The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-30
ssOw Are The Mighty Fallen.

An ESSAY READ BY MISS EMMA ALLARD AT
THE RECENT GRADUATING EXERCISES OF
THE SECOND COURSE AT THE NORMAL
sCrooL IN CAsTLEToN.
From the deep, dark recesses OF the
past, comes voice, which tells MS that ev-
erythng in this world is fading in its ma
ture and short in its duration.
Who can hear this voice of departed
years without having his attention arrested.
Where are the cities, kingdoms, and EN-.
whose gorgeous palaces, stately towers
and immovable walls were the admiration
and terror of all nations.
The voice of the past tells US, they are
fallen and laid waste Turn to Babylon in
the pride of her strength. See her walls
standing rs an immovable army of soldiery,
TO protect her splendor from ,he steps of
the invader. The sound of revelry is
heard within her palaces The beautiful
and brave hinge within her walls. But
turn IA few leaves Of times dusty volume,
the great is fallen
Think for moment of Greece-the era
die of heroes, the birthplace of history,
think of her former spendor, her success
in arms, her excellence in the arts, her
| mighty warriors, statesmen, poets orators,
! how the names OF Homer, Aristiles, CT
| anil host Of atbare
come to mind, She has fallen and we
think of her with mingled feelings Of won
der and sadness Look back through the
long vista of years to the widespread Ro-
man Empire. Her power extended 10
nearly every land i'll the then known world
| But we search for her in vain among the
records of the present. She lives only in
| history, Il colossal monument of decay.
Thus we might trace the rise and fail Of
many empires and nations, for every nation
has its infancy, youth, maturity and decline.
But while We notice the fall of mighty
nations we would also notice the fill OF
mighty men and we shall first notice their
tall from virtue. How true it is thu, only
in virtue we stand, that only virtue will rem
der us superior to fortune, that II We for
sake her standard the downward course j,
begun.
Historians, both ancient ana modern
have given to us sad instances o. the fl
of mighty men Great men have great
temptations, they have assembled, it may he
to great heights, up to the mountain o.
and Fastening to reach the same emnence
lose their firm footing, stumble and fall,
Such character was Francis Bacon, tn,
greatest of all philosophers, the most bril-
the ruins If the ancient system of philos
ophy, he commenced a more modern struc
ture which the labors of our race have II
terminate according to his plan. The grea
blot on Bacon's glory and the cause of hi
fall was his cowar ly servility to his supe
riors, and yet betraying all those to WHOM
self interest for the moment had attache'
him When tried for the corruptions an
abuses he had practiced ON the government
it is said ne confessed his guilt in thes
words IL do plainly see that | am guilt
of corruption and do renounce all defence.
Pope well calls him the wisest, brightest
meanest of mankind The history of Ba
Q cons tall is in substance the history OF man
0 great mans fall to-day
During the past few years our eountr
has witnessed many such falls.
think now of one who, by yielding
! the tempter in in the form of the intoXica'