The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-06-17
Tho Age Of Use.
From tho Austin Statesman :.

sa0 Vy0 VI OS0.
From the Austin Statesman ..'1
Philosophers in ancient times
were in the habit of Classifying
preceding epochs under the names
Of the golden age, the silver age,
and the ages Of copper, bronze
and iron. Such q man would have
no hesitation in describing the
present time as the age of use.
To all men and things the uniyer.
sal test s'cui bono0 is applied.
Never was there a century so
utilitarian. Every thought tends
to embodiment. Use is the soyer.
eign of the world, and utility it's
week day gospel. Instead of
prophet and seer, as of old, we
now have simply 'sprofit and loss. .
The question what shall we do to
be saved" gives place to that more
modern one, s'how does it paw
Men inquire after Heaven with
the view of minting its golden
streets into eagles !; and joint
stock companies could readily be
formed to buy from Satan his
"lake burning with fire and brim-
stone" in order to furnish CON-
merce with an excellent quality Of
sulpher at a low price.
In short, the Anglo Saxon wants
his investments to pay, and would,
IT he could, turn the inward emo
tions of his soul into merchandise,
and make the Promethean fire
drive his machinery and cook his
dinner. Once we read Of .'publi.
cans aud sinners; J" now, instead,
ssRepublicans aad Democrats"
The Athenians of old whorshiped
the unknown God,o but the pedi.
gree of the God Of the nineteenth
century is well known; it can be
traced to the furnace of Aaron.
The doctrine of use is working
into the vi ais OF the church ; into
the State into the family; into
the home. No department can
shut itself against the onward
march OF this principle, which de-
mands Of everything to be abso-
lutely practical, and wants moth
ing which sdon't pay.n
But although it is true that the
unitarian tendency of the age
holds in check for the present the
growth of the higher nature, and
degrades many Of our best im-
pulses and finest instincts, vet
this effect is but temporary. 1t
gives US no cause for discour-
agement. The genius and econ.
omy will lead the age to outgrow
it's discords, and errors. 1t will
help to destroy all fictions. The
doctrine of "profit and lossn will
eventually put each thing in
church aud State, man and society,
to the best of use !; and thousands
OF absnrdities will be, abandoned
because they don't pay. /, The ape
is learning, as never before, to use
it's tools, by which nature and
society are to be ssnbdued and
brought into harmony with the
Requirements of man. The head is
working to save, the hands; and
both to save the heart. Shafts of
light are being let down upon
human facilities. In every step
of progress, in each achievement
OF the century, we see foreshad-
owings Of developments higher
and better. The utilitarian ten.
dency is full Of announcement
aud rich with promise to the
American people. The eventual
result viii be = vast and universal
Improvement in the physical cir
cnmstances of man, giving him
the leisure need for mental aud
moral growth.
Now sawmiils CRATE in every forest nook,
NOW spindles hum beside each mountain
brook
through virgin forests locomotives wall.
And Prairie flowers are crushed beneath the
rail;
Where ocean rolled, sos traekleus shoe and
The age Of prose stalks forth and maps the
And thu awift Erh <r:-- ,A.,