'Competence, a most essential attribute of comfort, without which independence is as the morning cloud and early dew-and which to old age, with the blessing of Hea-isaical coincidences postpone the evils of the ven, is as balm to the wounded, and wearied soldier in the horrors of war.

Equality, determined by the conscientious, upright performance of dutiful plan, without which the greatness of the world becomes a dazzling meteor of self-moving and invigo-man heart, and driven them to the wall, to rating power darkening by reason of disappointed hope.

Self-government, without which all the world is chaos-a ship without a helm-a shipless sea-the Jove of the ambition of Opalians the pole star of the true-hearted and devoted friends of the just and valuable qualities of human nature,-how it comes booming along the river of life, like a vessel in good sail to a waiting traveller! Oh, how it refreshes, comforts, and welcomes to the Has reason glimmered in the socket of oppressed and oppressive tendencies the some dear friend's once brilliant light? Has high-born spirit of enrapturing freedom- the gentleness and sweetness of domestic not the hobby of the state-worn politician bliss nestled with the determined firmness

EDITOR'S TABLE.

127

of sisters of the secret duty-the soothers | very ones who understand the art the most of the unnoticed and unknown, and attracted thoroughly. I hope no lady who paints will unto a group of emerging compassionates expect an offer from me. So farewell, ye the lovely objects of the world to comfort by painted faces. alluring unto the attractive habits and manners of the reasonable those whose erring feeble step hath stumbled often on the unstudied walk of inconstant reason? Yes, we are assured of the power and interest, and sway and love of those who cherish the mind as the standard of all that is noble and grand-yes, indeed, the swan-like graces of chastened affliction will send forth their unction, and in their farewell will sing the sweetest notes as they prepare to enter on the devious pathway of experienced awe. May many be able to say, "It is done! the long agony is over-the reason is restoredthe mind now reposes in the arms of her legitimate constancy and truth.

The Great Commotion.-We noticed in

The Maine Law.-According to a resolution to that effect, passed by the Senate on Saturday, the Temperance Bill was taken up by that body on Tuesday afternoon, and several amendments proposed relating to the importation of liquors in packages, all of which were lost, and the bill finally passed and was sent to the Assembly, by a vote of 21 to 11. From present appearances, there can scarcely be a question that a prohibitory law will be passed by the present Legisla ture, and signed by the Governor, adapted to the suppression of the sale and use of alcohol as a beverage.

We are unable, for want of room, to say more on the subject in the present number, but hope in our next to be able to announce of the age and the welfare of our State dethe final passage of such a law as the spirit mand, and to give, as we shall be happy to the details of such a law.

The great secret of our victories over our determination that we will not yield to them. worst difficulties, real or imaginary, is the

Miscellaneous Enigma.

[We again insert this enigma, it being so incorrectly printed in our last as almost to defy solution.]

the Feb. No. of the Opal, that some very
important and unexpected discoveries had
been made in the way of making homely
people handsome—or, rather, what weak-do,
minded people term handsome. But it
is a very great error to suppose a white
skin, with the addition of a rosy hue upon
the cheek, constitute beauty. Far from
it: a person's skin may be whiter than
alabaster, and the cheek as rosy as rouge
can make it, and yet not a single expression
appear that bespeaks intelligence, which is
the chief thing requisite in making a beauty.
Who has not seen a brunette, with a spark-
ling, speaking eye, that surpassed in beauty
all the natural or painted beauties the world
can show? I must say that I always had
great respect for the fair sex, and am sorry
that any of that lovely portion of the com-
munity should adopt any other than a fair
way to render themselves fair. Whoever
has shown so small an amount of good sense
as to give their approval of painting in our
last No. of the Opal, is truly deserving of
pity as well as censure. We take it for
granted that those who are so seriously
affected by the recent discovery concerning
painted faces as to throw a whole house in
commotion, (pronouncing it "a shame to
expose the faultless creatures,") are the

I am composed of 23 letters:
My 6, 10, 20, 4 is a lady's name;

My 20, 7, 21, 5, 14 is a river in France; My 22, 15, 11, 17, 23, 2 is what many people like;

My 19, 14, 18, 2, 12 is an animal found in Africa and Europe;

My 1, 2, 6, 13 is a vegetable;

My 10, 6, 13, 12, 2, 16 not unfrequently softens the pain of absence;

My 3, 21, 8, 6 is what every gentleman intends to get;

My 23, 2, 10, 9 is what everybody loves best;

My whole is good advice, which, if strictly adhered to, would be of infinite value to some people.

