232 [ASSEMOLV 



reach it, are telling us ihat in your neighboring city of Philadelphia a 

 musical instrument has been invented upon new principles — " the ac- 

 tive agent being electro-magnetism, which passing through wires, 

 breathes forth sounds equalling the ^olian harp in softness, and rival- 

 ing the organ in the distinctness of its notes." And so it seems to 

 have become a literal truth, that by the agency of human will, acting 

 through simple machines of human contrivance, the lightning, this 

 mightiest of nature's forces, may be so tamed for service that it will 

 work in the garden for the farmer — making his vegetables grow, or 

 play in the parlor for his wife — putting her to sleep with its sweet 

 music ! 



Without pausing to calculate the market value of these singular ap- 

 propriations of the energies of nature, what room for reflection is there 

 in the fact that man is able thus to seize and convert to his own use 

 the sublilest elements ! How by a little thought he multiplies his 

 strength ! Standing alone, who so weak, so helpless as he. Yet has 

 he reduced the world to himself. Without external aid he could ac- 

 complish nothing. But he does accomplish all things, compelling all 

 to be his agents and to work his will. 



The arts are the humanizers of life ; all that is not of the earth in 

 man has been elevated as they have advanced. They have been the 

 handmaids of religion, and have done her good service in the world, 

 the ruder and the finer arts alike. All arts are line arts, and the use- 

 ful the finest. We look upon the statue of an old master, or upon the 

 breathing marble of Powers, and our hearts swell with delight, for we 

 see the truth embodied there. So also is the truth embodied in the 

 nicely adjusted machine which deep thought conceived and exquisite 

 skill wrought out. The steam-ship is a work of fine art as truly as a 

 picture of the waters she moves upon or the shores she visits ; and 

 he who fashioned it, adapting each nicely adjusted part so as best to 

 effect the end proposed, has as clear an eye for the beautiful and the 

 true, as the artist who breathes out his soul in the creations of the pen- 

 cil. And so in this outer world, where nature by her " peaceful striv- 

 ings and doings," addresses us in that combined " outline of cloud, 

 and sky, and sea, and coast, sleeping in the morning or the evening 

 light." 



