Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-11-26

| to witness what others had pictured,
| that tried to make the balloon descend.
To nv chagrin, in a moment realized
| that my position was permanent, instead
of moving through the air as balloons
| do. Being so badly deceived l felt like
departing, when it was announced that
a storm would be represented as passing
| over the city. How human mechanism
could devise such thing could not
| imagine. We have all seen storms.-
There is terror, fear, associated with,
and delight, after their departure. In a
short while after the notice you could
hear distant rumbling of thunder, fol-
lowed by rapid flashes of lightning, ac-
companied by whistling winds and tor
rents of rain. l was frightened at the
thunder, feared lest the city would suf-
fer from the terrible storm, for the
lights were almost extinguished. The
storm soon passed off, all was clear as c
spring morning, and not zephyr SEEM
ed to disturb the smallest thing. This
was pleasing and delightful to me. How
long l had been occupied, know not,
Undoubtedly the approximate perfec-
ton of modern ingenuity had led me
away to revel in the pleasant dreams of
Utopia. Experience dictated to me to be
more considerate, and look upon things
more useful. No person could occupy
my position and be Indifferent to the
variety of recollectiOns that this assOcia-
ton produced. For a moment my
thoughts reverted to ancient Babylon,
remember how magnificent, historians,
say it appeared, glittering in the golden
beams of the sun. How invigorating
were the sweet odors borne from the fes-
toOns of those hanging gardens. Then
| had read of the gorgeous palace of
Nero, had pictured the wonderful home
Of Aladdin; but none equalled the pic
ture presented to my vision. A single
glance could take in the Frenchman's
pride, the Englishman's envy, and the
admiration of the world. While this
city is looked upon as the center of re-
finement and culture, we find that the
moth of immortality, and the vampire
of luxury have established a home
amongst a circle of faithful followers
The fickleness once surrounding this
people has been banished to certain
extent by noble virtues in these latter
days. Politics, art, literature and sci
ence have come to the front, the ac-
knOwledged principles of advancing
civilization. Poetry, music and sculp-
ture now delight the aesthetical facul-
ulties and please the taste. We see here
granite structures of renowned archi-
lecture rise in silent grandeur, associat-
ting the excellent skill of the workman
with the deeds of which they are living
memorials. Where once the wild beast
roamed and the boughs Bonded to the
night breeze, we now see the results of
enterprise and the achievements of ener-
gy. Where once the silvan green de-
lighted the rude, uncultivated man, now
stands the legislative hall and senate
chamber. Mighty mutations have pass
ed over the swine clad hills and slopes
of this great. empire. A few decades
since, corruption was ruler in this fair
land, but this evil has departed. The
thought occurred to me that the tyrant's
arm had been arrested, that the despot
had ceased to disregard the rights of his
neighbor. Anarchy is not, but the bless
ings of peace are. The death knell of
monarchs was sounded long since and
the good tidings borne away on the lips
of Aeolus. The autocrat and peasant
now secure protection from the tribunal
of reason and justice. These advance
ments prove the fact that the aegis eye
of liberty has gone forth to emancipate
the slave and serf, to SOW the seeds of
freedom and place woman on higher
plain. Millions at the present gather
around the religious altar as token of
their love and respect to the Maker who
changed the tide that was drifting them
to ruin. The Edict of Nantes is free to
all. Where once the infidel proclaimed
his fanatical creed, christianity has full
sway. The despised, rejected Bible is
now welcomed where Calvin first ar
IDENTIFY advocated the profound truths of
the gospel. Go, ask the genius of the
French illuminate, the terrible results
of mob law, its criminal atrocities
You can see that the noon day dreams of
VOltaire, with the high spun theories of
Mirabeau will sleep in the long night of
oblivion, supplanted by the fruitful in
spiration of christianity. These steps in
right establish the high grade of French
civilization.
While musing on the present great
ness of France, my eye fell upon the
royal library and the academy of learn
ing" Who then could deny her con-
tribution to scientific investigation, and
to education and impetus to the arts p
In orators she claims no mean position
among the nations of the earth. In
martial achievements she ranks high
Here it was the banner of the imperiled
city was unfolded as an emblem of Ro
man Supremacy. Here the victorious
Caesar led his legions to conquer the dis
tant Dover. But he with the proud
mistress of the world yielded to the tide
of mutations. A city more beautiful,
a conqueror more illustIious, have risen
to meet similar destiny, but not with
out his shaking the crowns of Europe
Paris was founded by Clovis, the first
christian king. Little did he think he
was laying the foundation of city that
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