Apologetic. We deeply regret the insertion of the article entitled “Virtue and Piety Man's Highest Interest," in the Feb. No. of the Opal, which was furnished us as original. We recognized it as an old acquaintance of our school days, but too late to prevent its appearance. Our attention has since been called to it by The Churchman, which copied it, and its paternity given also by a fair correspondent, for which we feel grateful. We intend to publish only original matter, and the exception for once must prove the rule, while we console ourselves that "mistakes will happen in the best regulated families." The like, we trust, will not soon again happen.

Cincinnati Home Journal, Cincinnati, Ohio. We have received the first number

of this Journal—“ A Literary, Musical and Temperance Register," and are happy to place it upon our exchange list. Neat and tasteful in appearance, and advocating the truth, we cheerfully welcome it to our table, thankfully reciprocating its complimentary salutation. May it prove a regular visitant, and the cogitations of the "Old Man" oft delight us.

be hardly recognizable. We trust none will forget us, and we are sure they would not, were they aware of the aching void their absence leaves. Papers are to us of incalculable benefit-and not one which finds its way here but finds numerous and appreciative readers.

T. B. Peterson, No. 102, Chesnut St., Philadelphia, announces in press, and will soon issue "Kate Aylesford," an historical novel, by Charles B. Peterson. Judging from the known ability and reputation of the author as a popular and interesting writer, we may safely predict a tale of more than common interest.

We acknowledge the receipt of the following:

Anniversary Discourse before the New York Academy of Medicine, delivered Nov. 22nd, 1854, by John H. Griscom, M. D., published by order of the Academy.

The Sixteenth Annual Report of the Board of the Trustees for the Benevolent Institutions, and of the Officers of the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, to the Governor of Ohio, for the year 1854.

Monthly Spirit of the Press, a Family Publication. Cincinnati, Ohio.-Cincinnati sends us another paper, no less interesting, containing a flattering notice of the Opal-1855, for the preceding year.

Nineteenth Annual Report of the Managers of the New York Institution for the Blind to the Legislature of the State, Jan.

whose acquaintance we are pleased to make. Annual Report of the Adjutant General We are happy to find our little periodical of the State of New York, transmitted to meeting with so kind a reception away from the Legislature, Jan. 10th, 1855, from home-pardon us, we can but feel an honest R. U. Sherman, Clerk, New York Assempride-and in these kindly interchanges of bly. thought and feeling we anticipate much pleasure and profit. Messrs. Western Editors. we greet you with the compliments of the Opal.

Putnam, Godey, Graham, etc., have made their appearance for April with their usual punctuality, well filled with interesting articles, both entertaining and instructive.

Several of our exchanges have failed to reach us lately, or come so irregularly as to

Thirty-sixth Annual Report and Documents of the New York Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, to the Legislature of the State of New York, for 1854, from R. U. Sherman.

From the Pilot, Montreal, Canada, a package of their exchange papers-very acceptable. Would that others would do likewise.

Prison Life, by Rev. J. B. Finley. Presented by Mr. Selden Hinman, agent of the Book and Tract Repository, Utica.

Mind has been instituted by its Creator to an objectless being, dishonoring the glointo certain forms denominated attributes, rious phenomenon, degrading the medium which philosophy has classified in relative of its development to a common and univerimportance, contiguously essential to exist- sal instinct, prior to experience and indeence, in its perfect operations as a distinct-pendent of knowledge, and foreign to its inive characteristic of a rational and immortal dependent action. being.

