Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-02-16

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the Philosophy of History, which is
based upon the immutable truth that
'every effect must have an adequate
cause. In the study of this the
most valuable practical lessons may
be drawn, for though the scenes in
the drama of life are ever shifting, it
is, nevertheless, a patent fact that
similar causes have at different ep-
ochs of the worlds history produced
similar effects. Thus it is true that
"history repeats ITSELF" The study
of this subject under this point of
view is of special Importance in
country like ours in which many of
the youth who are to-day being train
ed in the schools of the land are soon
to be called forth to direct in the af-
fairs of government in its various de-
partments, that understanding the
causes by which other nations have
been wrecked, they may, if possible,
avoid these dangers, or be enabled
safely to steer our "Ship of State"
past the shoals and quicksands in
which other governments have foun-
dered.
But while this knowledge is SO es-
sential to those who may be called to
the more responsible positions of
life, it is of hardly less value to him
who is to occupy the humblest sphere,
as a means of imparting deeper sig
nifcance to individual character.
Who can contemplate without deep
er interest in himself the fact that he,
in a measure, is determining the char
acter of the scenes which are hereaf-
ter to be enacted, and that the part
which he himself is now performing
is indissolubly connected with those
spectacles, which, through the medi-
um of history, he sees have been sue
ceeding one another down, down
through the ages of the past until
finally his vision is obsculed by the
impenetrable night of antiquity?
But whatever methods may be
adopted in imparting instruction in
this branch of knowledge, that teach
er will have overlooked the essential,
vital element, who fails to point out
to the pupil, in the various events of
history, as they have succeeded one
another, the workings of that mystic
rious power to which has been fitting
| ly given the name of Providence. 1t
has been said that ''the undevout as
tronomer is mad" 1t seems to me
none the less true that the undevout
historian is mad.
There have been-setting aside sa-
cred history, occurrences in
which is clearly manifest the inter-
position of an omnipotent hand +;
oftener, however, as we review sing
ly the events of the past do they
seem but scenes of commotion, dis
cord, and strife. Yet, as the student
of geometry, to whom at first the
principles laid down seem but unin-
telligible, isolated statements, as he
advances in the demonstration, be-
gins to perceive the logical connec-
tion of these, and to realize that be-
hind them all was a mind, in which
was constantly in view the truth to
be established, so the careful student
of history,as he peruses its pages and
contemplates the great problem of
human existence, may perceive the
coherency of the different events,
and in them discern unmistakable ev-
licences OF an omniscient mind. which
from confusion heaped upon confu-
sion has brought forth order and
made even the wrath of man to con-
tribute to the development of the
great plan that has ever been slowly
unfolding. Well has it been said,
providence conceals itself in the
detail of human affairs and it be-
comes unveiled in the generalties of
history"
Let the boys and girls of the Green
Mountain state be taught, while pur-
suing their studies in history, geog-
raphy, or any subject whatever, to
look through surface facts to the
eternal truth behind. and then. down
through the future, with a record
more glorious than that of the past,
may she proudly unfurl to the noun
tain breezes her banners inscribed
with her grand old motto, Freedom
and Unity"