Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injuriousJohnson, James
Science
Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injurious
Johnson, James
Balneology; Health resorts; Mineral waters
Lawrence are digging the grave of the
Alligagny mountains—the mighty Andes—“Giant of the Western Star,” who now
“Looks from his throne of clouds o’er half the world”—
is silently and slowly suffering disintegration by the PLATA and AMAZON,
committing its atoms to the depths of the Atlantic, thence to emerge,
at some remote epoch, the habitation of races of animated beings that
have no types, perhaps, in the present or past creations. Even the
cloud-capt Himalaya, whose base extends over thousands of miles, feeds
with its substance the insatiate mouths of the Indus, the Ganges, the
Burrhampooter, and the Yrawaddy, whose turbid waves roll down to distant
seas the alluvial tribute; themselves the unconscious ministers of an
Almighty will!
Thus it would appear that the _levelling_ principle is as operative in
the _physical_ as in the _moral_ world—among mountains as well as among
men. But there is one great and essential difference between the two.
The Himalaya may require thousands of years longer to wear down than the
Cordillera. This is merely a difference in time. But no time, or space,
or circumstance can effect an equilibrium in the moral or intellectual
world. If such a level could be obtained, it would instantly perish,
or recede to a greater distance than ever. Equality of this kind, like
Heaven’s bright bow—
“Allures from far yet as we follow flies.”
Equal right can never lead to equal might.
But to return from this digression. How is it that the Helvetian and the
Hollander, whose countries are the very antipodes of each other—whose
manners, customs, and pursuits are as different as Alps are from
sand-hills, should yet present a more striking similarity in one moral
feature, than the inhabitants of any other two countries? Of all the
nations of Europe, the Helvetians and Hollanders, inhabiting the highest
and the lowest grounds in the world, are most enthusiastically attached
to their native soils, and experience the greatest degree of nostalgic
yearning when separated from home. The _amor patriæ_ of the Swiss is
proverbial—that of the Dutchman is quite as strong, though not so well
known.
“The Hollander (says Mr. Chambers,) is bred up from his infancy to have
the highest ideas of his “_Vaderland_”—of her people—her warriors—her
wealth—her power. He is taught to consider this _Vaderland_ as standing
highest in the rank of nations—that every thing belonging to her is
_best_. He is an admirer, without being a benefactor of his country—a
patriot without public spirit—contented and self-satisfied with his
country and every thing belonging thereto.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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