The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-02-06

| ceited cynic to converted fisherman O.
Galilee. Luther might not have admired
Michael Angelo, and Bosseut might not have
| sympathized with Calvin, since they belong
ed to different circles and were exposed tc
| different influences. 1t was the son Of {
King whom David cherished with love
jsurpassing the love of women. 1t was tc
Plato that Socrates communicated his mora
wisdom. 1t was with cultivation that Au-
gustine surrounded himself in the garden Of
Como. Caesar walked with Antony and
Cass ius with Brutus. We associate Aspasis
| with Pericles, Cardinal de Retz with the
Duchess de Longueville, and d.. johnson
with Hannah Moore. Genius, Ikea magnet
draws congenial natures to itself. The ri
valries which ALLEVIATE are not so destructive
as the grossness which repels. Had not Mrs
Thrale been woman of intellect, the hos.
pitalities she extended to johnson would
have been as irksome as the dinners given
to Robert Hall his plebeau parishioners.
Paula was to Jerome what Arrabella John.
son was to John Winthrop, because theil
tastes, their habits, their associations, and
their studies were the same-equals in rank,
in culture, and perhaps in intellect.
But these thinge were not the basis of the
friendship. The fountain and life OF it was
that love which radiated from the Cross
Without this for foundation it might have
been transient-subject to caprice and cir
cumstance, like the gay intercourse between
the wits who assemb led at the Hotel de
Rambouillet, or the sentime ntal aftinities
which bind together young men in college
or young ladies at school, where their VOWS
Of undying attachment are soon forgotten
in the struggles and changes Of life. Cir
cumstances led to these frie ndships and cir
cumstances dissolved them, like the merry
meetings OF Prince Hal and Falstaf-like
the companionship of ennuied travellers on
the heights Of Rhigi or the galleries of Flor
ence. The bond which binds together the
selfish and the worldly is a rope of sand
But the impressive earnestness which over
powers the mind when exalted themes are
aiscoursed about binds them together with
a force OF sympathy which cannot be pro-
duced by the sublimity Of a mountain or the
beauty of a picture. So there must be some
common object in education, or phi.anthro-
py, or religion, which has an equal inter-
est to congenial friends, which binds them
together, or else their friendship would wear
out. This was prominently the case with
Jerome and Paula. That object was monastic
life, the extension Of which was the dar-
ling scheme Of the Church, and the great
idea among religious people, arising from
fierce protest against the vices of society and
radiant with celestial glories. There only
its good side appeared. The bad side was
subsequently developed. 1t had great fas-
cination to such men as Basil, Chrysostom,
and Augustine. Its ideal was lofty. 1t was
the aim of the Church to reach the loftiest
heights of religious contemplation. Its vow
of poverty was rebuke to the universal
passion OF money its vow of chastity was
the resolution to escape from the degrading
sensuality which was one of the great evils
of the time; and the vow of obedience was
recognition OF authority amid social and
political dsinte grafton.
For this exalted life both Jerome and
Paula pante he that he might be more
free to pursue his studies, size to stimulate
his labors and set proud example of the
happiness to be enjoyed, even amid barren
rocks, for, at Rome, the Saint was worried
and interrupted, and Paula was utterly dis
gusted with the selfishness of society. So,
after spending a-year in travel with a distin
,guished circle Of friends, Jerome settled in
Bethlehem, where Paula afterward joined
him, digging out for him cell in the solid
rock. There the happiest days OF both were
spent, without provoking scandal or causing
rude suspicion-so holy is character There
the great works of Jerome were chiefly
written. There, too, did the wealthiest wo-
man of the age dispense magnificent chari-
ties, so that when she died the whole land
mourned for her, and she was buried with
distinguished honors.
The lecture closed with a peroration on
the true mission and dignity OF woman
She made great stride when she proved
herself capable of a pure and lofty friend
ship. She will make a still greater one
when cynical world shall understand that
it is not for the qualification of paftry vani-
ty that she extends her hand OF generous
courtesy to man, but that he may be aided
by the strength she gives in weakness, en- :
couraged by the smilessi bestows in SYM
pathy, and enlightened by the wisdom she
has gained by Inspiration.