ESSAYS AND ORATIONS FOR COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES BY CHAS. READE A. FLANAGAN COMPANY, CHICAGO NEW YORK THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Two Copies Received MAY. 1 1901 COPYRICHT ENTRY CLASS ^XXc. Na. / o ^ o y COPY 3. Copyright i90i BY CHAS. READE f PREFACE. The venerable custom of closing our schools and col- leges each year with commencement exercises is anx- iously looked forward to by the community in general, as it is the one day in the year when students appear })ublicly. An opportunity is given to the public to judge of what has been done in a literary way at least for and by those who have completed the curriculum. It there- fore should be the aim of every student to deliver a well- prepared and pleasing oration, or to read well an essay on some subject of general interest. This volume of essays and orations has been com- piled to assist pupils and teachers in preparing com- mencement exercises. It is not intended that these essays will be copied or followed by the teachers or pupils, but they will, it is hoped, be to some extent a model as to what may be done with topics treated, and suggesting more in similar lines. I sincerely trust that this little volume will prove a source of help and interest to teachers and pupils. CHAS. READE. Chicago, April, 1901. CONTENTS. Page Salutatory 7 Our Country g The Single Tax 15 Manual Training ig The Anglo-Saxon Alliance 24 Is Whatever Is Worth Doing, Worth Doing Well? 27 - "Auld-Lang-Syne" 31 Growth 34.. Ruins 40 The Dandelion's Work 45 'Teh Dien" (I Serve) 47 - The Eyes We Look Through 51 Uses of Beauty 55 What Shall We Do with the Boys? 59 Words, Words, Words 63 Reading 67 The Young Housekeeper 70 Electricity 75 - Success in Life 82 Gypsies 85 Fairy Tales, Myths and Chivalric Literature for Children. . 90 Ideals and Realities , . . . . 95 For Character Is Our Immortality 98 - Kites with Too Large Tails 102 Seven Wonders of the World 108 The Gambler's Wife 113- Intellectual Progress 115 The Future of the Arid West 118 Gladstone and the Irish Struggle 122 Roads 129 "What a Woman Can Do" 133 6 CONTENTS. Page Our National Holidays 139 Footprints 144 "All the World's a Wheel" 147 The Salvation Army 151- The Value of College Education 156 "By Their Fruit Ye Shall Know Them" 159 Everything Has Its Model 162 , Silent Forces 165 Passions 170 Municipal Reform 173 Character More Valuable Than Reputation 177 The Coming Farmer 180 A Glimpse at the Coffee-Houses 185 We Build the Ladder by Which We Rise 191 Valedictory . 194 The Old Man Goes to Town 198 Six Maxims for Boys 203 What God Gives a Boy 204 How Boys May Succeed 205 Class Mottoes 207 OUR COUNTRY. OUR COUNTRY. Our country as known to civilized man is young in years and without antiquity of art, science, literature or government, when measured by the standard of other nations. It is in a new world whose existence was sus- pected by the ancients, and proven in the later periods of history. But in spite of all this its people possess the treasures of the experience of ages, and results of the progress of the human race from prehistoric times. With these treasures they have gained the wisdom to build up with wonderful quickness, a nation unequaled in its strength and resources, developed and undeveloped. It is but yesterday in the record of the earth's exist- ence, that modern men first discovered that our planet was a globe, and that in the waters between the western coasts of Europe and Africa, and the eastern coasts of Asia, there lay a vast continent, teeming with life, wealth and beauty. For years after its discovery this continent was shrouded in deep mystery, and w^as the subject of wild conjecture and tales of wonder. Then brave and earnest men and women ventured across the Atlantic Ocean and established homes in the wilderness. Thus were laid the cornerstones of the great states which form the nation. It is not easy, at this time, to comprehend the impulse given to Europe by the discovery of America. It was not the gradual acquisition of some border territory, a province, or a kingdom that had been gained. But a IQ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. new world v,as thrown open to the Europeans. The races of animals, the forms of vegetable growth, and the varied aspects of nature, filled the mind with entirely new ideas, that changed the habitual current of thought and stimulated it to unmeasured conjecture. As a result of this excitement some cities in Europe v/ere about depopulated, their inhabitants flocking to take their chances in the New World. Here they formed settlements, some of which were permanent; but in most of them sickness, starvation and the Indians soon caused the people to return to Europe. The first permanent settlement in the United States was that formed by the Spaniards, in 1565, at St. Augus- tine, Florida; and the first permanent New England settlement was made by the Pilgrims, in 1620, at Ply- mouth, Mass. The people who made the former did it for the love of gain only; but those who founded the latter, were seeking liberty — that liberty for which our forefathers finally fought and bled. Independence of mind, a fearless spirit, with an unparalleled strength of purpose, are characteristics for which the Pilgrims par- ticularly were distinguished. They landed with brave hearts and willing hands, "They litde thought how pure a light With years should gather round that day — How love should keep their memories bright — How wide a realm their sons should sway." When the seeds of war sprang up in the breasts of the Revolutionary heroes, were not the counselors of Great Britain strangely perplexed? The voice of wis- dom forsook her parliament, and her king, her nobles, and her people were misled by blinded judgment. OUR COUNTRY. II It was early in this period, big with the destinies of millions, when all that is dear and valuable to man was at stake, and the hopes of America were on the point of being blasted forever, that the immortal Washington appeared leader upon the field of battle. A mysterious Providence seemed to designate him, as the man who was to lead the American armies to victory and conquest. His course was brilliant and successful; he met the vet- erans who wore the laurels of victory of a hundred hard fought battles, but he defeated them, rescuing the coun- try from the invader's sword and causing its rights and its privileges to be acknowledged and upheld by the voices of nations. The framing of the Constitution — that great founda- tion of our country's glory — is not among the least of the great acts by which these United States are distin- guished. Our Constitution is the written embodiment of the great principles "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever." We shudder when we think how near broken w^re the bonds of Union, which each state imposed upon itself when it ratified this Constitution, and how these principles were almost crushed when, in 1861, the storm of the Civil War burst over the country and afterward ravaged it. It will not be necessary for me to attempt to enumerate the memorable scenes enacted during that struggle, the details of which are familiar to us all. Suffice it is to say that from the time when the first shot in treason crashed against the walls of Fort Sumter, until the day on which Grant met Lee in that historic farmhouse, at Appomat- tox, and received the surrender of the Confederate army, our country was deluged with blood and these principles swaved in the balance. Thousands of Union's and Free- 12 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. dom's noble sons willingly sacrificed their lives in these causes. Thus was carried out the further great principle announced by our forefathers in the Declaration of Inde- pendence: *'A11 men are created free and equal." Slav- ery — the terrible stain that marred the beauty of our ban- ner and the integrity of the Union — -vv'as wiped out of our land. On Decoration Day the graves of the heroic dead are wreathed in flowers by a grateful people. An eminent author says, "Every soldier's grave becomes an altar," and it seems that since our heroes fell there are fresh reasons why the month of May should cover all the land with flowers. We bring rosemary for remembrance of their gallant deeds; pansies for proud thoughts of their devotion ; roses that remind us of their heart's blood so freely shed, and lilies as graceful and fair as their young lives offered on the altars of Union and Freedom. The bitterness of that sad time we seek to forget, and to cherish only the thoughts of their noble deeds. We do not ask v/hether the dust beneath wore the blue or the gray. It is enough for us that it is a soldier's grave, and we wreathe it with flowers. The time since the Civil War has been a period of remarkable commercial growth. This grov/th has been wonderfully strengthened and growth in another direc- tion developed by our recent acquirement of territory in Atlantic and Pacific waters. Doubtless we did right to keep the Philippines, though Vv^e should appear in a better light before the world had we refused to take Porto Rico as a prize of war. Whatever the right or wrong of our foreign policy there can be no doubt that commercialism has been greatly stimulated. The past century has been justly termed **the century OUR COUNTRY. 13 of progress." Agriculture, which is the primary source of wealth, induces manufacturing, and these together become the source of profitable commerce. Through commerce we cultivate the fine arts, science, literature and education; and these foster religion and morality, the basis of the highest civilization. In the matter of inventions our country is found in the front ranks of nations. In the matter of educational facil- ities she is approximating an epoch in mental culture that now rivals Cambridge and Oxford, England, and also the German universities. The heart of the nation incessantly beats toward education. It has been said that the greatest wxalth that America has ever possessed is her men and w-omen, remarkable for their patriotism, intellectual growth and genius in developing the resources with which our country is abundantly supplied. Our country is one of expansion. I do not mean so much territorially, as in ideas of government, civilization, religion and education. Our flag is a symbol of prosper- ity, protection, expansion, patriotism and higher civiliza- tion. No one dares to haul down the American flag. It is God's ensign to all benighted people. It behooves us to serve with loyal heart and life that glorious country of which Lowell says : Stormy the day of her birth, Was she not born for the strong ? She, the last ripeness of Earth, Beautiful, prophesied long. Stormy the day of her prime. Hers are the pulses that beat Higher for peril sublime, Making them fawn at her feet. 14 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Was she not born for the strong ? Was she not born for the wise? Daring and counsel belong Of right to her confident eyes. Human and motherly they, Careless of stations' race ; Hearken ! her children to-day Shout for the joy of her face. THE SINGLE TAX, 15 THE SINGLE TAX. "The Single Tax" is a term applied since 1888 to what Mr. Henry George first formulated as the only right remedy for prevailing economic ills. Single Tax is a tax on land in proportion to its site value, irrespective of the improvements it may contain or the uses to which it may be put. It is not a tax on real estate precisely, for real estate includes both the improvements and the land. Nor is it strictly a tax on land as such, for not all land should be taxed, but only that which has a proper value independent of all improve- ments. The Single Tax would do away with all other forms of taxation. It would set commerce free, and leave labor unimpeded, for thrift and industry would not be discoun- tenanced by penalties as at present. Nothing but land would be taxed, and it would be taxed not in proportion to its area, but in proportion to its site value. The Single Tax theory assumes: (i) That all men have naturally an equal right to the bounties of their common Creator — to land which is the passive source of wealth production; (2) That every man has an individual right to all the fruits of his own toil. These assumptions seem to be self-evident truths — pri- mary postulates of right reason. Therefore, if any man claims more than an equal right to the Creator's bounties, or a right to more than the full fruits of his own toil, the burden of proving his title rests upon him. It follows, clearly, that whoever appropriates more than an equality r6 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. of land privileges has exceeded his right unless he com- pensates the community for the extra advantages which he enjoys. In like manner, he who takes without ade- quate compensation the fruits of another's toil is bound to restore. The extra privileges associated with land constitute its site value and the equitable compensation for these privileges is the measure and matter of the Single Tax. Land of itself has no value until the presence of popula- tion gives to certain parts certain advantages over other parts. Since it is society that gives to land its site value, society but claims its ovs^n when it taxes site values. In final analysis all private property is the product of labor, and is justly due as a reward to the toil that has produced it. To tax a man for toiling, for trading, for building, for making improvements, — in a word, for creating wealth — is to deprive him of what is justly his. It puts a premium on idleness and a penalty on exertion. All other forms of taxation, except the Single Tax, vio- late the individual's right to property in the wealth which he produces or possesses. The site value of land is not the result of industry or toil. We repeat, site value accrues to land from the presence of population. It is not the property of any individual. Hence no one's property right is violated by the imposition of the Single Tax. The needs of soci- ety show that there must, indeed, be a right of exclusive possession of land. Secure possession is necessary for reaping the products of toil. But this right of possession must be limited by the equal right of all and should be conditioned on a payment to the public equivalent to the privileges enjoyed. In order that every one may be secured in his property rights to the things which he has THE SINGLE TAX. 17 produced, the right of property in what no one has pro- duced must be denied. While it would be a violation of justice to tax labor or the products of toil, it would be also unjust not to tax site values and special privileges. If one thousand men have an equal right to occupy a theater, those who take the choicest seats should com- pensate those who are obliged to stand or take inferior seats. This is succinctly the whole argument of the subject. The Single Tax commends itself both by reasons of expediency and of morality. The Single Tax would sim- plify the assessment and collection of public revenues, and eliminate the present strain on public morals. A multitude of expensive officials now required for collect- ing taxes on other forms of property could be dispensed with. The public treasury would get a greater percent- age of what is paid from the private purse. The site value of land is easily estimated. Land lies out of doors, it cannot be concealed. There could be no motive or rea- son for misrepresentation, perjury and bribery, and tax dodging would become a lost art. The Single Tax would facilitate production, and one economic paradox, idle land and idle labor, would cease to exist. Land now held for speculation would have to be used or else dropped. The dog would have to get out of the m^anger. Vacant or half-used valuable land would be made to bear fruit. Under the Single Tax population would become more happily distributed. At present thousands in cities live cooped up in tenements, because of the enormous specu- lative prices at which vacant lots are held. Elsewhere people are scattered too widely apart for personal and social development, because some who do not use, or l8 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. only half use, the land grab all they can get in the hope of profiting by its increase in value. Under the Single Tax a man would not want more land than he could use to advantage, nor would he hinder another from using all he could pay the tax on. The theory of Single Tax involves the imposition of no new form of taxation, since we already tax land values somewhat in taxing real estate. This tax, however, should be increased until it equals the economic rent, the annual site value, the "unearned increment." It is believed that the "unearned increment" of land, like the coin found by Peter in the fish's mouth, would suffice to provide all necessary public revenues. As population increases and public needs multiply, so would site values increase. If population were dimin- ished there would be need of less revenue, so, too, would site values decline. The Single Tax is a self-adjusting tax. It is likewise proportioned to benefits and privi- leges. It is, therefore, a just tax. It springs from society for the use of society. It seems to be the only natural and rational system of taxation. Rev. T. E. Cox. MANUAL TRAINING. I9 MANUAL TRAINING. It is through the use of tools that man has reached the place of supremacy among animals. As he increases his stock of tools he recedes from the state of savagery. The great gulf between the savage and civilized man is spanned by the seven hand tools — the ax, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the chisel, the square, and the file. The discussion of the question of manual training in the public schools has advanced beyond the merely the- oretical condition and is now in the practical stage. Manual training overcomes one of the greatest difficul- ties that the teacher of the present day has to contend with; viz., the lack of concentration on the part of pupils and their inability to reason. This want of mental povv^er on the part of children of to-day has been growing more and more apparent as our country has become more set- tled and its inhabitants more wealthy. The deficiency in this respect is largely due to the fact that the children have few^ or no duties outside of the school-room that tend to develop their powers of perception and observa- tion. Formerly, when our country was new and we had no large cities, nearly all the boys and girls had responsibili- ties at home that were developing them both physically and mentally; for any responsibility, no matter how small, develops certain characteristics in a person. The requirements thus made upon the children of those days were in the nature of manual labor. In many 20 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. cases a chance of education in schools depended entirely upon the amount of manual labor performed by the pupil when out of school; and the result was steady growth of mental power and vigor as well as in bodily strength. What teacher ever complained of the boy or girl who was compelled to earn his or her own schooling? Was there a lack of concentration or attention in these cases? What was the result when these pupils reached man- hood or womanhood? Were such persons compelled to v/ander from one place to another in search of employ- ment through inability to think and act as so often is the case with the many thoughtless youth of to-day? Manual training does not mean learning exclusively for trades, it means bringing the hand and the eye to work with the brain, and to help it think and express itself. Manual training exercises have always proven successful when tried. Their introduction into the schools of Swe- den has been followed by a spirit of industry, thrift and sobriety among the people. In the various cities of the United States, wherever introduced, it has proven not only of great economic value, but an educational process of the greatest importance. It has been proven that the training at the industrial schools by fostering a spirit of industry, by teaching use- ful trades, enables the young man to grapple successfully with the difBculties of life and to the same extent checks immoral tendencies. There seems to be a prejudice against manual labor, by the young people of to-day in nearly every station of society, that is leading to great evil. But let us have the manual training school, as a part of our educational system this state of thing will be entirely changed; for then mental training and physical development going MANUAL TRAIKIXG. 2i hand-in-hand will be equally appreciated and likewise honored. After leaving school the practical student will be bet- ter qualified than the mere text-book student to deal with the social problems he will be called upon to solve. The time has come when something more than purely mental work is demanded from the schools. We are not only to educate the few^ v/ho are to become doctors, lawwers, and teachers, but the prime office of the schools is to help the great majority to solve the bread and butter problem and to enable them to become good and useful citizens. No one can deny that the young man who has been studying words is less prepared for the world than he who has been studying things. Wendell Phillips said, ''Our school system is too short, and in justice to boys and girls as w^ell as to soci- ety, it should see that those w^hose work in life is to be one of manual labor, should be prepared for it." Opin- ions of this character might be multiplied almost indefi- nitely. The value of the public school system as an en- lightening and civilizing agency is not to be underesti- mated. It w^as not estabhshed as a special industrial agency, it was established as a buhvark of liberty and nobly has it fulfilled that miission. The colonial fathers had a horror of ignorance and as a barrier against it built the public school. The effect of manual training- upon the more useful arts and upon the commercial greatness of a people has had no better illustration than in the history of France. In millions of French people are found the artistic arti- san. They supply the foundries, factories, and shops of the country with designers and decorators. France has been devastated by mighty wars, her expenditures have 22 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. been enormous, but notwithstanding all of these draw- backs she has reached the summit of prosperity through the monopoly which she holds in the markets of the world for many kinds of commodities which depend upon design and finish. The foundation of her success 'was laid when art-industrial schools were first estab- lished for the instruction of her youth. The "World's Fair" held in Chicago in 1893, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of this conti- nent by Christopher Columbus, appeared the culminating point of one great epoch in the history of man's industry. Never before was there a larger gathering or greater exhibit. No exposition of the past ever received the support of more than one-third of the nations of the globe, while the Columbian Exposition received recog- nition and application for space from every civilized na- tion of the globe. The ends of tlie earth awoke and in honorable emulation lay before the public gaze their triumphs over nature and submitted their works to the judgment of the world's jury. This wonderful exhibit has become a matter of history, but the great results, the mighty influence of the gathering are now manifest among us. There, the hard-handled mechanic learned a lesson of his deficiencies as a workingman and the man of thought saw the points in which American manufactur- ers fell short of excellence. Hence there has arisen on the one hand a desire to learn and on the other a willingness to instruct. Then the problem presented itself — How can the mass of busy workmen learn? How can an industrial education be diffused? The problem has been seriously considered and ad- vanced thinkers on the subject do not hesitate to recom- MANUAL TRAINING. . ' 23 mend the adoption of manual training as a necessary part of instruction in our schools. If it is said that this ought to be done in the workshop or manufactory, let it be remembered that apprenticeship in the trades has ahr.ost disappeared in this country and well-trained, native-born Americans are becoming scarcer every year. Our mechanic arts are falling into the hands of skilled foreigners. The occupations calling for taste, for artistic touch in their manufacture are mainly held by skilled European workmen, who have emigrated to avail them- selves of the multitudinous advantages offered by our great and noble republic. The way in which manual training ought to be carried on and the extent to which the public schools can be used for this purpose has been shown by the experience of those schools which have undertaken it. For the most part the manual school should go alongside the High School, since the pupils for the former are to be recruited from the latter. The pupils can pass from the high to the manual department at regular, selected hours just as they would pass into a class-room for a literary reci- tation. One who gives this subject much consideration can scarcely fail to see that industrial schools could be made the means of developing the resources of the state, of curbing evil propensities and of training the rising gen- eration to the duties and responsibilities of American citizens. 24 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. THE ANGLO-SAXON ALLIANCE. Since the Civil War, England has reahzed that the United States and the doctrines maintained by her are not the mere experiment which she formerly regarded them, but that she is destined to be one of the most important nations in the world. Furthermore, she has recognized that her progress depends upon an intimate friendship for the United States. In the course of events, 'we went to war with Spain. Seeing that the sympathies of the powers on the continent were with Spain, Great Britain seized the opportunity and advocated an alliance of the two nations. Soon the question was in the mouths of the people all over the United States. All the leading nations of Europe are bound together by an agreement that they shall not attempt to change their form of government or increase their territory. England was the proposer of this agreement and ever since has remained the most important factor in it. The concert of Europe, as the nations forming the agreement are called, never promoted or advocated a single act which increased the progress of civilization. They have stood by, and beheld the massacre of the poor Armenians by the Turks, and various other barbarous acts such as those of the Crimean War. No sooner does Germany or Russia propose an act which is in any way an en- croachment upon the liberty-loving people of the world than all the other nations follow suit. In justice to Eng- land it must be said that she never advocates any of these measures, still she never opposes them. Most of the European Powers are hereditary monarch- THE ANGLO-SAXON ALLIANCE. 