Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-06-12
Silent Cities.


are slumbering, which las re-
corded in the history Of the past,
were once most famous and dis
tinguished. Rome in its pal
miest days was unparalleled in
wealth and power. Upon its
splendid architecture 4 rested
grandeur and magnificence.-
Within its beautiful localities
poets, statesmen andphilosophers
made their haunts, sand in tits
hostile wars numerous victories
were achieved by distinguished
heroes. Enriched by the spoils
of many nations, an unbo1nded
luxury was soon produced which
gradually corrupted the morals
of the people, and the success
sive reign of wicked rulers fin
ally paved the way for its sdes-
truction. Where once stood
majestic Rome now a dreary des-
olation prevails. Half buried
arches mark the places where
splendid structures were once
located. The palace STo Of. 1.-THE
Caesars is a cultivated field, q
The Forum and Coliseum are.
in crumbling ruins The for
mer greatness and glory Of this
once imperial city has become
silent. ,yaqoau ~ t.ss .lasrslr.g
Herculaneum and Pompeii,
large and splendid cities, were
deeply buried by remarkable
eruption of Mount Vesuyius.
Various relics have been OBJ
tanned from beneath the volca-
mic tufa which covered them
Wealth and refinement are in
dicated by many of these beau
tiful and elegant fragments,
while by others there isshQwn a
low state of morals among the
people, and probably for their
great wickedness the Most High
in His providence overthrow
them. 'liTlp53rz p SYfsls
Thebes, the greatest and most
magnificent city in Egypt, and
the mighty pyramids, lone mon
uments of ages past, teach most
impressive lessons how that en-
pires in their pomp and pride
have fallen, and nations in their
crime and wrong have passed
away. eL'ao. eli a5 mhI. osls1j .o
Sodom and Gomorrah, the
cities of the plain, thronged
with the busy and tumultuous
life of a gay population, once
shone in rich splendor. The
inhabitants, however, became
excessively wicked, and while
in the midst Ofrtheir guilt and
exceeding wickednessthey were
destroyed. Beauty and grand
eur were turned to ashes, over
which a solemn desolation now
reigns, while near by the dreary
Dead Sea silently moves its
lifeless waters. 20 laf E.'ss.sa lin
Jerusalem, sacred and beauti-
ful, was the most beloved city
of Palestine, and around no
other city do such thrilling and
hallowed associates cluster
No other spot was so honored
of Heaven. mo scenes so gloT
rious and wondrous were else
where witnessed. Here the Sa-
viour loved to linger and fire.
quently upon the saeredmounts,
He gathered togetherthe people
andspoke to them words Of hea-
venly- power and p wisdom. He He
warned them of the wickedness
that was rapidly increasing,
even in this city so sacred, and
besQught them to forsake their
sins, but they would not, Up
on the Mount of Olives, He
foretOld the destruction which
was finally sent upon them as a
punishment for their wicked
ness. Of this beautiful and be-
loved city there remains at pres
ent only a silent scene of ruins,
a sublime solitude.
Replete with wonderful in
terest are these silent cities.A
Deeply they impress the mind
that whatsoever is tarnished with
evil cannot prosper, but must
be brought to ruin., Gradually
we retrace the fall of each one
to itsvery beginning, and we find
that sin was the first and only
cause of their becoming silent.
Both seeu and acknowledged, as
well as. unseen and unknown, it
preyed upon them until the life