Richland beacon., 1874-04-11
"The Classic Page of History

Although History is mostly the
catalogue Of crime and human misery
vet the advantages to he derived
from its pursuit and attainment, are
numerous and Interesting. To trace
the rising government, from It's first
commencement. till its arrival at the
pinnacle Of earthly grcatncss-to Oh
serve tie CAUSES which led it to SUI
pcrior;iv and prc-eminencc above the
surrounding najjons--to watch its
drc..uc from this meridian height, and
finally to scr il link into wretchcdncss
and !e-p,,;~m, are certainly objects
well WORTHY the attention Of tt" man
Of literature, and he female Of learn
ing.
History opens to u a review Of
times past; Of ac;icus long stree per-
formed Of deeds, cntcrprising and
dangerous; ofpursuits, honorable and
holy: OF heroes. who fought for their
country: Of spirits, that bed in her
sacred cause. 1t tells Us Of wars ant
battles: Of the destruction Of thous-
ani-: Of the rejoicing Of few /; the
wickcdncss Of the human heart is de-
Iineated; the vices Of tyrants are
portrayed and the virtues Of prince,
are cAtollcd. 1t stimulates the war
riGr to return to scenes Of danger it
arDuscs his soul to decd; Of yalJr and
glory. 1t makes the coward blush
with shame the traitor mourns his
disgrace anl iEnominy 1t awakcns
IN Tie peaceful mind, reflections pain
full and distFe ing; mcdtations that
make hi, hear; bleed for he suffering
Of humanity. To the serious, il bring,
home the knowledge Of he fla;l;y Of
man, and the weakness of III, designs;
since after al he has done, where is
now tie hero and the lawyer, tie
statesman and the politician.
Whist is more Interesting study
than biography? Yet history COM
bines biography, and whilst it pre-
serves variety, and saves the mind
from monotony and WEAKNESS, also
instructs us in the character Of man,
his disposition and nature. We f,llow
the rising genius Of youth, as he adj
vances on to fame and glory; We see
him in the houroGAapgcr, and observe
his :earlessness and intrepidiiy; we
trace him through the active scenes
of life, and behold his greatness and
elevation; We notice his magnanimity
and heroism; and see him crowned
with homer and rnnown.
We read Of the philosopher and the
the heroine and the man
of letters. History records them all
and while We cannot but acknowledge |
it useful and entertaining, We must !
also agree in believing, that it accus-
toms the mind to view with disgust
scenes Of vice and infamy, of blood
shed and misery ; scenes dark enough I.
to make the heart shudder for the /
disgrace of the MODEST work Of cIea-
ton. But to make us detcst vice, it !
is necessary TO paint her in the most /
Odious forms. Then the tender mind
'ecoils from its contamination, and the /
susceptible retains impressions of its
Dlackness and guilt.
This, perhaps, is one Of the most
advantageous lights in which we can
place an acquaintance with the actions
Of oldcn times. For it shows us in
strong and emphatic instances, that
he wicked shall not go unpublished,
nor the unrighteous man perish forev-
n in bis ways" We see that the
inal close of the unjust, is horror and
darkness of mind that the end Of the
sinful is marked with d;smav and
distress; and thus seeing, We are
against falling into the
same vices that insensibly led them
astray from the paths Of peace and
virtue.
Yet amid this detail Of vice. we
frequently meet with characters, truly
'xalting to the dignity of man; these
ielight us by their lore of Justice
These call forth pancgyrics, as worthy
Is they are disinterestcd. and these
present human nature in one Of her
most noble and dignifed represen-
atoms.