The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-23
LIFE AND DEATH.

LIFE AND DEATH.
A Geologist who Believes in the Counterpart
Of Everything that Exists.
From the Hartford Conn Times, May 81
On Saturday night Allyn hall lecture
room was we'll filled, and Prof. William
Denton, the well-known author and lee
turer on geology, spoke, without notes,
as follows:
Mrs. Hemans tells us that
"Leaves have their time to fall,
And flowers to wither in the north-wind's
breath,
And stars to set-but thou hast all,
All seasons for thine own, o Death!"
Higher than our proudest steeple scars
a California cedar; for two thousand
years it has been building its gigantic
pillar, in defiance of the rocking storms
and the lightning's stroke. A thousand
cities, that earth bore proudly on her
bosom when it was sapling, are now I'M
known. Yet there it stands in it's majes-
tic pride. But death reaps the forest Of
two thousand years with no less certainty
than it cuts down the waving grass and
the blooming flower of season.
The broad based pyramids have looked
down upon hundred generations, as
these have marched to their destiny be-
fore them. But even they feel the tooth
of Time-and mound of undistinguish-
able desert sand will lie where rest the
enduring pyramids.
But here are the cloud-kissing, the
heaven-propping, the everlasting noun
tains; yes, they too must perish; these
rivers that run down their furrowed sides
are the corps bearers carrying them down
to the ocean, whose carvcrns yawn to re-
celve them. The winds that howl
around their frosty heads are chanting
their funeral dirge.
DEATH A UNIVERSAL FACT.
Yea, the great globe ITSELF. million
centred, rock-ribbed, fiery-hearted, the
mother of myriads, she, too, must be
gathered, when her hour comes, into the
arms of the burning sun, from which she
sprang, and the heavens know her no
more; for worlds have their time to tall,
and suns to perish, and bright stars decay,
and all things the universe contains bow
before the sceptre of the all conqueror,
death. Death is written upon everything
that the universe contains; but, after all,
If is only the turning of the kaleidoscope :;
the old forms have departed, the combi-
nations have dissolved, but that which
composed them remains, enters into
new combinations, as fair to the eye,
as perfect in form, in like manner to pass
and be succeeded by others, in the etern-
procession of all things. The old cedar
falls; but out of its dust springs the
young one, more vigorous for the ashes
OF its predecessor, and waves in time it's
lordly crown as high as those who went
before it. The mountain decays; it's last
atom is born upon the seas troubled
breast; but out of the ocean depths
spring new mountains, higher and fairer.
and enriched with the spoil of the ocean
beds from which they were elevated.
Death is no curse imposed upon an other
wise immortal being, in consequence of
the sin Of the first pair. It existed for
ages before man or sin appeared upon
the planet; and it is evident that if the
purest spirit could return to earth, and be
clothed in flesh, death would claim his
body with no less certainty than that OF
the vilest criminal. Death is interwov.
en- with the very constitution of the plan.
ct, and doubtless of the universe. II
swan with the primeval nomads in the
steam waters of the early seas; it lurked
in the groves of the carboniferous swamps
it swept off the successive hosts that re.
production pushed upon the globe
through the ages; and it came to the
first man, as it had previously come to
all living and thus it comes to us.
The earth is a grand sepulchre; the sea
but wide, deep grave. Our bodies are
but the walking ashes of the departe d
lent us for a time, to be returned when
death gives us notice, by summons that
none can neglect or resist. Old worlds
reach the goal, new worlds start hourly or
the track. The matter composing oul
planet has belonged to other worlds, mil
lions of times, and shall doubtless belong
to worlds unnumbered, in; the coming
time. The water we drink has made thu
glory of many sunset and SPAWNED til.
sky IN rainbow arches; the dust beneath
our feet has been trodden, as it is nov
trodden upon, by uncounted generation
IN the past; and every drop Of the briny
sea has coursed down the cheeks of thu
children Of sorrow. There is not par
ticle of this planet that has not belonged
to worlds unnumbered, before this. Anf
this is true Of humanity There goes tn,
grand life-procession over the planet
They march over the globe in constan
succession. The old man, the youn,
maiden, and the little children, totterints
on they go, and take no backward step1
They march continuously -dropping thei
bodies as they go; bodies that have serve,
the souls purpose for a while, and thes
bodies are seized by the law of decay an
change, and by the subtle alchemy Q
death are transformed into grass an,
flowers, to feed those who are to. follow
when all those who are present have gone
Well done, old body! You have serve'
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