New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-09

| Will Skduu tudV VIC IHaJ dsseIuplo tucAo IL
joy and gladness to celebrate the festival
of his martyrdom."
We also hear of the relics of the saints
being used as interceesors at the throne OF
God, many believing that miracles could be
and were wrought through their agency
As, however, the veil of superstition was
gradually lifted and the people became
more enlightened, reason asserted her power
over their minds and hearts. causing a change
slow but sure, so that at the present day,
while the bones of martyred saints and
their belongings are regarded with interest
and respect, yet few believe that anything
supernatural can be produced through their
| influence.
Coming down further in the course OF
years, we find that relics, in their broader
| Specification, refer quite as much to a Leaf
plucked frcm the Medici gardens at Flor.
| ence, or bit of lava from the summit OF
Vesuvius. as portions of the anatomy of
| people who, however good while living, have
| passed ages ago from this changing world.
1t may be very ennobling to witness such a
collection, but when we allow our thoughts
to wander to those establishments that
make it regular business to manufacture
relics. palming them off on credulons
public, is it any wonder that we lose faith
and look with more real interest upon ever
so insignificant remembrance from a
source in which we may place confidence,
than upon whole museums of doubtful
specimens. With many the passion to OBJ,
tain relics of places and scenes hallOwed by
historic fan.e, amounts almost to mania
A vial Of water from the river Nile is es-
teemea far more than torrents from a less
renowned stream. Indeed, if we pause a
moment, what recollections snch tangible
reminder would recall, what a train Of
thought would it suggest Moses in his
rush cradle rescued by princess Then, in
after years, his onderful miracles wrought
upon it's banks. Then, while musing upon
these, imagination pictures far different
spectacle - Cleopatra, in all the dusky
splendor of her beauty, floats upon that
same river to meet Mark Antony, en-
thralling him with her charms, and leading
d willing captive Rome's naughty triumvir.
Here, too, is a bit of rusty iron picked up
from the battlefield Of Waterloo. The
mind turns quickly back to that eventful
historical epoch which so suddenly OBJ
ecured the sun Of one mans destiny
one whose career was so brilliant as to
dazzle all Europe; whose glory rendered
but more intense the pail of gloom which
the crisis of Waterloo caused to fall upon
that proud spirit, destined to spend the
remainder OF that eventful life in exile.
Thus it is that the most trifing things con-
nected with scenes of interest are invested
with exceeding value. 1t is not always
lands, or amid the ruins OF ancient cities,
tor tokens suggestive OF pleasant memo
res. How many of us have each our own
treasure for containing mementoes OF other |
days! However careless and gay, we be- |
come guieter and more subdued after over |
looking these souvenirs. Here is a
trees of bright hair severed from head |
that has long been covered with the buds !
and blossoms which kind nature strews 0
ovingly over the lifeless forms consigned to
Ter trust. Years have passed since with
bitter anguish we saw the loved form hid
way from our sight forever, but, as we
Wind the soft curl over our fingers, tears
i'll the eyes, and we feel pang of the old
ime pain in our hearts.
Perchance we next come upon a queer
title letter, all printed out with a child's
,ainstaking exactness. Yes, we remember
/ well; twas the first attempt at letter
vriting, and with smile at the extreme
both Of style and autobiography,
is folded and replaced.
One after another we take up the contents
heir chimes, echoing and re-echoing the
asst. We turn away, but while doing SO
omething carefully rolled in tissue falls
pom the floor; something We have over
,oked; removing the paper we tind-only
ithered rose. A faint dead perfume is ex-
aled, the dry leaves rustic in our fingers,
aving little semblance to the fragrant
ossom that was plucked in that June 6
Wight SO long ago; fresh and dewy then, '
ereft of all it's pure loveliness now; only
reserved as poor Ophelia's rosemary-'for a
Since then we have learned i
at hopes as well as roses can wither, and t
slf wonder how human nature can ever !
trusting. "reminiscences of the past il
owd thick and fast as we ponder over this n
tie relic of a bygone joy. finally ending 8
: replacing the symbolical souvenir ten u
rly in the old place. We take up the Ii
read of active life again with softened p
cling in the heart, produced by an hours p
of our individual relics. Life Il
before us, and we must not be idlers in
8 vineyard. NJ. A. b.