2S ies— either absolute or limited, and therefore maintain that the monarch holds his throne direct from God, and that governments are organizations apart from man. We hold that governments are institutions established by the people, and for the people. Although the gov- ernment of England daily recognizes more and more the interests of the people, it is an hereditary monarchy, and therefore it is based upon the belief that their ruler is divinely ordained. The interests of England are opposed to those of the other members of the concert, and for that reason they are hostile to her. Should England withdraw from the league, the present equilibrium would be destroyed and all Europe would be enacted scenes as horrifying and terrible as any of the past, for it is only the existing agreement which prevents them from pour- ing their hordes upon the English possessions situated all over the globe. We cannot, therefore, deem England willing to with- draw from the league, for in so doing she would precipi- tate herself in war with all the European powers. If we, then, join Gfeat Britain, we must join this concert, that a.greement between the nations of Europe which pre- vents them from promoting any act which will further the inroads of civilization. We should then be obscured in such matters by the louder and more strongly backed Great Britain, and sooner or later the world would hear no more of that nation which has stood out alone here- tofore, for liberty and equality of men. We came from England bringing with us the spirit of liberty. Our rights were infringed upon. We freed ourselves from the oppressor and estabhshed a republic upon the principles that were never better voiced than in the words of our own Declaration of Independ- 26 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. ence. We declared that we would form a nation that should hereafter stand forth for liberty and justice, and be an ideal for all hberty-loving nations. We abolished slavery from this land. We freed Cuba from Spanish oppression. We are at present striving to become an ideal nation. Just as a glorious future is opened for us shall we dismiss our aims, giving up the principles which v/e have laid down for prestige with even a great nation? Shall we be dominated by king or queen, and indirectly substitute for the stars and stripes, the red cross of England? No, Never! would be the answer coming from the hearts of many millions of liberty-loving Ameri- cans. Therefore, we can join Great Britain only on the condition that she can and will withdraw all connections with the European powers. For then and then only will England be free to act. Under such condition only will the history of Great Britain ever read as does ^America's for the past, for the present, and we hope will in the future. We shall then be able to clasp each others' hands, and be united forever. Longingly do we hope for that day, when conditions shall be such as will allow us to say with Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate of England-— "Yes, this is the voice that I hear On the bluff March gale, 'Tis a proud, free hand calHng loud To a band, both proud and free. And it says to them, 'We severed have been too long ; Now, let us forget the worn-out tale. The tale of an ancient wrong. And our friendship will last, longer than love doth last.' And be stronger than death is strong, Then, fling them out to the breeze, The shamrock, thistle, and rose, And the Star-Spangled Banner unfurl with these A message to friends, to foes. AVhenever the messengers of peace are seen, \Vhcic\ cr the war-winds blow." DOING THINGS WELL. 2J IS \VHATE\'ER IS WORTH DOING, WORTH DOING WELL? What difference will it make a hundred years from now how this is done? The answer will depend upon the nature of the act under discussion. If this be of great importance to the nation, or to the world at large, there can. be but one reply. Did Lincoln take half-hearted measures wdien he issued and enforced the Emancipa- tion Proclamation? But acts tliat are in themselves of such moment are not recjuired of most men. W'hat we do is usually a stepping-stone — a foundation for future efforts. There are people who spend all their time in getting ready to work and who never have time to begin. They give too much energy to the tool. But this class is small. In these hurried times when the pre- vailing desire is to get rich, most men regard too much of their preparation as mere expedient — something done to serve only just for its time. They desire to acquire sudden wealth without paying for it a legitimate price in labor and they strive to get out of work ten times more than it is worth. The common disposition to-day is to shirk hardships and all responsibility that does not lead to immediate and showy results. Yet most of the acts of our lives are in their outcome of great importance either to ourselves, to the community or to posterity. "The child is the father to the man." How often this statement is presented, without a true realization as to its meaning. The child shows inclinations and dispositions. 28 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. as it prows older they develop more fully, and when manhood is reached, he takes up just these inclinations to gain his living. Isn't it in the first place the parent s dutv to encourage habits of industry and thoroughness, and encourage them to their fullest extent so as to make him firmly believe that, "whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well"? . If the merchant desires trade, he must advertise, and a voung man who begins business without money or influence must establish for himself a character as wel as a trade. His gains are necessarily small at hist, but in time he will make for himself such a reputation as to tide over hard times, and occasional losses. The business habits that he will acquire will make him careful m investments and wise in the use of his income. ^ Such a man can realize that "what is worth doing, is worth doino- well." But one who starts in business with a cap- ital finds that this takes the place of long industry, for he is able to buy a well built-up trade, which is the result of many years of closest attention to details. Ihis man may not appreciate this maxim until his business is wrecked and it is too late. Of course, it is a pleasant thing to live under prosper- ous circumstances and to have leisure, that is,^ to have nothing to occupy our spare moments but enjoyment; but this pleasure cannot exist except when surroundings are the result of worthy exertions. Day in and day out, man works. Though it is not for the love of labor, it is for the comfort that labor gives. These are not results of poor work, but of vigorous exertions Is the man who cares nothing for the way thin-s go on-whether the result be good or poor, a DOING THINGS WELL. 29 delegate for an easy future? Can he gain the blessings of life? No! for he is not entitled to them. What makes the silks from China, the cloths from England and Germany and laces from Switzerland so famous? It is not the result of half-done work, but the knowledge of the weaver and spinner that, ''Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing v/ell," that develops such beautiful results of skill. Do not we, as Americans, go on, day by day, doing things in a slipshod way, finishing our duty in the easiest manner, letting this slide through, and that go to ruin, instead of exerting our energies and making this an ideal country? The resources of this land are being used up rapidly, and Vv^ith great waste; though the result may be satis- factory to the individual, posterity must suffer unless a change is made. A part of the damage can never be repaired. Some of our native birds, animals and plants are almost extinct. The climate of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin has bej:ome windy and dr}^, more like that of the Dakotas, through the felling of our great, natural forests. These facts may not predominate now, but add another century to our history's record, and what will be the result? Every man owes a duty to his successor as well as to himself and his neighbor. One may not do what he will with his own, for the gifts of this world are loans to be well used and kept uninjured. There is not a single good in any instance that can be secured without a sac- rifice that corresponds to its value, and there is never a good action that does not reward or at any rate wait to reward one's expenditures. Do not look about too much for the reward's proverb. 30 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. If your undertakings are worth doing at all, they are worth doing well, and one's self-interest as the best pro- moter in such cases and tasks. "Well worthy and well done acts, like well done meals, are easy to digest." Circumspection and care, even in the smallest matter, are necessary, for a little neglect may make a great difference in the results. ^\ULD-LANG-SYNE." 31 ^'\ULD-LAXG-SYXE." We are always being sermonized about the days of "Aitld-Lang-Syne" — the olden times of perfection, when sermons were preached for love, not praise; when poli- ticians worked for patriotism, not glory; when news- papers were published for truth, not money; when women cared not for fashion, but domestic joys; and men gave up horse races for the society of their wives; and in fine, when the whole world w^as well and good and nothing bad existed. These croakers stand on the ^'Night's Plutonian Shores" and mutter their talk of a day that is past and done, with the patience of Poe's raven — moaning his unchanging "Never-More." They throw stones of unfor- giving ridicule at our advances in science and inventions, and call them ''War against Nature;" our comforts and luxuries as enemies to physical and mental development, and they are constantly sighing for those pleasant days of old. O, yes — "Those pleasant days of old, which so often people praise, True, thev wanted all the luxuries that grace our modern days, Bare floors were strewn with rushes — The walls let in the cold, Oh! how they must have shivered in those pleasant days of old." Pleasant it may have been to travel in the slow coach, or languid sailing vessel; but vre prefer to sail from one side of the continent to the other or cross oceans on the wings of steam. How tedious must have been their anxious v/aiting for the post-boy's long delayed arrival. 32 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. We prefer the modern mail which brings us yesterday's billet-doux; and the telegraph with electric flash or the telephone's magnetic voice; the telegraph binding us to continents and relieving our minds at noon as to how Europe views an international event or how our Presi- dent and Congress have concluded in matters of great importance. The newspapers of those days were but records of gossip, which had grown old when it was published. News ran then from mouth to mouth; the post-boy brought it to the groups collected round the country store; gossiping tongues carried it, and finally it reached the heavy Gazette. The papers of to-day are mirrors of the world of fact and thought. Before we eat our break- fast, our hearts are throbbing with those of the great world, as we read the chronicle of yesterday's doings, and the predictions of great minds for the future. In our individual world, no matter how small, interest is keen, and from the newspaper we learn its gossip and traffic; its joys and woes; and all to this messenger feel in- clined — 'To its faults a little blind , To its virtues, very kind." Welcome are they to the narrowness and harshness of a religion — the sore evil of Vvhich Heaven has sent sci- ence, laws, and culture, to broaden and deepen; and soft-voiced ministers to expand with an ounce of sugar to the pounds of salt. Welcome are they to a code of social ethics, which prescribed to a woman that the reward of all her exist- ence; the arena of all her accomplishments; the con- ditions of all her ambitions must be matrimony. Few thanks are due to all the talk and blarney of platform "AULD-LANG-SYNE." 33 oratory; nor to the screams or protests for woman's rights that this condition has been aboHshecl. But to the progress of a generous age, which puts education into the head of a woman, making her alert, self-reliant and capable; bracing her up to bear life's ills undaunted, must we give the credit. If the true knight comes to. mieet such enamoring one — should she be skilled in bookkeeping, wise in astronomy or learned in Latin, she will be none the less, a helpm.ate and companion than the woman whose greatest ambition is to wash and scrub and bake and mend, or that other whose highest aim is to m.ake a cherry-pie, and have lily-Vv^hite hands. To all these vaunted pleasures they are twice and thrice welcome. Nor do we concede that the w^orld has gone all astray. There may be more crime, more folly, more general demoralization because there are more people. And in exact proportion has there been an increase of goodness, wisdom and everything right. "We think not, those of old Were better men than now, Of more ingenious brow. We heed not those who pine for force A ghost of time to raise; As if they thus could check the course Of this progressive age." I propose a sacred truce and a reverend bow to mem- ories of ''Auld-Lang-Syne" and a ringing toast to the poet who said — "O those blessed times of old with their chivalry and strife, I love to read their chronicles which such brave deeds relate. I love to sing their ancient rhymes — to hear their legends told, But Heaven be thanked! I lived not in those blessed times of old." 34 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. GROWTH. "The development of a soul; little else is worth study." In that quiet moment in early morning before the sim has come and while the night still lingers, there comes to one a feeling of awe; he seems standing in the presence of a Miracle. The dawn of a new creation is about to take place before him. He knows not wdiat shall come out of the shadow. All nature seems subdued as one might fancy it w^as when its Maker breathed upon it His approval in creation's dawn. The birds and beasts seem to partake of this dim religious feeling. Eternity seems near. Heaven lies all about us. A mean thought is impossible as one watches the stars hastening back into the purity of their eternal home, while the damp veil is softly shifting to reveal the tear-stained face of mother earth. Yesterday was; to-day is not. It comes a new crea- tion — a new wonder. We glance at the past; we do not read it. Even when we hold the present in our hand we fix our eyes on the future. The day comes; the world is already old; men are as they were yesterday, only worse. But night approaches, and if you go out on a level prairie or down to the water's edge you shall feel again something you experienced in that holy moment that was neither night or day. Or, again what is there in the time of the return of birds and in the budding of the trees that makes the most delightsome part of the year? The dull monotony of Winter is changed into a time of infi- GROWTH. 35 nite surprise. Spring's bright children come creeping lip through the earth; as yet there is no notice of what they will become. Is it a rose or only a briar? Is it a pansy or a weed? Shall its fruit be sweet or bitter? That which we experience in the early morning', at evening, and in beholding the new creation that each JMay-time brings, in admiring the beauties that the Great Artist produces in the foliage with his frost brush, in watching the look of wonder and of perfect faith that shines out of the child-eyes, that feeling of dread, of awe, of subdued hope that fills our hearts in the presence of the mystery of death (the other and larger half of life) — all of this is but a declaration that we will never be satisfied with dull monotony, with stagnation, with a set- tled condition. To stand still is to die. Life is move- ment, is an on-going, and out-going and upw^ard-going. If there is anything that fascinates us it is to watch tlie development of something. A small cottage, yes, a log house, has more of charm for us while in process of erection than the stately block completed; one glance suffices and we eagerly turn to something new. The flower in the bud is more beautiful than the full blovv-n rose; no more of surprise as to what its color, its shade, its perfume is to be; it is complete. The great thought of science in these times is the universal reign of law of growth. Growth is change, is development, is mystery; hence our attraction to whatever is in the plastic, the formative state. This thought can be traced in the development of science, in the study of history, in the growth of literature, in the study of religion, in the rise and decline of institutions, and in the lives of indi- viduals. What is the reason that nations have risen to a certain 36 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. height and then have dedined? Is it not to be found in their disregard for this law of growth? Revolutions never happen in progressive governments; they cannot. But where statesmen are bent on preserving the tradi- tions of their country, where they are seeking to build a higher and diviner hedge about any institution they can be sure that the only real divinity has long since flown. There is alv^^ays something more in the unwritten con- stitution than men have been able to frame into words. \¥e are only law-abiding men when we have respect unto the higher law. Creeds are never written until men have begun to grow cold in heart. Looking closer we see that this general law of growth, of development, applies to political parties. In England there are two great parties, one the Conservative whose eyes are ever set towards the past, who never come forward except as they are pushed forward by the Liberal party. And should a time come when the party in power shall cease to be affected by the liberal ideas it is only a question of time before this spirit of man, which is ever advancing, will burst out in revolution. In our own country when a party, as the old Whig party, can no longer keep pace with the times it must give way to the Republican party. But this party is no divinity; it has no perpetual claim upon the sufferance of men. It found the constitution a sacred instrument, but not so sacred that it might not be changed, amended and added to. While the Repub- lican party represents the youth, the conscience and certain great moral principles, while it looked to the future rather than to the past, while it was a synonym of liberty, equality and a larger life, it commanded our interest, our sympathy, our support. But when it grew timid, corrupt and cowardly, its strength and its beauty GROWTH. 37 were gone. When it no longer beckoned us to advance but bade us stand still, when it pointed to the past proudly vaunting its record, but had no word for our present greatest need, we turned from it. We love it for what it v/as, but we will not follow a ghost though he conjure wath the names of Lincoln and Grant. Turn again, if you please, to the history of religious movements; we hear little of tradition, usage, custom, creeds and standards of authority while they are real movem.ents. Only when men have lost their enthusiasm for work and begin to doubt the divinity of their call, do they begin to build hedges to shut in the truth, and not infre- quently succeed only in shutting God out. Look, if you will, at two or three men who have exerted a powerful and unique influence upon the thought of England and America : Take two characters very unlike, F. W. Robertson, of Brighton, and Henry Ward Beecher, of America. In what consisted their charm? Was it not in this — that they w^ere growing men, ever ready to w^elcome any new^ truth regardless as to whether it fitted decorously into their intellectual fur- nishings or not? Does not some of the interest that attaches to these men arise from the fact that some of the time they walked in the shadow? Was there not in their soul struggles something strangely fascinating, something invigorating? Do we not love them because of their doubts? Is there not something in the struggling man that draws us to him? These men have not settled theology in the sense that they had gone the wdiole round of creation, and had com- passed into their head or heart completest truth. But to them the world w^as ever new% the voices of inspiration 3^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. have not forsaken men. The Bible but a text book. Christ and truth are not to be shut between its Hds, but are ever seeking to break forth. Such men have no set- tled creed, for they are continually reviewing, amending, striking out or adding to, — in fact they are living up to the demands of the hour. But in literature is the tendency seen in as marked a way as anywhere. When Pope would write his best thought he took Man as his subject, treated him as a finished being and proceeded to analyze him as one would a finished piece of machinery. To-day great poets do not take humanity for their subject; they have grown wiser and more modest. They in the true scientific spirit take man, then a day out of his life and study it, trying as best they can to see how he came into the condition in which he now is, but as he is a man poets pronounce no final judgment upon him, but content themselves with studying his present mood, watching his actions under given circumstances, always leaving room for the play of deep and subtle influ- ences which may not be visible even to the keen eyes of poets. The great exponent of this truth, the prophet, poet, king in the literature of our day was Robert Browning, the soul's interpreter. "The secret of life in Browning is inspiration toward the unat- tained." "The one tragedy of life is arrested development." "Growth or degeneration, these are the two eternal facts." "We judge by reach, not grasp." "What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me." " 'Tis not what man does which exalts him, but what man would do." "I say a man was made to grow ; not stop." GROWTH. 39 "Man knows partly, but conceives beside, creeps ever on from fancies to fact." "Finds progress man's distinctive mark alone, Not God's and not the beasts' ! God is, they are, Man partly is and wholly hopes to be." "You must fix some uncertainty with faith if you would have faith be." "As it was better youth should strive through acts uncouth Toward making, than repose on aught found made ; So better age, exempt From strife, should know then tempt Further Thou waited age ; Wait death nor be afraid." "Grow old along with me ; The best of life is yet to be The last of life, for which the first was made : Our times are in His hand Who saith : A whole I planned Youth shows but half; trust God, see all, nor be afraid!" "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for ?" 40 ESSATS AND ORATIONS. RUINS. Among the most important ruins are those of Nineveh, an ancient city of Asia. This city we are told was in the days of its prosperity ''An exceeding great city," and the ruins seem to prove the truth of this statement. The buildings as revealed by the ruins Vv^ere of great beauty and value, the remains of many costly temples and palaces being found there. One of these palaces, which was of particularly impos- ing appearance, had an audience chamber where the king attended to the wants of his subjects in person. The entrance to this room was guarded by two gigantic alabaster lions. The floor was paved with blocks of alabaster on which the deed and exploits of the king were recorded, and the walls were covered with pictures of various descriptions, a part of them representing the scenes through which the illustrious men of the state had passed, while the rest were religious scenes. The general design of these illustrations seems to have been to keep in the minds of the people the glory of their ancestors and the power of their gods. IMany an other- wise silent page of the world's history is recorded in its ruins. The antiquarian reads these fragments of history as easily as he would a printed page. He sees in the remains of tools and the way in which the houses were constructed how far the people had advanced in the art of architecture; judging from the materials used, he can form an estimate of the wealth of the people, and so pn RUINS. 41 until he has made out their history. Thus a nation's ruins construct its monument. But there is another kind of ruins much nearer and of more importance to us. I refer to human ruins. These are innumerable and met with on every side. They may be classed, according to their nature, into natural, which is caused by old age, and unnatural, as caused by disobedience to som.e law of our being. These two occur- ring in old age and caused by the decay both of body and mind, which is sure to come upon us all sooner or later. And what could be a grander sight than that of an old man nearly through with life's battle? He has fought successfully, and is even now fighting with the strongest antagonist he has ever had to contend with. But this time the victory will be against him. First, the senses become dull, the ear does not report what it hears, nor the eye what it sees. As a consequence of his not being accurately informed concerning the things going on about him he loses interest in external affairs. As his mind must have something to keep it busy he turns naturally to those things which happened when he did take an interest in things about him. He may be said to exist in the present, and to live in the past. But while the other class of ruins is far different, they occur at a time of life when all should be animation and vigor. If we overtax any of our bodily organs, ruined health is the result; if the mental powers are misused mental ruin is the result. Besides the body and mind are so connected that if one is affected the other soon becomes affected also. A person starting in business has a certain capital, and his success depends upon the way in which he man- ages his capital If he uses it well and economically 42 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. he has every prospect of gaining the greatest success; on the other hand if he is extravagant and a poor mana- ger, ruin in business is sure soon to overtake him. Thus it is with man. He starts out in hfe with certain endowments and talents as his capital for the manage- ment and improvement of which he is responsible, and just according to the way in which he uses them, will he be either 'The good and faithful or the wicked and slothful servant." The worst enemies a man has to meet with in the effort to lead a right and successful life are his own pas- sions and desires. These are apt at nearly all times to i;uggest enjoyments to him; they are always ready to point out a way apparently more pleasant and easy than that in which he is going. At first he yields in some little thing which will apparently do no harm; but by this once yielding the way is opened for the second and then the third; and so on until he suddenly wakes to find himself an abject slave, driven about like a ship without a rudder, by the chance winds of his passions and desires. The murderer commenced by giving way to his pas- sions in the little vexations of life, they each time gaining strength until, at last, in a moment of intense passion he committed the act which ruined his life. We all, without doubt, have our plans formed for the future; and while we may not all have planned struc- tures by means of which we expect to become famous, yet we all should plan the invisible framework of char- acter. May the material of which it is composed be the best and may it be held together by the nails of pure motive and noble purpose. Ideals of some nature, we each of us hold dear; yet RUINS. 