The Democratic advocate., 1881-05-14
Our 0lio.
For the Democratic AdrOcGte.
THE GOLDEN AGE.
BY W. D. BIGGS.

But for such memories and such hopes
humanity might long ere this have fallen
under the burden imposed upon it through
all ages.
Had the forefathers of historic races
left behind them no traditional reigns of
Joy and innocence, no mythic lands whose
gardens grew unfading flowers, whose crys-
tai rivers ran over sands of gold, and upon
whose zephyrs were waited the most frag
rant perfumes-were they bound to no
bright shores, which to touch they believed
was to become immortal, and to be enroll
ed among the beautiful children of eternal
happiness for all tims-the common life
Of every day must indeed have been in
supPOrtable.
Cropping by the light of history through
the dark ages of the past, what appalling
sights meet US on every side We skud-
der. We shrink back, VIC shut our eyes, and
would fsigu forget that such things have
been, we're we not too often reminded OF
them at the present time.
Life is certainly little happier, 4 little
more humaniEed, little more rational
than in former times; but not so happy,
rot so humaoired, not so rational that we
can afford to lose for moment those vague
dreams of a perfected life in that sunny
land, whose ell IS uncxcelled, even those
far-famed sunny elimes of bright and
beautiful Italy.
As the thought Of brighter days keeps
alive hope 10 the heart Of the miserable
being condemned to life Of toll, so does
oppressed mankind cherish visions Of un-
tasted bliss that is to las, forever, and un-
seen regions to whose loyclincss no home
returning traveller has borne testimony.
The human heart inclines naturally TO
10Y as flowers to the SUI. Every one
would choose to be happy, although his
happiness consisted in 20 other rsCompense
than ehimsras wilder than the fabled story
Of primsval Greece or any legend that has
aoated down from the land Of lotus eaters.
With the strongest inconsistency, the
more fortunate, people the imagined realms
Of felicity with those they hold alOof from
here, and think to live, in that age, in
perpetual friendship with those they have
victiuiIad. dcspoiled, and desPissd.
That high equality which ought to form
the basis Of every Utopia, whether sdu-
Gated or upedaca,ed, IS SO ignored in Prae-
,ies tia, We cannot move step without
being reminded Of the sristoerasie usurpa.
tions Of one human being over another.
Even here, 10 this free aud happy little
town Of Westminster the spirit Of caste
iavades the very breath and life Of the
people, and 50 in every town in Maryland,
yes. 10 the United S,a,es--beeOming more
formal according to the Advancement and
increase Of the ration.
Although We have been wandering into
mythic lands, We have as yet net accom-
plished our mission, but oaly solaeed the
mind for time.
Wha, have We found wherever We have
goue-socicty divided into tao portions, :
lesser aud larger, the hrst composed Of
beings cared for, body aud mind, enjoying
al the comforts Of life, produced ior the
qualification Of the Intellect and the senses
love aud beauty, art and learning, the
treasures Of all tiue and the loysliness o.
all lands; the larger portion composed Of
those beings whose existence is one Of un
RENTING toll, Of deprivation aud despair
I from their earliest period Of life until laiC
away in the gloomy walls Of the silen
grave.
What matters il to them that the sum
mer is come, that the fields are gay will
millions of wild flowers, that the poets g
into the differently tinted forests aud SIM
their rich aud melodious songs, that tn
palsa,ious of the happy earth beat through
out the long bright day? What matter
il to them that the ancient Calico descrie'
the stately rhythms of the spheres, tha
Shakespeare created happy world, tha
Beethoven set the solemn passions aud as
pirations of humanity to such music a
must rejoice the angels listening on tn
golden stairs Of heaven?
Science works miracles Of which tn
aneients never dreamed. The world grow
richer, wiser, lOvelier-wonderful tiding
are carried across distant seas, and yc
the lot Of the greatest number of humal
beings remains unchauged-thercfore
it great wo1der that to such life passe
unregretted and death comes as friend
They are only believers in golden ag
to come, aud upon earth. Their name
may not shine emblazoned in purple an
gold in the archives of fame, but thei
thoughts will live in the minds of men for
ever
Then again we have the social reform
ers of every age-of Plato, in whose idea
Republic the intellectual teachers Of to
day may still drink from copious spring
of wisdom; of Robert Owen in Eng land
and of Chas. Fourier in France.
The glorious names, shining out lik
stars, are pointed out to US by pionee
in the luminous regions of truth; but
day is coming, nay, the eve of it is alread
here, when the world shall reeog nize he
true sovereigns.
In the present state Of society, fe'
fare sumptuously and sleep on downy pi
lows, dreaming away life, surrounded b
all that is beautiful, deprived of no graf
fcation ordained by bountiful nature
rejoice the hearts of men, loving life b'
cause of its pleasantness.
But construct proper basis for societ
and all this will have disappeared. Thro
open the majestic temples of art, sciene