The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-10-07
Che 1ntel(igeuter.
''The Melancholy Days, the Saddest of
the Years.

In lack of other more practical matter,
the "September days, have become a
subject of newspaper moralizing. When
the year began in March, this month was
so-called from its being the seventh
month. By the commencement OF the
year two months earlier, the name has
become inappropriate, as have the names
of October, the eighth month of the prim-
tive Roman year, but the tenth month
of the Julian year in our calendar; No
yember, the Roman ninth month, and
our eleventh December, the Roman
tenth month, and our twelfth. The
Saxons called September gerst Asonat, or
barley month, because they then realize
this crop, which, was an important crop
to them on account Of the -favorite bev-
erage which they brewede from it. In
Switzerland, September is still called
harvest month. On the 23rd of this
month the sun enters the constellation
Libra, and passes to the Southwark of
the equator, thus producing the autumn
nal equinox, q period often accompanied
by storms. The astronomical autumn
begins about September %, and lasts till
about December 81, but in popular lam
guage in this country, autumn comprises
the months of September, October and
November.
An American poet has spoken of the
autumn days as melancholy days, the
saddest OF the year." The majority Of
mankind will not agree with this senti-
ment. It is by no means melancholy"
to escape the melting heats and peculiar
diseases of summer. 1t is not the least
sad to be delivered from the plague of
flies, and to be able to pass the day with
out brushing them away with one hand
while at work with the other. Nor is it
at all tending to lassitude or detection of
spirits that in the nights of autumn a
man can sleep without disturbance from
heat or mosquitoes. Indeed, it is rather
exhilerating than otherwise TO see how
those insects which have been destroyers
of our peace during the summer exhibit
signs Of debility and are evidently pass.
ing into a moribund state. To flies and
mosquitoes, to wasps and beetles, the
autumn may be "the melancholy days,
the saddest of the year." but not to their
emancipated victim, man. t,i.t "a
The beginning of autumn is really the
most animated and yet peaceful season
of the whole year. There are those who
dispute whether spring or autumn is more
beautiful. Spring has the advantage of
contrast with the inertia and cold of win
ter. It is a kind of resurrection-a strik-
ing type of that which is peculiarly
known by that name. The grave of winter
gives up its dead. The naked. forest put on
green and glorious vesture. The rivers,
freed from ice, roll singing and shining
to the sea. The 1eaden skies become ra-
diant, and the birds in the woods and
gardens pour forth anthems of joy and
hope. And yet autumn, especially in
our American climate, has great attrac-
tions. It's moderated temperature, even
after summer like the last, which has
not been of extreme heat, is especially
grateful. The abundant rains of this
season have left the vegetation almost as
green as in midsummer. The skies are
clear and the atmosphere pure and brac-
ing. In the meadows and the valleys,
on the uplands and the hillsides, men are
at work to gather in the golden harvest.
There is no happier sight to look upon
among human employments than the
laborers reaping the fruits of their peace
full toll during the summer-those fruits
upon which millions of human beings
are to be fed, while the blue, vast heaven
smiles benignantly above, and the merry
voices of the harvestmen make music
below. AS has been well said: "What
grand subjects, mellowed by the setting
suns of departed centuries, do these har-'
vest fields bring before picture-loving
eye! Abraham among his reapers; ia
cob laboring to win Rachel; Joseph and
the great granaries of Egypt; Ruth stand
ing in tears among the alien corn, and
the harvest Of Palestine, amid which our
Saviour walked by the side Of His disci-
ples.'' ....-...,
The moralists have never failed to
avail themselves of autumn as a lesson
to mortals whose Summer of life is past
and whose harvest IS ended" and who
have before them only the wintry years
of old age, and "the dark river with the
sluggish tide" as Roman poet has de
scribed death beyond. 1t is suitable and
perhaps we'll to remind men by such
analogies Of their brief stay upon earth,
and how all things here are transient.
At the same time it ou ght to be right
use of the opportunities in youth and
manhood the autumn Of existence, like
that Of the year, may be made a harvest
festival of the fruits of good life, yield
ing pleasant memories and immortal
hopes. Cicero, in his noble essay on
"Old Age" has beautifully described the
serenity and calm of the closing hours of
mans mortal career, when it follows a
life wisely and temperately employed,
and in which the seeds of virtue, falling
upon good ground, have terminated and
taken root, and brought forth flowers that
will shed fragrance over even the grave,
and fruits that will endure forever
Wilmington Journak