The Van Buren press., 1872-02-20
The Van Buren, Press,
VAN BUREN,, ARKANSAS.
For tho Van Buren Press.
An Eventful Age.
BY JUvfNTUS,

This is, truly, an eventful age. tits a
time ofmighty revolutions, appalling dis.
asters, and wonderful natural phenome-
ma No previous century of the worlds
history produced so much that is start
ling in political change 80 much that is
shocking in human calamity, or so much
that is alarming in social commotion
The last ten years have embraced some
of the most important events in oil the
records Of history. First Of all, the bu
gles. blast was heard throughout all the
borders Of our own beautiful land and
the iron hoof Of the war horse. and the
heel OF the armed soldier trod down the
fragrant flowers, and laid waste the
blooming fields. Myriads Of new made
graves studded the hill sides and valleys,
and the piercing notes of woe came forth
from aching hearts, in every quarter Of
our country. Almost before the smoke
Of war had cleared away from our own
land, a fierce struggle began in Europe,
and the farest portion OF that mighty
Continent was desolated by civil war.
The most magnificent city in the world
was sacked and the most perfect parks
and public works on the face oil the earth,
exchanged the robes Of splendor for tue
habiliments Of desolation. At the same
time, a fierce contest arose in Italy, con
cerning the right Of the Pope to tempo
raj sovereignty, and this resulted in the
overthrow OF the venerable Plus lX, and
the occupancy Of the Eternal City" by
hostile armies. A terrible war has ragged
in Mexico, and prolonged struggle has
been going on in the West Indies. Later
still. a desolating famine has swept over
the Kingdom Of Persia, depopmating the
land of one half of its inhabitants, and
leaving whole villages and towns with
scarcely sufficient number living to bury
the dead On the heels of this, the great
North west of our own country is visited
with fires, that destroy villages and cat.
tie, men and horses, for hundreds OF miles.
Then comes the awful and unexampled
conhagration of Chicago, destroying one
hundred and fifty millions Of dollars
worth of property, licking up thousands
Of human lives with its frey tongue; and
casting ten thousands, Of heretofore hap.
py families, on the mereies Of pieeingr
hunger and biting frosts. Between the
acts Of this frightful tragedy, there are
railroad disasters, steamboat explosions,
and earthquake shocks, and all the ele-
ments seem to have combined to sport
with property aud make play thing of
human life Milton introduces us into
the council chamber where Satan and his
hosts sat in horrid concave, plotting the
destruction Of our innocent first parents
but the present day ushers us into an as
sembly where fire, wind aud wave, lam
inc, pestilencc aud war, are connecting
plans to blot from existence, the entire
family Of mankind.
From the womb Of futlrity, also, ara
soon to spring mighty events. Devel-
opments that may shake to their centre,
many of the political systems of Chrsten
dom, may be near at hand. The world
is restless and moving; Republican ideas
are undermining the foundations of
Monarchy in Europe; Despotisms are
vanishing, as true enlightenment brings
their horrid features distinctly in view,
and the ominous appearance of the sky
Of the future, proclaims to the world that
stupendous changes are not far below the
horizon. .ss
These thrilling facts should teach us
an important lesson The age in which
we live. is the most active aud eventful
age in the worlds history. The events
in which we are to act part, are far
more momentous than those in which
our fathers distinguished themselves
Then, should We not be ready for what is
coming2 Should we not use every means
we can command, to cndow the rising
generation with sound morality, thor.
ough and sound education. and every
other attainment requisite to fit them for
the mighty responsibilities upon which
they are SO soon to entsrY Most assur-
edly we should. Then, let the standard
Of education be made still higher. Let
the iron horse make his pathway o'er
every hill and dale, and let the lightning
messengers search out every lonely spot
of the Continent. Let us awake to
knowledge Of our lofty position. Let us
realize the fact that we are actors in the
grandest scene, that the foot lights Of his
tory have ever revealed on the stage OF
human action. Let us perform our parts
SO as to be beneficial to tho one-thou-
sand.millions who compose our audience,
and the world will then move forward to
that sublime position, which should be
the destiny Of an intelligent race
Wax BrRrN. ARK Feb 3. 70