43 we know by experience that the reality is never equal to the ideal, the one is perfect, the other only real; yet men believe that in the realization of their hopes there is found contentment, yes, happiness. Failure is more than some men can endure. Vv'hen a soul is concentrated into one great hope, and the heart excitedly beats at the proximity of the real, if then, oh! then the reality falls far away from the cherished ideal, the realization of failure shakes the frail human structure and men stand heartsick in contemplation of their shat- tered heart's desire, bev/ildered with disappointment forsaken by their hopes. Too often we look upon such cases as ruins, but no, they are not ruins. Good has been done through results as far from the anticipated ones. Happy is he who, when experiencing such a reality, sees arising from these so-considered ruins strong, fresh hopes, encircling a more ennobling ideal than tJiat which is lost in the great forever; who can "rise on the stepping-stones of his dead self to higher things." We should be taught wisdom by our failures and those of others. They stand as lighthouses on many of the dangerous points of life warning of breakers on which lives may be wrecked. Some one well said "Our failures oft are very friends Success spring from defeat. Reward its honored title brings To those who never know retreat. Our efforts, failures, though they be, Are valued by a higher Power. They help complete the harmony Of life's momentous hour." 44 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Every one should have a work to do and after select- ing some objects worthy of attainment work toward them with unswerved purpose. Many who have gained the object of their efforts have had to toil for years. The labor involved nor the possibility of misnomered ruins should not deter any one from attempting lofty aims. It is the ruins one makes of himself or of his unrighteous attempts that are the only real ruins. THE DANDELION'S WORK, 45 THE DANDELION'S WORK. The pretty golden-headed dandehon is one of Nature's quiet and persistent workers. It rises early in the spring and with a hardy root and a little brown fold of leaves to start with, it begins its silent competition with the grasses. It sends out many little rootlets in all directions as fresh help for the work underground and unfolds the long, many-toothed leaves above ground to be the sunshine, moisture and air-gatherers. The work is done in a very easy manner. Each part takes its particular work as a "matter of course." When it rains the sunshine gatherers patiently rest while the rootlets strive to take in all the food that the water brings them. But when the sunshine comes again the leaves stretch forth to obtain all that it will give them, and perhaps in honor of the event the stem will introduce the little green bud that has been waiting with folded hands for the arrival of the sunshine. If on that festal day the bud has the good fortune to be presented, she will begin to make, with the aid of her quiet workmen, a soft, elaborate dress, in color a beauti- ful yellow, chosen in honor of the sun's recognition. Dressed in her pretty new gown she is called a flower, and is said to be very much more beautiful than her fellow-workmen, who always vv^ear dark green. She wastes no timic, however, but silently assembles a band of little helpers, who are attired in downy white suits, and begins to prepare them for taking her place, when her yellow dress becomes brov/n with age. 46 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Although they are her usurpers, she works for them con- stantly. The whole plant aids this band of downy white work- men and when they have risen to the plane of the fading flower, the plant sends them out to new bands, giving to each one enough capital to start a new dandelion estab- lishment. The plant then turns the attention of his old workmen to the preparation of new dresses for the ris- ing buds that wish to be presented before July, the close of the season. When the last bud has been acknowledged and the last band of white workmen has been dispatched to other grounds, the plant allows his assistants to work for themselves and to lay away in the root as much food as they wish that they may enjoy the well-earned rest during the winter. They spend their winter's sleep in the ground and when the next spring comes all are ready to rise early. The new year begins in a very encouraging way, for besides the old plant there is a large number of new dandelion establishments that are holding their first grand opening. The old plant is pleased with his success and cannot help but think of the time when his flower will be favor- ite, when there will be no room for grass to grow between the flourishing dandelions, and when each plant will have lowered his flower stalks till not even a lawn mower can injure the workmen that wear the downy suits. "ICH DIEN." 47 "ICH DIEN." (I SERVE.) At the close of the battle of Crecy, the result of the conflict was to be seen in the hosts of the dead and dying- Bohemians scattered over a battle-field almost saturated with the blood of its victims. As the Black Prince, then only a lad of sixteen, passed over the field, he came upon the king of Bohemia lying slain among his followers. This old sovereign was blind and had gone into the bat- tle-field with his horse tied to those of tw^o trusted knights. The humble, yet splendid motto, 'Teh Dien," 'T Serve," attracted the attention and won the admira- tion of the Black Prince, who adopted it for his own, and it has been handed dowai to the present Prince of Yv^'ales. What a g-rand serving was this of the blind old king! His love of people and country must have been very strong to impel him to go into battle without being able even to guide his own horse. All down the ages, we find just such heroes of the world in quite the same manner, but history's page shows many as noble. Comparatively few have distinguished tliemselves on the battle-field, not many where the mul- titude has seen and applauded; but many have uncon- sciously and unperceived honorably performed their part in the world's work. Through a kindness done, a word spoken, or a high standard upheld, they have influenced others for good. These, in turn, have extended similar services to others, and so it has passed on and on until the impetus to usefulness of some great soul may be traced back to the apparently trifling act performed so long before. Each of these persons were necessary. His 4B ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. work would have remained undone, had he neglected it, and the resulting would have been imperfect. He would have fitted no other sphere so well as his own. Work is ennobling, but if all our motives are selfish ones, nothing worth striving for is accomplished. Life would hardly be worth living, if our thoughts were for ourselves. All the beauty in nature was made for our enjoyment, so our actions should be for the good of those around us. The present alone is ours, and wasted opportunities are never presented to us again. Every one should have some work to do, and after selecting some object worthy of attainment, work for that alone. We may start at the lowest step, but if our chosen occupation will bring us at last to a higher one, we need not be discouraged. Many of those who have gained the object of their labors worked years for it. We must rise above our work, would we have it cease to be drudgery. We find that this is what our best writers, statesmen, politicians, mechanics and inventors have done, themselves our most cheery, entertaining people. There is such a thing as faculty for extracting pleasure from the most prosaic circumstances. If one is called upon to do humble work, it should be his aim to ennoble the work, rather than drag his nature down to its level. Christ was a carpenter, but He was also a King. Every one has, at some time, a desire to do some- thing that will be f©r the good of humanity. When in the presence of noted people, or when we stand before the life-long work of some genius, how intense is our desire to do something by which we may be remem- bered. It is an old and oft-quoted proverb that **Where there's a will, there's a way." Though the way be beset "ICH DIEN." 49 with difficulties, and progress seems almost impossible, yet, by overcoming those obstacles that be nearest, a way through the others may be opened. If we are not watchful, under the impulse of these ardent yearnings, days will be filled with day-dreaming and castle-building, and will glide silently by, leaving behind them a long procession of little deeds that might have been done, and which are, in reality, the small links which would have formed a pow^erful chain. Few of all those whom we term great took up their work merely because it promised wealth; neither did they achieve their success by spasmodic toil. Few but whose impetus Vv'as the desire for the well-being of their fellow-men. Their noblest deeds were performed when thought of self was entirely absent. They were obliged to struggle on patiently and painfully against all kinds of obstacles and discouragements. But they were victori- ous at last! We cannot all be Joans of Arc, Shakespeares, Lin- colns, Edisons, John B. Goughs, or Clara Bartons, but we may be true men and w^omen, doing with our might what we can do, and leaving the rest for some one who has the requisite qualifications. The test to be appHed in a decision as to the merits of an industry for a life work is the question whether it will be instrumental in strengthening one's own char- acter, inspiring others, or helping humanity. The possibility of leading an honest, noble, useful life, which, without anything further, would be a success, is as much within the reach of the humblest toiler as of the king on his throne. Most of the failures in life are due to the lack of interest in one's work. The person is driven by his v/ork instead of driving his work. What 50 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. he lacks is enthusiasm. Some one has ably defined this as a "fire of solid old hickory or anthracite, which makes the steam which makes the power that draws the pon- derous train and all the people after it.'' That which is commonly called personal magnetism is, in truth, only enthusiastic treatment of the subjects which present themselves. Undeniably it is the characteristic of great- ness and power. We cannot hope to grasp all there is to life in our few years. Time can be taken only for the essential things. Exertion should be put forth only for the accomplish- ment of that which will result in the most permanent good for the greatest number. We find that we cannot ^ lead an individual existence; that we are of a great mul- j titude, each of whom is dependent upon brother man not ' only for his existence, but also for his happiness. Hencej the more we do for others, the more shall Vv^e receive inj return, whether it be of good cheer, pecuniary assistance/ or personal protection. vSince our lives possess such a great influence over those of others, how important it is that we should do our best, measuring our success by the services we are able to render to others. There are a feAV persons who seemingly delight in being miserable, but most people desire to be happy. True happiness may only be obtained through the medium of usefulness, making our chief aim in life not the furtherance of our own selfish interests, but the advancement of our brother's welfare. In whatever position one is placed, whether "on the heights" or "in the valley," if one would enjoy life he must work, if not with his hands, then with his eyes, his mind and his heart. THE EYES WE LOOK THROUGH. 51 THE EYES WE LOOK THROUGH. The mind lias more ways of seeing than with the eye; that would not be sufficient. That it may perceive an object, it must know all of its qualities. Sight may reveal many, but it is imipossible for it to reveal all. One of the most exquisite qualities of the rose — fragrance — would never be known to us, were it not for the sense of smell. The sm.oothness or roughness of an object is revealed alone by the touch; the harmony of music by the sense of hearing; and the dehciousness of fruit, by the taste. Thus it is shovrn that the eyes we use, when looking at material forms, are the senses; and God in His infinite wisdom has given us but five. When I speak of all the qualities of objects, it is in a limited way; for who shall say that there are not num- berless qualities of which we have no knowledge, because Vv-e, through these senses, are not capable of perceiving them? There may be, even now, just above us, floating in the air, cherubs with forms radiant with the glory of heaven, and with faces which sin and sorrow have never defiled. But we see them not, for our eyes are dimmed. They may, upon their golden harps, produce most exquisite strains of maisic, of which our dull ears catch not the slightest sound. The air in which they float may be most heavily laden with the sweetest of perfume, and they may taste and feel such perfect joy and happiness as we cannot conceive. Is it not reasonable to suppose that when we have done with the thing^s of this world. 52 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. and have learned from them the lessons our Heavenly Father would teach, that one of the joys of Heaven will be the quickening of ourselves? For you know that John, in the book of Revelation, says that when he was caught up into heaven he heard such things as is not even lawful for man to utter, and that it is hardly possible for us, with our v/eak imaginations, to form a definite idea of the New Jerusalem, with its twelve gates and beautiful walls, its golden streets, and the pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal. But the mind perceives more than mere material forms. With that part of the reflective faculty known as intuition, it perceives truths and relations. Imagination reveals the ideal which is unlike all that existed or does exist. The mind sees with memory the past, with all its joys and sorrows. Hence, when looking above mere material forms, the eyes we use are the faculties of the mind. But ideas and opinions differ. To me a certain object may appear beautiful; to you, homely. I attribute one cause to an event; you, another. I think a given course of conduct right; you may think it wrong. Is there anything to account for these differences? If so, what is it? Are your ideas and opinions right, and mine all wrong, or are mine right, and yours wrong? What shall be taken as the standard? Perhaps, by looking- into the origin of opinions and ideas, we may find answers tO' some of these questions. We are placed in this world of birds, flowers, trees, etc., with eyes, and it is the business of these eyes to look out and gather material upon v/hich our judgment and reason are based. Now, many things necessarily affect these conclusions, such as education, culture, social habit, THE EYES WE LOOK THROUGH. 53 and surrounding circumstances. As it is impossible for all to enjoy the same privileges and to be surrounded by the same circumstances, it would seem that from the beginning it was expected that we should not agree. These eyes are like the talents which were given to the servants; they will increase by use, in ability, if not in number. But if we, like the unprofitable servant, shut them up, they will remain weak. It is to be remembered that the master, on his return, did not comm.end the one that had gained five talents more than the one who had gained tv\-o. There is still another set of eyes, very important, yet dift^ering greatly from those already mxcntioned. Every person, young or old, rich or poor, looks through one or more of these, and each one has his choice out of all the set, and if at any time he becomes dissatisfied with his choice, he can change; but sometimes it is very hard to change, especially where he has used one for a long time. The names of these eyes are prejudice, envy, jealousy, faith, hope and love. A person who looks through the eyes of prejudice has a very limited vision, "is his sight is darkened and hedged in, on this side and that, by his own tlieories, and he will not look beyond them. He seems to be perfectly satisfied with this miser- able way of seeing. Envy and jealousy are generally found together, and how discontented and unhappy is he who looks through these; what a contrast his life pre- sents to the cheerful and contented appearance of him who looks through faith and love ! But the best eyes of all are the eyes of love — the love which, St. Paul says, "suf^ereth long, and is kind; envieth not; doth not behave itself unseemingly; is not puffed up; seeketh not her own; is not easily provoked; think- 54 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. eth no evil; rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things; hopeth all things; endnreth all things; the love Vv'hich never faileth." Notwithstanding we have so many eyes, still we see only through a dim glass obscurely; but the time is com- ing when we shall see fully, and shall know even as we are known. Millv E. Brandel. USES OF BEAUTY. 55 USES OF BEAUTY. Even the thought of a beautiful object is always sweet and pleasing. There never was a created thing possessed of the elements of beauty that was not of some use to some one. What a display of surpassing beauty is brought out in the varying colors of a summer sunset! Every tint seems to reflect to us a beautiful thought. All the red and gold and purple seem to heighten the more sombre shades and make a picture that, once seen, is never for- gotten. And is not this all of use to us? It cheers our spirits. It lifts our minds into regions of higher thought. We feel less inclined to think of the common, while the deeper propensities of our nature are wrought upon, and surely it is always useful to us to have our better and deeper feelings touched. The genuine pleasure that can be drawn from the source of beauty in nature is enough to compensate for half the trials and sorrows we have to bear. If it could be shown to us that our trials and sorrows spring from a source of beauty, we would feel reconciled toward them and almost invite misery to come to us just for the sake of gazing upon it. Beauty may have many different effects upon us, vary- ing with whatever mood we may be in. Sometimes it makes us feel almost ecstatic. We seem to forget every- thing but the charm of the beauty that holds us spell- bound. Often it tends to make us feel sad and lonely. We feel incomplete. We long for something, but we 56 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. know not what. And again, it makes us feel serene and contented. We may look upon a thing of marvelous beauty and seem to be quieted and soothed by it. But whatever the effect, it is always useful. It never tends to degrade or lower us in any way. And though it may give us a feeling of quiet melancholy, it is always a mel- ancholy that is worthy of our better selves. Beauty does not exist solely in forms visible to the eye. If such Avcre the case, v/hat a sea of sorrow and blackness this world would be to the blind — they who never can behold the golden sun or penetrate the heavens at midnight, or unfold the secrets that lie hidden in a rose. Yes, nature possesses other beauties, which they, too, can share. And one is the beauty of sound. The song of a bird or the murmur of a brook says just as much to the sightless as to those of us who can see. And all the delicate odors that pervade green nature are just as attainable to them as to those who have sight. And Oh! the knowledge of beauty that can be conveyed through the medium of touch. The very feeling alone often indicates a superabundance of beauty. So, even to those who cannot behold it, beauty, that balm for every ill, can bring a hundred uses and untold charms. Beauty seems to carry with it a mute language. When we hold a beautiful, trembling rose in our hand, it may almost seem for a moment as if it were a being of feel- ings and passions like ours. It seems as if we might read its thoughts and tell its feelings. The flow of a river, that very poetry of motion, is another thing that seems to have life and language owing to its beauty. What a dismal place home would be if no beauty USES OF EEAITY. 57 existed there; even the smallest eottage may be made attraetive if adorned outside by pretty lavviis and llower gardens, and if inside the walls are decorated with pretty pictures and the room filled with modest, tasty furni- ture, and, best of all, if the faces of the occupants of the cottage are sunny and smiling, for a smile, wherever it is, is only a sudden flash of beauty. And it is a thing of beauty that has indeed a use when it is reflected across the darkened sky of a troubled heart. The use of beauty in every home is manifest to all. From the humblest cot to the grandest mansion, beauty is the soul of attraction. Beauty and love go hand in hand. Beauty creates love, and love is impossible with- out it. How could we love if there was nothing beauti- ful? Truth, simplicity and virtue are all deep-hidden beauty, and without them and that crowning decoration that part of beauty that is visible to the eye, nothing lov- able is left. We might all be passionless images, mere lumps of clay, for all that we could appreciate or feel. When we behold anything that we have never seen before, or hear a new song or poem, how unfailingly the beautiful steals in upon our minds. We judge of its merits more by the beauty it contains than by any of its other qualities. It is always the dominant feature and makes the deepest and most lasting impressions. What a great use beauty is in the sick room. The life- giving effect of the pretty flowers brings a flush of healthful color to the wan, wasted cheek. The perfume and out-of-door air that is carried upon the dainty petals hasten the recovery of the invalid. It is often said that beauty dies with the fading spring 58 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. and summer, and is wafted away like ''Summer even- ing's latest sigh that shuts the roses." But she is inde- structible, and lives and blooms again as bright and fair as ever. And though beauty were only a momentary spark, her passing light would still benefit us. When her influence was once felt it never could be erased from our lives, but would live on, deeply engraved on our hearts — the brightest star in our existence. WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE BOYS? 59 WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE BOYS:^ The question, Ought girls to know anything? is one that has been discussed for centuries, until now we can hardly pick up a newspaper without stumbling upon some article entitled "What Shall We Do with Our Girls?" "The Education of Girls," "Short Talks v/ith Our Girls," or something similar, until we are as familiar with such productions as editors are with spring poetry. The men who write these articles are extremely m.od- erate in their demands. They require only that all girls should at least have the advantages of a high-school education, and at the end of this career should be a combination of all the virtues and graces, having a healthy body, sound mind, sweet disposition, even tem- per and a handsome face. She must be thrifty and intel- ligent, perfect housekeeper, excellent cook, needle- woman, nurse and a fine laundress. She must also be an ornament to society, an active member of literary and benevolent societies, and, if thrown upon her own resources, capable of excelling in any one of the numer- ous occupations open to women. Furthermore, she is always expected to have plenty of leisure in which to read and cultivate her mind. I do not v;ish to insinuate that what is recommended for us girls is anything out of the way. Far from it. I wish only that we were capable of reaching such an ideal; but if we were, where is the boy who could equal us? In order that they should not be left behind in the race of life, let them be educated up to the same standard 6o ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. of excellence. I am not willing to admit that the boys are in any way, naturally, inferior to girls. Considering the question, ''What shall we do with the boys?" from the same standpoint that the men write on the subject, "What shall we do with the girls?" every boy should be his own tailor, hatter, shoemaker, car- penter, blacksmith, bricklayer, architect, painter, farmer, gardener, merchant, grocer, bookkeeper, clerk, "butcher, baker and candlestick-maker." If he has had the advan- tage of a college education, he ought to be prepared to be his own minister, teacher, doctor and lawyer. In the line of amusements he must be his ov/n actor, singer, lecturer and circus. He must be a society man and a politician, besides fulfilling his duties toward himself and family. You may not think this just, as there are more occu- pations for men than for women, but the extra number of vocations assigned to them is reasonable because of their great amount of strength — for where is there a boy or a man who will not willingly contract the muscles in his arms to compare it with any girl's or woman's m_uscle? It will not hurt the bo3\s to know a very little about housework; and suppose they were taught enough so that when their mother should vvant to go visiting, they could get themselves a lunch without leaving the house looking as though a cyclone had passed through it. It Vv'ould do them good to knov/ how to sew a little, so that if they happen to lose a button, they will not waste their inventive genius in rigging up an intricate arrange- ment of sticks and strings to hold the wrecked garment in its place. The worst of all this is that boys seem so lacking in WHAT SHALL WE DO WLIH THE BOYS? 6l the good sense and judgment upon which they phune themselves that they actually take pride in such defi- ciencies, and will come to their mothers to have a button sewed on. Boys, if there be any of you who are preparing your- selves for some great Indian fight, go take your revolver from its hiding place and lay it carefully in the river. Practice gymnastics in some other way than by flourish- ing an old, rusty sword of your father's or grandfather's, or striking it with your whole strength at some imag- inary Indian. Do not think that after reading a fev/ dime novels, cleaning the rusty sword, and making a knapsack out of carpeting, that you are ready to start on your Western Career, where you will perform such deeds of bravery that your name wall go rattling down the ages, never to be forgotten. Is this what America's young apostles ought to be? Boys, you may never see a live Indian in your life, except in a side show, or a street parade, and it would not be wise for you to attempt to kill one of these. So don't waste your time reading such trash, but remember that you are the beginning of the men that will form the next generation ; and the knowl- edge that is in those books will never aid you to decide on any great political question. Boys should not grow up with the idea that it is in any way belittling to learn a trade. Too many boys have the idea that they can better satisfy the aspirations of their souls by spending their days in measuring prints and ribbons, or by scribbling behind a bank counter, than by becoming master mechanics, with soiled hands, per- haps, but commanding respect and high wages every- where. Now, neglected and down-trodden boys, arise ! Travel 62 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. no longer in the dust. We believe you are capable of better things. If we follow the scriptural injunction, "Be ye not unequally yoked together," then it is impera- tive that you should improve yourselves. Be not discouraged with comparing yourselves with the ideal set before you. Perhaps if you do your best to fashion yourselves after this model, future genera- tions, in taking up this work, may achieve results which you must of necessity fall short of; and while you who began this work lie in obscurity, they will blossom forth into a glorious manhood. For the sake of yourselves, your homes, your country, and posterity, I beseech you, think solemnly of these things and yourselves. WORDS, WORDS, WORDS. 