Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-01-10
6 GU nty OffioialP aper.
WALT WHITMAN, POET.

sublime no Dolu diOhU oAo
torch and bravely led the way.
AS you read the marvellous book, or
the person, called "Leaves OF Grass
you feel the freedom OF the antique
world; you hear the voices OF the
morning of the first great singers
voices elemental as those of 9 and
storm. The horizon enlarges, the
heavens grow ample, limitations are
forgotten-the realization OF the will,
the accomplishment of the ideal seem
to be within your power. Observa-
tions become petty and disappear.
The chains and bars are broken and
the distinctions Of caste are lost. The
soul is in the open air, under the blue
and stars the flag of nature. 'Creeds,
theories and philosophers ask to be
examined, cnntradicted, reconstruct
ed. Prejudices disappear, supersti-
tons vanish and custom abdicates.
The sacred places become highways,
duties and desires to clasp hands and
become comrades and friends. Au-
thority drops the scepter, the priest
the inter, and the purple falls from
kings. The inanimate becomes ar
ticuIate, the meanest and humblest
things utter speech, and the dumb
and voiceless burst into song. A feel
ing of independence takes possession
of the soul, the body expands, the
blood flows full and free, superiors
vanish, hattery is a lost art, and life
becomes rich, royal, and superb. The
world becomes a personal possession,
aud the ocean, the continents and
consultations belong to you. You
are in the center, everything radiates
from you, and in your veins beats ard
throbs the pulse Of universal life.
You become q river careless and free.
You wander by the shores Of all seas
and hear the eternal psalm. You feel
the silence OF tho wide forest, and
stand beneath the intertwined and
over. arching boughs, entranced with
symphonies OF winds and woods. You
are borne on the tides Of eager and
swift rivers, hear the rush and oar Of
cataracts as they fall beneath the
seven hued arch, and watch the
eagles as they circling soar. You
traverse gorges dark and dim, and
climb the Scared and threatening
cliffs. You stand in orchards where
the blossoms fall like snow, where the
birds nest and sing, and painted moths
make aimless journeys through the
happy air. Yon live the lives Of
those who till the earth, and walk
amid the perfumed fields, hear the
reapers' song and feel the breadth and
scope of earth and sky. You are in
the great cities, in the midst OF null
titudes, Of the endless PROFESSIONS.
You are on the wide ~plains-the
prairies with hunter and trapper,
with savage and pioneer, and you feel
the soft grass yielding nnder your
hoohs AOu bdll III luduy 6llFS1 GNU
breathe the free air OF the sea You
traverse many roads and countless
paths. You visit palaces and prisons,
hospitals and courts; you pity kings
and ~convicts, and your sympathy
goes out. to all the suffering and in
sane, the oppressed and enslaved, and
even to the Infamous. You hear the
din of labor, all sounds OF factory, field
and forest, OF all tools, Instruments
and machines. You become familiar
with men and women Of all employ.
ments, trades and Professions With
birth and burial, with wedding feas,
and funeral chant. You see the CLIQUE
and hamo of war, and you enjoy tn
ineffable perfect days of peace. i
this one book, in these wondrou
"Leaves OF Graes," you find hints an,
suggestions, touches and fragments
OF all there is OF life, that lies betwee
tho babe, whose rounded cheel
.umple beneath his mothers lnunl