Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1874-04-04

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the poets theme, who, breathing upon
him inspired paans, animated him to,
, fight for his gods and for his fairy
land. Such literature tended
strongly to cherish spirit of liberty.
among the ancients love of country
was as sacred as their religion; it was
, implanted in their bosoms so soon as
they could lisp the name offather, and
the glory which attcDed martial
achievements, and the eulogies bcstow-
ed by their poets on him who had
bravely resisted oppression, excited
them to freedom. Animated by tri-
umphant songs, by the sacred images
of their fathers. and by the delights
of their own dear native land, they
drove invasion from thciI shores.
Their literature painted in glowing
colors the value of liberty, and told
them to preserve it unimpaired.
Thvse were the days of Der glory;
and Greece, from the elevation of her
arts, Intelligence and freedom, looked
abroad on a world of barbarians.
Those days soon rolled away-the
fairies that charmed charmed no long
err; truth kindled her torch at the al
tar Of fiction, and her rays dispelled
the nymphs from their fancied posses
sions. Fancy withdrew her veil, and
her images retreated down the dark
vista where the rays of truth could
not enter. The fair plains of Greece
were no longer alive with imaginary
deities the harp that babe the warri-
or smile, and taught the maid to weep,
hung Wondering beneath the altar of
some favored deity, and the envious
ivy muflled with its verdure every
string With the fall Of ancient liter
ature, the dark curtain of ignorance
was drawn over Europe The litera-
ture of the ancients huttered long on
the horizons edge, like lights last lin
gering when the day was gone-but
it sunk, and left the world in darkness.
That night OF ignorance and supersti-
ton which for centuries enveloped
the world, came at the decline of lit
erature, and fled from the brightness
of its rising. Italy was styled the
garden of the world-the fairies that
had dwelt around the glories of clas-
sic Greece, had taken up their abode
beneath the influence of an Italian
sun. The frolic ring was again form
ed upon the verdant turf; the sportive
maiden was seen TO trip with natural
elegance through the Italian fields.
During these ages knowledge ceas-
ed to shine upon the nations, but its
beams were not quenched. 1t was
concealed from the view of men, but
had not departed from the world In
the works Of ancient genius it slept
secure as in some indestruclible
abode, and wanted but for its lodg-
ment to be examined that it might IN
veil the nations from their darkness.
The literature of the ancients became
known to modern Europe, and the
scene changed among the mountain
scenery of his native land.
Boccachio sung its former greatness
-"Dante dipped his pen in the living
springs of Helicon.' Nor was Eng
land behind in the march of genius.
Our own Chaucer UnADsked the treas
ures of the feeling mind, and the d.
vine Milton called his age onward to
intelligence, while he cherished an in
telligence, while be cherished an inspi-
ration which spread a magnifcence
passing nature before his lightest Wis
ion. Such was its effect upon mod
ern nations. The spirit of ancient lit
erature had forsaken the shores of
Greece, but she still spoke to other
lands, and intelligence responded to
her voice. The works of Homer,
Demosthcnes and Plato, though they
found no kindred in their native cline,
were welcomed by ts.aSangers, and,
like sea-shells exiled on their ocean
caves, still murmured to the music of
theY native abode.
k1zd do they utter no sound that is
heard in their birthplace? Is the
d6f song mute forever? Does it
Z even to echo to the voice of pel-
ody? No! A new epoch has come
The star of science has again appear
ed in the horizon, and the voic, of lib
erty has again burst forth from the
silence of agts. 1t dispels the fears
of the timid, and animates the courage
of the proud. Yes, thou renowned
Greece shall yet stretch forth thy
arms in lriuml b. The aged warrior
who leaves the religion of his fire.
sidc-the maiden who wipes the sa-
cred hood from a lovers brow-the
mother who binds up the wounds of
an only son, are now Fastening this
event. The finger of an overriding
Providence is directing its accomplish
ment. The glories of thy mountains,
valleys and skies, shall lie again
sung; the music of thy forest shall be
again listened to, and thy dew-breath-
ing zephyrs shall sigh no more I'M
beard. The muses. shall return to thv
fountains, and inspiration to thy hills
and rivers. Thy sons shall assume
their ancient majesty: thy daughters
the grace and dignity unknown to thy
former bards, and thou be living
Greece once more.
The farmers Of Illinois appear to
be assuming a political organization
Drenaratorv IN tho fall pamnairn Tn