63 WORDS, WORDS, WORDS. Polonius — "What do you read?" Hamlet — "Words, vvords, words." South tells us that the work of all the six days of creation was transacted in so many words; heaven and earth and all the host of both, as it were, dropped from God's mouth, and Nature itself was but the product of a word. The greatest and wisest conceptions that ever issued from the mind of man have been couched under and delivered in a few close, homelv and sisinihcant words. Had we lived a few hundred years ago, we might have been content to listen to speeches of intricate divisions and subdivisions, but in this age of progress it is nec- essary that the words we use should be simple, strong and expressive. Although we may not think faster than did our ancestors, our thoughts are more vivid and travel in straight lines. The seven wise men of Greece, so famous for their wisdom all the world over, acquired that fame, each of them, by a single sentence, consisting of two or three words. The greatest orators of both ancient and modern times have been remarkable for their economy of words. Demosthenes rarely spoke over thirty minutes; Cicero took even less time; and not one of the three leading 64 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. members of the convention that framed the Constitution of the United States spoke over twenty minutes. The Americans are said to be more extravagant in speech, and to be continually pouring forth "words, words, words." Somebody has written: 'Tt would be better for all parties if nine in every ten of the winged words flying about in this world had their feathers clipped amongst men, or even amongst women." Matthews says that a boat could be wafted across a small lake by the breath expended at the opening of a nev/ hotel. One of the ways in which v/e recognize the power of a single word is in our use of nicknames. A nick- namiC is but a pointed way of condensing many thoughts in one expression. How well is Pope characterized by the epithet, "the wicked v/asp of Twickenham." In politics it has long been observed that no man can com- pare for a moment in eftect with him who can give apt and telling nicknames. The first step in overthrovv^ing any great social wrong- is to stamp upon it a name expressive of its character. It is said that if the HEegro had been called anything but slave, had he be^ called simply servant, he would probably be in bondage to-day. It is acknowledged that it is one of the finest arts to be able to combine sense and sound, to be able to express one's self by means of pure and elegant words. 'Tis said that a blemish may be taken out of a diamond by careful polishing, but if one's words have the least blem- ish, there is no way to efface it. The English language is so extensive that every per- son can be the possessor of a good, pure English vocab- ulary. WORDS, WORDS, WORDS. 65 Throughout the world, if it were sought, Fair words enough a man shall find. They be good, cheap ; they cost right nought, Their substance is but only wind ; But ivell to say, and so to mean, That sweet accord is seldom seen." Perhaps we may congratulate ourselves that the peo- ple of the central part of the United States have the reputation of using purer language than the people in any other part of the United States. The greatest conversationalist is he who ''pleases the fancy and the ear, while he informs the understanding; lie v^dio gives his ideas clothed with all the beauty of expression, but not overcharged w^ith any of its mis- placed beauty." The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table says: "This business of conversation is a very serious matter. There are men that it weakens one to talk with an hour, more tlian a day's fasting would do." It is true that not one man in a million rises to distinction in this art. We are judged by the Vv^ords wx use as by the deeds we perform. Words so adapt themselves to our needs that a person's vocabulary is but an index to his character. This is also true of the language of a nation. A peo- ple stamp on their language their history, power and cliaracteristics. The early Roman shows his simple life in his language, but when he became luxurious and cor- rupt. Vviih him his language degenerated. The true char- acter of the Quaker is shown in his speech, and any one would know that the French are vivacious, the Ger- mans thoughtful, by their respective modes of expres- sion. The English language represents the diversity of its people in being the m^ost varied, their advancement in 66 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. learning in being the most extensive, and their power in being the most effective. "It is but a reflection of the Anglo-American mind." I think James Howell well shows what power is in words when he says: "Words are the soul's embassadors who go Abroad upon her errands, to and fro ; They are the sole expounders of the mind, And correspondence keep twixt all mankind. They are those airy keys that ope (and wrest Sometimes) the locks and hinges of the breast. By them the heart makes sallies; wit and sense Belong to them ; they are the quintessence Of those ideas which the thoughts distil; And so calcine and melt again ; until They drop forth into accents ; which is The salt of fancy and all faculties." How much better the world would be if all would heed the injunction: "Let your words be few and fitly chosen, like apples of gold and pictures of silver." READING. 67 READING. For physical growth, we must have the nourishment afforded by eating and drinking. But the nourishment for tlie QTowtli of the mind is reading". Reading may be considered as the key which com- mands entrance into the various departments of science zvivA literature. Among all people of refmement and civilization, the most im.portant art is reading. By read- ing we knovv' ourselves and our fellow-creatures. We know what others are doing, what is transpiring between different nations, and, in fact, all that is passing on about us. Besides, reading may give many useful subjects for conversation, and often prevents quarrehng, silly joking, and talking scandal. Vv'e should read with method and purpose, and have some end to which all studies may point. By hastily skipping from one subject to another, we make our- selves incapable of combining our ideas. Sabmasius, a noted French scholar, who was at one time an honorary professor of the University of Leyden, had read as much, and perhaps more, than Grotius, a Dutch writer of high rank. But, by their different methods, one became an enlightened philosopher, and the other a pedant, puffed up with useless reading. The chief objects people seek when reading are amuse- ment and instruction. In the best books, great men talk to us and give their thoughts. Each has his char- acteristic v/ays and means. In poetry, some of the finest traits of civilization are 68 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. manifested. Without poetry, life would be an endless round of duties. Greek poetry has been likened to the song of a nightingale. In this Hne of reading care should be taken to select poetical and avoid what is verse only. There is, perhaps, not the danger in the selection of poetical reading that exists in choosing prose produc- tions — the tendency to vitiating verse-making not being so great as in corrupting prose-writing; then, too, verse is less generally read. Time forbids even mention of worthy poetical writings, but it is not difficult to find them in abundance if one so desires. Novels, as a rule, are exponents of superficial knowl- edge — ideas set out in a tempting and wordy array; but the essential thing is, that they be interesting as stories, as it is their aim to amuse. There are many exceptions, but to the unguided mind it is almost an impossibility to choose from the mass those which may possess a true equivalent for the time given their perusal. A bad book is the worst of thieves; it robs us of time, money and principle. As it is with the body, so it is with the mind; the use we make of either of them makes it largely what it is. It is with books and periodicals as with other articles of merchandise — the cheap and worthless are thrust upon our notice; but, unlike other merchandise, instead of teaching the purchaser their worthlessness, they pro- duce an adverse effect. A child's school days awaken in him a longing for knowledge. Reading comes to satisfy him, and he is nourished according to his mental capacity and the means he has of gratifying this love. It is said that the mind of the child is like a sheet of white paper, on which, by education, we can write whatever characters we READING. 69 please. Here is a most dangerous condition. The minds of young persons who are unwilling to become, in after life, mere machines will be moved, swayed and molded by the books they peruse. The love of reading, without the proper guidance, may become a source of evil, especially to the young. But with proper care there need no evil result to any one from a reasonable amount of novel reading. Tak- ing the volumes bearing the names of Milton, Scott. Dickens, George Eliot, Mrs. Browning, and Hawthorne, with a few choice volumes now and then from other sources, will furnish sufficient reading of this kind for even a very active brain. Though there are many at present who, from earliest childhood to old age, read little else but stories and novels, we can look hopefully to the future, as publishers are now putting forth for children books of travel and those on various other subjects that were form.erly supposed to be adapted only to minds more mature. The courses of study in our schools are being con- stantly raised to higher standards, the number of stu- dents is constantly increasing, and we may hope before long that our nation will equal the Germ.an in the pro- fundity of its literary culture and educational acquire- ments, while continuing to surpass it in the attractiveness of our literary production of every kind, and in the uni- versity of the advanced courses of study. . We shall then have learned that the mind does not require sensations to be mingled with reading to make it interesting. 70 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. THE YOUNG HOUSEKEEPER. It often happens that the most important results in the natural Avorld are brought about by causes which operate silently, if not imperceptibly. Is it not tnie that man is most developed, and form.ed, and educated, by causes which, fromi their silent operation, seem to be ahuost inoperative? Are not those the most el^fective educators and teachers of man, after all, whose lessons teach him as though they tauglit not? If this is true, as it presumably is, does it not behoove us to pay more attention to these silent but certain springs of human character? liave we nothing to do in the way of elevating and purifying, if I may express it, the physical, the intellectual, the social, and the moral atmosphere in which a child lives, and moves, and breathes, and grows, for years before those more direct influences can be applied? Have the temperature and the purity of the air wdiich a child inhales fifty thousand times in twenty-four hours nothing to do in the forma- tion of his physical character — nothing to do with the health, grov/th and strength of a body nourished by the blood which the unceasing ventilating process is intended to regenerate and purify? Have not the actions, the words, the looks, the thoughts even — for little children will sometime? interpret thought and feel- ings — of those who are so constantly about us as are our parents, but especially the mother, a prodigious influ- ence in determining whether we shall be selfish or gen- THE YOUNG II0U5EKEEFER. 71 erous, self-governing or given up to our passions, temperate or intemperate, sensual or pure, eartlily or spiritual? These, then, it is believed, are some of the gentler influences — the teachers that seem to teach not — v/ho produce, by their never-ceasing operation, the most important results. ''Mothers and teachers," says Dr. Rush, ''sow the seeds of nearly all the good and evil in the world." It is mothers who operate on our whole nature. Our whole nature is left to the sole direction and disposal of the mother and housekeeper. How important, then, is maternal influence! How important that mothers should understand this subject. How important that they should not only know, but also feel. How poorly fitted to sustain the maternal office is she who neither knows its dignity nor feels nor heeds its responsibilities. I think the most efficient school of education is the family school; and that the mother, whether wise or ignorant, learned or unlearned, healthy or sick, pious or impious, is the most efficient educator. I hope in my remarks I do not confound the terms mother and housekeeper, for I consider them syn- onymous in this work. For though servants are admit- ted to a family, the mother should still be the mainspring of its movements. If she does not perform her own labor, she should at least direct others to do it. What she knows and believes and feels will promote the general and physical welfare of her family should be accomplished, whether it be by her own hands or others. For one who takes no interest in her housework, this work will not prove of interest, and should she acquire ambition enough to read at all, it is likely to be the fashionable 7^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. nonsense of the clay, and not that which aims at utiht}'' or public or private happiness. I iiave the acquaintance of one honsekeeper who con- fided in nie that she did not like honsework, her heart v;as not in it; that she sorely disliked the sight of the kitchen, especially anything that pertained to cook- ery; and, finally, she intimated a determination-to main- tain and cherish such opinions, views and feelings throughout life. But there is an apology for such females in the fact tliat they have been educated wrong. They have been trained that household duties are quite beneath them, and properly belong to the vulgar; but to this erroneous idea they involve a life of hardship, pain and drudgery. The truth is that there are no labors which arc more easy or healthful; and, if properly and promptly con- ducted, there are few which give m.ore freedom or leisure for recreation and study. There are some individuals vvho, for want of plan, labor vtwice as hard to effect a given object as others. They pass through life in this manner; they arc mere drudges, and yet seem to get nothing done. They are apt, moreover, to pass through life fretting. Their neigh- bors get along so easily, as if life were mere pastime, while they— poor unfortunates — must toil on without hope or prospect of rehef, except by death. I deem it highly desirable, not to say indispensable, to every housekeeper to keep her ov/n accounts. Every article purchased by the housekeeper, let it be ever so small, should every evening be carefully and regularly entered. This account should be occasionally reviewed, examined and adjusted. In this way the housekeeper v/ill not only be acquiring the habit of order, but will at THE YOUNG HOTSEKEEPER. 73 the same time be stud3'ing frugality and economy. The principal objection to this duty of a housewife is that it consumes time. But if housekeepers conduct their labors in the manner they should, they will have ample time for keeping accounts. Indeed, I deem it useful for all men, women and youth to keep a record of their expenses through life, and I believe that if we have money to spend and time in which to expend it, we have also time enough to make a faithful and legible record of its expenditures. It is tim.e that this profession, lying as it does, Hke agriculture and horticulture, at the foundation of human happiness, were disabused, and the vulgar notion that it is vulgar or mean discountenanced. It is quite time it were taken by wise and discreet mothers into their own hands, instead of being committed to those who have no interest in it. It is the mother vvho will ever be expected to become the intelligent, truly benevolent and skillful housekeeper. We boast of our literary institutions, our kinder- gartens, our common schools, our high schools, our institutes, our colleges, and our universities; but what is the influence of these — excellent as it may be — com- pared v/ith that of the kitchen and parlor? It is in the home that our characters are formicd. I am astonished that the employment of housekeeping should ever be spoken of except in a praiseworthy man- ner. Away, then, every unworthy idea concerning domestic life. Aw^ay, the feeling that your occupation is an inferior one. Fools may call it so; fools have called it so. One important resolution of the young housekeeper should be to keep the house herself. I know many indi- 74 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. viduals are so situated that they must have additional help; but let them not consider it a privilege, but a mis- fortune; and let them embrace with joy the first oppor- tunity of going back to the simplicity of nature. "Order is heaven's first law," says one of the poets; and it is, or should be, the first law of that place which, properly managed, would, of all places below the sun, most nearly resemble heaven. ELECTRICITY. 75 ELECTRICITY. Electricity, one great factor among the forces of the natural world, so little known and unsuspected until of recent years, and just as important and necessary to life as the air we breathe and the food we eat, is my theme to-day. Leaving aside altogether that very fruitful and inter- esting branch of the subject that is connected with the vital processes of the human mechanism which could not be maintained without the aid of this power, I shall endeavor to trace the successive discoveries and inven- tions in the advancement of civilization and science up to the present time. Electrical phenomena were first noticed in the article amber by the ancients, at least as far back as Thales of Miletus, who lived in the seventh and sixth centuries before the Christian era. It was then learned that amber, on being rubbed, would attract light bodies; but we find no mention of the discovery being utilized in any way, if we except a few hints in the Old Testament Scriptures about some subtle force, known to priests and learned men of old, and used in sacrificial ceremonies, which was held in fear and reverence by the common people; and it further appears that no progress was made — at least none was recorded — towards elucidating or classifying these phenomena or adding to their numbers, until Dr. Gilbert, of Colchester, England, made investigations about the year 1600. His experiments were published, and this circumstance directed the attention of other 7^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. philosophers to the subject, which soon became one of the most interesting and popular fields of scientific research. Dr. Gilbert found that almost anything, if properly treated, would show the same desire that amber does of drawing things tovv^ards itself. He considered the effect as belonging to a special influence, suggested the name electricity for that influence, and his suggestion has been universally accepted. Glass and sulphur, two of the substances shown by Gilbert to possess the electric force, proved to be of particular interest; and the only electrical apparatus for many years was glass tubes, two or three feet long, and large enough around to be easily grasped by the hand. Electricity was excited by rub- bing the glass tubes with a warm silk handkerchief; but this w^as very tiresome, and Otto Guericke, a Dutch Burgomaster, made a great improvement by inventing his electrical sulphur machine. ' Nothing more of historic importance occurred until 1729, when Grey discovered that there are some sub- stances that wall conduct electricity and others that will not. This one of the fundamental facts of electricity was applied to the improvement of the electrical machine and it gave the prime conductor. The next important discovery was formulated in the expression, "Like elec- tricities repel, and unlike ones attract." In 1745 it occurred to some Dutch experimenters that by taking advantage of Grey's discovery they might pre- serve a quantity of electricity for an unlimited time, and the result of their experiments was the invention of the Leyden jar. In 1746 Franklin commenced the study of electricity, and his discoveries and experiments brought more to light than any one's previous to his. Though several ELECTRICITY. 11 persons had previously remarked the resemblance between lightning and electricity, he was the first to iden- tify them as one and the same element. Franklin was led to the conclusion whicli prompted his discovery by reasoning- as follovrs : Lightning travels in a zigzag line and so does an electric spark; electricity sets things on fire, so does liglitning; animals can be killed by both, and both cause blindness; electricity always finds it ovrn way along the best conductor or on the substances which carry it most easily, so does lightning; pointed bodies attract the electric spark, and in the same way lightning strikes spires, trees and mountain-tops. He thus came to the conclusion that lightning is electricity passing from one cloud to another just as an electric spark passes from one substance to another. In order to verify his conclusions, he n.iade an elec- trical apparatus in the form of a kite, as he thought by sending it up among" the clouds he might be able to bring down some of the electricity of a thunder-storm. Accordingly, in the month of June, 1752, in company with his son, he raised the kite like any commion kite, in a thunder-storm, taking great care to stand within the door so that the silk ribbon would not get wet. A cloud passed witliout any indication of lightning, and he began to despair of success, but he soon saw the filaments of the twine standing- out every way, and he found them to be attracted on the approach of his fmger. On the appli- cation of his knuckles, a spark fi.ew from the suspended brass key, and, as it has been said, then came the most welcome rap upon the knuckles that any man ever received. Electricity then became more easily obtainable, and by the electric fire all the experiments that had formerly 7S ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. been performed by excited electrics v/ere successfully performed, while Franklin and others began applying his ideas and discoveries to useful purposes, Franklin in time giving protection to buildings by inventing the lightning-rod. Next Galvani proved the existence of electricity in animals, and the name galvanism Vv-as given it. This led the way to Volta's discoveries, who produced elec- tricity in such quantities by two metals and acidulated water that he could keep up a constant flow of electricity, which Vv^ould travel any distance so long as the circuit was not broken. This was the first step toward the elec- tric telegraph, and scientific men began to think that it might be possible to use this current for making sig- nals at a distance, but the difhculty always was how to perfect signs at the receiving station. In the year 1837, the electric telegraph was invenied by Prof. r\Iorse, an American, J\Iany persons think that the honor of inventing the telegraph is wrongly bestowed upon Prof. Morse. It is claimed, however, that previous to his achievement, the possibility of electric communi- cation had not occupied other minds, but he v/as the first, after years of patient study and ingenious experiment, to effect a practical application of the great scientific prm^- ciple. This was the time when Prof. Llorse was called a madman, and the vote in Congress as to whether money should be appropriated for the purpose of erecting a line was carried by only one vote. The first message was sent by I\Iiss Annie Ellsworth, and was, ''What hath God wrought?" The lines of telegraphic communication v/hich novv", like a web,, traverse the length and breadth of the republic, and vvhich, indeed, connect and cover, as with a netv/ork, the four continents of the globe, attest ELECTRICITY. 