The Columbia Democrat. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, November 24, 1838, Image 1

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    i Ua'v swum ti'pou the Ahar Of God, eternal hostility to eery form of Tyranny over the Mind of Man." Thomas Jefferson.
7
PRINTED AND PUNISHED BY It. WEBlf.
COIiUMBIA
FA0 SAUKLBAT- NOVEMBER S49 i838a
IVuitilicr 31
K
OFFICE OF THE PEiUOCKAT,
'7 mr.VMllTA DEMOCRAT will be
"pubUx''l civr? Saturday morning, at
y'l'FO DOLLARS per annum, payable
half yarn in'wtiance, or- Tibo Dollars
fifty Cents, if not paid within the year.
pmod tliin six-months; iiQr any' discon
jhiuancr permitted, until dl arrearages
are disdulrged.
ll) VDR TI SEME NTS not Exceeding a
squar? will oc cotiijiicuvusly inserted at
Uite Uullurfor the first three insertions,
and TwcnhftVc vents for cbcry unbse
nitcnl nserlwn. BCP.'a liberal. .discount
I made to those wjw a lvcrtisc by the yepr.
LETTERS add'rcsml on business, must
be post paid.
mgomafSjEfirs
taO
THE MOOiY.
In she last number of tllo Monthly dhron-
le, we find, tome statements drawn from
Ironomiral observations, which nnist he
uite new' to those who hjivo hitherto sup-
oscu ll'is planet to be inhsiuitcd by animal
cings. xuo most powcnul tciesrdpcs cv-
r vet constricted do not enable ti3 to see
istinetly an object whoso visual magnitude
s so small ,as onu sceoijtl corresponding to
S mile on thi suiface of the moon. Ittheic
Horo follow.? that an object, say a town, on
Su moon measuring a (nils across ni each
direction, wbuld be small to be discerned
tv any aid which telescopes have yet sup
lied. "If the moon bo examined," says
he writer, "for any length of time with the
:id of the most ordinary telescopes, the ob
over cannot fail to lie struck witli ll:c un
ilterabld character of the outlines of shade
bpon htfr surface. These aro so distinct
!ud wUl defined, that they-inny bo delliiea
vnl with gre.it exactness;; and a map exibit
ng their appearance at any one time, will
ohtinne at all times to cxibit that appear-
beo with the same Fidelity and precision."
The first inference which he draws from
this circumstance is, that the same side of
Ihe moon is always turned towards us, and
is she turns ro.nnd own her axis, in about
Wcnly-Bovcn days and eight hours, the So
raites or inhabitants of tho moon so.denorii
natod from the. Greek word 'moon,' must
lave 328 Hours;' day light; followed by 28
linnrc' tilrrlif ft'Hra n.vt It, U..I 1.W I.-. ....
yt'v" J iiigiiw a hi. n ai iv iiiui uicii: 19 ll't
Iwlouds suspended around her, and a third
iiniereiice, uiawn uotn oilier data, is, that
here are no indications whatever of seas
nd water in the moon; and if there is any
tmosphero. at nil, it must be a thousand
iraes less tleiiso than that of the earth. It
Jvould require a perfect air pump to produce
fuch a degree of ratification under a recciv
ir , and siich an iitmosphere would, as far
s regards all tho phenomena of animal and
flcgetable life, bo n vacuum. Thu follow-
ig description gives a frighful pictuto of
he"silvery orb of night."
"Tho character of the "entire snrfaco of
e moop, so far as telescopic power h?s
adc rt known to Us, is just what, might
avo been expected in n world deprived of
ir and water, and of the tribe of beings to
hoso life thece arc nepessary. Thi? mot,
nhospituble planet elbits a wide waste of
trie surface diversified bv nolliirnr tint tie
lofty mountains and cavernous vallevs.
mine of mountains and insulated hills aro
spread bVer fevery part of its surface, and
ft their incpacing nnd preeiphous eidea fr'o
cfeni v io mo neif it ot ivo mrnini icn ir
dcs. In many places huge masses of
rth spring.direclly from the plain and car
their peaked summits to tho allltudo, of
enly thousand feet. Nor ia the extent
the basea of sttipeniluous eminences lees
lounding than their heights. The diam-
ers of tho bases of several defatched hills
f this kind, which measure fivo miles iii
eight, vary from 2-i to -10 miles.
