The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-10-11
The Ocean.

hIm1GloSS ana SuD11mo, ocean
rolling his vast waves around this
terrestrial sphere, has ever been re.
garded by those prophet -expouaders
of nature, the poets, as inferior only
to the starry heavens in grand sug-
gestiveness. We have seen his placid
face in repose, a boundless mirror
for the bending concave above, hal
lowed with quietude so soft and
sweet that we forgot to dream of
any change. Then glittered the
snow crested billows with graceful
yet gentle motion, then ocean stars
trembled beneath the surface, and
seemed rocking like sea weeds in the
world of waters below. Nothing in
terrestrial scenery can so influence
the meditative and poetic mind with
calm, soothing sensation, as this
same gray-bearded and most terri
bic lion of the earth, the mighty
deep, when, casting aside his terrore,
he sleeps the sleep of tropic seas.
Deep down under his living waters
are coral caves-Paterres and flow
ers, not like those of earth, but Wv
id and various as products of Eden
delicate pale carving of ocean iVo-
ry, overgrown by curious and splen-
didly tinted branches. We are told
by great student of the physical
geography of the sea, that "the col
Oring surpasses everything; deep
green alternates with brown or yell
low; rich tints of purple, from pale
red-brown to the deepest blue.
Brilliant-rosy, yellow, or peach col
Ored NullipOreS overgrow the decay
ing masses, and are themselves in
woven with the pearl-coYered plates
of the RtiporeS of fanciful network"
This is indeed a religion where the
genius of a Byron or a Wilson
might ravel, as the former tells of
mermaids decking their sea-green
hair with shells, and the latter glori-
fies tropical waters In his isle of
Palms" We too have looked into
the wonder revealing face of ocean
beneath the equator, when vertical
rays shot straight down into his ca
pacious bosom, impid as crystal;
silver and golden fish darted past,
clearly seen, as though invisible air
were the only medium separating
them from the eye of man. The
student of Scripture might draw on
that inspired source for abundant
and magnificent calculations of the
wonders of ocean. A tiths of such
quotations would establish its claims
to be considered one of Gods
mightiest works. But we forbear
Let but the ocean war god sound his
battle march, and 10 t.! the warrior
waves arise. What becomes of re-
pose then? Beauty dies out in awe.
The laundering poles and black
coDcave unite in gloomy force to
terrify and alright. Instant de-
struction seems travelling on every
wave, and winds, lifting up their
trem endous voices, yell as though
they hoWIed creations doom. That
frail ark, built by the art of man,
which he considers a splendid tri-
umph of mind over this ponderous
clement, driven madly about, creaks,
plunges, and wavers, dashed for
ward, backward AMI aside, as great
ocean wills. Then mans strong
heart wakes weak, and, looking out
on a wide waste of waters, he hum
bly, owns there is no skill to lay
their fury, save that of the Great
Creator, from whose divine lips
alone the mandate must come,
Peace, be still r.
Hark! the thunder's awful voice
Rends the tenn pest stricken air 4!
Spirits of the storm, TejOicel
Trembling earth is flId with fear.
Loud winds shrek with angry wall -
Mountain biliOWs lift their heads
Ocean heaYes before the gale,
While its watery path IT treads-
See, the proud ship falters now;
Now behold her rapid flight;
See her tall masts shake and bow;
See her mount-she sinks in nj ght!