Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-10-02
BfRr.A CHARACTER

- - hgvs chenistry OF men, but
y l1nogonce keeps us dependent
o1uolw - Shakespeare, Scott
Wovth0eno end the poets who are
~ Hni1d NJ want IN analysis Of
nG1mfO lur common use, something 10
Smcu jo6gwemt 10 the insight and
&6m - h1sk genius something TO be
- nn0 feveaied BY the gifted, In
~ ~ lfOn b clearly comprehend
UoGsly used, BY the million; ~ the
looD ot the material world have been
D1lhin she grasp and subjected to the
q ~ common mind. Men might be
- ~ instance, like electricity, into
~ - negative The analogy furnishes
~ hint Logic, also, could afford the
y ~ correspondences- the absolute and
additional lets In some light; and so
k1pA, BY the time the whole circle OF the
noes had contributed to the undertaking,
0nomOnts OF the microcosmic human ma
- might be somewhat distinguished and
nod.
&oking technical terms sufficiently de-
~ aud insignificant we must endeavor
~ 1ofinoatiou OF the character in hand, In
~ yuundabout method Of detailed descrip-
VI General Ogle, then, was all that is n mt
~ suggested by the words, centric, positive
- absolute He was like Emerson's repre-
'n1ntive men for the reason that like them
Was not representative; he was an excep-
oal heroic character, rs Napoleon, Crom-
~ and Jackson were; that is, he owed his
11nction to the qualities which distinguish
him from every body else, or We never
((u1d have heard OF either of them. In the
ynage Of orator Phillips, che was a man
~l1Aout model and without q shadow"
4 I|n10ye 10 liberal Of her extemporaneous pro-
1ne1lous, but she took care to copyright him,
- e ID well known that she never issues
I moso than one edition OF her standard works;
~ 3or no other reason, because the type Is
WORN out by the force of the first impression
I'D II for any other reason, because copies
mutually destroy each others necessity, and,
bocAuse reproductions in changed circum-
ntnnces are absurdities.
4 General Ogle was not one OF litter. He
IVES made on purpose, and his kind was com
plete in him. He was OF that breed which
leaves no heirs, and needs no successors
8 Out Of time and place he would himself have
been only an oddity, or perhaps, a monster
0ut In his actual surroundings OF men anc
thing, there was the happiest possible fitness
! Of relations, and every thing in him, accord
tngiy, had its full force and virtue
Tho region Of country which gave him hi:
theatre, and the people who cast the company
4 1r the drama Of his life, were in such keep
Ing with him as II they had been made fol
HIN, and he for them. The scene was laid
Z IN one Of the mountain counties OF Pennsyl
vAnia which lies spread over the junction OF
two ridges OF the Allegheny chain. 1t is not a
valley quite, nor basin, butts slightly curved,
o. cupped, from crest to crest OF the twin
hiehiands where they interlock and lift the
1utervsle almost to a level with their sum.
mifa It has no nav;gable streams, and its
artificial roads are the portages which inter
z rupt the railroads and canals from the Sus
quehanna to the Ohio river. 1t is thus situ
Gted far inland, and in an equal degree cut of
from the advanced civilization of the Atlantic
00ast, and the sturdy enterprise OF the Miss
imdppl valley. The climate is severe, and the
*n0lI something niggardly of its fruits, and
having few natural advantages to keep II
Z abreast Of the progress around it, its inhabit,
ants dfty years ago, like its forest trees were
nurtured up to medium growth, and gen.
oralIy stayed there. The valleys on its east
drained of the overflow of men, as they re-
Coived the waters destined to mingle with
the mightier tides Of the worlds life.
development requires conditions, and a
neertle soil, and disiocated position, are un.
friendly to great and rapid advancement OF q
00mmunity. But, notwithstanding the gene
nj Limitation and restraint of life In such cir
oumstancee, there are no places more remark
nbse for producing men OF mark-heroes,
chiefsains and distinguished leaders-than
1hose which lie in semi barbarous conditions.
Indeed, in most directions the liberty and
occasions for individual eminence are larger
and treeEjsert than where men are marshall.
T. A E5c0rding to the forms of higher general
ouitfvaiOn, and its authoritative order. The
mass lies something lower, but society is by
no means so smoothly flat as on the several
platforms OF more artlhcially regulated sys.
tom. Wealth and poverty are better balanced;
they are less injurious to each other; and they
do not determine rank and privilege to the
oxtont OF repressing great natural abilities,
and fostering the arrogance of birth and for.
tune Personal character, where men must
mingle intimately, gives every one his appro-
law OF sentiment as well as of political rela
tt0na This checks culture and discredi.s
rofinement, but it prevents the severance ot
noclety into circles, and leaves ambition
frea and eminence possible to all.
In the heathen mythology, the hills are the
1avorite habitations Of the gods, and there
Bsomething in physical elevation allied to
mental and moral greatness, OF the kind
which men are accustomed to esteem he
rolc
do not feel assured that strangers to the
style OF life OF which i am speaking, will re-
csive my story with the confidence which it
deserves, nor even that those who are some
what familiar with the actual history, will
admit every feature of the portrait which /
drnW to be the living truth; but my own as
ouFance In 30 clear and strong that can only
Judge the critic by his judgment OF it. i
know what assert, and 1 am upon honor
with my readers Now let me introduce to
their acquaintance the patriarch politician OF
my native country.
The person and character OF this man, the
mort ordinary and the most extraordinary
actions OF his life were all of piece; every
thread OF the web showed the pattern, and to
<nEgDen.him well should all be woven together
INTO his description. His very incoherencie
stuck together aad suggested each other,
they all belonged 80 decidedly to him. A
glimpse OF him rs he turned corner, his hat
upon peg, his standing attitude, his walk,
the elevation of his nasal interjecticn note,
which he executed with as much effect as
Wellington could cry 'attention !" to a
British army, or any other act or fact that
could happen, reminded Cne of every thing
he ever did or said in his life. A very singu,
larly odd man, indeed, was he, but not whit
made up or affected, and without an iota OF
pretense In him. He was as honest as steel,
and ~ open as daylight; and il he made i'm
Inonse drafts upon the admiration of every
man he met, he really believed as earnestly
In himself as his most ardent admirer could
DO and 30 he had q perfect integrity and all
the corroborating force Of it. He was all
alive; every moment had its purpose and
every action determinate DRIFT He knew
every thing, could do every thing, and took
the r0spOnsibility of every Thing and an be