Precious, highest, noblest gift of Heaven, thou mysterious impulse of all that adorns the works of nature, hast thou a quality named serenity? Or is it only a state of being incident to the natural variations, and consequent on the succession of qualities? Are all the operations of the healthful and disciplined mind consecutive and demonstrable? Perhaps not, for those extraordinary

Nature having provided for the journey of life by the regular constitution of her intellectual qualities, she predominates them to suit her purposes, and elects for use and occasion the precise attribute for the particular sphere, to be exercised only at a proper place, “just right," and in accordance with the demands of circumstances or necessities. That the habits of mind may be as developments-those unaccountable procedisciplined as those of the body experience of education has fully determined, and the controlling of them has been committed to a psychological habitude, established by conventional adoption and arrangement, offering to every conscious possessor of so valuable a gem the sure and certain method of perfecting the individual qualities of the mysterious whole, that so lives through all the boundaries of creation the emblem of the 'divinity that stirs within us," as to leave its unmistakable impress in the paths of its course. While some can and do cultivate the whole by a superior agency, others are a prey to its every change, and are enslaved

dures of her engagements, that come and go unbidden and unsought, are from the Hand and forming of Him denominated GoD and are under the name of genius assigned to a distinct and independent relation, dashing forward and outstripping the deductions of logic in the use of reason, inquiring after truth and communicating it to others.

In the ordinary engagements of the phenomena, the most superficial observer of their operation will aver that he who alone is serene when all around is bustle and confusion, can ever render into advantageous position or condition any state of his gemmed glory, partaking of the hues of the changes

of life. A human being would indeed be a vacillating material, unless he could calmly survey the nature of the fields he proposed tó travel, be self-possessed in the examination of their qualities, and in the recognition of those contingent alliances suspended on the movements of his reasoning powers.

As the cultivated calisthenic exercises every part of the system in order to produce the desired effect—as the gymnasiast preserves the perfect control of the several parts of his animal economy-as he studies the qualities of each, and seeks the avenue of their exercise-as he determines the The operations of the mind have been power of the whole by ascertaining the discompared to those of a patent lever watch, tinct and positive quality of each inherent and God is supposed to be really the mecha-part-as he exercises part by part, and step nician—to be the artificer of its wonderful by step advances in gradual union to the encasement, and the distinction between the soul and mind being the quality of living, perceiving and acting.

subjugation of the whole constituents—as he educates the muscles and nerves to do their positive agency in the animal economy, and discovers their utility in the mental conformations--he yields himself to no condition that tends to disturb the repose, the sereneness of all the parts of the stupendous whole, whose body and soul are derived from God the Lord,-whose powers become cognizant

The brain is the material organ by which all the mental faculties are manifested, and its dissection has thrown light on the psychological phenomena attendant on the existence of mind, only to show that it is seriously affected by its physical condition, the healthful action of it being necessary to reflection, in the rightful apprehension of to clear thought on any subject or object. truthful conditions,-and who suborn to no The food, the manducation, chylification, other condition than the ensuing of the selactation, affecting with the digestive organs rene and calm contemplation of the succesthe processes of thinking—so that indigesti- sive and imperative associations of philosoble minds have often the same sort of bodies, phical affinities. A calm sea, a calm view, and the power that sits aloft to look out for a tranquil mind are different, for as no propoor Peter in the serene atmosphere of self-gress is made in a sea calm-wind being espossession is liable to be exchanged for the sential to advancement, the intellect adpestiferous effluvia of ill-concocted and un-vances to its zenith in the tranquil shades of determined material. The attention of the self-complacent control.

mind to its own performances--the holding Gentle zephyrs of a summer's eve are the it subject to the will, and its abeyance-the balm of life. When we can gaze through understanding one's self, in common parl-golden virtues at the sun's decline into the ance, and the directing that understanding to realms of paradise-can muse in the puregood purpose is only accomplished by pre-ness of the soul of joys and hopes, of glory, serving the balance of it, by sitting in calm- human praise and power, that cometh into ness to judge of one's own cause-and the tranquil bosom of one whose affection, thereby becoming competent to analyze and whose will is chastened by the severity of synthesize all the powers of the mind."science and religion," and corresponds with How do you parse the language? By pull-the soft, radiant tones that mirage the traning it to pieces and putting it together again. quil shades of which the mind dreams as it How do you cure the enthralled mind? By pants after the right apprehension of all the breaking down its old fancies and conceits, appurtenances appertaining unto a human and building anew on the firm foundation of beingserene apprehension. The very possession of tranquillity secures the true and honest view of a subject, the perception of the different relations of its aspects, and the ability to adapt them as they are connected in all the associations to which they may find affinity in the evolvement of intellectual characteristics.

"There are some chosen few
Upon this wide, wide earth
Who are content to live
Far from all noise and mirth;
But yet who shed around
A fragrance of good deeds,-
Done not to seek man's praise,
But God's, who all things leads."

Some whose eyes glisten with the ten