The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-19

nevcr have shown in the glare and gilt.
tor Of worldly prosperity, but whose
brightness would have lain concealed in
tho dark rccesses of the human soul
Adversely has furnished TO tho world
her brightest stars, her most brilliant
ornaments and her noblest sons. A re-
marksble illustration of this is shown in
ono of tho brightest IN tho Gsecian con
stcllation, -SOcrates,-a son Of poor and
ignorant parents, obliged to secure q
sustensnce by the labor of his OWL
hands, and destined to struggle through
lite with opposing influences, became
| by his own exertiOns, ono OF the great
ost men the world has produced, and The
greatest philosopher of his age. 1t Wa.
during one of tho darkest nights in ths
history Of tho world, that star of tht
first magnitude was brought out-Mar
tin Luther. Tho land was envelOped ia
darkness, and tho spirit of chivalry had
left. POpery was in the lowest dopths
of corruption, and debauchery was sole
monarch of tho clergy at Rome, when
Luther appeared. Light broke upon
the darkness of ngcs. lie rekindled the
torch Of gospel liberty which noc blazes
in the meridian Gun. He struck the
blow that felied the stately temple OF
Paplstry, and built nnew the bright
structure OF christianity; and he emerged
from tho cottage of u poor miner. The
talents Of many lie concealed till some
great emergency pushes them into life
and vigorous action. Thus it was with
that one who has been styled the 'fOr-
eat. born Demosthenes' - Patrick Henry.
1t was not until Great Britain stepped
beyond her limits in passing the "Stamp
Act" that he arose to the zenith of his
glory. ltwas the same oppression that
aroused the slumberiDg spirits of the
heroes of the Rebellion, which 10y the
aid OF the Supreme Being gained vic
tory and distinction to American arms,
and which even caused England to fear
and tremble for her honor. The genius
and true greatness of Franklin might
have slept in eternal night, had he been
raised in wealth and titled distinction.
Thus it is with many of tho bright stars
which compose the constellation Of
American greatness. When all seemed
dark, and the "nation's honor" was
bound in slavery, tho sacrifice of mil
lions of heroes lOosed the shackle from
tho bOndman, and brought to light tho
grand and glorious greatness of our
Lincoln. But turn to the pOetical world.
1t has been truly said that tho mlsfor-
tunes of poets, havo boon our good for
tune; and their poverty has been greatly
productive OF our intellectual wealth.
The darker tho night, the brighter thoy
shine. Dante breathed forth sOme of
bis sweetest strains under the stroke of
persecution and affection. So it was
with the brightest star in sacred poetry
1t was this that led Shake
speare to oxclaim;
Sweet are the Uses OF adversely,
Which, like = toad ugly and venomOus,
Wears yet precious jewel in her head.
Goldsmith sent some Of his best prOduc-
tons from garnet, and the greatest of
books (except the Bible) came from o
dungeon. Homer and Milton, in their
charmed tho world with their
light. There arc stars which will always
shine in tho world of science and art.
So it is with tho light of many others.
1t hes concealed whilo prosperity shines
but when adversely throws her
dark mantle over tho earth, we see them
coming out, ono by ono, till thoir light
fills the earth with Joy and pleasure.
Lotus DO a. those heavenly lights above
rs. When tho sky of human affairs is
lot us DO IN our places, always
shining; and when calamities and mis-
fortunes cover the land, lot US shine still
brighter, not for ourselves alone, but
for others who arc IN darkness around
US. Let US take tho stars for our guide,
not as those whose light is to DO seen
only by powerful telescopes, but as those |
whose brightness shall vic with an un.
clOuded sun. There Is ono star which |
will direct our course whom all others |
arc blOttcd out of existence. 1t will
light up tho gloom of this life, and its
rays will d,spel tho night of sorrow, and
t will guide Us to the pure light Of hea-
yen. A single star is rising in tho cast,
md from afar sheds most tumultuOus
ustre. Silent night doth wear it like q
Dwell on her brow. But SEQ! 1t motions
With its lovely light. onward aud on
ward, through those depths of blue, to
Is appointed course, steadtast and true.
t is tho star Of Bethlehem.
-" MORM PROGRESS" by
RossEAU A. EURCH.
Not many generations ago, circumhav-
CATION Of the globe WAS looked upon as
miraculous wonder, and the rediscov.
ry OF - forgotten continent was the dis
overy Of n new world. Little more
han Il half century ago. within the lin
Ia Of our happy country, hard fought
attic ragged with fearful carnage two
ong weeks after the treaty Ut peace had
cen signed and also several naval en-
agements, one OF which was rs late as
hree months after the peace had been
All that wanton destruction Of
and ieariu: lose of lie, " as
'hOlly consequent upon the sl9w pro-
ess OF transmitting news. How rapid
as been the change, The whole world
re now our near neighbors, and the
hoering news Of peace can be CON-
,unicatcd and received by the most dis
mt civilized nations of the earth with
ghtning speed. We live in an age of
rental excitement characterized BY the
lpid march of intellect. Such q mar
elous and universal interchange OF ideas