The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-05-07
Revelations of the microscope
From the Cincinnati COMMERCIAL

Among the many associations for intellectual
improvement and culture in this city, is one
composed of young ladies and gentlemen, who
meet once a week for the study of German lit
erature. 1t is usual for a member to read a
paper or essay on q subject in the German
language, after which the paper is duly discus
sed and criticised. The meetings are private,
Of course, but not necessarily exclusive, as in
vltations are sometimes extended to non-men-
bers. The meeting last night took place at the
residence of Mr.. Fred. Werner, where Dr.. F.
Bowling, in addition to exhibiting the circula-
ton OF blood in the foot of frog-a.l intensely
interesting and instructive sight-read paper
in German on the revelations OF the microscope,
OF which the following is a translation:
We are indebted to the persevering and labor
ious investigations of men of science for the de
velopment and calculation Of the principles
which led to the construction Of two most no
bic Instruments. which must be ranked among
the proudest triunphs OF the intellect and skill
of mar-the telescope and microscope
The numerous combinations of machinery
that stand III the workshops of art which, in
obedience to the mysterious thought Of the gov
erning mind OF man, perform their allotted
tasks 50 perfectly that they seem to be almost
gifted with intelligence, are all, at best, but in-
struments, by means OF which we subject to
use our powers and agencies long ago famil-
listf 10 us. Although ny uilGI u1GtluS we CALI
apply to new purposes and new ends the re-
sources that mankind have possessed for ages,
and bring the physical world under our com
plete control, STILL they are powerless to ex-
tend the limits of oyr knowledge, Or unfold
one page in the great history Of creation. ever
rejecting the glorious attributes of divinity.
The portion OF the universe with which we
are conversant is as large without them as with
them; they add no new regions to the field Of
worlds and eXistences, curious organizations
harmonies and forms of beauty hitherto I'M
known.
This is not the case with the telescope and
microscope; they have higher duty to filfill !;
they are rather the companions than the slaves
of their creator, mnistering to the demands of
his mind rather than to the wants Of his body.
They accompany the flight of genius in its soar
ings through the regions of Imagination, and
enable it to give, to what may appear to others
| a wild and visionary conception, a reality and
permanence, as enduring as the universe itself,
or they may take the lead, and on sudden,
dazzle the beholder with visions of such rare
magniticence and beauty that truth suEpasses
| fiction. and the fairy dreams OF the Imagination
are more than realized.
| By their means the boundaries of knowledge
are extended; but the assistance that each rem
| ders in this respect is essentially different
The telescope reveals creations that lie beyond
| our globe. the microscope those that are within
| it, although too small to be seen with the ma
ked eye The former tells us Of the nature
and motions Of the starry bodies, which in their
silent and undertaking march from century to
century never grow weary or dim, but still
| beam upon us in all their primeval radiance
and beauty, furnishing, as they do, one of the
strongest proofs Of the existence Of a superior
and all ruling power.
It tells us that there are worlds and suns,
and systems of suns. like our own, rushing with
inconceivable speed through the ilinlitable
fields Of space, the superior orbs moving in the
midst of glttering zone Of attendant worlds,
vet each advancing in fixed but invisible path,
and guided in their course by laws as immuta-
BILE as the word of Him who created them AT
every progressive step the revelations become
more amazing, and scene after scene OF mystic
rious grandeur is successfully revealed, but at
! the utmost verge of discovery we are still up
on the threshold of creation, glmpses only Of
the infinite are beheld, and far as the loftiest
mind can soar, it receives but a handbreadth Of
the splendid and imposing panorama OF the
| skies. 1t is said that when, by the mighty pow
| er of the telescope, man was f1rst enabled te
Gaze into space as with the ken Of an angel
and to recognize the orbs that glittered in the
| armament as worlds like OUR own, countless
in number, and stretching away through wi
cence Of indefinitude, infidelity advanced ones
more to the attack and argued against revela
ton, from the immensely Of creation, affirming
that man was too insignificant creature to b.
the peculiar care of Him who had filled the il
limitable regions of space with such stupen
dol1s works. Although this argument of inf
deity is entirely false, it is, nevertheless, cal
culated to exert pernicious influence on veal
and wavering minds, although, to those wht
are strong in faith the condescsnsion Of the Al
neared amazing. Comparatively little wa
known in regard to the splendor Of the uni
verse in the time of the Psalmist, yet even h
breaks forth in strains OF admiration, as III
lifts his eyes and beholds the moon and star
which illuminate the vast canopy Of the heay
ems: 'sWhen l consider Thy heavens, the worl
of Thy fingers; the moon and the stars, W y
art mindful Of hm?''
The microscope in it's revelations advances il
directly opposite direction to that OF the tele
scope; while the one dellneatos to us creation