Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-07
"SUNsET, cox.
How the Honorable s. $. C. came by His
Inalienahle Sobricnet.


Three years ago, says the Toledo Blade,
while looking over a bound file OF the
daily Ohio Salesman, published at Column
bus, the writer CHANGED to find. in the vol
ume for 1854, the editorial article which
gained the name of Sunset for 5. S. Cox,
who was then on the editorial staff OF that
paper. Startling College spoken Of III the
article, is a large, castellated building in
the eastern part of the city, which for years
has been. and yet is, prominent medical
school, The writer copied the article YER
batinl. for preservation as famous exam
pie of word-painting. 1t is herewith given,
exactly as it first appeared, title and all
GREAT OLD SUNSET.
What stormtul sunset was that of last
night! How glorious the storm, and how
splendid the setting OF the sun We do not
remember ever to have seen the like on our
round globe. The scene opened in the west
with whole horizon full of golden. inter
penetrating luster. which colorcd the foliage
and frightened every object into It's own
rich dyes The colors grew deeper and
richer, until the golden luster was trans
fused into q storm-cOud full of finest light
ming, which leaped in dazzling zlgzags all
around and over the city. The WIND arose
with fury: the slender shrubs and giant
trees made obeisanCc to its majesty. Some
even snapped before its force. The straw
berry beds and grass plots turned up
their whites to see IephyruS march by.
As the rain came, and the pools formed,
aud the cutters hurried away, thundcrs
roared grandly and the fire-bells caught
the excitement and rung with hearty
chorus The south and east received copi-
Gus showers. and the west all at once
briehtcned IN in a long, polished belt Of
azure, worthy Of a SiClllan sky.
Presently q cloud appeared in the azure
belt, in the form of castellated city. 1t
became moro vivid revealing strange forms
of peerless fanes and alabdster temples, and
gluries rare and grand in this mundane
sphere. Ii reminds us of Wordsworth's
splendid verse III his " Excursion:
AZ The appearance simultaneously disclosed
Was OF mighty city, boldly lay
\ wilderness o buildings, sinking far
And self Withdrawn into d wondrOuS depth,
Far sinking into Splendor without end y
But the city vanished, only to give place
20 another isle, where the most beautiful
forms of foliage appeared, imaging Il para
disc in the distant and purified air. The
sun. weared of the elemental cOmmOtiOu,
sank behind the green plains Of the West
The " great eve i'll the heavens however,
went not down without a dark brow hang
ing overits departing light. The rich lush
of the unearthly light had passed and the
rain had ceased; when the solemn church
bells pealed, the laughter of children rang
out and joyous after the storm is heard the
carol of birds; while the torked and purple
weapon OF the sky still darted illumination
around the Startling College, trying to rival
It's angles and leap into its dark windows.
Candles are lighted. The piano strikes
1p. We feel ii is good to have a home, good
20 De on the earth where such revelations
.,f haaltNr or,I la pIp And
rs we can not refrain from reminding our
readers of everything wonderful in our
city, we have begun and ended our feeble
etching of a sunset which comes so rarely
that its glory should be committed to I'M
mortal tVpe