79 the vastness, influences and power of this amazing inven- tion. The telegraph is now for other purposes besides the sending of messages. By means of it alarm bells and time bells are rung, and clock-hands at points remote from each other are moved in unison. The electric light has aptly been pronounced the brightest meteor that has flashed across the horizon of promise during the nineteenth century, and has led many to believe that gas lighting is drawing to the close of its existence, and that night will be turned into day by this Vv'onderful agent. By means of this light, facto- ries, assembly halls, depots, streets, lighthouses, etc., are illuminated. Its adaptation for ships at sea is looked upon as likely to mitigate the perils of night and of foggy Vvcather. Another unique use for it developed some time since, when workmen employed upon some con- struction on tlie banks of the Dneiper river, in central Russia, employed this light to enable them to prosecute their labors at night. The brilliant rays of light attracted so many millions of nocturnal moths, beetles and other insects that for a time it was necessary to stop work and set all hands to destroying the clouds of these insects that frec|uently completely obscured the light. This sug- gested the idea of employing the electric light to destroy nocturnal insects prejudicial to agriculture, and experi- ments to that effect are soon to be tried in Russia. Not only to insects, but to fish, the light proved fatally attrac- tive, and when within the charm field of illumination they lay crowded together in masses, seemingly blinded and stupefied. Electric light is so nearly light sunlight that plants have been raised by its light, yet it is much infe- rior to sunlight, because, under its cultivation, the flowers have no smell and the fruit is devoid of taste. So ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. We come now to the telephone, the patent for this wonderful device was taken out at Washington, in March, 1876, by Prof. A. G. Bell The oldest telephone on record was made a little more than sixty-five years ago. The em.ployes of the shoe factory at South Deer- field beguiled their leisure hours by kite-flying. One day to the tail of the largest kite was attached a kitten sewed in a canvas bag with a netting over the mouth of the sack to admit air. When the kite was at its greatest height, some two hundred feet or more, the mewing of the kitten could be distinctly heard by those holdhig the string. The hearing of the kitten's mewing was attrib- uted to the clearness of the atmosphere, and no tele- phonic patent was applied for. Following closely in point of time, and, if possible, really eclipsing in wonderfulness the invention just named, is Edison's phonograph, which was discovered purely by accident. It is an apparatus that will faithfully record and repeat every syllable uttered with all the peculiarities of vocalization and articulation. Kindred, in some respects, is the preceding, and also a genuine marvel, is the microphone, by use of which a mere touch, or a small sound, as the tick of a watch, for instance, may be heard at a distance of miles. The telephone brings the sound from a distance and the microphone magnifies the sound when it is thus brought near. The first newspaper ever printed by the power of electricity was in Ilion, N. Y., March 14, 1884. The credit of designing and carrying out the plan of printing the entire edition of the paper by electricity is due to a young man engaged in the study of electrics, and who, for his own amusement, often harnessed up a streak of lightning to find 'what it would do for him. At the con- ELECTRICITY. Si elusion of the experiment the editor of the paper said that he hoped that all the witnesses, including the press- man who fed the press, would live to see the day when not only all presses and newspapers will be run by elec- tricity, but when the festive quill itself can be started down the virgin sheet on an editorial chase by the simple attachment of the copper (not brass) wire to the care- worn editor's coat-tail. New York, London, Chicago and all large cities are a network of electric railroads, which are proving to be a pronounced success. On their streets a frequent sight is one of the latest applications of electricity, being its use in the automobile, or horseless carriage. This vehicle is rapidly becoming a public favorite, and from present indications it will be the only kind used for delivery and pleasure purposes in the near future. Judging the future by the past, even yet we are just on the threshold of this great science, and no subject is more worthy of study, or opens a more promising field for original research. Miracles are no longer miracles, but common occurrences, and who shall dare to say any- thing is impossible, in view of the facts constantly unveiled. In wonder we can only ask, What next through the possibilities of this wonderful agent? B2 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. SUCCESS IN LIFE. Poets may be born, but success is made; therefore, let me beg of you, in the outset of your career, to dis- miss all ideas of succeeding by luck. There is no more common thought among young people than that foolish one that by and by, something- will turn up, by which they will suddenly achieve fame or fortune. Luck is an ignis fatuus. You may follow it to ruin, but not to success. The great Napoleon, who believed in his destiny, followed it until he saw his star go down in blackest night, when the Old Guard perished around him, and Waterloo was lost. A pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck. Young men talk of trusting to the spur of the occa- sion. That trust is vain. Occasion cannot make spurs. If you expect to wear spurs, you must win them. If you wish to use them, you must buckle them to your own heels before you go into the fight. Any success you may achieve is not w^orth the having unless you fight for it. Whatever you win in life, you must conquer by your own efforts, and then it is. yours — a part of yourself. Again : In order to have any success in life, or any worthy success, you must resolve to carry into your work a fullness of knowledge — not merely a sufficiency, but more than a sufficiency. Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let every one know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using. If you are not too large for the place you occupy, you are too small for it. How full our SUCCESS IN LIFE. 83 country is of bright examples, not only of those who occupy some proud eminence in public life, but in every place you may find men going on with steady nerve, attracting the attention of their fellow-citizens, and carv- ing out for themselves names and fortunes from small and humble beginnings and In the face of formidable obstacles. Let not poverty stand as an obstacle in your way. Poverty is uncomfortable, as I can testify; but nine times out of ten the best thing that can happen to a young man is to be tossed overboard, and compelled to sink or swim for himself. In all my acquaintance, I have never known one to be drowned who was worth the saving. This would not be v.holly true in any country but one of political equality like ours. The reason is this: In the aristocracies of the Old World, wealth and society are built up like the strata of rock which compose the crust of the earth. If a boy be born in the lowest stratum of life, it is almost impossi- ble for liim to rise through this hard crust Into the higher ranks; but in this country it is not so. The strata of our society resembles rather the ocean, where every drop, even the lowest, is free to mingle with all others, and m.ay shine at last on the crest of the highest wave. This is the glory of our country, and you need not fear that there are any obstacles which will prove too great for any brave heart. In giving you being, God locked up in your nature cer- tain forces and capabilities. What will you do with them? Look at the mechanism of a clock. Take off the pendulum and ratchet, and the wheels go rattling down and all its force is expended in a moment; but properly balanced and regulated, it will go on, letting out its force 84 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. tick by tick, measuring hours and days, and doing faith- fully the service for which it was designed. I implore you to cherish and guard and use well the forces that God has given to you. You may let them run down in a year, if you will. Take off the strong cord of discipline and morality, and you will be an old man before your twenties are passed. Preserve these forces. Do not turn them out with brandy, or waste them in idleness and crime. Do not destroy them. Do not use them unworthily. Save and protect them, that they may save for you fortune and fame. Honestly resolve to do this, and you will be an honor to yourself and to your coun- try. Jas. A. Garfield. GYPSIES. 85 GYPSIES. Have you ever thought Vv^ho the "roving, happy gyp- sies" are, or where they come from? I have often won- dered who they are, and now that I have made them a subject of research, I hope to interest you in them. In the early part of the fifteenth century, a Hindu gypsy tribe of Aryan race, being overcome by a neigh- l^oring tribe, v/as forced out from its provinces en the Indus, and soon appeared in Europe. Bohemia was the first country in civilized Europe where gypsies made llieir appearance, but it is probable that for some time before they appeared in Bohemia they lived in the remote regions of Slavonia, for we are told that their language contains many words of Slavonic origin, and these words could not have been adopted in a hasty passage through a wild and half-populated country. Bands of the early tribes have continued their wanderings until gypsies are now found in every country of the vv^orld. America has been looked upon by them as a favorable country in which to hve for two reasons. One is that here they may live free from persecution; the other, that they believe that the final coming together of the tribes, as a nation, will take place on this continent. The name of the people differs with the country in w^hich they live; but, with one or two exceptions, not materially. In many countries they have been wrongly supposed to be Egyptians. In such countries they have been called gypsies, the name gypsy being a corrupted 86 ESSy\YS AND ORATIONS. form of Egyptian. Among themselves they never say gypsy, but Romany, which means ''The Husband." The typical gypsy is finely proportioned, of medium height, lithe and sinewy, and, being exposed to all kinds of weather, is insensible to cold or wet, and is able to bear great fatigue. The hair is black or dark brown; the complexion, tawny; the teeth are dazzling from whiteness; the full, dark eye is at one time lusterless, then changes to an expression of mysterious, childlike sorrow, or blazes forth v/ith sudden passion. Those who have made a careful study of the life of these people say that the character of the gypsy is rather hard to analyze, as it is a strange mixture of good and evil. The principal faults are a childish vanity, displayed in the bright colors and shov/y ornaments of their dress; professional cunning, shovvai in their ability to get the best of a bargain; and indolence, caused by a lack of ambition. Though quick to resent a wrong, they are v.'illing to forgive. They are generous to those who have been kind to them. Although shrewd and crafty in their dealings, when they have once given a promise they may be depended upon to keep it. The saying that *'blood is thicker than water" is found to be true in the case of the gypsy. Whatever faults they may have, it is said that one never failed to help another, when he knew help was needed. A gypsy in unfortunate circumstances always gets help when lie meets another gypsy, even though the two are entire strangers. Comparatively little is known about their language, for they have tried to keep it a secret, and when they find that a Romany vv^ord.has become known beyond them- selves, they discontinue its use. The only literature they possess Is a few rude ballads, GYPSIES. 87 some love songs and some folk-lore. Tlieir ballads and songs have little merit of their own. A few of the folk- stories have been published, and it is said that their counterpart may be found in Grimm's folk-stories. The resemblance of gypsy to other stories may be explained in three different ways: First, by the common origin of the Aryan races; second, by the gypsies having bor- rowed from the nations where they wandered; third, by the nations having received their stories from the gypsies. That the gypsies may have carried stories westward is the most probable of these explanations. Vv'ith their beginnings of Christianity or Mohamme- danism, some tribes having accepted one faith and some tribes another, the gypsies mix the relics of an older faith — that of nature vvorship, using as gods — fir, birch and hawthorn trees. Serpent worship is also prevalent among some of the tribes. Many years ago, as a meas- ure of self-protection, gypsies professed the religion of any country in which they were living, and it is probable that the habit became so confirmed that they still con- tinue to do so, though they live in a country where such profession can do them neither good nor harm. They are extremely superstitious, and before attempt- ing any enterprise they carefully notice the formation of the clouds, the flight of birds and the soughing of the winds. We are told that they do not proceed on a jour- ney without som.e favorable omen. AVhen a gypsy dies his clothes are burned, for it is thought that by wearing the clothes of a dead person one would shorten his life. Gypsies are the same in all lands. The civilization, the science and the rehgion of modern times have done almost nothing for them. They seldom engage in any pursuit of mechanics or agriculture. The only mechani- 88 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. cal branch in which they are ever proficient is that of the smith — as, blacksmith or silversmith. In Persia they have become celebrated as workers in gold and silver. The men are widely knov/n as horse traders and the women as fortune tellers. The seventh daughter is the one v/ho can reveal the future, and in every tribe one of the women is recognized as the seventh daughter. A young lady of my acquaintance was persuaded by one of these seventh daughters to have her fortune told. The gypsy woman first asked the young lady to bring her a glass half filled with Avater. Into this the gypsy put some charms, which she V\^ore in her hair. As there was another person in the room, the young lady and the gypsy went into an adjoining room, for the gypsy said that the presence of a third person would break the charm. After telling her fortune she gave a charm to the young lady with the instructions that it was not to be opened for nine days. Had the young lady been super- stitious she would probably have treasured the charm, but as it was, the g3'psy was scarcely gone when she opened the charm. It consisted of a piece of tea lead enclosed in several wrappings of paper. In fortune telling the skill depends upon the mood of the applicant. If one is prepared to make much of uttle, to exaggerate the importance of any slight approach to the truth that the gypsy may accidentally make, he may be enabled to believe in their claims in the power to reveal the future. The most interesting and picturesque features of gypsy life are the traveling and camping parties. These usually consist of a single family, the term family meaning the whole blood connection. They travel about from place to place as long as the horse and the palmistry trade hold GYPSIES. 89 good. Gypsies, because of a roving disposition, love this life in the open air. Many of theni do not care for a permanent home. The women seem to be happy living in tents, and appear to be free from care. Certainly they are exempt from many of the worries of a housekeeper. To many people, gypsy cooking seems to have little to recommend it. Their food is plain and prepared in a simple manner, for they have few conveniences. Although obliged to conform to the laws, the gypsies have no part in making themi. Since they are unwilling to mingle with other people, they are shut out from many advantages which the average person enjoys. A few of these wanderers, however, are beginning to real- ize this fact, for some of the wealthy class are acquiring land; houses are gradually taking the place of tents, and so the resistless power of civilization will, by and by, blot this people as .a people, from the earth. 90 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. FAIRY TALES, MYTHS AND CHIVALRIC LIT- ERATURE FOR CHILDREN. The child's first study from hfe is that of the motives of people about him and their relation to himself, so the reading which appeals to him most strongly is that which deals with the relations between people. This is, no doubt, the reason why the fairy tale and the myth excite his interest, since that class of reading depicts so strongly the relations of one living being to another. Y'oung children, as we all know, are delighted with stories. Good stories are the best medium through which to convey ideas, for they have the power to impress youthful thought, fancy and feeling. In order to be of interest, the story must be simple and child-like, but this does not mean childish. Many writers have entertained the notion that books for children must be vrrittcn down to the level of the infant mind, conse- quently their books are trivial and unfit for the child to read, since they do not create within him a desire to read better books. Many such stories were written dur- ing Dr. Johnson's time. He said: "Babies do not want to hear about babies; they Hke to be told of giants and castles, and of somewhat that can stretch and stimulate their little minds." The child lives in a world of fancy and endows every- thing with life. The little girl attributes the power of speech to her doll and carries on a conversation with her, deri.ing as much pleasure as if the doll really had the FAIRY TALES, MYTHS, ETC Qt power of speech. Although many fairy tales may seem absurd to grown people, to the child they are real. "Myths are not idle tales; they are interpretation and explanation of life in that language of the im.agination, wliicli is as intelligible to children as to their elders; they are rich in those elements of culture, which are the very stuff of which the deepest and widest education is made.'* The real and the ideal are close together in the child's thoughts. He has seen a raft, or perhaps heard the story of Crusoe's raft, and he builds one, not the same as the one he has seen or heard about, but one his fancy has created. We find him constantly using his imagina- tion to create something, and the fairy tale helps to develop this power, that, too, at a time which decides whether he is to become creative or merely imitative. The fairy tale directs the child's thought, and suggests various lines of study, and is therefore further sugges- tive. A child who has heard the story of '7^ck and the Bean Stalk" will be interested in learning about the bean in its various stages of growth and development. In later years he who possesses a vivid imagination will be able to enliven many otherwise dull subjects. His thoughts will be enriched and intensified by an active, well-developed fancy. Many fairy tales call out a judgment of approval or disapproval, and so teach a moral lesson. It is better for a child to see the virtues and faults as brought out in a story and applied to the conduct of others. He will then learn to express his judgment of what is right and wrong, and later this judgment may be brought to bear on his own conduct. Suppose you wish to teach a child a lesson on truthfulness, but the result obtained by doing this would not compare favorably wdth the one 92 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. obtained by telling him some story that would bring out the same lesson. A child will take home the lesson wdien he has discovered the beauty of it by seeing it in story, but he will probably revolt against it if it is preached to him. Many of these stories are about heroes who are leaders of some enterprise, by which they are anxious to prove that they are very brave and courageous. The story of the Hfe of Hercules and the many adventures of Ulysses contain many valuable lessons. Many of these legends teach lessons of virtue and honor. The good and bad are sharply separated, and though wrong may, for a time, be uppermost, the good, finally conquers. There are touching pictures of faithfulness and obedience, while the rigor with which falsehood and disobedience are punished is important for the life of the child. The child admires the chivalric spirit and loves the knight for his gentle qualities. Louisa Alcott in her "Little Women" says: "Tlie only chivalry worth hav- ing is that which is the readiest to pay deference to the old, and protect the feeble, regardless of rank, age or color." At the time chivalry was flourishing we find the people characterized by high moral character, courtesy, fair play and gentleness. Children need lessons in pay- ing deference to the old and protecting the feeble, and nowhere can they better learn them than in reading chivalrous literature. In these stories many an oppor- tunity is given to express warm sympathy for gentle acts of kindness and unselfishness. A child's education should include kindly treatment of the old and feeble, and sympathy for the helpless. P>om these stories the child learns that knighthood could be conferred only on the gallant, the modest and the virtiious: he also sees that FAIRY TALES, MYTHS, ETC. 93 good conduct works its reward. From a study of the knights' exploits he will learn to admire commendable qualities, his ideal will be raised and he will live a better life. His young spirit is fed with deeds and images of heroes, and the real is set in true relations to the ideal. The history and geography of Europe, as well as the manners and customs of the people, are presented in myths, stories of chivalry and kindred ones in an inter- esting way. The child is not conscious that he is study- ing the history of these ancient people, but these charm- ing myths take a strong hold of his imagination and memory and form a valuable basis for further work. Some one has said: "The boys whose sole text-books were the Tliad' and the 'Odyssey,' and who learned, therefore, all their history and science in terms of the imagination, became the most original and gifted men who have yet appeared in history. The one who learns many myths and legends in child- hood, when he reads the works of such authors as Long- fellow and Tennyson, will derive greater pleasure and a deeper meaning than the one without this knowledge of these ancient stories. Children should have access to the stories of the childhood race, and that which fed the race in its childhood ought to feed each child. The heroism and the poetry, the splendid figures and the changing scenes in mythology impress him deeply. This body of ancient myths has been deemed appropriate reading for children by literary judges, and many of the myths and legends have been put into simple form by authors of high repute, such as Hawthorne and Kings- ley. If the child has access to the best books, and is led to their use, he will acquire a taste for good literature, and 94 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. will need no warning against trivial, unwholesome books, for they will be distasteful to him. The best books supply food, which develops a strong, clear, orig- inal life of the mind and which makes the imagination active and creative. ^ 4 i 4 IDEALS AND REALITIES. 95 IDEALS AND REALITIES. The power which real environment exercises over men's hves is great. Surprises soften rough places in the path they lollovr, keeping them supphed with friends in plenty; poverty deprives them of ease, and, exposed to a cold, grasping world, they travel life's journey sore- footed, blest only vvith such friendship as those who love a man for himself can give. But as the wind from over the mountains is more powerful than the breeze v^diich flutters at midsummer noon, so much mightier are the ideals which dwell in the hearts of men, in their life's history, than the reality existing about them. A man may be rich beyond comparison, and yet have a life tale wdiich is a companion piece to that of a home- less fugilive, because his ideals rise from dark eartli vapors, and he knows only their guidance. But if the body be verily starved, still the pure soul of a Franz Schubert will soar above to its ideal through poverty's heavy clouds undaunted. Such a life story falls after him wdio lived it, as clear, as sweet as falls the first trill of the morning bird from its happy throat. In the ideals of Dean Swift and John Milton lay the keynote of the difference In their lives. Ideality is the food of the soul. That soul which has no high, invigorating ideal shrinks into littleness, because of its unsatisfied hunger. Ideals of some nature we each of us hold dear. In 96 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. childhood they come to us, prompting us to imitate our older friends. As the years pass by in swift change- abihty new ideals spring up, those most cherished forming the character of their possessor; especially is this true wlien a person works to attain one ideal alone. The direction in which we look, the steady pressing on in that one way makes us as we are; the strife for a noble end makes a man great, not his final success or failure. The ideal which some men adore is ''his majesty, myself." They are very fond of this personage; that is, of the ideal of this personage; very few admire their real selves ; indeed, the ideal is so far removed from the real self that it is quite doubtful if they ever get the greatest glimpse of "his majesty, myself" in reality. Sometimes an ideal will long lie dormant in its inner chamber of the heart; then suddenly, by some inspira- tion, soft-stealing and breathing all around it a summer- like exhilaration, all its latent power is wooed to glowing, burning life, and under the mighty, silent influence of his new awakened ideal Pygmalion creates his peerless Galatea, Alexander w^aits ready to conquer worlds. The reality is never equal to the ideal; the one is per- fect, the other only real, yet men believe that in the realization of their hopes there is to be found content- ment, yes, perfect happiness. And this is w^ell, for were it otherwise that ''endless toil and endeavor," which sends with strong, rapid pulse throbs the life blood of enterprise and investigation, over and through dark waters and fair lands of our loved earth mother, would falter feebly or cease entirely. So hoping, hoping until hope is belief, men hurrying or loitering, march on to the inevitable, the common IDEALS AND REALITIES. 97 heritage where success and failure side by side rest in quiet peace. Those whom this world calls dreamers are they who, satisfied with throwing fancy's lustrous web over every- thing, attempt not to make a revelation of their dreanns to those around them. They do nothing but dream. Many, however, who are merely recognized as toilers, dream much. They dream to work. They do not dream all day, but in the hushed dark- ness they lie with wide-stretched eyes thinking, listen- ing, dreaming, listening only to hear: "Time fiowlng in the middle of the night And all things creeping to the day of doom." Such dreamers rise shrouded in morning grayness, hand in hand with their mystic ideal, and make her real only that others may know her grace. He who realized to mankind the beautiful ''EvangeHne" must, in this way, have dreamed of her. One life, one mortal life, is little, ''only a cup of water," and barely that in the infinite ocean of time gone by and timxe to come. On this ocean's endless ebb and flow v/e float av;ay, and soon no trace of us or of our work is found. This is the real. Is this the end? Is this the end? We cannot have it so; our ideals wall not let us. Majestic they rise upw^ard, and, beaming down on our restless souls, quiet us with the pure, uplifting truth that— Who in life's battle firm doth stand Shall bear hope's tender blossoms 'Into the silent land." 98 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. FOR CHARACTER IS OUR IMMORTALITY. Aaiiong the many Influences which surround man, and make him what he is, thought takes a foremost part. This is the only real thing in hfe. All action is only the outward expression of thought, and is determined by the nature of the thought, no matter how different the two may seem. Thought is the parent and mainspring of all action. A great man is sent into the world, and by the power of his mind and insight into motives, causes and effects, results are brought about, which change the destiny of nations. The history of the whole world is nothing more or less than an account of the achievements of great men or the carrying out of their thoughts. It is the nature of man in all ages to look up to or admire what is better than himself. Out of this rever- ence springs v/orship, for what is religion but the v/or- ship of an ideal? This same feeling makes us loyal and true to those we love and to our country. Out of this adm.Iratlon, governments are founded, for v^'e exalt those to a higher plane whom we believe to be of worth. The nature of this worship of Ideals has a good Influence, for we are always ennobled by worshiping that which we cannot reach but can strive for. This Is the secret of the influence of truly great men. They are a special gift sent to man from God, nearer to him in thought; and surely, by honoring them and using them as models, we come nearer to our one great ideal. They spring forth In all ages, noble and heroic, kindling with zeal and CHARACTER OUR OIMORTALITY. 