The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-04-14

A rich. verdurous earth pulsating
with the resurrection Of the plants.
tender leaves alternately slii,nmering
in pale greens anil silver. viyidly blue
skies. sparkling waters and golden
suniigEt-it is spring.
We turn from the brightness above
and around us. and gratefully our
eyes rest on the dark, cool shadows
beneath. They spead peacefully over
the damp. luxuriapt grasses, aud
Iquiyer upon the FURNISHED lake
and weave mystical devices under the
low branched cedars and dropping will
low trees. BY contrast they suggest
the deserts Of the East.
We think of those large oceans OF
sand which. day after day. glitter be-.
meath the vertical eye glare OF the ABB
solute heaven and we pity the long
caravans that slowly traverse them.
No wonder, the weary traveller fancies
that ever before him. he sees pretty
woodland dells with wild vines swing
ing from iali expresses. and with
gurgllng streams of water trickling
through tangled weeds.
No wonder fancy paints for him,
pictures in which the shadows mingle
with tile sunshine. Because, in truth.
both of these elements are requis-
i tie to beauty. For after i'll. they are
but compliments of each other. and to.
gether are found in every phase OF life.
4 Thus. the heart weary of the tinsel
4 and the tawdry display of the world,
Of that VANITY FAIR in which all the
hooihs are filled with cheap wit. small
! ambitions and petty enmities, natural
! " yearns for the sincerity and love OF
home.
4 And thus. the mind grown tired OF
daily conflicts. finds much solace IN the
refreshing realm of books.
No matter when and where we read
with interest, then the real life imper-
ceptably fades from Us. ''Like far OF
mountains Turned into clouds. and
instead of walking in the full sunlight
of to-day. we wander among the shad-
ows of the past.
There on the banks of the swift,
rushing Rhine, we see the gray stone
towers, and crumbling walls of some
4 old romantic castle.
Its ponderous draw bridge is muc.
rusted with the suns and rains OF cen
turies, and its deep moat shallow Will
muddy water, nevertheless its small
Sits Of windows are yet barred. with
iron. rs If they still expected some proud
y;ssal lord to wind his t,ugie horn ane
command his serfs To attack the stern
strong fortress.
Poor, Wondering and yet forbidaine
castle, while looking ut you, we laugf
as We think of that little David. who
10 ths l4,h century, killed with tin,
! pebble Of gun powder, the great hulk
ing Goliath of feudalism! However, i
is not because reading furnishes vi
with these steiioptiean views Of othe'
eiimes and other ages that we love 1t
4 but. rather, because it helps MS to de
cipher the seven sealed book of lif'
which each is forced to read.
Nov, as Il matter of course, thos'
. who have studied the volume for man,
| years. are better able to teach it THAI
e those who are only learning the alpha
D bet. wherefore mature writer's ar
; more highly priced than iiterar.
j noyices.
This is simply right. At best
youth is bnt imaginative. II gazes OF
the world wiLh-eyes of hope rather thai
justice. TO it all events bear falls
colors. Anguish is more keen thai
lasting, and pleasure is so intense tina
it is near akin to pair. In other words
it is sensitive and appreciative but no
stable.
e Therefore IN literature. it gives u
= the sparkling wine that stimulates, bu
e not the strengthening Vintage tina
II hath been cooled 4 long age, in tn
e deep delved earth. =
e However, we know that experienc
u will bring certain degree Of wisdom
!, and so hope that when, In the even
J. tide there shall be light" there sha
e be shadows also, beautiful shadows
$. the soft. fresh shadows Of LIES dea
memories.