Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-12-01

As the Wlnging weeks Ilb by, a.
though eager to merge the old veal
into the new, they bring loydilis1gls
the dear old face of the CHRONICLE
whose features are all so sweetly ia.
miiiar, which, coming samessengel
from home, is thrice welcome. My
vacant place in your kind columns,
believe me, has been attended with
regret, although appreciate the fact
that pens more nobly gifted with
golden fancies have scattered the
blankness with gems Of genius but
along with absence from home came
duties which admit the absorption
of bellies lettres, but deny radiation.
Time seems too brief, too fleeing in
which to couch the joys, labors,
schemes, smiles, griefs and aims OF
man yet all rush in in quick success
sion, bringing the head more idols
than the heart can Irvine around,
opening numberless avenues of use
fulness, and pointing out manifold
fields of labor, till it all becomes one
bewildering vista of tangled failure.
The works are as much too hume
rous as the seasons are too brief.
The city of Hopkinsville lies still,
dun and pulseless to-day under the
murmuring chill of a steady No
vember rain. The streets are for
saken, the roofs look dark and
drenched, and the church-bells that
at first feebly rang out "COme," are
now stilled in the relentless ''patter
pGtter." l wonder if there are not
weary hearts here to-day on which
the music of train on the roof falls
very soothingly? wonder if there
are not tOil-worn hands and tagging
feet which, if they could speak,
would call the day "blessed ?" 1
wonder if some sick and burdened
minister does not sigh in relief as he
sees his sermon for the day vanish
ing in "tremulous skeins of rain ?"
L can speak for myself and say I am
wonderfully pleased-pleased with
the stiffness, the murmuring mon
otony of the rain drops and memo
RVS dizzy rambleS. Retrospection
revels on such a day as this, long
trodden ways with thorns and flow
ers stretch out before the view, the
light of eyes now filled with dust,
"the touch of a vanished hand" and
the tread Of footsteps that come no
more all haunt the rainy day. The
clouds of such day cut off the fu-
ture and we live in all that is past
our faculties for once do not yield to
plans and schemes, but rather dwell
on the ones we have nicely and ten
derby fashioned in days gone, and the
debris thrown back on our
hearts.
But l will tell you something
about this place. The former
and demure picture drew
holds only for a rainy Sabbath. Usu-
ally the pulse of life and activity
thrObs fiercely over the city. The
hum of machinery, the shrill shrek
of whistles and the continued sound
of wheels are the voices of Hopkins
vile, and they speak the pleasant
news of industry and of a people
awake to the interest of the country
and eagerly executing their part of
the labor.
I have the privilege of listening
twice a Sabbath to the profoundly |
learned DIR. Keen. His discourseS
are invariably deep, interesting and
instructive. He is gifted with such !
grace of delivery, mingled with the
unmistakable charm Of dignity. !
Prof. Steinhagan (the Professor of
music at Bethel College, is organist, |
and an able one heis. Supported by !
a number of good voices, the choir
fOurishes admirably.
Bethel College, under the direc- |
ton of Prof. j. w. Rust, is a broad |
and noble field for learning. Here |
the crude may come and become !
here a corps of elegant and |
able teachers labor day by day, and |
we can boast of one of Vassar's stars
in this horizon. Here you
have your choice of the languages,
Latin, Greek and German,
taught in a thorough and efficient |
manner. Also, under the above
named Professor of music, you can |
enjoy superior advantages not sur
passed by any. Again, you can |
revel in the realm of art, taught,
guided and inspired by one of ma
lures artists. We are also being
to a series of lectures which |
are inestimable. Thirty minutes |
every morning Prof. Rust lectures
on Popular Science or Prof. Steinha-
gen on History, either ancient, mod
ern, sacred or profane. For the last |
few days we have been following
the trail of the Crusaders and on to
the fearless, chivalrous Richard Ceur |
de Leon. Intimately as l am ac-
quainted with the thoroughness, ca
pacity and extent of learning here, l
am constrained to say in despite of
local love that this school is unsur-
passed; combined with fresh, free air,
warmth, plenty and comfort.
Next Thursday will be Thanks |
giving, and l guess we'H give them
Orer a good dinner. We are to have
and the day succeeding is
set apart for a visit of the entire |
school to the Asylum, which will |
undoubtedly be very enjoyable.
We had the rare treat last Friday |
night of listening to the noble Muir
dOch. His rendition of Hamlet was |
as were indeed all ofhis read |
ings. His coming was but the pre-
Jude of a series of entertainments |