99 enthusiasm those with whom they mingle, or who know of their achievements. In times of peace the voices of men of strongest char- acter are the voice of one crying in the wilderness — they sound to all mankind, the bugle call to a search for truth for inward progress. Of them Lowell wrote: "For humanity sweeps onward, Where to-day the martyr stands. On to-morrow crouches Judas, With the silver in his hand." They keep the world aroused, and with their coming we, without our will, are brought near to that power of perfectness — the Christ. Then should we "welcome each rebuff that turns earth's smoothness rough." Each sting that bids, nor sit, nor stand, but go, as they tend to character-building. But what seems much more humanly w^onderful, though in reality divinely appointed, such men fre- Cjuently appear when everything is in confusion, while panic and despair reign, and through their magic power come quiet and order. "'"He spake and into every heart his words Carried new strength and meaning." They form the models of our highest ambitions, and their infiuence is eternal. The public holds them to be the living exam.ples or the emblems of much that is good or grand, and it will generally reward our efforts just in proportion to the nearness in wdiich wx approach them. We may seem to be in the current of public opinion, but we are, in truth, influenced by these heroic minds. LoK. 100 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Are most men, then, puppets of these strong souls? Do they see through anotlier's eyes and think with his mind? No; the will is free. We fashion our own char- acter, and all experience teaches us that we become that which we make ourselves. Every act leaves its impress upon character. Perhaps many times it may seem as if circumstance was the turning point, but character has been developing, and was ready to manifest itself at the time of the act. Moral, like physical growth, is slow. Although a man may become'great to the world in a day, he must form his character by years of patient training. George Eliot says: "Our deed shall travel with us from afar, And what we have been makes us what we are." Character carries with it an influence that always tells, and if it be of any worth it 'will manifest itself in the workshop as well as in public. Sometimes it is said that this or that person has led a blameless Hfe. ^If we take blameless in its ordinary meaning, and can only interpret it that such a person has never done any Wrong, there is not much credit given to the person. But if we .may take the statement in a higher sense and have it mean that he has done his duty so far as man is concerned to mankind, it is indeed high praise. It means that he has so lived and acted in this world that though death may have taken his body, his influence lives on, and many have been made better by his existence. How great, then, is each one's responsi- bility. Longfellow says : CHARACTER OUR IMMORTALITY. lOI "No action, whether foul or fair, Is ever done, but it leaves somewhere A record written by fingers ghostly, As a blessing or a curse, and mostly In the greater weakness or greater strength, Of the acts which follow it." Every person is helping to form destiny, some persons by great deeds or acts, some by the pen, which furnish the thoughts that forerun the age and anticipate all that shall be said; while others are aiding, and just as truly, by the little unnoticed acts of every-day life. Nothing, not even a word or an example, is ever for- gotten or lost, and it may carry with it a train of con- sequences the end of which cannot be traced. An idle or a bad word will not die, and seems to cling to man more tenaciously and longer than a good one, as if it were an evil spirit, and dare not leave for fear it might lose its victim. Neither does a good deed ever die, and each act that is done either increases or diminishes the sum of human good in the world. George Eliot's greatest aim was to be immortal in the beneficial results of her life, and to live on in the higher plane of others. "That better self shall live till human time Shall fold its eyelids and the human sky Unread forever." "May I reach — That purest heaven, and be to other souls, That cup of strength in some great agony. -- Enkindle generous ardor, feed pure love, Beget the smiles that have no cruelty, Be the sweet presence of a good diffused And in diffusion ever more intense. So shall I join the choir invisible Whose music is the badness of the world." 102 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. KITES WITH TOO LARGE TAILS. Starting a kite from the earth and letting it ascend in the air, if its tail is properly proportioned to its body, it will soar out of sight, but if its tail proves too large for its body it will rise only a short distance, then sud- denly fall. May not the man starting on the business voyage of life be compared to the flying of a kite? If the business is constructed in conformity with well-established rules, principles, "or laws governing business, if the winds are favorable it will successfully rise, but if such laws are violated or ignored in business, kite-flying failure inevit- ably results. What is the cause of so many failures in this world of opportunity? The answer comes quickly and truth- fully; most of the people who fail are attempting to fly a kite with too long a tail. One of the illy constructed kites of American life is the growing inclination of so many young men to get their living by their wits, and to leave agricultural, micchanical or other manual labor to be monopolized by foreigners. Our youth are hardly out of their jackets before they are lead, sometimes, by a certain class of writers and thinkers, and, very often, by doting parents and friends to look v;ith scorn upon the place in life to which Provi- dence has assigned them. These same people lead the youth to start a struggle to become congressmen, for- eign ministers, major generals, or to get some other KITES WITH TOO LARGE TAILS. 103 equally absurd station in life when their fitness is taken into consideration. Young people are told they may do these things as well as not if they only will. Urged on by these influential persons, they rush into some business they knovr notliing about, thinking that to be a lawyer or merchant, whether fitted for that posi- tion by Providence or not, is more honorable than being a farmer or mechanic. The consequence is that the brain work is too much for them and they fail, the kite being too small for the tail. They forget that all callings are honorable if pursued with an honorable spirit. It is the intention carried into the work, and not the work a man does, that degrades it. In some respects the city is a very attractive place for getting rich, yet the apparent opportunities for accumu- lating wealth are very deceptive. The sons of many of our farmers, blacksmnths and carpenters no sooner become their own masters than they throw down the scythe, anvil or plane and rush to the city to engage in what they think the better work of canning oysters, weighing sugar, selling tape or posting bills. A youth vdio might become a first-class farmer chances to have been born of ambitious parents, vvlio tliink it more honorable for their son to handle the lancet than the plovr, and so they make him a doctor. He is sent to college, pushed through Latin and Greek, attends lectures, gets a diploma, and his vacant head settles down to kill people scientifically, to pour, as A'oltaire said, "drugs of which he knows little into bodies of which he knows less." A lad designed for a shoemaker is spoiled by being trained for the profession of literature, reminding one of Lessing's sarcasm. I04 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. "Tompkins forgets the last and the awl For literary squabbles : Styles himself poet ; but his trade Remains the same, he cobbles." Kites rise against the vrind, not Avith it. No man ever worked his way anywhere in a dead cahn. Per- severance, patience and willingness to bide one's time are necessary to success. Greatness consists, not in Vv^aiting with folded hands to claim life's prizes and with- out previous effort, but in toiling and struggling with no immediate results, yet standing firm. Looking around among our acquaintances we shall find that nearly all the successful men have stuck to one purpose. As an example of the opposite class, a farmer comes to the conclusion that dairying is the most profit- able branch of agriculture, purchases cows, erects build- ings and begins well. But it being a new business he does not succeed as he expected. He might in time if he would stick to it. The next year he sells his cows and buys sheep. The price of wool is low that year, and he hears that much money is to be made at raising tobacco, and changes accordingly. Thus he goes on changing from one business to another, never succeed- ing at anything. Two lawyers begin to practice at the same time. One gives all his energies to his profession, lays in day by day a stock of legal learning, constructs his kite and waits patiently for years for an opportunity to demonstrate his skill in flying it. The other, restless and impatient, plunges into politics, gets a large tail for a small kite, fails and becomes an insurance agent, or engages in speculation. In a few years the latter will be without property, and in debt, while the former will have a KITES WITH TOO LARGE TAILS. 105 profitable and growing business. Llis kite will soar on, without any apparent effort of his. Hardly anything is more fatal to success in business than the impatience for immediate results. All those kinds of business which pay best in the long run, and which are surest in the end, are slowest in the beginning to yield a return. Hold fast to your string, would you succeed in flying your kite. A young man with litttle brains and expensive habits soon finds that he is attempting to fly a kite with too large a tail, so, too, one-half of our families are engaged in desperate struggles to keep up appearances. They force themselves into some fashionable position where they may go in the society of IMrs. So-and-So, but their kites will fall in time. When the young merchant gets married he or his bride, or both, may not be content with comforts accord- ing to their income, but may think they must pay high rent, get fashionable furniture, set a luxurious table — all in excess of their means. The result is, after strug- gling along for a few years, possibly only a few months, ■with bankruptcy before their faces, the curtain falls and the wretched play of keeping up appearances is ended. Dr. Johnson says: "Let it be your first care not to be in any one's debt; resolve not to be poor; whatever your income, spend less." It is difhcult for a man who is constantl}^ in debt to be truthful, hence it is said, "lying rides on debt's back." A man out of debt, though with a flaw in his shoe leather, is still the son of liberty; free as the singing lark above him. But the debtor, though royally clothed, is a slave to be reclaimed at any moment by his owner — the creditor. Hardly anything is more fatal to success in business io6 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. than the ail-absorbiiig anxiety for wealth, which is so characteristic of the times we hve in. Instead of aiming to do a snug, easily managed business, which will yield a reasonable rev/ard, the great fault of many who start in the race for life is that they are not willing to creep before they walk, walk before they run, or run before they attempt to fly. Speculation is another fruitful cause of failure; too many know parallel examples of the speculation, which is told in the short poem : "Monday, I dabbled in stock operations; Tuesday, owned millions by all calculations ; Wednesday, my Fifth Avenue palace began ; Thursday, I drove out a spanking bay span ; Friday, I gave a magnificent ball — Saturday, smashed with nothing at all." "The darkest day," says Horace Greeley, "in any man's career is that wherein he fancies there is some easier way of earning a dollar than by squarely earn- ing it." Another cause of business failure is lack of liberality in business dealing. There are business men who never advertise, saying one will get as much custom by not advertising as by doing so. But this is hardly true, as the following frequently occurring cases go to show. There are two doctors v/ho have just begun their pro- fessional career. Dr. Easy puts his card on his door and then sits down and waits patiently for patients. If someone is unfortunate enough to break a leg or be seized with an attack of vertigo at his very door he may secure a patient. Not so with Dr. Push. He not only puts a stunning brass plate on his door, but gets himself puffed in the KITES WITH TOO LARGE TAILS. 107 newspapers, dresses in the height of fashion, talks learn- edly of asphyxia, looks wise as an owl, and keeps a splendid 2:40 horse before he has a visit to make. He hires persons to startle his neighbors at midnight with the peal of his bell; is frequently called out of church as being instantly w^anted. Instead of sitting down in his office he scours the streets and adjoining country with his carriage, neglecting no form of advertisement, and is probably earning two thousand a year before Dr. Easy has heard the rap of his first patient. Now. of the two, Dr. Push may be the humbug, but he is certainly not the fool. Dr. Easy's policy is like that of the farmer who sows three pecks of grain where he should have sown five, and is recompensed for his leanness of spirit, by reaping eight bushels of grain instead of twenty. Still another cause of failure in business is the robbery of employers by their clerks. Hardly a day goes by that we do not hear of some dishonest bank president or some thieving agent. Often the merchants themselves are to blame for being thus victimized. Merchants half- pay a clerk, calculating that if he can keep from starving it is sufficient. Then the clerk very wrongly accepts the situation, intending to fly just as big a kite as his employer, and, to make up the deficiency of wages, takes what does not belong to him. Let every young man who is shocked by thought of failure avoid, as far as possible, flying a kite with too large a tail. Let him resolve early to look his affairs squarely in the face. Eloquently has Douglas Jerrold said: "Be sure of it, he v/ho dines out of debt, though his meal be biscuit and onion, dines in a palace/' io8 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. SEVEN MODERN WONDERS OF THE WORLD. With the few hnplements and tools v/hich the ancients possessed, the problem of the erection of the massive structure of the pyramids or the gigantic Colossus of Rhodes, must have been a diiiicult one for them to solve. Even this century, after such great progress has been made in science, and when m.an has learned to utilize the powers of nature, such a problem — using stones as large as the largest in the pyramids — would at least puzzle the wits of the greatest' civil engineers. It has been said that "tlie wonder of one ccntur}- is the commonplace of the next." The Temple of Diana, the Statue of Zeus, the Mausoleum, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Great Pyramids, the Pharos of Alexan- dria and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were, indeed, wonders, but are they wonderful when compared v/ilh tlie inventions of modern times, wliicli have so greatly benefited and enriched the world? I^.Iore than two tliou- sand years ago Epicurus declared that, in the arts vvliich [promote the comforts of life, no more improvements were possible. The philosophers of to-day say that to the scientist and to the inventor, nothing is impossible. In 1761 a worthy member of the House of Commons said: "If a man were to propose to convey us regularly to Edinburgli in coaches in seven days and bring us back in seven more, should v;e not vote him to Bedlam? Or if another were to assert he would sail to the East Indies in six months, should we not punish him for practicing on our credulity?" One hundred and fifty SEVEN AVONDERS OF THE V/ORLD. I09 }'ears later these things, which had been considered altogether impossible, had been most successfully accom- plished. The invention and the use of tlie steam engine have done wonders for the advancement of civilization. It has brought into closer intercourse the different classes of society by uniting cities, towns and villages, .and' extending to people of the countiy equal opportunities Avith the people of the large city in both intellectual and commercial advantages. By opening men's minds it has done away v/ith many prejudices. It has enlarged the resources of the country, and it has increased the power of man. The light of knov/ledge and the charities of cultivated life have been carried to heathen lands, and the missionary has been better able to preach the gospel to all the world. When travel by railway and steamship had come into general use, and people were able to travel much faster and a great deal more than before, an invention for sending messages to distant places with veiy little lapse of time, was brought to the notice of the public. In ancient times, alarums were spread by means of beacon fires, and communications were carried on by means of flags. For long distances, messages were sent by mail. People are no longer dependent on the miails, and, although they may live many miles apart, they may communicate vvith each other and transact business almost as cpiickly as if they were living in the same tov\'n. The telegraph brings London and New York prices to the Chicago business man, and he. in turn, is able at any moment to advise his salesmen of a iiuctua- tion in the market prices. When we read in the morning paper of some great no ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. event which took place in some distant land only a few hours before, do we stop to think tliat tlie telegraph which brings the news was unknown seventy-five years ago? A century ago the news of some great calamity which liad befallen some distant people would have reached this continent only after a lapse of days, weeks, or months, and friendly help could have been given only after a similar lapse of time. Now the intelligence is flashed over the wires and reaches places thousands of miles away, almost at the moment of tlie occurrence of the event. Many people, conscious that it lies in tlieir povv'er to help, and recognizing a moral obligation, give the needed help, because it can be made immediately available, Hovv^ many of those v/Iio use the telephone stop to consider how wonderful it is tliat tliey are able to talk with people many miles av/ay? The business man steps to tlie telephone and talks with a fellovv-man a hundred, or even a thousand, miles av/ay. In a few minutes they transact important business with as much satisfaction as if tliey were in tlie same room. Others, too, are greatly benefited by this v/onderiul invention. Tlie busy house- wife orders her groceries, the doctor is called to the house of his patient, the police are informed of a burglary, and in countless otlier v/ays the telephone is in constant use. Many cannot afford the time or the money necessary to attend concerts, although they m^ay enjoy music as much as rich people, A concert in some large city may be recorded by a phonograph, and it can then be repro- duced with less expense,, at any time and at any place. Thus people of the country and people of the city, the poor and the rich, are brought nearer to a plane where SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD. HI all can enjoy the same things. As an invention, the phonograph is the more wonderful than the telephone, for it records sounds that may be reproduced at any time. An earlier invention, and one of the most practical of the age, is the sewing machine. By this the toil beneath the family roof has been lightened, and the opportunity for education has been enlarged. Formerly the mothers and daughters spent many valuable hours m.aking by hand the garments for all the household. Now^, by steam and machinery, a thousand garments may be made in the time in winch one garment w^as formerly made. In the days before the sewing machine it was not considered necessary for a woman to have much of an education, but opinions have changed, and, since her labor has lightened, she has been able to devote more of her time to gaining an education. From photography there is received mental, artistic and moral culture. It has aided astronomy in gaining accurate pictures of the heavens; it has aided physics in the investigation of the laws of hght ; it has- aided many of the other sciences by giving faithful pictures, which can be carefully studied. In this way the boundaries of human knowledge have been greatly extended. Artistic culture is gained from a study of photographs of tlie wonderful things In nature. Some one has said: "A photograph may be like a good book, trifling in cost, but in value beyond computation." In the X-rays, so recently discovered, photography revealed new Vv^orlds to conquer. This discovery has already proved to be of great value to the surgeon. By the shadow picture the path of a bullet may be traced 1.12 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. without the painful probe; the surgeon, knowing the exact location of the bullet, is able to remove it. In an age of progress, one invention paves the way for another. With the many superb tools now at our service we ought to accomplish even greater wonders than these. "Salute, ye earnest spirits of our time, The Young Improvement ripening to her prime, Who in the fullness of her genial youth, Prepares the way for Freedom and Truth; Peace and Improvement round each train shall soar, And Knowledge light the Ignorance of yore." THE GAMBLER'S WIFE. II3 THE GAMBLER'S WIFE. D.ark is the night, how dark! No light, no fire! Cold, on the hearth, the last faint sparks expire! Shivering, she watches by the cradle-side For him who pledged her love, — last year a bride! "Hark! 'tis his footsteps. No! 'tis past, 'tis gone!" Tick, tick! — 'TTow wearily the time crawls on: Why should he leave me thus? He once was kind; And I believed 'twould last! — how mad, how blind! "Rest thee, my babe, rest on! — 'Tis hunger's cry: Sleep! for there is no food, — the fount is dry! Famine and cold their wearying work have done : Aly heart must break! And thou!" — the clock strikes one. "Hush! 'tis the dice-box! Yes, he's there, he's there! For this, — for this he leaves me to despair! Leaves love, leaves truth, his wife, his child, for what? The wanton's smile, — the villain, — and the sot! "Yet FU not curse him! No! 'Tis all in vain! 'Tis long to wait, but sure he'll come again; And I could starve and bless him, but for you, ^ly child! — his child! O fiend!" — the clock strikes two. "Hark, how the sign-board creaks! The blast howls by. Moan! moan! A dirge swells through the cloudy sky. Ha, 'tis his knock J He comes! — he comes once more!" 