The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1893-02-18

e
: light and heat aud attraction of the sun
are indispensable to our earth we are
forced to doubt the extent at least of
some of tho moons attributed in
fiuences. It's attraction is known by
its effects upon the tides. How this
/ operates is much speculated OH by
; Cosm"grhphers and high in authority
among these is II. Faye, member of
| the Academy of science of Paris.
/ The light of the moon is 0,00O
times more feeble than that of the
sun, all of whose light is necessary for
our earth The heat of the moon is
absolutely impercepfble. 1t is true
that by means of the most powerful
Iense yet invented. an extremely delicate
effect has been produced on Thermo-
scope But using the same lense to
concentrate the rays of the sun the heat
produced would be sufficient to reduce
platina to steam. From these tests it
appears that the moons influence on
vegetation cannot be brought within
the scope of the power of human per
ception. Here again wo see the in-
finite wisdom of God and how it baf-
lies sail 4! 4a l4aama" understanding.
February 17M.
Were it not for the frequent showers
which fall upon our earth and the
aqueous vapors which also contribute
moisture, no industry of man could
make the earth sufficiently productive
to supply the necessities of animated
Dature.
Dryness would be found everywhere
and dearth and famine rellow. When
cause showers of rain to fall upon the
thirsty land, it appears to be nothing
short of presumplion-of futile at
tempt to assume the prerogative of the
Almighty. 4 By the use of machinery
invented r, produce the rapid expan-
sion of I ndensed atmosphere minia
turs snoW storms may be produced, hat
if all nature had to depend on such
curinus experiments for sufficient
supply of rain OF snow 10 accomplish
ttap great ends of our Maker it must le
confessed the failure would be signal.
Man has no power to supplant the
mighty plans and designs of God.
In his view the vast river, lake, sea
!
necessary to produce sufficient eyapo
ration 10 meet and satisfy the require
ments of the vegetable kingdom. We
car live without money, but should
the earth become entirely barren for
want of the fertilizing influences of rain
and aqueous vapors, the honest hus-
bandman would labor in vain. See
then how good aud how wise it is that
the showers aud the means of them
are bountifully supplied.
February 18th.
We are prone to drive all idea Of
mortality aud death from our mind
and to indulge the fond illusion, while
hearing the toll of the churches death
knelI for fellow mortal, that onrsei
yes are in no danger of dying. The
/ lessons We should learn from the NOR
talit, of others ARE oft times yea! gen.
erallg unheeded until the destiny of
our immortal souls are left to the mercy
of an hour or it may be moment. We
are more prodigal of Time than of
our money, more unmindfnl OF our
ultimate eternal salvation than of our
present feeting pleasures.
/ We forfeit eternity in the thought
less pursuit of mnleal, unsubstantial en-
ioyment We shut our eyes to the
fact demonstrated on every hand and
in nearly every day Or hour that passes
3 that in the midst of life we are in
death.
s"That few moments, may, few years must,
Re2ose each of us in the silent dust"
.a,t tto,,oarna of nr n
scene'' nre kept out of mind, when it
were wise in us to direct our thoughts
to it's consideration and make it all alb
sorbing. There is no pleasure we
have outside of that which piety and
pure religion bring. that is not evan-
escent.. It never follows us to the
grave, and certainly cannot rescue us
/ from it. AS each of US must die soon
or late, beyond all controversy we
should be careful in our preparation
/ for it No one has ever stood at the
side of u death bed where the depart
ing spirit was conscious of his cOndi
tion who did not see that, however the
su fferer may have repulsed every pre-
cept of religion while the glow OF
health was on his cheek and in his eye,
he was deeply concerned in the conso-
lations of religion in the last honest
hour. Let us prepare for death for il
will oyertake as ere long.
/ In the early part of the week the
New Orleans papers reported Gen. G
It. Beanregard to be very seriously i'll
with but faint hope of his recovery
Since then the Generals condition has
been reported as much improved
Gen. Beanregard was the idol of the
Louisiana troops during the existence
of the Confederacy and his death at this
time would be much depiored by oil
!, the surviving veterans of the Lost
Cause.
Calcasieu parish has the honor O
ont doing all others in the State in the
, matter of an appropriation for State
exhibit at the Worlds Fair. Calcasier
! ia to be congratulated upon her publ,
J spirit and deserves that it should. like
the proverbial bread cast npon thu
J waters, come back and in bountiful in
crease
President Harrison could not hav,
done anything which would gain fo
HIM the respect of the Southern peopl
more entirely than by yielding the sea
of Lamar to jackson. Whatever th