New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-14
the fullest and grandest lIfe we may

contributions with the fuiiest ana gfahoes' c VIC "'
live forever.
The fall Of the leaf is the subject OF an eloquent
chapter in which the author impressively descants
on the teachings afforded by the beauties OF the de-
clininp YEAR Like the sunset of the autumnal DAY
is the sunset of the antumnal season. The many
colored woods of the annual eventde correspond 10
the many-colored clouds Of the sunset SKY. during
the whole Summer the foliage Of the trees gave oack
TO the sun that shone upon them only one nonoto-
nous expression. uniform green alone Iespohueo
IN his many cOlored alluTcmcnts. But now III ther
fading hours they brighten with the glOries tha'
were absorbed and remained latent during then
fresh green life. They changed into ms image
and break forth into new loneliness Dcheatn hi'
parting smile. The scientific explanation OIL ,ii''
curious phenomenon is woven into the aulhoi I'LL
passioned discourse without any sacrifice oil clear
ness or accuracy
What f. the cause of these beautiful and endieSsy o.
vers fled cloIius the leaves In Autumn ihc ~
date cause is the lcssencd activity ni ulclr poi, ~
of Tic sun winch DeaIcr the horizon at m9uii ~
upon it obliquey and seq sooner !, i 80 n,
served That plants bend Om the red or calohs 'ys VI
The SUMS spectrum. instead OF toward uen as ' IN
found 10 90 III rgea.th y" itc has W. en drawn that
tine effect OF these rays is 10 checK me nv
cnsss ana favor the formation aud growth OF thc bios
SONS and fruit III winch the activtyO every aai tei1
ho,r Vile IL Is the principal Of activity in
leaves II the deficiency light is compensated by an
Increase ~ heat, blossoms may De ade acti'o w. -.
total Iarkncss while the leaves will present only very
,mperfect vitality. Thus that heat fny0rs ihe
production the blossom, while It has little or u" eneo.
npon Inc leaves and Ia accordance Win tils, IL nus
been further observed that the heat rays are more pow
crul III Autumn than at any ot4eI season Wmi i,
actnc rays which stimulate getiiioh ni' 80 M. ~ The
nous rays which required for the formation on ue
tissues aud Their oducts are the
aciinsm which il then most abundant III me SUM-
beams the secretion OF carbon IN summer j. uu ~
greater preGon naite Of night and e SN eIa-o :" i
sap the rrcniIe oi tie iIl't, and the dSoooi9to oil
o leaf Autumn, may be tiacc 10 the hcr''seu po"G
OF the paiathouic inhlenee iIom Wleh tU e l Nm,
found to bend and which appears 10 pc /" i.V'il 81
the earth, well as their periodic ciab-S are Z" lo'
eut upon these cause.-the Sicaer OF les .n"ii' 20
which they grow. GvCn the proportion oi 'se dhtI'n'
principles the SUNSHINE OF different '0il'e lit ,cH
sns and il will be easy rriCt the clara, Ger o their
vegetation and he nature OF Their vc5ctdy PIT Co.
bearing these curious Influences III MIND ~ ~ cosy 10
understand why with the diminished light 81 the sl"to
days of Autumn. TIC natural stinuimt OF NtScLt u
sh:ld bo c1ilrspgudu.ly withdrawn, and the chcult-
ti"n nj the san Though lie lauiua blade OF tie lai,
cease Carbon be formed from the atinoSpleic
MT nndcr The influence o light; aud when this smu-
liant IS weakened, the vital powers ot tie leaves arc
pro- Orjionatcy diminished, ant the aHlhy WHEN my
have for oxygen with t.ttie opposition 1he gi.!
uatir.l eplccCS Of dcOXidaOu not only sios n.t T.
reversed. ONy gcn = absorbed, ana cIoh ne p4u'N
Of combustion, is given on and the oor' pay Oh .u'
carbUuac.oGs product which gives Tie sIceh Ae.lii
color to leaves, ~ slowly oAdDed ana RUSS ava! i."
tine various tnts of Autumn The Euts oi lhr loift.
become brighter rs tine process 0t ONodtloh a''r va
those 0f early Autumn bong duh AMI dark giorn' va
ing later IA the season luto ne hllSti y,I J
which make our woods lui 81 s, anu men u.rt-'
more brliant Than TIRE opn iiclua "r tho h2' ..' lo'
Ihe cOlol1us oi leaves "h" ihl'r uhi""',"f P'"'''v
from the c4Jusc viz = cessation col tc a. 'AS;'
ing process D." te eoileh'5 ID siG Sui,.l,Il ''''.
leaves lilCn ii TIE ,lt p" ~ ti''' w 49, ~ '
chemical Change when tho Ci1i"FASt ~ b5lh ui''i'
stance winch ac young unfolding ic1yes contain il
velGp -tf and which gives them thrr pccui au Mn
nal int, pass the scds'h advances AR'ihS
Only III TIE I,a.otno, winch usually t""uH"' no" me-
To la; OF a reddish nue. Eut 4 I,1ppCus ir Autumn,
wnon the chl0roply has vanished from me lci' e. "Y
cOlorcd by further oxidation, a6 10 the 4- caves t"i
have Ian long the ground We tius sec m"si litri
OF A9t"h ~" a., ~ ~, IT, .pi I11-t
obscu.c the fOIo>i ANA ic changing qn@Ates a.
eI1 nj a. lie e6t Of heaven fad. tGro ia ll
tie aos oi the spectrum, nom the DARKER acunc I'd te
bi-hitr arrhtsfi does TIC SYM athletic li pass
trr9 t,e d,f ,r,cn eorr at summer io tuusc ur Iut
0 Autumn whose hiic effect ~ lno iai"r'"!c We
all admire
The style OF Or. Macmillan presents an example II
the fcrvid oratOry which, Ia many instances, has
formed no less striking characteristic OF The scot
tish pulpit, than rs keen analysis OF docirina!
points and its love Of argument IN the r.@d terms
of logic Ills ilorid eXubrrauce of expression mas
not CRAFTY the auscre taste which delights only Ia
the simple exhibition of thought but il will not b,
found to oyoilay the illustration OF truth. or t.
present merely a fragrant garland instead Of nuiri-
tious fruit. lie il no empty dcclaimcr, aloriing he
vapid coInmonplascs OF Oratory with the gaudy
colois OF the rainbow. but a wise and earnest
teacher whose lessons are less valuable for being
clothed in q earb Of poetic beauty. As Chalmeis
electually eul ;od the science OF astronomy ia tie
service Of Christianity Dr.. Macmillan has found 0n
argument for re!i ZION in every domain 81 material
nature. His method, in some eases, IL cannot be
denied, il open to criticism. lie often presses the
power of analogy 90 Us extreme limits, and some
tines fails to separate the observation Of facts from
the suggestions of fancy. His pages, however, are
usually richly frcigbtcd with wcighty matter, the
product Of siady, research, and reflection, presenting
the primal truths of religion in an impressive form,
and revealing the poetic features OF daily lie IN the
ordinary routine OF experience and duty.
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