"Uut tho circtimstanco which deprives
10 moon's surface of every trace of analoirv
ilh that of the earth, Is the enormous cir-
... . i ... i. r i
pari of it. Homaoftheso cavorna nre
ui-miles m dcjntnl forty miles Ui 4i
unster, Their edge is generally defended
by a high natural wall. Frequentlyja conic
al mountain rises to n considerable height
from the bottom of this dark circular hole.
The top of this duriio is rendered visible,
when tho rays of the sun fall directly into
the c4vcm. This internal conical mountain
las sometimes a circular cavity in its apex,
like the crater of a. volcano.
"The provision which givo to tho sever-1
al planets tho groatful returns of the seasons, 1
is denied to tho moon; and accordingly, not
a trace can bo discovered on her surface of
the slightest variation which can bo ascribed
to change of season., , .. , , ! ' .
"If, then, tho moon be the habitation of
living ihing3, they must be constituted with
functions very different from all those which
characterise tho animal and veritable king
doms of the earth. In the absence 'of an
atmosphere, the olenites cannbt, of course,
bo respiratory animals. . Sound, which dc
penda on air for, its production and convey
ance, there can be none. Speech and hear
ing would therefore, bs uselcis faculties.
"No azure firmament offers its mild tint
to tho eye of the Selonite. The blue of our
sky is the proper color of our atmosphere,
in the absence 'one eternal and unvaried
black, through which the glowing otb of
the sun holds its solitary way, vainly en
deavoring to diffuse brightness bey'ond the
edge of its own dis'c.i On the arid and un
grateful waste beneath, his genial rays fall
in vain, no atmosphere is present to col
lect, restrain and diffuse their warmth,, and
if .they fnil to sustain animal and vegetable
life on the summits oi'our Alps and Andes,
merely because of the rarified state of the
atmosphere at those heights how much
more ineffectual must, they bo in tho absence
of any atmosphere whatever?
"Seeing, then, that while we find on all
the plitaetH luu,snin) proyieienfMh ijt ,A!jSJH,
for the dwelling places of crCatiires like
ourselves, and these provisions supplied in
ihe dame manner, and to the same extent;
and on the contrary, finding all of these ar
rangements, without one exception, denied
to the moon wo must, in tho absence of
any direct evidence on this question; come
to the conclusion, thatoursattclitois barren,
uninhabited waste, playing, doubtless, some
necessary part in tho creation,. but not the
higher one assigned to tho earth and plan
ets; that it is, in fine, a desert rock, rearing
lis naked head in tho wide ocean o(f space,
unappropriated to and unfittcdfor the rest
ing place of any living thing." London
paper.
fire vilugeschooL
. "IIoio they tised to Govern."
A circumstance occurred tho very first
day which diovo every thing like mischief
in consternation from every scholar's heart.
Abijah Wilkins had for many year3 been
called the worst bdy, in school. Masters
cbuld do nothing with him. Ho wa3 surly,
saupy, profane and truthless. Mr. Patch
took him from an almshouse when ho was
eight years old, which was eight year3 from
the point of time now in view. In hs fami
ly were mended neither his disposition, his
maimers, nor even his clothos. He looked
like a morose, unpiticd pauper still., He
had shaken liis kuurly and filthy.fiatin tho
face and eyes of tho last winter's teacher,
Mr. Johnson was told of this son of pordl-;
lion before he began, and he was prepared
to lako some officront step at his first of
fence. , ' .
