The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-01-24


Make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land.
And the little moments little though they be,
Make the mighty ages of eternity
In the material world science resolves
everything into indivisible atoms, and in
all the history of the world the greatest
results have sprung from the smallest
beginnings. The great ocean rolling in
sublimity, or tossed with storms, is but
collection of infintessmal atoms. The
vast mountains rearing their heads to the
clouds are but grains of sand. Wherever
we turn we meet the empire of little things.
The towering oak received its first life from
an acorn, and the germs of all world move
ments have been equally Insignificant.
In the social world it is small kindnesses,
trif1ing services, that make up that subtitle
precisely by what process his like or dis
like for any individual is formed. In all
nature we are the creatures of circum-
stances, and those circumstances often of
the most trifling character. A single harsh
word or severe look may change the des-
tiny of life-upon the actions of a mo-
ment the destiny of years may depend.
What is true of individuals is equally
true of nations, sciences, arts-yes even Of
the world itself. Nations are but individ
uals aggregated and subject to the same
vicissitudes of birth, manhood, old age,
and death, and as it is little things which
decide the destiny of daily life, it is no less
little things that decide the destinies of
states, empires and religions.
According to our accepted theology it
was but little thing to taste the fruit of
the probation tree, but that taste, if Mil
ton is worthy of credence, brought death
into our world and all our VICE." AS the
result of that little thing earth has become
one vast cemetery where even in the most
neglected spots our feet press dust that
was once mortal AS the result of that
taste for six thousand years the train of
mourning friends, the open grave, genera
ton after generation marching down to
the mystic river that separates this from
another state. AS the result of that little
thing million battlefelds have changed
our fair earth into vast Golsotha, -blaz-
ing cities, ruined homes, world Of wild
owed wives and fatherless children.
Through all history we meet the vast
results of trifles. From Moses in bull
rush basket, to flock of Cabling geese
in Roman citadel or an unruly COW in a
Chicago stable. The stories of Tell and
his apple, Bruce and his ant or Smith and
Pocahontas are now in the nursery lore of
all civilized lands.
Upon the plains of Chaldea peaceful
herds spread around; it is night, an east
ern night, with all the gorgeous scenery of
an eastern cline. While the shepherds
watch their fleecy charge, their eyes are
turned to the stars that glitter above them.
To-day as the astronomer turns his glass to
the skies above and labors to solve the pro-
blems of the skies, he is only trying to
elaborate a science first studied by shep-
herds upon the Chaldean plains.
Among some of the eastern tribes APP
pears strange character, who makes it
his business to analyze the sounds he
utters; at last he produces few strange
characters. Silly-looking things no doubt
they seemed to his half-savage contempor-
aries. Caesar founded an empire. on the
ruins of liberty; Alexander swept with
4, nh fho lrio to fba
ges, while burning cities and murdered fel
low-men marked his bloody way: Napoleon
sent two millions to an untimely grave.
The blood of Waterloo and Bowdino, of
Issus and Arbela may be forgotten in the
flight Of circling ages. History may cease
to record the deeds that made those demons
great. The Patagonian may sit in mute
wonder upon the ruins of Paris and ponder
the question as to what strange race Of
mortals reared them; the pyramids may
crumble to the level of the Egyptian plain,
but "the letters Cadmus gave" will out
last them all.
In an Italian cathedral young man
watches a chandelier that has by some
means been set in motion. The pendulum
is the result, and to day as the clock ticks
on the mantel in the cottage of plodding
industry or the mansion of wealth around
the world, each stroke is reminder of
Calico and the swinging chandelier.
Though he died in prison under the curse
of the church, his name and fame will ever
be dear to every friend of science.
Some young men are walking in an
orchard; falling apple attracts the atten-
ton of one. To the others it is falling
apple, nothing more, but to one at least it
occurs to ask the reason why? What is
there in the falling apple? Have they not
been falling ever since the creation and
are they not likely to continue to fall until
the affairs of our planet wind up? But
why do they fall ? asks one. Mark the
elaboration of the principle of the attrac-
ton of gravltation as consequence. How
the same law that guided the falling apple,
"The same law that moulds the tear,
And bids it trickle from it's source,
That law preserves the world sphere,
And guides the planets in their course"
The falling apple was little thing-not so
the principle involved.
In an old Scotch kitchen a sickly look
ing boy is sitting, to all appearances idly
watching the steam as it issues from the
spout or moves the kettle lid 1t is hard to
see in that idle boy and singing kettle a
germ of the engine, the mightiest power
yet evolved by man from nature for his
assistance. The idea that was occupying
the mind of this boy, elaborated by him,
grown to manhood, gave the world the
steam engine. To-day as steam brushes
the massive rock and draws the train across
continents and under mountain ranges or
pillows the ocean wave, bringing the most
distant people into rapid communication
with each other and burying forever half
the enmities that once made nations stran-
gers, each pulsation is but sequence of
the idea that occupied the mind of the
dreaming Watt, in the old Scotch kitchen.