'Tis but the lattice flaps :-~thy hope is o'er. 114 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. ''Can he desert us thus? He knows I stay, Night after night, in loneHness to pray For his return, — and yet he sees no tear. No, no! it cannot be: he will be here! ''Nestle more closely, dear one, to my heart! Thou'rt cold! thou'rt freezing! But we will not part. Husband! — I die! — Father! — It is not he! O God, protect my child!" — the clock strikes three. They're gone, they're gone! The glimmering spark hath fled: The wife and child are number'd with the dead: On the cold hearth, outstretch'd in solemn rest, The babe lay frozen on its mother's breast. The gambler came at last, — but all was o'er; Dread silence reigned around— the clock struck four! R. Coates. INTELLECTUAL PROGRESS. II5 INTELLECTUAL PROGRESS. The progress of learning before the sixteenth century was very slow, and not until after that century, was much advancement made. True, the past has not been barren; its -literature may be said to have been grand. Homer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton and others are immortal- ized for their delineations of the beautiful and sublime. A few thinkers are to be found among them. In the time of Bacon, thought was just taking root; the lavv's of nature and philosophy that were understood were few, and it is not strange that during a great calam.ity, ignorance and superstition led them to invent various and imaginative theories as to the causes of natural phenomena, some of which, were very crude. Others, who had enough knowledge to dislodge super- stitious fears, but with the imaginative minds born of several generations of unchecked grovv^th, were led to give full play to their fancies in the beautiful poetic effusions, which constitute so large a part of the litera- ture of the past. This may account for the fact that in the present practical .age, v/e have but little that will com- pare favora])ly with the fanciful writings of the Eliza- bethan era. Probably many years will elapse before it will be equaled, and yet, there is reason to believe, that such a state of mental development vv'ill be reached that the will can receive the thought in any channel without the result of seeming artificial. People of the present generation have been accustomed to hear from the earliest childhood the causes of most phenomena of Il6 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. nature, and, instead of their imaginations exercising full authority, and leading them into gross errors, they are ■checked, and reason is made predominant. The feeling is thus instilled that first thought may be faUible. More care is used, and second thought aids in reaching con- clusions. This has become an age of reason. "Lunatics, lovers and poets" are classed as one. A desire to knovv^ the truths of science has becom_e almost universal, but hov^ sadly is it found that little is knovvn of man, of his sur- roundings, of his past or of his future. It is true the progress of the present has been rapid, but has it been as rapid as it should be? Considering a moment, it is appalling the amount of time that is wasted. Indolent persons are always tired, others are mentally defective, while others, who constitute the majority of public bene- factors, are simply urged on by a desire for private gain. These are often held up before the young as models for them to copy. Careful, conscientious persons, however, do not consider them worthy of the honor. Some maintain that an honorable, upright manner of living is all that is necessary; but this is contentment, arising from inertia. Why not think and act, try to gain more knowledge and solve all philosophical problems? But why do this? Because it leads to happiness, to honor among men, ennobles them, giving them a refined pleasure and contentment, which are infinitely better than the contentment of inertia. The misery and com- plaining of thousands would soon disappear if they would only open their eyes to the fact, that it is their duty to themselves and to their country, to labor and study during the short period of earthly existence. Some, will maintain that everything is perfect, while others, INTELLECTUAL PROGRESS. Il7 believe that the glorious zenith period of development is yet in the future; that the present age, has but just reached the verge of the immense fields containing secrets of the sciences which, when divulged, will revo- lutionize the world. The remark is frequently heard that "the history of the past is the history of the future;" that our republic will have its point of culmination, from which it will decline, as did the PvOman Empire. There can be no foundation for this prediction. Our government is built on a dif- ferent basis. PvOme attained ascendency by force of arms; she fell for want of intellectual and moral training among the masses. Provision is being rapidly made in tliis country to guard against this danger, and it will not only serve for the preservation of the Union, but will be the proper means for eradicating the inherent evils of state, Vv'hich now agitate the people, and impede their progress. Ii8 "ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. THE FUTURE OF THE ARID WEST. About forty 3^ears ago, and within the memory of men and women not yet old, there was an organized and sudden movement of people from the northern and east- ern states to the West, with a definite and determined purpose to take possession of the land for the establish- ment of farms and building of towns. After making improvements, these people found that the rainfall was insufficient, and could not be depended upon for varied agricultural pursuits. In some years the crops were abundant, but a year or two of good crops was liable to be followed by two or three years of drought, which brought more or less complete crop failures. Most of the early settlers became discouraged and left this coun- try, some going even further West; but a great West is surely developing, and these regions will continue to grow more and more important, as the great ocean steamers keep up their yearly landing of hundreds of emigrants on our shore, who are bound for the El Dorado of the European peasant — the West. The arid and semi-arid regions may be defined as that portion of the United States lying west of the lootli meridian, except a narrow strip of country west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges of California, Oregon and Washington. Within these lines are embraced nearly one-half of the states of Kansas and Nebraska, both Dakotas, the whole of Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah, nine-tenths of California, one-third of Oregon and Washington; also the territories of New FUTURE OF THE ARID WEST. 11 g I\Icxico, Idaho and Arizona. The region has an area of about 1,3000,000 square miles, about one-third that of the entire United States, inchiding Alaska. Large numbers of those who were forced to abandon the plains of central and western Kansas, pushed on into the mountains of the West, and many of them into New Mexico, where they found an old system of irrigation, which had long been practiced by the native people, who originally brought the idea from Spain and Mexico. Irrigation is a natural and familiar process. The man who waters his law^n, and the woman who waters her fiower beds are irrigating, though in a rude and humble way. The farmer wdio grumbles at the sight of withered meadows during a dry summer, may yearn for irrigation vvithout realizing it, by wishing to be able to w^ater his crops. In the region where rainfall is abundant, the farmer knows he must reckon upon the uncertainty of nature, and he operates a large farm in order to reduce the chances of complete failure, but by means of irrigation, the crops are sure of a better size and quality, the yield from two to four times as much per acre, so much smaller farms wall answer. No more productive soils are to be found anywhere than on these waterless plains, and in the mountain val- leys of the arid region. The air is healthful and invig- orating, and the region possesses all the requirements conducive to comfort and longevity, excepting only water enough to make the cultivation of the soil profit- able. In the spring, the streams are increased by the rain and the melting of snow and ice, but the later in the season the smaller these streams become. Many of them, dis- 120 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. appear lower down in their courses. Still they afford an ample supply of water, which might be used for irri- gating the greater portion of the western lands. The earliest method of irrigation is known as flooding, and the water is generally applied to shallow basins, being allowed to stand until the ground is thoroughly soaked. In Colorado, wheat and grass are generally irrigated by a system of shallow plow furrows run across the fields, the water supplied from streams and arte- sian ditches upon the ground, and permitted to spread out into a hundred small rills. When water is abun- dant, it is carried in open ditches. Under such circum- stances it is lavishly used, and it is frequently an injury, rather than the benefit to crops which it might be. In Southern California, water is taken from mountain tun- nels through deep ditches or steel pipes, and applied to the soil by means of small furrows run between the trees or rows of vegetables. This method has been brought to a marvelous degree of perfection. The greatest hindrance to irrigation is the idea, that it can be accomplished only by the expenditure of a large amount of money. When wisely undertaken, irri- gation can be secured at comparatively small cost per acre. Only on the plains and in large valleys, can irrigation works on an extensive scale be made applicable or large investments of capital profitable. In the mountain dis- tricts no general system of irrigation is possible, but the methods of storage distribution and application may be confined to limited districts, and adapted to the con- figuration of the land. Every age has its own problems to solve, and the irri- gation of the arid West is one the solutioii. of which, the FUTURE OF THE ARID WEST. 121 present generation should attempt. Extension and growth in the West are practically at a standstill, and without something further being done in this direction by our government or governments, settlement has reached the limit of production. With a large portion of the lands available for settle- ment, held by corporations and private syndicates, or otherwise for speculative purposes, and our poor flock- ing to the cities or laboring on rented farms, the case is not unlike the European conditions of landlordism and tenantry, and the class now known as the "American farmer" will in time become extinct. It is time to call a halt, before the available area of the public domain, shall be entirely absorbed by speculative capital, and closed against the great class of home-seekers, for whom it was intended. There is no condition so conducive to public order, or so calculated to inspire love of country and loyalty to law, .as the ownership of a home; and no other American environment has been so productive as the farm, of use- ful public men, who have left this country. It has been well said, ''The security, the permanency, the efificacy of popular government, have no more earnest champion than the man over whom the flag of his country waves, as a symbol and guarantee to him of protection in his home." 122 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS, GLADSTONE AND THE IRISH STRUGGLE. "The final lesson, the final trial," using Mr. Glad- stone's own words, has ended at last, and the world is made poorer by the death of the most renowned man throughout the British Empire. Gladstone began his pubHc career as the rising hope of the Tory party, but before his death he stood upon mountains of liberty and looked at a country that was far off. He beheved that Ireland is a land of genius; that her people are a proud people; that they do not want the privilege of cleaning grates, and emptying coal scut- tles, while they cannot carry the key to the front door, or draw their own checks. At first, Gladstone opposed Home Rule ; he thought it was the demand of a faction; but when he saw eighty- six Home-Rule Irish members of Parliament returned out of one hundred six, he knew it was the demand of a nation, and not of a faction. He believed that Parlia- ment existed for the country, and not the country for Parliament. He would trust Ireland with such a meas- ure of Plome Rule, as would not impair the integrity of the British Empire. A.t one time in the administration of the govern- ment, Mr. Gladstone, after having made, without avail, every concession to this people, resorted to all the cruel agencies of despotic power to coerce them into a pas- sive quietude, which would, if possible, have prevented thcin from writliing in their agony. From the com- GLADSTONE AND THE IRISH STRUGGLE. 123 pleteness of that failure he learned the great truth, and liis was the glory first of his countrymen to learn that, under present-day civilization, only Russian methods—- the knot, the hangman's cord, and the Siberian mine — • can perpetuate a social and pohtical system cruelly unjust, and he has been the bulwark of Irishmen against new and hideous oppressions, and the champion in the world's great forum for justice, to this long-suffering people. With rude, unpitying strokes, he has hewed down abuses and absurdities in a political system, which were venerable from prescription. To six millions of his fel- low-countrymen, working in fields or delving in mines, or, with swarthy bodies and brawny arms, driving the implements of industry — the creators of a nation's wealth in peace, its defenders in war — he extended the right of suffrage and the privilege of self-government. Upon the polluted depths of great cities, in which vice and crime breed like pestilence in marshes, he let in the light of England's first common-school system. Recog- nizing that true learning knows not the destruction of creed or sect, he threw open the scholarships of Oxford and Cambridge Universities to the competition of Protestant, Catholic or Jew, and, in fact, whomso- ever God had bestowed the patent, and set upon the seal of intellectual nobility. The beneficent spirit of his legislation stopped not here. But into the gloomy recesses of mines, where women, bereft of womanly instinct, did the labor of beasts of burden; into factories, where tender children grew dwarfed and deformed, with labor beyond their years; even into dark, opprobrious dens of shame it entered to rectify, to ameliorate, and to save. At last, 124 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. rising to the full height and utmost limit of his states- manship, he decided that to maintain an alien and hostile faith — though that faith was his own by establishment — was an unrighteous policy. His opinion was "that reli- gion should be pure and undefiled; that it was sent among us to heal, not to irritate; to associate, not to seclude ; to collect together like the baptismal dove every creed and clime and color in the universe, beneath the spotless wing of its protection;" and oppression and source of endless dissatisfaction. What is the Irish struggle? What was Gladstone struggling for? God, in making this green earth of ours, placed England at the back door of Ireland, that she could not compete with the Irish, v/ere they allowed to utilize their God-given resources. There lies not a fairer land under the sun than Ireland. Her soil is rich and yields abundant harvests to the hands of toil. She has vast mineral wealth hidden in her bosom — wealth enough to clothe her sons and daughters in purple, such -as kings delight to wear. She has broad rivers that run clown to the sea, with povv^er enough in their sweep to set in motion, every implement devised by men for turn- ing the earth's products into farms for use. But what is Ireland to-day? Her genial skies look down on barren fields that hardly know the touch of labor's earnest hand; or they smile in submissive anguish, on wood and park and silver lake and towering castles built by alien hands, and occupied by strangers to the Irish race; great lords, who live in splendid lux- ury and keep broad acres from the hands of toil, that they may follow the chase, and slay with vv^anton hands the game that flies in fear before them. At the same time, men native to the soil are kneeling at Uieir gates^ GLADSTONE AND THE IRISH STRUGGLE. 125 praying for just one acre of God's own ground, whereon to raise the simple food to meet the wants, and still the sobs that burst from starving mothers and famished babes. The treasures God has planted deep in Irish soil lie unused. Her silver streams to the sea scarce turn a wheel, set a loom in motion, or send a spindle whirling. Her sons are beggars, and her daughters paupers. Erin to-day, clad in rags that scarcely cover her nakedness, sits sadly by the wayside, and strikes with withered hand a harp whose strings are shattered, and its wild, dis- cordant notes from pinched and famished lips, sob out the sorrows of a broken heart. Her days of anguish and nights of bitter pain, her nakedness and her poverty, her woeful desolation, her utter wreck and ruin, can all be traced to the accursed rule and iron hand of England — a rule and hand that struck her growing industries down, silenced her looms and spindles, robbed her fields of cattle, swane and sheep, and covered the land wdth a gloom deeper and darker, than the shadov/s cast by the wings of death. The Irish question is the cause of nearly five million human beings struggling for justice, and the right to live by their own labor on their owm soil, against a small and privileged class, foreign in their origin, foreign in their associations, and upheld in their injustice and in their tyranny, by the armed force of a foreign nation. No human words can paint the miseries and sufferings endured by the Irish peasantry. Millions have been driven from their homes in despair. Hundreds of thou- sands have perished in a land teeming w^ith food. Half of the population exist constantly on the verge of fam- ine, while the landlords, many of whom have never seen 126 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Ireland, live on the confiscated productions of these peo- ple's labor, in extravagance, in luxury, and debauchery. The inflictions tolerated by the Irish peasantry are beyond the limits of human endurance. Let any parent make the case his own. When assembled at the domestic hearth, Vv^ith his family about him, let him bring home to his bosom, the apprehension that for exercising, a privi- lege not only recognized by the lav/, but actually enjoined by the constitution, it v;ere in the power of some brutal tyrant, of whom gold, amassed by specu- lation and public plunder, is the sole entitlement to nobil- ity, to put out his fire and drive him away from his pleasant home, turning him adrift to lead a hopeless, scrambling life — disowned, rejected, and maligned. Where is the father's heart that could endure it? It was against the system that produced these wrongs that Gladstone and the Irish party so zealously strug- gled. Five millions of the Irish people in Ireland, may De deprived of constitutional rights, but twenty milUons of the Irish people in the United States, in Australia, and in Canada are free. They know that until the people of Ireland again own their ov/n land, which was their fathers', the march of industry must cease. They know that there never can be happiness, prosperity or liberty in their mother land until the laws are made by her own people. Read the history of nations, and you will find that Irishmen have risen to the highest positions in foreign countries, and have held their ov/n in all the services of the Empire. In ability, in eloquence, in debating powers, the Irish members are second to none in the House of Commons. Ireland has given to England some of her greatest military captains, and to that country belong GLADSTONE AND THE IRISH STRUGGLE. 127 some of the most distinguished ofiicers of the present day. In her struggles for Hberty, Irish blood has moist- ened every battle-field. Irish hearts, Irish arms, directed by Irish heads, have, in a large measure, contributed to place England in her present proud position. For Ireland's liberty, Gladstone labored long and earnestly. He was courageous all through his career, and never espoused a cause because it was likely to be successful, but ahvays from the motive that what he took up to battle for v;as a righteous cause; nor did he ever hesitate, even with the certainty of losing povv'er and prestige, to lead his party into the lobby Vv'here it would be outnumbered; and to the very last he faced every pain and suffering with a bravery wliich inspired all those who nursed him with admiration. In one of his speeches, shortly before his death, he said: '"AVe are sometimes told that it is a hopeless thing to legislate for Ireland. I am not of that opinion. It is said we have failed in Ireland. I do not admit of failure. I admit success to be incomplete. I am asked how it is to be miade complete. I say, by patient perse- verance in well-doing, and by steady adherence to the work of justice. Then, we shall not depend upon tlie result of the moment. The main question will not b^ what may be said to-day or to-morrow about results. It will be rather what fruits we are to reap in the long future of a nation's existence, and with that v/e have a reckoning which cannot fail. Justice is to be our guide. It has been said that love is stronger than death, and so justice is stronger than popular sentiment — than the passion of the moment — than even the grudges and resentments and sad traditions of the past. AValking in the paths of justice, guided by Divine light, we are safe. 128 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Every step that we make on our road is a step that brmgs us nearer to the goal, and every obstacle, even as it seems for the moment unsurmountable, can only for a little while retard, and never will defeat, the final triumph." The last visit Mr. Gladstone was destined to pay Lon- don was full of interest, despite its brevity and the ill- health which prevented his going out of doors while there. After an absence of four months, he returned to Hawarden, where he soon became seriously ill. When told of the probable course of his illness, he was per- fectly resigned, and, with blessings and prayers upon his lips, the day of his death drew near. That Conqueror over the Mightiest came at last, and on the afternoon of May 17th, 1898, the news that/'Glad- stone was dead" was sent forth from Hawarden. The dauntless old warrior has fought his "one fight more — the last the best"; the voice of the courageous orator has ceased to speak, save in the memories of the past; the great religionist has passed beyond the uncertain speculations of earth. Yet, for many a year William Ewart Gladstone will be a name held high in honor by multitudes who knew and revered him, and his character, so inspiring, will become a national treasure, more and more to be valued as time rolls on. ROADS. 129 ROADS. The first thought of this word suggests travel, for which our roads are made. Next, perhaps, conies the thought of the weariness that travel ahvays brings, although we may be enjoying ourselves. Then there is also much sight-seeing on a journey through the coun- try. As Vv'e pass along we observe, perhaps, the mountains, the clouds, the stars, the rising and setting of the sun, are delighted v\^ith the songs of the merry birds, and the fragrance of the beautiful fiowers, and are wooed at last, it may be, into a forest to sit down under the sliade of a tree and rest. In all civilized countries, roads are among the first objects of necessity. Take a bird's-eye view of any coimtry, or village, or city, and Vv^e shall see a perfect network of roads conveying to some special points, lead- ing somewhere. They are the links golden — truly so — that bind city to city, state to state, nation to nation, making a way for commerce, for international exchanges of civilization, of ideas of life. The Indian m.ade his roads coming and going on his hunting and warring expeditions, with no thought of tlieir permanence, but following these foot or bridle paths through the forest, swimming the streams instead of building bridges. In New York, the citizens, not being able to deter- mine upon any plan for building their city, the cows, as we learn from Washington Irving, took it under their 130 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. peculiar charge, and as they went to and from pasture, estabhshed paths through the bushes, on each side of which the people built their houses. This is one cause of the rambling .and picturesque turns and windings, which distinguish the streets of New York to this day. The word also suggests investigation into the his- tory of roads. Compare the roads ot to-day with those of the ancients, w'hich were laid out and constructed almost exclusively by order of the governments of states, and very generally for military purposes. The streets of Rome were not paved in the time of its kings, but after their expulsion, great attention was paid to the maintenance of the public ways in the city, and of the military roads, many of which were con- structed, with immense labor, through hills and masses of rock, through swamps, and across ravines and rivers. Though the paved roads of the ancient Romans sur- pass all others structures of the kind that have been made by civilized nations since their time, there arc found in Peru remains of works of a similar kind of unknown age, and exceeding them in grandeur and extent. Though the paved roads of the ancient Romans, sur- the grand plateau, and the other along the lowlands on the borders of the ocean. The former was the most difficult to build on account of the character of the coun- try. It v/as constructed over a saw-toothed ridge of mountains and craggy rocks buried in the snow. Gal- leries were cut for leagues through the living rock; rivers were crossed by bridges that hung suspended in the air; ravines of great depth were fdled up wdth solid masonry, and many other great difficulties that mJght appall the most courageous engineer of niodern times. ROADS. 131 but which were then encountered and successfuhy over- come. The Mexicans had no good system of roads, and trans- portation was not only slow, but costly. It was not until 1794, that they began to pay attention to the improve- ment of their roads. From a very ancient period the Egyptians have had canals for means of transportation. About the begin- ning of 1859 Egypt had about five hundred miles of railroad completed. During tlie middle ages the construction of highways v/as well attended to. In Germany, only since the Napo- leonic war. Forty years ago the best roads were found in Hanover and Thurijigea. The Thuringer Wald, we are told, has been transformed into a park by its splen- did roads; but some of the districts still suiTer from the want of good highvrays. France, at an early date vtis well provided with com- mune roads, divided into imperial, departmental and communal, the cost of each class being defrayed by the government. Wide highways, bordered with fine trees, comprise the first class. The departmental are very good, but the communal are poor and too often out of repair, as they are not, like the others, under the charge of civil engineers appointed by the govern- ment. In England, the first ordinary roads deserving the name of highways were made in 1660, and canal-building began in the middle of the following century. The roads and canals aided greatly in raising the commercial and industrial activity of the nation; still their aid was very slight compared with that of the railways. The latter, rather aided, than prevented the extension of the old 132 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. highways of England — the turnpike roads which are now considered among the best of the world. The Britons failed to keep up the roads made by the Romans, or to construct new ones, and for centuries they continued to make use of the foot or bridle paths, such as are used only in the most thinly settled portions of the United States. But with the sixty years follow- ing the period when the manufacturing resources of the country, through the development of the steam engine and the coal mines of England, were brought into action, the progress in the construction of roads was very remarkable, and Great Britain became famous for the excellence of her highways, and facilities for rapid com- munication which they afforded. Finally, the thought suggested itself to us that we would like to test these roads, and that we may som.e- times have the pleasure of seeing bonny England, his- toric Germany, beautiful Swissland, and sunny France by means of these same thoroughfares. "WHAT A WOMAN CAN DO." 133 "WHAT A WOMAN CAN DO." "Labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in Heaven." How true and inspiring is this thought of Carlyle! How- ever the station in hfe may differ, every one has some- thing to do. Very few desire to be dependent, and so at some time, the impulse comes to every one, to strike ou.t in a path for himself. The difficuhies have been greater for women than for ■men, for not until recently have so many trades and professions opened their doors to them. In ancient times, woman was regarded as something too sacred to come in contact with worldly affairs, and the suggestion that she should do something for money, would have been counted as ridiculous. This regard may have been admirable in the good old days of chivalry, but it will not do in practical America. Woman has been made a power in the movements of the world, and her influ- ence has never before been so potent, or so needed. Much has been said of the dangers incurrred by draw- ing her at once from the safety and dignity of her own fireside, into the great whirl of industrial life. She may now go to college with her brother, travel alone, or enter any career she likes. The question is no longer what has she the ability or right to do, but what is most expedient for her. Possibly all these privileges may have been carried too far. Everv movement and everv 134 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. person is inclined to extremes. A vibrating object starts out with a large arc, which gradually becomes smaller until a point has been reached where it will balance; so all reform finally returns to some point which will be neither too narrow nor too wide. When the necessity for a cliange comes it is at once made, without any com- ment. Dress reform is indicative of this spirit. When woman first imbibed the idea of reform in dress, she shut her- self in her room, and there followed a great cutting and snipping for a few days, after which she emerged in a garment the horror of all who beheld it. When bicycling and golf came, and the need of this garment was apparent, no comment was made about the com- fortable blouse and short skirt. So it is with the reform in industrial life of women. Many a young girl