Well the afternoon of the first day, Abi
jah thruat a pin into tho boy boaide him,
which inado him cry out with the sharp
pnin. Abijah was accused and foimd guil
ty. Tho master requested James Clark to
go to his ,ioom and bring a rattan that ho
would find there, as if tho formidable femlo
was unequal to the present exigency. James
came with a rattan vory strong and very c-
lastic, as if it had been selected ft am a
thousand, not to walk with, but to whip,
Then ho ordered all tho blinds next tho road
to be closed. He then said, Abijah como
IhU way. Ho camo. Tho school may
shut their hooks and suspend their studies
a few minutes. Abijah liko off your frock,
fold it up, and lay it on the scat behind you.
Abijah obeyed those commands with sullen
indifference. Here, a boy up towards the
back seat burst out with a sort of shudder
ing laugh produced by a nervous excite
ment he could not control. 'Silcilr.c 1' said
the master with n thunder, and u stamp on
tho lloor, that made the house quake. All
was as still ne midnight. Not a foot moved,
not a seat creaked, not t a book rustled.
Tho school seemed to be appalled. The
expression oV every countenance was chan
ged. Some were unnaturally pale, some
ere (lushed,and eighty distended and moist
ening eyes were lasteucu on the scene.
Tho awful expectation was too much for
one poor girl. "May I go homo ?" she
whined witli, an imploring and terrified
look. A single cast 1'rona the countenance
of authority cruahed tho trembler down into
her seat again- A tremendous sigh escap
ed .from ono of the larger girls then all
wa3' breathlessly .still agam. "Tafic off
your jacket also, Ahijah. Fold it and lay
it on your frock." Mr. Johnson then took
his chair and set it away at the fartheet dis
lance the floor Would permit, as if all the
space that could be had would bo necessa
ry for the operations about to take place.
He then look the rattan and seemed to ox
amine it closely, he drew it through his
hand, bent it almost double, laid it down a
gain. He then took off his own coat, andaid
it on tho desk. Abijah's breast then heaved
like a bellows; his limbs begrn to tremble,
and his face was like a sheet. . The master
then took the faltan in his hand, and the
criminal by the collar with his left hand,
his large knuckles pressing hard against the
shoulder of the boy; lie raised the stick
high over the back of the shrinking boy
Then 0, wnat a. screech ! , Had Ihe rod
fallen ? No, it still remained suspended a
iltyfc'n:t'ifc.itV'- 9 I won't do so 3:
grain I'll necrdo6o again; C 0 don't
I will be good sartinly will. Ths
threatening instrument of paiii was gently
take from its elevation. The master spoke.
"You promise, do you ?" "Yis sitr 0
yis sir." Tho tight grasp was withdrawn
from the collar. "Put on your frock nnd
jacket and go to your seat. The rest of
you may open your books again. The
school breathed again. Paper mailed, feel
wero carefully moved, tho seats slightly
creaked, and all things went stilly on as be
fore, Abijah kept his promise. Ho became
an altered boy; obedient, peaceful, studious.
This long and slow process of preparing
for tho punishment, was artfully designed
by the master, gradually to work up the
boy's tenors agqnizingexpeptations to the
highest pich, until lie should yield like a
babe to thd intensity of his erhotions. His
stubborn nature which had been like an oak
on the hills which no storm could prostrate,
was whittled away and demolished as it
were, silver by eilvcr. District School as
it was
. From tho Pouglikecpsio Telegraph
Maii, to be happy, must be intelligent.
The ignorant and unthinking cannot enjoy
the pleasures which arise from cultivated
mind or participated in thoso high wrought
sensibilities of sotil, those feelings of ccsta
cy and delight, which afford much satisfac
tion to tho learned and enlightened. Not
any thing of magnitude has been achieved,
when ignoraneo was tho characteristic of
ho aetor. No good, certainly has the
world over derived from the dark ages,
when ignorance and superstition overspread
the eastern hemisphere as with this pall of
oblivion1 No virtuous actions, no deeds of
greatness, were then achieved which have
ever resulted in any good to mankind.
