Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-08-29
Educational Column.
TEMPERATE ZONES.
J. +. LANGENBAUGH.

TEMPERATE ZONES.
The fullest and best life must be
sought in the temperate zone. Cold
and heat in excess are alike, in ehut-
ting meu up and reducing their pow
er over nature. The action Of nature
upon the hnman organization, and OF
man upon nature, constitute the bust
ness OF life. When the elements are
in such extremes of power as to limit
mems action. they diminish the force
and productiveness OF man. The
arctic region shuts one up for more
than half the year in prison OF ice
more relentless than stone and iron.
The size of the world to a Greenland
er Is the size Of bis underground
home. The tropics are to be chosen
rather. But the fierce sun debilitates
and drives men out of more than half
the hours of the day.
This restriction OF activity, howev-
er, is not so much to be deplored as
the limitation Of enjoyment through
the senses and the taste. There is, to
be sure, prodigality in nature under
the equator which. for time, sur
prises. But the eternal summer takes
away from men those alterations,
opposites and transitions which are
the occasion OF so much pleasure.
The things which we become used to
cease to have the effect which their
first presentation wrought. A tropi-
cal forest, when first scents rich
ness In vegetation, its enormous
growths. its amazing varieties-fills
the soul with wonder. But seen year
after year, one becomes used to it.
Great is great by contrast. Where
there are no contrasts, one ceases to
feel the greatness OF common things.
When one first moves into large
house from a small one, every room
seems immense. But after some
years the sense of largeness is gone.
We have accommodated ourselves to
the new measure, and are no LONGER
impressed with size. III one were to
live twenty years among the great
trees OF California, he would not be
likely to lose his enjoyment in them,
but it would be wholly different from
that which one feels at first. 1t Is
probable that other things would
seem small by their side: but the
giant trees would cease to be great,
in the sense in which they first ap-
peared to be; the size would accom-
modate itself to their measure. 1t is
change that keeps alive the sense OF
magnitude. 1t Is small things that
make things large, and large things
that make others small.
Summer would not be half so
sweet il there was nothing but sum-
mer. 1t is the winter that makes the
summer wonderful November days
extingdish all the brightness Of leaf
and flower. The earth, like an anch-
orite, is clothed in sackcloth. The
snowy days that follow robe the
earth in white, as il shrouding it for
burial. The myriad forms OF vegeta-
ton are gone. The infinite grada-
tons OF color are wiped out The
eye cools. We change the earth, the
air, the water. Nature turns her coat
inside out. The mother OF all beauty,
lavish in her abundant wealth, sits
grim and bowed, as il a stingy econo-
my had come with ld-age. For a
time We are sad. We look pitifully
after frost upon our favorite greens
and blooms, as we would go out af-
ter a battle to see who Of friends
were safe. and who lay slain or
wounded. At length came the lock
thG~ not be opened. The soil is
49, stone. We no longer look
for life. We grow used to death.
Other pleasures spring up. We are
comforted with new things. We
grow used to them. But at last we
are weary Of winter. A strange blood
seems beating in our veins. We turn
from the white snow and the gray
earth with longing discomfort. The
signs come of change In the moods
OF nature. ALI these agitations with
in US are but participation in the
changes going on in the sir. In trees,
in soil and stone. There Is universal
travail. Then come the birds-soon
after pioneering grass, and the first
flowers. Things break forth, and all
nature Is In haste. The world awakes
as a strong man from dreams. Every
day sees new wonders: every hour
has its surprise. The seDfes are moi
dull nor clogged with an sncessant
luxury. They have been upon long
fast Every flower now is a thrill
We 60 joyously into summer. and
every day is new leaf in an un-
opened book, and qualification follows
with every turn. Let others have
the equator; give me the temperate
zones.
WHAT CONSTITUTES CARLOAD.
We would say: As a general rule
10000 pounds, or 10 barrels OF salt, 7(
OF lime, 100 of flour. go Of whisky
200 sacks Of flour, cords OF hard
wood. of soft wood. Is to 20 head oil
cattle, 80 to 60 head Of hogs, 80 to loo
head OF sheep, 5000 feet Of solid
boards. 1900 feet Of siding, 13,O0C
feet Of flooring. 10000 shingles, one
half less Of hard lumber, one-quartes