With great deference to the Crutch-shaker we do not see any necessity for having recourse to such a supposition, when the passage can be explained in the plain and, we think, natural and obvious acceptation given above. Besides, there is the decided and decisive silence of the poet about clouds being seen, or winds being heard; nay, we have his express assertion that there was not a breath of air at the time. True, the description may refer to an entire night, as we believe it does: but we are warranted to infer that it was a "windless" one throughout-no temporary cloud-shading, as the Professor, with his pencil dipt in the inspiration of his native skies and mountains, would, however picturesquely, invest the scene with--but one clear, cloudless, bright, blue sky all night, revealing every sign and every star to the gladdened shepherd's eye. And well that shepherd knew that he could not see all the constellations at once, that the Hyades and Pleiades would appear before Orion and Sirius; and so with the other signs in their successive expansion and array, bursting from beyond and below the boundary of his visible horizon. For he knew "The starry lights that heaven's high concave crown'd; The Pleiads, Hyads, with the northern team; And great Orion's more refulgent beam, To which, around the axle of the sky, The Bear revolving points his golden eye, POPE'S ILIAD, b. 18. We should not wish to weaken by extension the position we have taken up, but we think that a consideration of the question, why was the shepherd so glad at seeing all the stars? will tend further to strengthen our construction. Did he rejoice, then, merely because he saw all the stars visible above him at any particular moment-for example, after the supposed clarification of the heavens by the breaking up of clouds? No. He had often looked up and admired, but there was no occasion then for his special wonder or ecstacy. He had no complete assurance as yet that this appearance would last. It might have stortued and darkened before another star had set, or another arisen. But when at last he saw sign after sign appearing, while others disappeared, panding to other stars another heaven," as Sotheby says, and which Christopher himself pronounces to be the very "vision seen by Homer;" then, indeed, his "assurance became doubly sure," and he felt a professional satisfaction that there would be a continuance of clear, fine weather, a succession of sunny days, and starry or moon-light nights. For it was not the mere view of the starry heavens, per se, that so gladdened the shrewd though simple shepherd's heart, but also something of a selfish or utilitarian sentiment, mingling with his astronomical enthusiasm, and regulating his natural disposition to star-worship. ex A more difficult question to solve than what has been noticed above, is that which has been started, viz., what object on earth was the moon meant to represent, shining among the many stars? The stars resembled the Trojan night-fires, but there was no great central fire to mate with the moon. Query, might it not have been meant to resemble Troy-town, which, we are informed in a previous passage, was illuminated in all her hearths and houses, to throw farther light upon the subject-plain, or prevent surprise? Shining on high from her lofty position, overlooking the watch-fires, the city might in some sense be likened to the moon amid the lesser lights. But it is perilous tampering with such splendid pictures. Behold the master-piece-admire, but touch not. Though the celebrated paraphrase of Pope must be in every one's recollection, we have ventured to prefix a plain version, to recal reminiscence of the severer simpler text. A characteristic specimen of Pope's treatment of the original occurs in his rendering of the very passage in question : "A flood of glory bursts from all the skies." TOXOTES. DISCOVERY OF THE CENTRAL SUN. As astronomy, we are told, was one of the principal sciences taught and studied by the ancient Freemasonss-more particularly by Pythagoras, who secretly instructed his disciples in the true theory of the solar system, long afterwards adopted and demonstrated by Copernicus— it may not be out of place in these pages to enter the record of any great discovery or new doctrine connected with the science. And though the recent researches and results obtained by Le Verrier be among the most important and wonderful in the annals of astronomy, yet we give a place here to the recent investigations of Dr. Maedler, as less known, though in some respects perhaps not less extraordinary. In December 1846, Dr. Maedler, director of the observatory at Dorpat, announced that he had arrived at the discovery of the great central point, round which the universe of stars, our own sun and system included, is revolving. To use his own words-" I pronounce the Pleiades to be the central group of that mass of fixed stars limited by the stratum composing the Milky Way, and Alcyone as the individual star of this group, which, among all others, combines the greatest probability of being the true central sun." We must refer to other sources for the train of reasoning and detail of facts by which the laborious observer arrived at this conclusion, based originally upon the researches of Sir William Herschel, who found that the solar