The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-04-11
ON THE STUDY OF NATURE
No. I.
BY GASKELL.

matter? The loud echo springs fror
: crag to crsg, from point to point, i
exultiug lreedom-rolls with incress
ing volume from land to land, from
continent to continent, until ever.
zone has heard the sound and it die
away amid the frigid regions OF tn
north. The hollow caverns resount
with vsstness and the rushing torren
breathes its free spirit, crushing al
puny efforts to stay its progress. Int
very mountain air contains q spirl
free, independent and unbending II
It's justice.
The pine leaves, as moved by the
mountain breeze, give forth song o.
gladness. They converse in whisper
ing tonee, convincing and earnest,
laden with the soul-inspiring burthen
of freedom unrestrained. The air is
redoIent with the properties of life,
and every zephyr that bestows cool
ing kiss upon the heated brow,
brings with it spirit OF enjoyment.
Would we then exchange the brac-
ing, cooling and joyous air OF our
mountain home for the torrid, con-
fined and malsrious atmosphere OF a
warmer cline? Have we conVersed
with nature in her various moods and
learned TO appreciate the sterility
many deprecated If we have not, We
should DO so; then we will acknow-
ledge the grandeur and utility OF our
scenery. Listen to the winds as they
sigh amid the mountains, hearken to
their mystic warnings and sedulously
strive to learn, from the minutest
circumstance, truth. Does it not do
coed to have converse with nature, 10
have sympathy to understand her
various workings? 1t fills the soul
with q firm but pure simplicity and
renovates the oVerta ked spirit, even
by the view OF its own vanity. It
banishes exiraneous and meretric:ous
circumstances and the promptings of
the heart become correspendingly
pure, making it kind and unsel6sh.
Nature is indeed a grand and
ennobling study, worthy at all times
to command mans wavering thought.
To study nature is to learn truth, and
truth is eternal. As long as the
elements of nature perform their
various and allotted functions, and are
obedient to the Great Framer, so long
will truth last. In the creation Of
this earth, in calling together matter
out of chaos and forming OF it a
sphere great, beautiful and sublime,
filling it with the means of prolonging
life, with the means for making it
pleasant and happy, God has dis
played the vastness of the resources
at command ard the superhuman
magnitude of His wisdom.
Everything has a certain part to
play in the eternity OF time. The
earth, beautifully diversified with hill
and dale, mountain and level plainJ
forms one vast amphitheatre on
which man is the chief actor. The
resources of the whole world are at
his command, and though he was
cast out of the garden and condemned
to labor, yet if he can but content
himself, he has happiness to attend
him. 1t needs but wise and thought
iul exertion TO obtain every neediul
blessing. If be learns but to quiet
the raging of angry passions and the
undue selfshness that clings to his
nature, be can obtain ell needful
blessings. Wild passion can never be
of benefit and ever eogs the seed of
discomfort and woe.
Nature on every hand displays
moderation, sublimity and order.
See how transcendenty harmonious
the countless myriads OF spheres per-
form their continuous evolutions.
There is no strife, no jar; oil is orderly
and In sirictest union; with the
speed oflight they traverse immeI sity,
cross each o,her in their destined
orbits, yet no collision takes place.
Countless ages have seen them on
their ceaseless journey, yet no stop
page has ever ye! occurred, nor has
velocity yet appreciatively decreased.
AS when fret rolled from the band of
their maker, they continue on their
never ending course. Man, the
highest and noblest type OF created
beinge, alone of all is disobedient and
acts contrary to the will OF God.
Blessed with superior attributes he
should be the most orderly ard viz
tuous of all, but it is not 60. Wealth
is at his command, but it oitener
proves a haaeiul curse than bless
ing, and he many times has cause to
rue the day he became possessed of it.
But tie example of others failure to
use it Alright, deters no one from its
pursuit.. The evil exists not in the
weallh-it exists in the heart of man.
He ia co7etous, he became enyiOus OF
the greater prosperity of his brother;
and, instead Of being united in fra.
ternal bonds of peace, unity and
brotherhood, he is constantly contend
ing and quarreling about precedence
and place.
There is much in nature to interest
and absorb the attention OF man. No!
only is the means of prolonging ex.
istence a source of comfort and hap
piness, but the very beauties and
graees by which he Is surrounded,
leave room for reflection and increase
of knowledge. Nature is ever lavish
of her charms 10 those who in q pro.
per and appreciative spirit, study
her. The man who loves to contem-
plate nature in her various ramifi-
cations and intricate. yet simple
workings, will find IN the smallest
and most minute of her productions,
beauties and sublimities undreamt OF
by others. The tender lily of the
valley which turns its budding petals
towards heaven, as though prRising
God, gives exquisite pleasure to the
heart of the hcrist. He looks upon il
as the workmanship of the Creator,
and while he admires its delicate
fragile organization. pays tribute tC
God.
Man is selfish. He too often allows
the cares and auxieties of life to usurI
the time rightlul'y belonging to en-
ioymeDt ard recreation. Let hin
discard bis shell of seIfishness. live
more for others, and walk forth tht
noble, reasoning being he was ere
ated. Let bin cast aside the frivo
lous conventionalities OF life, if the,
accord not with his feelings, and be
, come the independent being b
should be. Not that independence
should be carried to the extent c
rudeness to Others, nor to degenerat
into i'll manners or boorlshness. !