The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-28

formsl: the duties OF the position may be
something mere, but are only occasional
and ephemersl ia their character.
The writer of our history will have and
must use the opportunity CO fully detailing
the account Of cur educational system first
foreshadowed in the ordinance OF 's7, and
finally developed in the magnificent system
OF common schools now in practical opera.
ton in all our borders. He must by conse-
ouence also note the rise and progress of leg
islation and the course of jurisprudence
from Its first feeble origin in the fortresses
OF the early French commandsnts in the
wilderness, through the revision of both
Con stitution and statutes, until the forma-
ton OF body Of laws now in force on a
great variety Of subjects. influencing and
being in turn acted pom by the necessities
snd requirements OF popular life. He must
carefully recount the course al 30 of religious
action and sentiment, beginning with that
deyout worship OF the sun, which by the re-
searches OF arcbielogists is ascertained to
have been the cult Of our antique predeces-
sors, the mound builders, followed by that
pure theism, distinguished with bsrbarous
rites the belief in the existence of Great
Spirit, the creed of Tecumseh and his tribes;
and that child.like faith in the Indestruc-
liability of life, which taught him
ITO think admitted to that equal sky,
His faithful dog would bear him company"
And these will be followed by an account of
the introduction of the Divine Gospel of our
Savior; first by those of the Society of
Jesus, who left the comforts and reinements
of civilization under the auspices of the
most splendid Court in Europe to find their
comes and graves in the far West-in whose
hands the missal and the crucifx preceded
by many ages the hymn-book and the dis
cipline OF our sometime called religious
pioneers. For the historian must be i'm
partial. IT'S as necessary qualification for
him IS the most precise knowledge Of orthog-
raphy of the rules of English composition.
Such q narrative will not be wanting in
passages OF more than historic interest 1t
will. indeed, abound in accounts OF battles
and seiges
"ol hairbread III escape in the imminent deadly
breach
And In all the stirring episodes
Of frontier valor snd warfare which usy de-
light the ear of future Desdemouss.
The annslist may watch with Clark 10 the
noresses around the old post: may lie be-
esgured behind the stocksdss of Fort Har-
rison; may stand upon the bullets vept
plateau OF the Tippecsnoe awaiting ia the
lark the assault OF the trescherous Shawnee
These things will be recounted, fo7 the
-. l.
that thruthiul sort OF fancy which may
depict as If he saw and heard them, the
dangers Of q perilous past.
A bright and glorious chapter will be the
review OF the growth OF agriculture among
| u.s. from the days OF the fail and the
| tb;esbing floor, the scythe and sickle, to the
ers Of the self binder, the trssher and
mower, when the steam whistle, that
resonant tocsin of modern progress follows
he footsteps of the husbandRsn to his re-
hottest fallows.
But We dismiss the historian to his task
with our best wishes for his highest success
| in so laudab,e an undertaking. We have
| not written these remarks as suggestions
se are not sure that they would or ought to
be received as such even If so offered. We
think We have noticed in the writer referred
to disposition to resile at any observation
which he may deem to fall outside of the
beaten path of plaitude or prosedy.
We do not wish to intrude upon the mys.
teries Of authorship or the occult science Of
the amsnuensis Indeed, We very much
doubt whether we hsve Just appreciation
OF the spirit of that genius which bows at &
comma, kneels at q semicolon, and pros
trates itself at full length with sbject humil
ity before the majestic colon. We trust that
ne entertain q due respect for the polished
art OF punctuation, but OF all its points that
which we chiefly adore fs-the period.
@Wher eiore, we c'ose.