system was approximating to the constellation Hercules. Dr. Maedler further finds the distance of the great central star, Alcyone, to be thirty-four millions of times the distance of the sun, or so remote that light requires a period of 537 years to pass from that centre to our sun; and, as a first rough approximation, he deduces the period of our sun, with all its train of planets, satellites, and comets, about the grand centre, to be 18,200,000 years. The author of this theory declares that he will yield it on the condition that one single star can be found by any astronomer within twenty or twenty-five degrees of his grand centre, in which a well-determined motion towards the north exists. His theory indicates that the proper motion of all stars thus situated must be towards the south. His conclusions have been the result of many years most laborious calculation and observation, and they are as yet too recently promulgated to ascertain what proportion of weight they may have with astronomers in general. THE YOUTH'S VISION. As I was meditating over the lettered page, "the iron tongue of midnight tolled" the hour of twelve. Startled at the advancement of the night, I hurriedly retired to my couch, and while wrapt in balmy sleep, methought the picture of my future life passed in a perspective view before my gazing eyes. I was bending my wearied steps up a steep and rugged hill, whose summit in the "cloud cap'd top" was lost; and I observed that my path on each side was impeded by obstacles in appearance most appalling, almost, indeed, preventing any farther progress. These most hideous reptiles, for such they appeared to be, darted at me their forked tongues, and with fiery looks watched my motions, seeming determined to resist the desire I expressed to reach the pinnacle of the lofty height above me. While hesitating whether to retrace my inauspicious path, or with renewed courage and persevering ardour, try once more to gain the portal of the dome crowned temple," planted on the steep aloft; a voice, sweet as the gales of Elysium bowers, struck upon my almost deafened ears. "Mortal!" it exclaimed, "long have I surveyed thy tedious progress, and with feelings that your fellow-mortals do not possess, to your rescue have I flown; the dangers with which thou art encompassed, cannot be overcome but by the help of a superior power, to whose service thy life should be in gratitude devoted." At the sound of so much excellence, my thrilling soul was filled with fortitude and resolution to commence the struggling combat, but was deterred by the motions of my Mentor; for, having ceased to speak, he seized the heads of those infernal monsters, and slew them with resistless strength. I stood gazing on in mute astonishment at a scene in which I yearned to take a part. The angelic being seemed to dive into my inmost thoughts; for, turning to me, he said, placing an instrument of destruction in my hands similar to a rifle, "Thou beholdest yon treacherous reptile, coiling on the branches of a sycamore tree, that one above all others stays your advancing footsteps.' This roused my indignation to avenge the unjust injury; therefore instantly levelling the piece, I fired, and from the noise of the percussion awoke-the monster falling. MORAL. In endeavouring to elucidate the preceding dream, I am induced to suppose the rugged hill represented the path of life, and the serpents, those numerous enemies in the form of envious slanderers, whom we encounter in our progress through this transitory world, and who often, under the sacred name of friendship to our faces, pretend to serve us, but in reality, from envy or malice, endeavour to frustrate all cur schemes and future hopes by calumnious and invidious reports, rendering it impossible ever to trace their source, from the subtle and flagitious manner in which they are propagated. The appearance of the celestial being at so critical a juncture, is a convincing demonstration, that a wise and just God watches over us, and that a sincere reliance in his power will always extricate us from the most perilous and pressing dangers. Nov. 22, 1824. H. R. S. COLLEGE MUSINGS. BY LITHOURGOS. THE IDLER AT PARIS. (Continued from page 285, 1846.) CHAPTER VIII. MID-DAY I embarked on-board the steam packet to cross the straights of Dover. My eyes cast a wistful look on the fast receding shores of my native land, whi.st quitting them for the first time in my life to visit a foreign shore; but the swift speeding vessel soon entering the harbour of Calais, my thoughts were quickly diverted into another channel. This is a strongly fortified place, and the numerous barriers one had to pass through in reaching the hotel, the importunate services of Le Commissionaire, and the sort of rubbing down at the Custom-house, were impediments to the free exercise of the limbs, rather astonishing to the impetuous spirit of youth, unaccustomed to such fetters upon his motions. Sleeping one night at Calais, I pursued my route to Paris par Boulonge, Abbeville, and Beauvais. One incident at Calais wonderfully amazed me. I happened to stroll into the cathedral; the priest was performing mass, and in the middle of the ceremony the doors were thrown open, and in marched an entire regiment of the garrison, with drums beating and colours flying, and when