The arts and sciences, wore lost and forgot
ten, or lay mouldering in the domes of the
ancients, and one eternal night of the mind
seemed like an iucubua to rest upon the
whole human family.
The mind however, when improved, is
illimitable. It is as comprehensive as tho
universe of which it forms a part. Space,,
matter, and Ileavon, aro subjects not too
vast for its contemplation; nor is eternity
with all its gorgeous and bowildoring.imi-
gca, too dazzling for its ken. It ha3 fixed
its eagle gaze on the world which twinkle
n the firmament, and measured their dis
tances with .its cilculaiing powers. It has
wandered back among the ruins of empires,
long since pa3cd away, and learned wis
dom from the ruin and desolation. It has
searched for instruction in languages which
are dead, and obtained it. It has made even
the winds 'and waves subservient to its pur
poses. J.'And who can tell iho extent which
it may proceed by industry and persever
ance l
Rut the ignorant man cannot discharge
the duties which he owes to the social com
pact; nor does he fulfil tho purposes of his
Creator so lgng as he neglects the cultiva
lion of Iii3 intellect. Tho intelligent mind
can revel in iho imagery and grandeur of
its conceptions, while the uninformed can
raise his .thoughts no higher than the brut3.
But could ho have Iho greatness and eleva.
tion of sou! like Newton, or Byron, or
Scott, or Milton could feel the wonderful
and inexpressible deh"ht which1 Byron and
,1 . ,
Milton must have experienced vhile peo
pleing their imaginary worlds with bright
& glorious shapes, or wander in imagination
tiko Newton among the ctar3, and prescribe
laws tor the comets and the meteors or
could lie dive into the nature of the under
standing, unravel its mysteries, explain its
agency, the power of the passions, and the
dreams of thought could he do this and
feel this but for ono short hour, how dreary
would ho be after returning to his own des
olato tabornaclc, with nothing save the low
and groveling desires of an animal to satis
fy the eoiil of a God ! It is in comparisons
like this that wo, discover tho immeasurable
disparity between wisdom and ignorance;
and if the fame of a Newtdn or a Milton is
not sullicicnt to inspire a man to become
l.iko unto Jiem, all other instahccs.must lia
ntiuflK' powerless.
EDUCATION.
Great judgement and caution are neces
sary in conducting the education of youth1
The great points Jbr teachers are, to learn
tho art of governing a school and the best
mode of instructing am, the great object
of parents and of the public is tortc,ach
children what they want to use in prpcur
ing subsistence; what they want for rugiilal
ing their social actions, and to make them
good citizens; and what is necessary to se
cure their future happiness. The plan of
introducing into all oiir common schools a
great variety of subjects which have no dl
rcct bearing on these points, and of .teach
ing a little of every thing, and perfection
in nothing, is not an uncommon mistake, in
these limes of general excitement. Physi
olojrists inform us lhat the human brain
is not completely formed, till a child is a
bout seven ycais of am?. Before and for
some lime after this period, tho brain should
not bo severely exercised or pressed to ox
ertion. The intellectual powers should not"
be heavilv taxed with many studies at once,
nor with such as require intense application
Ail eminent physician once remarked to tho
writer, that ho had known many, females to
lose their health, or fall victims jo. intense
application to the sciences. What aggra
vates the misfottunc is, that for tho most
part, such sciences arc not of the least uso
lo females. They make them neither bet
ter wives, better mothers, better chrisljans,
nor rnoro intelligent companions. The cul
tivation of tho mind should follow the or
der of riaturo in the growth of animal and
vegetBble holies, which increases slowly,
nnd gain stiength as they gain cizei Ct.
Obs.
. , 12
The Clneinatti Republican sayo that It is
estimated by thoso engaged in the produce
husiness, that there is in store in the sove-
ral warehouse of thai city, 30,000 bbls. of
flour, and from ten to twelve thousaiid bar
rels of whiskey.
Ill1 1! yMM'WSg"
Five Reasons. "Mistress- Grimes, lend
mo your tub!" "Can't do rt all the hoops
arc-off it's full of suds besides I never
had ono because I washes in a barrel."
