, 1873-08-03
A Ran AUGTI0N HAIE.

We hAvc evidently falton into fconoclastio
timoa. One after tho other, tho domi-goia OF
antiquity. tho horoes of mythology, the o1altod
types Of history, go tumbling from thoir rcdes-
tails and lie promo In tho dust at our feot, and
wo stumble oyor thom without even stopping to
inquire who they wore. Mousing antiquarfoa go
about pricking tho stately logs Of giantB, and bo-
hold, thoy arc filled With aawdunt. We sot up
bronze image In tho nlnrkot-placo to commence
rato tho sturdy virtues and tho gallant dcods Of
aomo old-tmo llcro, and Btraightway comes your
Bnoering antiquary md informs you your horo is
myth, and takes londish delight in
tearing off tho pleasant associations which
you haTe twinod around him, mud tho wreaths
and chaplcts with Which you havo crowned him,
and shows you only wrotched stump, instead
OF stately onk. It is now definitely settled
TINT William Toll did not cleavo tho apple III
twain and reserve his other arrow for tho tyrant
Qoslor, because thoro was no such man aB Will
INN Toll. Pocahontae, that dusky maidon OF
tho forest, it is shown, did not sayo tho lifo Of
Captain Jotln Smith by interposipg l,or beautiful
head before tho slplifted tomnhawk Of her venEo-
full father. On the other hand, pocahontaB waB
very ordinary young Bquaw. who earned pro-
carious living by turning Bu1nmorsaultg down
hill and, therefore, presents only rotatory
clain to the remembrance Of posterity, dubious
III etiquette, and by no means desirable as a
pattern for other young ladios Even tic groat
and good George Washington, Fathor Of his
1,otu
from him, and wo aro now loft in distressing
etato of doubt whether he might not havo hacked
oyory pear-troo in tho old gentlonlan's orchard
and lied about thom all to escape tho Washing
tonian brcli. What hope is thoro for tho verac-
ity OF tho rising generation, now that this story
must bo oxpungod from oyory sunday-achool
book What pear-troe will be anfo2 Those
iconoclas!a cannot oven lot tho great gods alono,
aud Jupiter and Juno. Mars md Morcury,
Venus aud Vulcan, and all tho rest OF
tho shining diviuiticH Of 0lympuo, arc
but now shnlowy types Of cloud, and wind,
| and rain. All beautiful legends and hrosido
Btorios. tho songs wo sing, tho games We play,
and tho proverbs with which wo mora!ize, nro al
referred to Coufuciua, Duddhu, or Bo1no other
Oriental doifiod philosopher.
Tho primary result Of this iconoclaEn is m ut
tor lack of reverence If oil tho gods are but
smoke and idlo breozes; il our heroes aro but
bubbles of the imagination, and our heroinos but
myths in petticoats, Wherein is ono man bcttor
than another? Why is not Smith as good US
Jupiter aud Mrs. Brown as lovely as Venus !?
If wo havo no standards Of measurement,
then ono mau measures as much as
nnothor, aud Smith may wrap himself
III tho mant1o Of tho Cloud-Bcaror, or stalk tho
earth in WcllingIon'a boots. Thus nll tho dead
mud gouo worthless whose brains layo boon
prcssel and driod In tho horbariums Of great
libraries represent only market value of 10
much per pound IN old paper. It was only the
otlor day that tho Tabard Iuu, whore Claucer'a
Canterbury pilgrma wero wont to assemble
where tho Jolly friars told thoir unctuous stories
md Bang thoir songs; where the merry wifo OF
Bath cut up such frolcaomo pranks, was sold
unlor tho auctioneor's hammor. Tho most
touching instance, however, OF this latter-day
lack Of royeronce ia afforded In tho rocont
ga1o OF tho household ofrects Of tho late
Josse Il. Grant, tho father Of tho President.
Tho bod upon which tho prosidont WIS born,
says tho telegraph, brought only $3.50! Whore
ia tho reyoronco Of tho great American pooplo
first reposed tho little limbs Of tho hero Of the
Wilderness aud tho President OF the United
statoal Five dollars and half for tho spo.
whore lo first droa,nol Ais youthful dreamB,
whore lo writhcd In collie mud Ind tho whooping-
cough! Five dollars and a Aalf for tho bad
whore onco roposod tho gorm Of groatuoas, whore
this full-blown flower Of war buddod In peaoo-
full uuconaconsnosa! Going, the bod Of
tho rresidout Going. tho cradle wheroiu
waa rocked tho lloro md the Btalosmanl Going
tho most whoroin l.o first chirpcd md coood
Conc, for iiyo dollars and q half Why, Smiths
bod, Jones' bed, or any ottor mans bod would
bring fiyo lollars anu half, with no aasoeia-
tIons thrown III, aua poorly"malo hodstoad,
porllaps, ut that, although 1t mover hold hero
or pllowol I'LL Olympian head.
After auoh lamo mud impotcnt conclusion III
this, thu roat follows as mattor Of course
What glt not DO expected aftoy tic Presidents
bod Ind beou knocked down for Ayo dollars mt
half2 III tho language OF Hans DreItmann
"Wlat raco! What q boep!oHl" Tho old gen
tleman's library came next under tho hammor
artl MRS sold tor tho yaluo Of waato.paper, not
wltl,standing tho faot TINT It was composed ol
valuable Tatent-Of1ico RoportBl All thoae
volumes ct thrilling adventure, exciting story
bizarre lunor, md poetic and didactio strain
sold for waBto paporl Who can replace them
now thnt the frauhing privilege is romoyod, ami