Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-12-19

ttreiY V8uiSAGd. Dut the same SUI
which then ghona Oh the e,nhlazoned
srn2cr ot the gallant Knight, now sheds
, its i'iStr,us heams on scene,
though stripped of the carnage which
then delighted the eyes of .ho vulgal
and fanat:cai multitude, yet is as grand
AID s,lbI.ue III the circumstance
Which sur ound it. But chiyalry does
hot alone CONSIST III the martial prowoss
Of & single Knight. lis spirit Has
evinced, and ios influence felt, long ere
Knight rested his lance in defence OF
personal honor, or in the acquisition Of
personal glory. LacedaGon. as a M
ton, sleeps in the bosom Of the past.
Athens, with ;.,3 monuments and
scuiptured coinrans. has crumbled into
dust, and Rome t2day but marks the
spot where dynastics rose and fell, and
an empire stretched out its conquering
arms to reduce a kingdoms to its
sway. 1t stands mausoleum of it's
former greatness. Bat where are the
Spartan heroes who faced the embat-
tied hosts of the proud Persian mon
arch, and fell in the memorable pass of
Thermopyl;o in obedience to their
country laws? Where the heroes of
Marathon and Of Leuctra? Where
the une1ampled chivalry and valor of
Hcratius, the victorious survivor OF
the three fearless champions Of Roman
supremacy? and if we pass down the
corridors of time, and read, with sym
pathetic tear, the hapless fate OF the
Shamrock isle, we find that she fur
nishes u5 with an example Of chivalric
intrepidity in Emmett who. with peer
less zeal and devotion, defended the
honor IF his country, and died, with
her name sti quiyering on his lips, the
boldly avowed champion of her liber-
ties. But woman deserves her need
lose its charm, il it recorded not her
would long since have lost its silver
lining, # not illumined by her
gentle smiles. Man would have been
without q hope, without ambition, If
not cheered by the tender impulses Of
her heart. s.'eaking through the music
of her voice. The example Of De
mcnats. the Spartan mother, who
buried her eight Sons III one common
tomb, and shouted Victory, Sparta.
l bore them but to die for tllee," sends
p thrill to every human heart ] could
refer you to q touching Instance of
chivaIric fidelity and self-eacrifcing
devotion il the pathetic story Of
Roadicea, the beautiful qnecn OF thc
Iceu:, who. rather than fall q prey to
her coUntry's enemies. and witness the
degradation Of her honor. placed the
poisoned chai;ce TO her lips, and
threw h rselE into TIC more grateful
arms CT dcach.
The beautiful Queen of the SEQ.
as she barred her a!abaster neck to re-
c2ive the executionei 5 a--c, ami placed
her fearless eye upon the grim yisage
of death, then darkling Oh lis edge.
cXcl.es the highest admiration, ~ wei!
as the tenderest sympathies Of the hu-
country's escutcht on, but her name IS
cuthroned in the hearts of her people
a. pare and rs spotiess sa lie driven
snow.
Bat il Is II c:ess 10 turn - t,a pages
of history to multiply such examples.
Does not your memory furnish YOU
attempt 10 iEcllcaia?
The spirit Of Communism which has
biackenel ana disgraced this advanced
age Of civilization Gas laid iii ruins ths
gorgeous palaces Of the Queen City OF
t:Tcsidos Of the nohlest French peas
antrE, and scnt sorrow and distress
Throughout torn and bleeding land;
Vet. rotwith -5anding these, the dark
est deeds Of political frenzy and fanat-
icims, tho world stands III theprofOund
cst admiration at that great exhibi-
ton Of answering fileity aud chiv-
alric courage, when that heart, which
L ~,
his country's honor ceased to beat. AID
Ro-- eli fell 81 the stake . iifolcs5 form
of cay even dying the iguominioug
death oi !" condeInncd traitor.
/ ,ua-J nov turn to those scenas
which were at the same tine the moth
II and offspring Cf cliva!v. 10 these
days, when The martial hosts of
Europe were gathered together l,v tie
marched Gu their pilgrimage to Palcs-
tine, 20 relctic fren, descrat;o2 the -ni'
Of the r Saviour. II was from this prnji
&c source that Sc.tt drew inspiration,
VIXEN lie gave 10 tho world his inlptr-
ishabio production OF JvanLoc, iii
which he portrays IL coloIs Of living
beauty, the degraded condition of tho
prosecuted, but a~ariciaus 'Jow: tbs
stately dignity, Iuhirching fortitlid",
and unconscious beauty- ot the hapic,s
Jewish maid; tie noble bearing. fear
less courage. and lGftr deeds Of the
valiant knight; tl.o scrvile and shame
less sycorl,i4.Icz 4 the royal John;
and IN ono i.a.Inosiious whole, blends
the Glories OF tha. renowned institu-
ton, which checked tMe pyetentions.
and curbed the tyraoniCs u the
Feudal Baron. 4 there no lesson
taught By the frequent pilerimaqaa OF
our remote ancestors to the Holy City
Of Jerusalem? United IS they were
bD the tios Of p common cause, coul-
mon fate, n common rolig on, with a
ch. valric arjlor, which even the most
decimating famine could not ai2ate,
they advanced steadily - lie gates Of
the Great City, It's mighty walls yield
ed to their resietiess force and an
daunted will. ald the few survivors Of
that gallant band, singing anthems OF
praise TO the God Who gave them vic
tory, though bearing nloft that holy
lanca which tie blindness 0i
superstition hal ccnsccrated 10
the service of God a:,,! t.eir
holy mission, and which with
impiols idolatrv they worsliippod as
the supreme ca:.se Of their deiivcranca.
They ascendcd with slGw ana solemn
step the Holy Noun o: Calvary, and
with heart s5abdued, ard eyes sutfslacd
with tears of Joy ard pez1itenca, kissed
the tomb ofthe R>dcc.1erG!fic H'or!a
That same spirit which prompted
this holy mission. kind!od the fame
uiIit:i. laelped ii:2 nations Of Europe
from shore tn shore, swept AVA Ike a
simeon ovacy yeatiga i tyra2ay and
despoti~n, loosensd the shaclS!c:s Of
tie oppressed ycomanry O. England,
wrenohed from The unwilling hands Of
the dcspoti.; John, the Great Char;ary
of J2nglish HE,ert es, and shaped the
destinies OF the Social. The 2Ioral, and
Political World.
Let not that spirit oily orr forefa:hers
ianguish IL your bosoms, b 1t ani.
mated by their noble example, protect
from desccrating touch any trust that
may be committed to yonr keeping.
Watch the liberties CT your country
with a vie:lant eye, and be quick TO
rcpel their Invasion. Watch those al.