SONG OF A GUARDIAN SPIRIT. MAIDEN, wherefore do thine eye-lids Tell there's something dark they fear? Have sad doubts of late appalled thee? Chilling fears disturbed thy breast? From these harsh and cruel bodings, Never here shalt thou find rest. Lethe's stream alone can cover Treachery, such as thou hast borne; Ah! poor maiden, by thy lover, Long since thy fond heart was torn. Did'st thou not behold the storm-cloud, Heard'st thou not the night-wind sighing, Felt thou not the hand that moved thee Maiden, fairest, tears most bitter, Did I weep for thee that night; Banish, then, thy hope of meeting Onward, down that valley, gaze on Emblem of thy fair deceiver! Fair! alas, thou knowest well. Look-far down beneath the surface, JULY 17th, 1846. Maiden, one hope yet is left thee; W. B. H. THE STUDY OF HISTORY. BY W. W. H. AFTER passing through the dry details of college life, some time may be pleasantly and profitably spent in pursuing studies of a more intellectual character. Among which studies, none have a greater tendency to enrich and enlarge the mind than that of History. The vast field of Knowledge which it presents, demands the exercise of man's highest intellectual faculties. Equally distinct from the abstractness of Philosophy and the fervid license of Poetry, it calls in requisition both the understanding and the imagination; and if pursued with impartiality, its fruits will repay the most constant application. But if prejudice is allowed to intrude, the vastest acquirements become a mere heap of rubbish, bearing as little resemblance to a true knowledge of History as the flattering artist's profile of his noble patron did to the complete physiognomy. The deficient feature is undrawn. Or, had the opposite profile been presented, the impression would have been equally erroneous. Combine the two, and a perfect portrait is formed. The love of History has its source in self-love, common alike to all ages and nations. The memoirs of former actors on the world's stage excite communings with our own hearts, and direct the imagination to the dim perspective of the Future, when our own acts shall be presented to the scrutiny of an impartial posterity. In childhood, the tales of a garrulous nurse first engage our attention. The cruelties of a Bluebeard cause our infantine eyes to sparkle with anger at the oppressor, or melt in compassionate tears for his hapless victims. In youth, we hang in rapture over the pictured pages of Romance, and in maturity we dwell with pleasure on the instructive lessons of History. The primary periods of every nation are characterized by rude attempts in poetic History. The ancient Britons celebrated the achievements of their ancestors in the songs of their Druids. These inflamed the tribes' martial spirit, while marching to battle. The war-chant of the American Indian is an enumeration of his great chief's valiant exploits, which enables him to brave death, and triumph over the agonies of the stake. Of the students of History there are several classes, each of whom have a different aim in view. That of one is amusement. Another class consists of those who are desirous of collecting materials which will facilitate their intercourse with society. Their ambition seeks no higher gratification than the praises of a ball-room coterie. They luxuriate in the glitter of conversation. There are other classes, needless to mention, with all of whom the exalted powers of History are perverted to ignoble purposes. With such, the acquisitions of a lifetime are productive of no real benefit, for all knowledge which does not tend to improve the morals of the possessor or the society in which he moves, is nothing more than a creditable kind of ignorance. But we will dwell no longer on the improper use of History. Our object is to point out its benefits. Nothing is more calculated to contract and entangle the operations of the mind, than sectional or national prejudice. The Chinese government, until a recent period, prohibited all intercourse with foreign nations. In consequence of this policy, they have become wedded to institutions which the gradual advancement of civilization, and the diffusion of knowledge, have supplanted, and they are now enveloped in that mental darkness which once overspread the globe. Dam a body of water within the enclosures of a mountain, and unless fresh rivulets flow in to wash off the impurities of decomposition, it will become a stagnant pool, foul in itself, destructive to the purity of the surrounding atmosphere, a slimy den for croaking frogs. Such is the influence of national prejudice. Let the mind revolve in the same small orbit, and it will never acquire force sufficient to expand its circle. But once open to it the rich sources of History, the useless chaff will be winnowed away, and the nutritious grain alone remain. Moisten the germ and the beauteous plant will shoot forth. He who has never wandered from his native village, lives and dies in ignorance. But let him view the manners of distant nations, his mental vision becomes clearer and his heart more charitable. He is able to appreciate the excellences and sympathize with the misfortunes of his fellow-men, even if they are not fellow-citizens. The same benefits arise from a study of History. Of all riddles, the human heart is the most difficult of solution. The most intricate mechanism of art is explained by close examination. But our knowledge of the mainspring to man's actions, even the most intimate friend's, is imperfect. In History, this disguise is torn off; some clue is found to unravel the mystery. The Poet says, with truth, "Distance lends enchantment to the view." Virtues for which the living man received no due reward, shed a halo of glory around the dead. Prejudice, and the jealousy of party, may, for awhile, obscure merit, but justice will be meeted out by an impartial posterity. Vice may rise and flourish on the shoulders of cunning and hypocrisy, but time will rend away the veil and expose its loathsome nakedness. The grave is a sweet retreat for the upright of soul, but in truth a dreadful reckoner for those whose conscience has been seared by crime. The lapse of a few centuries or years explains the cause of an Alexander's grief, or tests the sincerity of a Napoleon's patriotism. History has been termed philosophy teaching by examples, and, in this view, we consider a study of it the most beneficial. We are so organized by nature that in all our actions we are, in