The strongest kind of a team Jllliga,'
tors in harness Zip my long (ails I
. . They may talk of taming 'un-tameabb
hyenas, bringing, ferocious tigers under sub
jection and making themes gentle as lambs,
and all that sort of .thing; but when it comes
to breaking alligators so that they will worlf
in harness, we knock under. , 'FlicJnven;
tion of steam was a mcro circu'rr)3tancf? itf
comparison electro magousm,,cvcn if it is
ever brought to such perfection aa to ,8&isjt
... . '..'.i.;ii i.. ' t..-Ji 1.'. 1
in turning a wiiuimu in z gaie, wuiuu uu a
minor consideration but to tho story. , .
The captain of a steamboat engaged in.
the Red River trade informed us, although
we aro inclined lo thing ho was joking, that
a wealthy individual up that way had tamed
and traiued a couple of alligators so that
thoy will swim in harness, and. haw anc
gee about as. regular oxen. So well indeed
havo they been broken that tho owner tackT
les them up hitchea to a dug-out and crui
ses about the bayoua and ponds, when, tho
waters are too nign io aarauoi ins going on
horseback. , .
On a late occasiori, while sailing quietly
under the banks of tho bayou with, his 'crit
tersMiarncssed in abreast, he was seen by a
hupter whp.sungouti ! .. .
I, say, there hello w! drop . your dug-out
astern and give mo a chanco to plug one of
them varmints.' , : , .':'
'Don't shoot this way take care. .don'j;
you see I'm after them!' saidllie owner, as
the backwoodsman leveled his rifle. , l
'I see you are after 'em and you'll see a
ball follerin' in tho same trail In .les3 thai,
two minutes. Look out for youred! stran
ger; here goes for a crack at the varmints
this way.' ,
'Stop--hold up your rifle. That's my;
team you are aiming at. Look at the har;
ness, there, just on the top of tho water.
Thov arc hitched, to the canoe, and Fm on
a litUdj"aunt'6utback'td.looL'S(' and" enter
some iBiius.
i i i '
'Well, I declare!' said, th3;b1d hunter, 'if
that don't beat all tho dolus I've heard ori
way in the thick settlotnents I rpekpn. yon.",,
understand animal magnetism, a3 thoy 'call -it,
a few. , , ,
$ understand training alligators ,
Well you pass hope yqujllh'avo . a
pleasant excursion.' , V. . - i
The.man now stirred up his team, an4
was soon tinder way at a rate which would
leave a commdn high pressure steamboat
out of sight in no time. , . .
Red River Gazette.
The clergy of Ireland have authority con;
ferred by law, to refuse lo marry a womaij
unless she can read and write. The, pow
er is given upon the sound principle that a
woman must first bo quah'rlcd to instruct
her offspring before she can bo permitted to
have thorn
"Stand nnd Deliver," were the, words
addressed to a tailor, travelling on foot, by a,
highwayman, whooo brace of pistols looked
rather dangerous than othecwise. ,
"I'll do that with pleasure," was the re?
ply, at the same lime handing over to tho
outstretched hands of the robber a purso
apparently well stocked! VbUjt," continued,
ho, "suppose you do mo a favor in return,
My friends would laugh at me wore I to gq
homo and (ell them I was robbed with as.
much patienco as a lamb: spose you firq
your two bull dogs right through the crown
of my hat; it will look something like a
show of resistance.'' . , . .
His request was acceded to; but hardly.
iad the, smoke from the discharge of thd
wcappns passed a way,, the tailor pulled out
a rusty old horso pisto,. audin his turn po-
itcly requested the thunderstruck.htghway..
man to shell out every thing of value, hio
pislols not omitted, about him.
Said a preacher tp a horeo dealer, "is that
animal sure footed!" "Perfectly," said
thojocky, "when ho puts his foot do wn
you'd think he never was going to take it
up."
Every person should mind his qwn l'u-
sttieis,