within a few yards of the altar they halted, ground arms with a prodigious noise, and reverently bowed the knee at the elevation of the host. The scene had a strange mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous. 66 * Well-a-day ! as old Dominie Sampson would say, pro-di-gi-ous!” Already one month at Paris contrary to a vow-not registered in heaven -but seriously made previous to leaving home, only to stay one brief fortnight. And such a plucking too! One vow I religiously keep, never again to enter Frascati! Four thousand francs at a sitting! no joke, youngster. But my fickle, wayward indetermination deserved it. Ye gods and Stygian shades! Fool that I was to be cozened by a greater, though an older fool ! Where are those airy castles, those enormous winnings, those irresistible, invincible systems, based upon the nicest calculation ? crumbled into dust, all, all evaporated into emptyfaugh! I have no patience with myself for idly listening to such schemes of moonshine speculation. The master was an ass, and his dnpe a dolt. It was aggravating enough to lose the money-more galling to reflect how wastefully forfeited! But, by my troth, as Asmodeus swears, enough of it. I shall balance the loss with experience, and in the end it will turn out a profit. * * A renewal of my old complaint, the cacoëthes scribendi, has this dull morning prompted me to take up my pen, and pursue my original object! Here a puzzling query starts up: What was the original and primeval object of this journal? Mercury, thou god of invention, lend me thy ears! I come to reveal myself to myself. Was it rational? Doubtful. Was it irrational? No. Ergo, it was neither rational nor irrational. So much for the guiding rod of logic in the discovery of truth! So much for the perspicuity of syllogistic reasoning! Pri'thee take a moral, young fellow, though from this brief episode in the drama of a young man's life, thrown upon the world's waters without any Mentor, but that which grace or a good heart might furnish to save him from being swallowed up in its numerous most insidious quicksands. The vice of gambling cannot be too severely deprecated. It is a propensity of the most dangerous and subtle character. It is not alone the ruin of estates and property that is involved, but the sure contracting of a habit endangering the permanency of every moral attribute. Such is the conviction of him, who suffered himself no longer to be associated with such infatuated folly than he thought it necessary for the study of mankind. Bethink thee, young man, who reads this passing thought, he who now speaks to you speaks somewhat feelingly. Like one who has descended into the regions of fabled Pluto, and returns to tell the perils and hazards of the way, and the tortures and sufferings of the unhappy victims doomed to dwell in those cimerean abodes of wretchedness and horror; so he warns the inexperienced-uninitiated-raw, green, sanguine youth-to pause ere he make a debût at the gaming table, and learn the unequal hazardous odds it is determined he shall run to win, the oppressive torture of the mind to be endured in either gaining or losing, the despair created in losing yourself, or in them of whom you win; the pallid, haggard looks of most around you, who oft stake all, body and soul, on the last card, and then go forth to die by their own hand; the thousand indescribable evils which this hideous passion reveals to the contemplative eye, and if he possess one grain of understanding, he will take this practical caution in good part, and, if committed, without a moment's delay retrace his dubious steps; but if not, vigilantly avoid all such destructive demoralizing haunts. Unwittingly I am grown serious. But, indeed, serious things require serious consideration. This is a theme of vital import It constitutes the preservation of families and of nations, deserving the attention of the wisest legislature. Perhaps had success attended my play (if success be ever permitted by the managers in the long run, whatever may seem to be your luck at first), I might have been tempted to have hazarded higher stakes. There is the danger to a neophyte. He wins trifling amounts; grows bolder by his success, designed by those whose eyes he does not perceive are watching him. At last, in feverish excitement, he lays upon the table a goodly sum, which is grabbed, his colour losing, of course, and in madness he becomes a ruined beggar, or a desperate suicide. O horrible life! Society would rise as one man, and put down those dens of rapine and iniquity, could they see and feel what I have seen and felt while visiting the most polished and gorgeous saloons. What must be the character in scenes of inferior note. The nature of the misery I beheld so disgusted me, that I made a vow, never during the residue of my life to touch a card. As an amusement it is trifling—as a business it is adventurous. Cards were originally invented for the pastime of a royal idiot, and are capable of affording no substantial satisfaction to the mind of a sensible individual.* Midnight is the hour for reflection and meditation. At that solemn * Since the above was written the government of France has wisely shut up the numerous gaming houses in Paris. A very patriotic act, as formerly a considerable revenue was derived from them. |