps; it is said that
congregations have been afar off
in the other, and the astronomers
have marked the funeral of other
worl9s-the decay Of those mighty
orbs that we have imagined set for
ever in sockets OF silver to glisten
as the lamps of eternity. Blessed
be God there is one place where
death is no Iife's brother, where
life reigns alone, and "to live" is
not the first syllable which is to be
followed By the next, ITO die"
There is q land where the death
knells are tolled, where wind
ing sheets are never woven. where
sravessare never dug. Blcst land
beyond the skies. To reach it we
must die.
The wounds Of the soul are not
always such as bleed outwardIy.
nor is the most poignant anguish
caused by visible agents. When
we speak of consolation, our minds
naturally call up the images of ILL.,
ness, bereavement, or peril of lie
and limb. But man is so constitu-
ted that an assault on reputation
or even a public or general cen
sure Of conduct and character will
often inflict as keen and lasting
rain as the piercing of a sword.
There are, moreover, some who
could with more equanimity go to
the cannon's month than withstand
the voice of disapprobation, when
proceeding from great numbers of
persons of rank or Importance.
And when censure and rebuke act
ually fall, there is always an emo
ton of unhappiness, at least for a
time, under which the supports of
religion are as truly needed as un-
der the more palpable infiiction
which have passed so largely I'M
der our review, Nor is there any
means Of rising altogether above
such suffering except that true be-
lever is the only man who can
nationally and universally appeal
to the Judgment of God.
How beautiful the following gem
from the pen Of Prentice, and how
happy the heart that can see these
beauties as he betrayed them:
"Why is it that the rainbow and
the cloud come over US with a beau
ty that is not Of earth, and then
pass away and leave US to muse on
their faded loneliness Z? Why is it
that the stars which hold their
nightly festival around the mid
night throne are placed above the
reach Of our limited faculties for
ever mocIling us with their unap-
proachable glory? And why is it
that bright forms Of human beauty
are presented to our views and then
taken from us, leaving the thou
sand streams of affection to flow
back in Alpine torrents upon our
hearts? We are born to higher
destiny than earth. There is a
higher destiny than earth. There
is realm where the rainbow never
fades-whcre the stars will be set
out before us like islands that
.slumber OIL tire ocean, and where
the beautiful being that passes be-
fore us like q meteor will stay III
our presence forever
~~o--~--~~-->>--s9e-~>~ ->~~~~~-
u Mrs. Augusta Garfield, of Alex
andria, widow of Maj. Mercer Garfield,
delivered the first of her series OF
lectures on the "Heroes of the Southern
Contederacy" at the Tiremen's Hall On
Thursday night. The subject was the
life and character of Gen. "Stonewall''
Jackson, and was well treated through
out, the language chastc and refined,
frequently rising into eloquencc, with
a distinct and graceful delivery which
added very much to its interest. Mrs