part, guided by the precedents of others. In early years we are influenced, for good or evil, by our parents and those to whom we look for advice and protection. As we advance in life, the sphere of influence is extended, and we begin to look abroad for examples by which to form our character. At this period, History is the most useful of all studies. Then we can appreciate the justice of Cervantes, where he says, "the mother of Truth is History, that rival of Time, that repository of great actions, witness of the Past, example and pattern of the Present, and oracle of future ages." The voice of Nature pays involuntary homage to the great and illustrious. Where admiration exists the character will, in some measure, be assimilated to those by whom it is inspired. The faculties of the soul are quickened, refined, and expanded by a survey of the conduct of mankind. Tacitus truly observed, "Pauci prudentia, honesta ab deterioribus, utilia ab noxus discernunt; plures aliorum eventes docentur." Every generation, which has inhabited the earth since its formation, was guided by its predecessor. This is the most important cause of the advancement of civilization. Principles are tested by experience. The good are preserved and adopted as examples, and the bad are repudiated. Thus every succeeding age is an improvement on the former. "The whole world is a school, of which History and Experience are the teachers." The truth of this theory will appear by an attentive study of the life and character of the most distinguished men. Homer, with a masterly hand, delineated the character of an Achilles; Alexander strove to imitate Achilles; Cæsar, Alexander; Charles XII., Cæsar; and Napoleon followed and surpassed them all. We might point out isolated instances of those who imitated none; in other words, never made a study of History, and yet received the praises of their fellow-men. But such examples are extremely rare. Patrick Henry, independent of historical knowledge, was the most eloquent orator of his age. But will any one deny that a study of Demosthenes would have added brighter lustre to his genius? From the powerful impression made by the living upon those who are subjected to their influence, we can form an estimate of that which is exerted by the revered departed. While marching through the drear deserts of Northern Europe, the army of Charles XII. became exhausted from the want of water. A soldier, with great difficulty, obtained a small quantity and presented it to the King, who, in the presence of his thirsting army, poured it upon the earth. This heroic example revived the drooping spirits of the soldiers, and thenceforward they cheerfully encountered hardships, in which their leader participated. So wonderful is the force of example. "Mitius jubetur exemplo." The institutions of the Romans afford arguments elucidative of almost every subject within the range of human comprehension. Among which, we admire none more than that of adorning their halls with the bustos of their ancestors. These fired the living and aroused within them a spirit of noble emulation. In the learned language of Sallust, "Memoria rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore cres cere, neque prius sedari, quam virtus eorum famam atque gloriam adaequaverit." Here History was embodied in a living form, which appealed to the deepest and noblest feelings of the soul. So long as the Roman youth approached those venerable images with reverence their beloved city was empress of the world. Rome is now a heap of ruins. Music and Painting are the only source of pride to the descendants of her once haughty possessors. Degenerate offspring of a noble race! how long will you groan under the oppressor's yoke? Look around upon the crumbling monuments of your ancestors' glorious feats! Let your hearts commune with those broken statues and tottering palaces, which record the history of the Past. These awoke Rienzi from his poetic dreamings, and inspired him with the daring of a Brutus. these speaking witnesses cannot inflame your souls, the slave's lot be your everlasting doom. If History is the proper school for legislators. The knowledge of past events is most valuable, as it enables them to understand the present, and form just calculations in regard to the future. Here are recorded the breakers upon which states and empires were wrecked. Fairseeming hypotheses are tested by time and found erroneous. The framers of our national constitution were deeply impressed with the importance of attentively studying those models contained in the annals of antiquity. In all of them, they found institutions ill adapted to their own times. They then turned to those Republics formed at a more recent period. Each were discovered to be defective. In Holland, they saw that the people did not participate in the erection of the supreme power; in Poland, the multitude were oppressed by an incubus of monarchy and aristocracy; in Venice, a small body of hereditary nobles exercised a stern sway." (Miss Martineau.) Like a skillful physician, who probes the wound before applying a remedy, they pondered over every clause which might contain symptoms of decay. Having thus examined the subject, they wisely discharged the duties imposed upon them. A representative government, previously considered an anomaly in politics, was reduced to a form which promises to be imperishable. Like meteors, which shoot athwart the vault of Heaven to dazzle and disappear, other Republics have lived their little day, and are now enveloped in eternal darkness. As a star, at first faintly discernible, but gradually growing brighter and brighter, until its effulgence obscures the pale glimmerings of surrounding constellations, our Republic arose and has eclipsed the glory of Europe's time-honored institutions. Guided by the light of History, the American legislators threaded the labyrinths in which their predecessors were entangled. Conflicting interests and party animosity appear at times to threaten the stability of our government, but when the excited passions are allowed to cool, the danger is removed. Our History contains a more important lesson than can be taught by labored tomes. The example of Washington has made an impression which time can never erase. His virtues are written on the tablets of our hearts. After a limited period he refused the office of Chief Magistracy, which his grateful country besought him to accept. What were his reasons? History |