Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-03-07

The Uenaissance.
How many young folk-or old folk either
for that matter when they meet with the
word Renaissance in their reading know ex-
actly what it means {? They have vague idea
probably, that it refers to something "artis-
tic or "old timo-y"; perhaps even the pretty
hoad-dress of Anne Boleyn, or Michael An
gelo's battered face, rises dmly before them
or perhaps some queer high-b backed piece OF
furniture but That is about all that they real
ly know about it, Is it not SO
The Renaissance is Il term generally applied
to the period Of time embraced in the latter
part Of the fifteenth century, and the first
quarter Of the sixteenth or, TO be quite def
mite, from the fall of the Greek or Byzantine
empire in 1853 to the sacking of Rome in
1927. But it may, with proprety, be made
to apply to the time extending from the be
ginning Of the fourteenth century TO the mid
die of the sixteenth The word Renaissance"
means a new birth. Another form of the
word, "Renascence," lately used by some
English WRITER'S show more clearly its Latin
origin.
During the long night of the Middle Ages
ignorance and superstition had lain like an
iron weight upon the human mind but now
some mighty forces seemed to be at work
and there was a great awakening in every di-
rection
Gunpowdcr, which came into use about the
middle Of the fourteenth century, caused
great change in the art of carrying on war,
and put an end forever to the feudal system,
which was one distinguishing characteristic Of
the Middle Ages
Then there was the invention of the com
pass in 1902 by Flavio Gioia, a native Of
Amaf, village near Naples. BY this it was
made possible for sailors to venture further
out to sea, and it eventually led to the discov-
cries in America and the East Indies. The
account oftheso brilliant achievements reads al
most like a page from fairy-tale
The Portuguese were the foremost in all
the grand maritime enterprises OF the latter
part Of the fifteenth century. They discover
ed the Madeira Islands the Azores, the Cape
Verd Islands, and points on the western coast
of Africa. 1t was in the service Of the Portu-
guese king that the brave Bartholomew Dias
discovered the southern point of Africa and
afterward, in 49,, that Nasco d Cana first
rounded this cape, which proved, indeed, to
be one of Good Hope, for it was from here
that he sailed TO discover the eastern sea-
route to that land Of silks and spices, of gold
and diamonds the East Indies.
You all know that these bold exploits of the
Portuguese navigators fired the heart of Co
lumbus with daring to set sail on an unknown
sea in order to find a westward passage to the
Indies. But his story is so well known to
you all that need make no more than this
passing alluson to him.
Not only were there great discoveries made
on this lower world Of ours, but more marvel
GUS revelations still were made in the realm
above US. II had long been believed that
this little round o the earth" was the center
Of all created things but Copernicus proved
a short time before his death, in 1913, that
the sun was the center Of the solar system.
He was aided in his studies by the descrip-
tion of the telescope. which Roger Bacon had
written in 1850 1t is supposed that some of
these inventions were known at much earlier
date in Asia. The telescope and gunpowder
Were known to the Arabians, and from them
no doubt, had Friar Bacon derived his knowl-
edge. 1t is certain, too, that the compass in
some rude shape was known TO the Chinese
in very early times. They attributed the in
vention to Hong-t, grandson of Noah, 1115
b. c.
But still we have to speak of the most Won
derful invention which, more than any other,
helped on the progress of the Renaissance, -
the noble art OF printing The Dutch claim
it for their couutryman, Laurence Roster of
HARLEM, while it is generally agreed that
Gutenberg of Mayence rightfully divides it
with his associates, Faust and SchaetT-r 1t
was the last named who brought metal types
After the fall of the Greek empire in 1853
numbers of Greek scholars left their homes in
the imperial city Of Constantine, where the
barbarous Turks had established themselves
They carried with them all their worldly
wealth, their precious manuscripts conct nled
under the folds Of their robes. The poor ex-
lies found a warm welcome and a cougenial
home in Italy, where a taste for classical lit
oratura had latoly been awakened
We cannot help thinking how Petrarch,
who had died three-quarters of century be-
fore, would have enjoyed the society of these
learned Greeks, he who had loved learning
so intensely, and had done so much to cult
vate taste for it in others. He died as lie
had lived, among his books, for he was found
dead with his head resting upon an open vol
ume.
Now every one seemed smtten with Il pas
sonate desire for learning, and eagerly en-
brlced the opportunity Of profiting by the in
struction of these wise men from the east +"
Princes ladies and courtiers were alike en-
thusiaStic. Like a boy with new toy, they
We're filled with delight over some newly dis
covered fragment of an old Greek or Latin
author. Now the lately invented art of print
ing came into requisition. Paper had not
been made from rags since about the year
1900 and, with these new facilities, copies of
the classic authors were rapidly multiplied
and came into the possession of those who had
never dared TO hope TO own one Aldus Man
utius set up printing-press in Venice i'll Ass,
and sent forth edition after edition of those
splendid classics called, after him, the Aldne
editions, which are to this day the delight and
envy of all lovers of rare and costly books.
1t was not long before the results of this re-
vival of learning were plainly to be seen.
New ways of thinking had come into fashion /;
a more correct and refined taste had begun to
prevail aud thus was effected II complete rev.
olution in the arts of painting, sculpture and
architecture.
The new learning was called the Human
tiles, =" aud those who cultivated il were called
"Humanists; and rightly, too; for the new
learning worked a reform in morals, and so a
refinement OF manners The Greek studies
of the Humausts led to the translation of the
Bible into many of the modern languages,
and purer and more enlightened Christianity
was the result.
And so, this movement, the Renaissance,
went on. New ideas of politics and of gov
ernmont came into being, and prepared the
way for what is called the Modern Epoch.
All that is best and sweetest and noblest all
that is most worth having in tho present day
we owe to 1.-THE ''new birth" that came in
the fifteenth oentury.-MdTy Lloyd; 50.
Nicholas for March.
"
a Thirst for knowledge.
Edward Eggleston, writing in Scribner for