Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-06-27

ossay once 20 prove mat the STUDY Of
the arts and sciences has not
tended to make people happier. How
much the force Of ingenious rhetoric
contributed to this decision We not,
now, determine. We naturally infer,
however, that Dur proposition at some
point or other may not DO altogether
undebatsable. This much We admit:
There are certain conditions Of men
among whom 1t would not b safe TO
predict happiness ~ the result OF mental
culture. Indeed, the picture OF the
'natural man" is n upon which we
may dwell with pleasure. But ours is
not q state Of nature. Civilization Is
artificial. We must. therefore, to some
extent be creatures OF art ourselves. As
for the aboriginee, the poor Indian,
ITO b content his natural desire;
He ssks no angels wing NO ssrsph's Ore;
But thinks, admitted to that equal sky.
His faithful dog will bear him company"
We are not disposed to cavil with our
philosopher q regards his "forest chill
dren." communities Of the ~untutorsd
mind. They are - Axsd In their state,
though animate, a. the trees and rocks
Of their primeval homes. Such q con.
dition IL NO doubt much TO be desired
by those who in Q higher sphere Of
social existence can fnd no refuge In
themselves from that hydra.hesdsd bug
bear. the inequalities Of civilized life.
Education develops US. Out OF the
chrysolis condition II elevates rs into .
new and difficult sphere. Increase OF
knowledge. OF course, brings psrplexities
with II /; whereas we might have had no
thought but for the morrow. Enlighten.
ment itself makes our life . problem.
II would seem then that for US q restora.
ton 10 in order. II we have lost the
calm Of the aboriginal mind It must DO
restored 10 Us; 1t must DO regained by
intelligent introspsction. The possibil.
ity OF 90 happy q result is established.
In the lives OF the philosophers Of the
past a. we'll q Of the present their wis
dom is a. clearly manifested In the Sc
renity OF their minds a. in the majesty
OF their thoughts. 1t is not q p~rofusion
Of literary accomplishments that We
need. We require the scales Of blurred
vision removed from our eyes. The
limits Of our possible knowledge we
must Ax. To know what We may know
10 Rrander than all speculation.
Yet we are told that reason 10 the
grave Of enthusiasm ; II 90. enthusiasm
Is nobly buried. Give as the conditions
OF the proposition that We must all dem.
onstrats for ourselves and We will un.
dertake the demonstration |; but II any
essential condition Is withheld the dem.
onstration IL above and beyond
us. Why shock our terrestrial
brains with ETHEREAL puzzles 2 We
but mako ourselves the sport OF confu-
sion when we endsavor to and out what
we are to be hereafter. or whether, here
after, We shall be at all. Let the I'M.
movable rest with the unknown. The
planets ~personifed In story once vouch.
safed q disclosure OF the mysteries Of
our being 10 the discordant and wrang.
ling sects OF men. A sealed casket, In
which was deposited o single An.
swer to thousand perplexing
questions, was intrusted 10 the
caro- Of the Academy Of Sciences at
Paris. The wise men Of the world were
called together to receive the promised
revelation. The seal was broken In their
presence, and the oracular box was
found to contain a sheet Of blank paper !
Sarcasm, harsh. perhaps, but well.
founded. We have been taught to apol.
ogize when great minds nod ; but 1t does
seem that their nodding seasons are
often coincident with the laying down Of
their premises in such airy controver-
sizes a. these. In fact, at times, when
they most profoundly ponder they may
be surprised like the BARN OF Burns.
thinking on nothing"
But do not understand me to discour.
ago research and investigation. On tho
contrary, this is what / would urge upon
you. Be limited in your explorations
by NO barrier save the natural bounds OF
the human intelligence. Live through.
out the whole range OF your faculties
and sensibilities, for
"a little learning IL q dangerous thingi .
Drink deep, or taste not the Pisriau spring"
But first Of oil, solve the problem OF
self. Then, fortified with o conscious.
ness OF right. you will DO self.respsctful
and respected. Whether you are to
leave your footprints on the sands OF
time should cause You no solicituds.
Only live as you would cease TO live.
Garry with you the memory Of rugged
old Socrates. whose domestic life was
uuruflsd by Xanthipps's rage. whose
last words were a sublime discourse OF
consolation to his weeping friends, and
whose homely features, serensly com.
posed at the supreme moment, despite
the hsmlock Of his enemies, are i'm.
mortalizsd for Us in loneliness by the
thrice glorious halo that enshrines them
the True, the Beautiful and the Good.