finds her- self suddenly confronted by a crisis which demands prompt and energetic action, and they are the most noble who go bravely to work to support those depend- ing upon them. Such was the fate, twenty years ago, of Elizabeth Bart- lett, importer and manufacturer of carriage and sad- dlery supplies. She was the only child of an English- man who came to America with samples of hardware used by saddlers and carriage-makers. He was about to send for his wife and little child wdien tidings came of the death of the former, tie brought his little girl to this country, and never afterward left her, instructing her as best he could at the hotels where he spent his nights and Sundays. Her education was necessarily much restricted, but she was well taught in the necessity of thoroughness and integrity in all she did. She learned to know all the details of her father's business, as well "WHAT A \VO:sIAX CAN DO." 135 as the faces and names of his acquaintances. When only sixteen years of age, she was left fatherless in a far Avestern city, with her father's samples, his good name, his round of connections and little else. She at once took the business, and. soon won the respect of all around her. Her business steadily increased until she occupied two large buildings, with a factory outside the city, but she had little concourse with women around her. She once sadly said: *'When it is fashionable, as it w^ill be later on, for women to enter business, they will not be so lonely and unknown as I am. I would like the com- panionship of my sex, but as they refuse to give it to me, except by purchase, I must live, and doubtless die alone." She did. She also prophesied that twenty years later the business Vv^omen would be suitably respected. The twenty years have nearly passed, and her prophecy bids fair to be fulfilled. Another successful business woman is j\Iiss Clara Stimson. At her father's death she continued his work, became one of the leading lumber merchants of Maine; finally lier market included several adjoining states. Her busy, contented and prosperous life is an incentive to any who wish to engage in active business. This strictly mercantile career is not the only one by which woman can earn an honest livelihood, but there are many others which have for years back been con- sidered hers. The kindergarten is now opening up a road for many eager workers, and although special training is required, the work is much less wearing than ordinary school routine. It has been said that more women become stenog- raph'^^rs than anything else, and that there are at least 13^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. fifty thousand in America alone. The student of ordi- nary ability may gain a knowledge of typewriting in six months. The only objection to this occupation is, that so many are preparing for it that in a few^ years there will be more stenographers than positions. Nursing has long been regarded as demanding dis- tinctively feminine qualities, yet it requires much cour- age to face an insane or delirious patient, and a nurse without self-control, would be worse than useless. The most important qualities for a good nurse are prudence and consideration for others, as she will often be placed in positions requiring great discretion. This position dem.ands thoughtfulness in neither showing undue cheer- fulness, nor adopting a manner fitted to depress and frighten those around her. She should be ingenious at make-shifts and contrivances for the comfort of the patient. There is one old and honorable profession which is exclusively woman's. It is that of housekeeping. i\Ien, because they cannot do this, are apt to consider it unworthy of their powers. Just as many difficulties pre- sent themselves to the woman in the home as to the man in business. She has to meet questions of domestic economy and the labor question, just as perplexing in her kitchen as in his office. The housekeeping problem is part of the great labor question which is waiting solu- tion. It is older than this generation, older than the country, and is, in fact, as old as human nature itself. Yet there is no greater accomplishment, nor any from which there are more pronounced or happy results, than those which one will receive from being in contact with a good housekeeper. We may not all have had oppor- tunities of becoming thorough housekeepers^ but if we "WHAT A WOMAN CAN" DO." 137 are so unfortunate as to lack thoroughness in this most important branch, we certainly should perfect ourselves in something else. All will agree that women can do some work much better than men, and a great deal equally as well; so it would seem a little ungracious not to admit that some things can be done better by men. In looking back over the history of the nations, one finds that all agreed that there should be some difference in the work for men and women, and if still more is needed we have only to descend lower and examine the animal kingdom, where every class has made a distinction, even down to the sponges, which are almost plant • Hfe, if not quite so. Tennyson outlined the difference between man and woman very clearly: "For woman is not undeveloped man, But averse could we make her as the man, Sweet love were slain, his dearest bond is this Not like to like, but like in difference. Yet, in the long years, liker they must grow The man be more of woman, she of man, Till at the last she set herself to man Like perfect music into noble words." The word help-mate is a corruption of the old Saxon form, help-meet, and truly this broadening and enriching of woman's life, which have come from higher education and closer contact with the world, have made her in most cases a help-meet for man. This introduction of woman into business life has not made her one whit less pure or womanly, or taken from her any of those qualities which men demand. 13'^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Instead, it has placed every line of work on a higher plane, and brought about the realization of the true dig- nity of labor. OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. 139 OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. How pleasant, after the cares and trials of the day, to lay aside all work and spend the evening in a cheerful and social way. In a like manner, holidays serve as rests from the daily work of life. Our Heavenly Father saw the necessity of these, when He commanded that the seventh day should be one of rest, spent only in giving praise and glory to God. The poet declares that — ''The holiest of all holidays are those Kept by ourselves, in silence and apart." This undoubtedly is true ; yet with what genuine feel- ings of pleasure, happiness and expectation do we look forward to and welcome the days: First, that commem- orative of our country's independence; second, the day consecrated to the soldiers who fought to maintain that independence; third, the day set apart annually for the returning of thanks to God for the innumerable bless- ings bestowed upon us; fourth, the day sacred to the niemory of him who was "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen"; and, finally, any of the other holidays in honor of brave men and their noble deeds. Fourth of July! Three small words; yet what more potent ones could there be? What others so capable of wakening in the hearts of all true Americans, young and old, that lofty patriotism, that unswerving fidelity to our flag, which is the corner-stone of the Republic? The report of the guns, both great and small, which ushers in the dawn of tlie Fourth of July, seems to re-echo the 140 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. words sent forth to the world, from Independence Hall, Philadelphia, over one hundred years ago. The juvenile portion of the population, according to the opin- ion of one of the small boys, ''just live for the Fourth of July." Their patience is tried for months beforehand by the visions of fire-crackers, torpedoes, etc., which are dis- played in the store vvindows, and bringing up anticipa- tion, until finally the long-wishcd-for day has come and gone, when possibly one of the boys "vvho just lived for the Fourth of July," is left to live on, minus a finger or so, with the consoling thought that he has given up something for his country. The 30th of May, taken for Decoration Day, on which the graves of the soldiers are strewn with flowers, and seryices held in their memory, is one dear to all. It affords us the double pleasure of decorating the graves and "keeping green" the memory of, not only those avIio were soldiers in the battles for the Union, but also tho^e who were soldiers in the battle of life. Oh! what an example in magnanimity was manifested by the ladies of Mississippi when they decorated alike the graves of the Northern and the Southern soldiers! "No more shall the war ci'}^ sever Or the winding rivers be red; They banish our anger forever "When they laurel the graves of our dead. Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment day; Love and tears for the Blue, Tears and love for the Gray." Little did the Pilgrim Fathers, pierced by the bleak winds of the Atlantic, as they knelt on the rocky, unin- viting shores of New England, giving thanks to God for OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. 14! their safe arrival, think that their example would be handed down to posterity by a day being set apart every year for the returning of thanks to God, for the blessings He has bestovved upon this republic — "Great, Glorious and Free" — and for the manifold blessing and mercies showered upon her people. Xot only is it a day of thanksgivitig, but also a day of love, happiness and fam- ily reunion. It is a day of love, because all, ov;ing to the influence of the day, and the memories it awakens, have kind feelings and wishes for all. It is a day of happiness, because on that day a general feeling seems to exist to have all people enjoy them.selves. And since "True happiness exists in doing good," it cannot fail to be a day of happiness to those who, in the proper spirit, endeavor to make it a day of joy to others. Best of all, perhaps, it is a day on which family reunions very frequently take place; vhen the chil- dren who have wandered far away from the old home, it may be, are drawn toward it by an invvard voice, wliis- pering to them of the joys which avv^ait tliem. Stamped on their mind by the hand of im.agination, is a picture of gray-haired father and gentle-eyed mother, of sisters and bothers, as widely separated from that father and mother as they themselves are, once more ensconced- within the walls of the old homestead, enjoying the pleas- ures of Thanksgiving. Well has the poet expressed this sentiment of the day when he says: "Come one, come all I come home, come home, From desert sands, from ocean foam, Beneath the honored home roof-tree, Join hands and hearts, and you shall see Sweet thoughts, pure love and honest living Flow from the keeping of Thanksgiving. 142 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. 'Tis then, the dead become most dear — 'Tis theji, the living bring most cheer — 'Tis then, the best within us seems Aspiring toward our 5^outhful dreams; And life looks really worth the living In the old homestead, at Thanksgiving. Thanks, grim old Puritans, to you, Who 'buildcd better than ye knew.' True, ye Vv-ere hard and stern, 'tis said Intolerant and bigoted. But one sweet gift is of your giving Thanks, sad old Pilgrims, for Tlianksgiving." Christmas, although not a national holiday, bears such a strong resemblance to Thanksgiving Day in the man- ner of celebration, tliat v;e may be allowed to speak of it here. This day receives the warmest welcome of any of the holidays, ovving to its being the celebration of Christ's birthday, and I may also mention the expected visit from the famed Santa Claus. The 22nd of P>bruary, the day coimnemorative of tlie birth of George V/ashington, of wliom Thomas Jeffer- son says, "He v/as indeed in every sense of the word a great and good man," is another day which brings up grand historic events, and an example of the greatest nobleness of character. AVe all know how deserving: he was of this opinion in his position as conmiander-in-chicf of the continental army, as President of the United States for two consecutive terms, and, lastly, in his retirement at Mount Vernon. His birthday deserves to be observed as a holiday as long as the United States remains as a nation. He has justly been termed the chief of his age and his country, which are equally full of wonders. OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. 143 I have before me a group of pictures of Washington, Grant, Lincoln and Garfield: Washington, the success- ful military leader in establishing the nation; Grant, the successful military leader in saving the nation from a domestic foe, and bringing to a victorious issue the Civil War, the greatest the world ever sav.^; Lincoln, the martyred President, who presided over the nation in her hour of peril, and by a proclamation declared free 4,000,000 slaves; Garfield, the martyred President and statesman, who rendered great service to his country, both civil and military. Four great names associated. Four great men bound to our hearts by ties of deepest gratitude. Four great souls, whose natal days have been declared national holidays, by our government. 144 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. FOOTPRINTS. If a person were lost on some desolate and unknown sliore, or broad plain, how welcome would be the sight of a footprint which might suggest some trail to civiliza- tion. But if the footprint discovered v/as that of some wild beast, or of an Indian's moccasin, he might conclude that he w^as in an uncivilized country. Like Robinson Crusoe, vrhen he discovered the print of a naked foot upon the sand, he would be in constant terror lest he should suddenly come upon some savage tribe. The shadow of every rock and the rustle of the leaves, would bring to his excited mind, the image of some savage. So when we are traveling on the broad shore of life, discouraged, the sight of some footprint left on the sand gives us new courage and hope, and we will endeavor to follow more nearly those whose work in life has been a good example to us. There are a few footprints, how- ever, wdiich alarm us as much as the print of an Indian's moccasin — those of people whose lives have been blot- ted with some great crime. We instinctively turn in another direction and sigh at the thought of following them. We are constantly advancing from the darkness into the light of truth and knowledge. Some one makes a new discovery in science or art, which his successors eagerly follow up, and when they have no longer any tracks to guide them, they cautiously advance a few step further. In this manner the path of knowledge widens as time advances. FOOTPRINTS. 145 When a person abandons the footprints of others, who are accepted as authority, and independently starts in a new direction, though he may be eagerly searching for truth, he is more likely to receive the ridicule of the public than its sympathy. For instance, for nearly two thousand years the the- orem of Aristotle was accepted and taught. This theo- rem declared that 'The velocity of the motion of falling bodies is in proportion to their weight." Galileo doubted this statement, and found by actual experiments from the leaning Tower of Pisa, that a ten-pound ball would fall no faster than one weighing five pounds. But when he ventured to contradict the theorem of Aristotle and give to the people the real facts as shown by his own actual experiments, he met with great oppo- sition. The so-called scientific men of the age forced him to fly from his home and seek protection, for daring to disregard their teachings. It is even hinted that he was put to the rack until he retracted many of his beliefs. Even in this enlightened age there is occasionally a person found who has studied long and carefully on par- ticular questions, and arrives at conclusions not gener- ally accepted by the public, only to be honored by the name of crank. It may be that people are not capable of appreciating his advanced thought, and the good work he is striving to do. Possibly in the next century we may see some of the pet ideas of this crank the accepted beliefs of the people, and the established laws of the nation. The delicate impressions of leaves and ferns found in the vast coal beds, the petrified shells, tracks of curious animals and the scratches of boulders left on the moun- tain sides are all footprints which lead the geologist to a 146 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. correct knowledge of this earth's condition thousands and perhaps milUons of years before man existed. By means of these and many other facts we are able to open the book of nature to pages long since passed, and gaze with interest and wonder at the pictures there engraved. When in the presence of noted people, or when we stand before the life-long mark of some genius, how intense is our desire to do something by which we may be remembered. If our imaginations are good, we will build such castles as are rarely inhabited. All kinds of impressive scenes occur, of which w^e are always the cen- tral and. admired figure; but with a start we remember that life is real. But we need not sit and sigh because we are not endowed with the genius of a sculptor, for we can effect- ually aid in molding the character of those around us. If our work is successful, it should give us greater pleas- ure than the chiseling of some imposing statue, faultless in form and feature. Our lives will be just what we ourselves make them, and even though we may not become great in the usual sense of the word, still, as Longfellow says, "We may all make our lives sublime." And perhaps our works and deeds may make some one's life better and more cheer- ful. Such impressions as we may leave behind us, though faint, should not be uncertain, but clearly defined for the good and true. 'ALL THE WORLD'S A WHEEL.". 147 "ALL THE WORLD'S A WHEEL." Little did our ancestors think that the wheel, a mere fad in their time, was destined to be one of the indis- pensable elements of modern times. France, England and Scotland each claims the lionor of its invention. Cycling proper was first introduced into America in the early part of the nineteenth century. But not cycling as it is to-day. The first wheel, known as the Draisene, consisted of two wheels, which the rider, being seated between, with his feet just touching the ground, pro- pelled, half running and half w^alking, a progress which on the whole averaged about eight miles an hour. This contrivance met with little favor, but when the Draisene appeared later with improvements, and its name changed to velocipede it was received with great enthusiasm. The craze became so universal that numerous schools of instruction w-ere established, and many people attended that they might learn to ride. Becoming proficient in this art necessarily meant a considerable expenditure of energy, v/hen we take into consideration the propelling of a hundred and fifty pounds, instead of about twenty- tvvo. This machine answered very wxU until the bicycle, more commonly called the sky-scraper, was Introduced in 1876. This tmgainly contrivance consisted of a large Avheel at the front with a very small wheel at the back. It is evident that there was always a certain danger of taking headers, which were not particularly desirable, considering the distance the rider had to fall. Next in order to these came the low wheel. This 148 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. machine was heavy and awkward-looking, but the dan- ger was greatly reduced, and it was appropriately called the ''Safety." This was again pushed into the back- ground and called the "Ice-Wagon," when the present wheel, after many years of improvement, came. They are now approaching perfection. Although genius has exhausted itself in this line, there is still another means of locomotion still more surprising in its mechanism, and that is the automobile. This is a form of carriage or wagon, whatever its purpose may be, run by an electric motor operated by a lever, thus saving the rider's energy, and dispensing with the horse entirely. It is meeting with universal adoption in all the large cities in the United States, and in England, France and Germany many of the aristocracy and nobil- ity have been most devoted in their allegiance to the new vehicle. Even Queen Victoria, Vv^ho is known to have been far from partial to innovations of any kind, evi- dently realized the dav/n of a new era, for she ordered that all her driving horses be trained to become accustomed to the sight of the automobile. Physicians in all parts of the country are using the automobile in making their professional calls, and the new mode of travel has so many advantages that it is sure of a very general adop- tion. It is estimated that the number of bicycles made in this country last year was five hundred thousand. This year the demand has more than equaled the supply. It is impossible to state the number of manufacturers in the United States at the present, but a careful account gives about five hundred concerns of importance. Mil- lions of dollars are invested, and thousands of men are employed in the making of the bicycle. Each year it "ALL TI-IE WORLD'S A WHEEL." 149 has been predicted that the price of the wheel would greatly decrease, but while it has decreased in price to a certain extent, the price of standard wheels remains about the same. Most people think that the wheel man- ufacturers make a great profit, but they do not take into consideration the cost of a plant and large advertising bills. When all these things are deducted, the profits on a bicycle, are not out of proportion to the outlay nec- essary in the making. In regard to the value of the Vv'heel, one's health should receive the first consideration. Many extravagant things have been written about its benefits and its dangers. The exercise of wheeling most nearly resembles that of mountain climbing, both in the m.uscles used and the exhilarating efiect, but our dooryards are not supplied with mountains, while roads are Vvithln the reach of every one. The use of the wheel strengthens a great many mus- cles and proves a benefit to all in many ways, unless the indulgence in it is abused, but this may be done in all exercises. The greatest danger arises from the strain which the exertion brings upon the heart; it doubles the normal beat just as it does when a person runs up stairs rapidly. Cases are on record of people dropping dead while riding the bicycle. But there are also cases of peo- ple dropping dead in their carriages or even in the rock- ing-chair at home, so it does not necessarily follow from this that one should give up the bicycle any more than the rocking-chair. It also affords opportunity for an abundance of pure country air, which is beneficial to all, wdiile in no other way can the scenery be more thor- oughly enjoyed; and as it is utterly impossible to worry on a wheel, all cares for a time must be laid aside. There are still other advantages to be considered — ISO KSS/VYS AND ORATIONS. for instance the time it saves. One is able to progress faster with the wheel than with the horse, which proves a great advantage to the physician and other business men. Also the expense of keeping a horse and the labor necessary for his care is dispensed with when one avails himself of a wheel. The fact that it may be successfully used in the army, first by messengers and couriers, and secondly for mov- ing bodies of infantry from place to place, will raise the standpoint of the wheel in the estimation of critical people. Fancy infantry moving in a manner which enables them to dispense with the use of boats, bridges and horses. One of the most practical outgrow^ths of the wheel has been the improvement in the country roads. The horse probably knev/ the disadvantage and misery of a muddy road as well, but, unfortunately, he lacked the gift of speech. The wheelman is patient, persistent and relent- less, and success has crowned his efforts. Within tlie last three years sixteen states have passed laws for the betterment of the public roads, largely through his efforts. Although, like everything else, cycling has its disad- vantages, on the whole it has proved a benefit as well as a pleasure to men in g-eneral, and its many practical uses prove to us that it is not a fad, but an indispensable accessory to both business and pleasure locomotion. THE SALVATION ARMY. 151 THE SALVATION ARMY. As Christ began his ministr}' by helping the poor, so we find men of to-day following His noble example, thinking no man so degraded but that he is worthy of being lifted out of his pitiful condition, and placed on a higher plane. Aroused by the degradation and helpless misery of the poor around him, the Rev. William Booth, an evangelist working in the East End of London, began, in 1865, to hold open-air meetings for these poor people. Having severed his connection with the Methodist Church, he, unaided, began this w^ork. The first m.eeting held under cover was in the Friends' burial ground in Whitechapel. His work was called the East London Mission, and soon attracted the attention and support of many wealthy men. From that time on the m.ovement advanced rap- idly, and soon lost its local character, for in 1869, when the name was changed to the Christian Mission, branches were already established in England, Scotland and Wales. In 1878 the movement reached France, and its international career had well begun. Since it had been found to be an army of salvation, it was decided to adopt the name of Salvation Army. A complete mili- tary system was adopted and military titles w^ere con- ferred on the officers. The organization was first' made on Methodist lines, but the leaders soon found that they would meet with less opposition from every class of people if a military system was adopted. Strict discipline has made faithful and obedient soldiers, eager to 15^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. do the bidding of the one in command. The mainte- nance of all this system has, of course, been largely due to the faithful carrying out of military government and discipline. The object of the Salvation Army is to conquer sin and reclaim the sinful, not to capture the righteous, and this society objects to receiving church members within its ranks. Its workers seek after souls abandoned by others — those wdiom the churches have not reached. The work in hand is to subdue a rebellious world to God, and this is accomplished through the instrumental- ity of holy men using the means used by the first apos- tles. The Salvation Army has ever had to make its way against great opposition. In each country, it has to face universal prejudice, distrust and contempt, and often still stronger antipathy. This opposition has generally found expression in system.atic, governmental and police restriction, followed in many cases by imprisonment. Bishops, clergy, pressmen and others have bitterly denounced them, and this has naturally been followed in many instances by the insults of the people. In xAmer- ica, its followers have been subjected to more arrests and imprisonments, than in any other country. The charge made against them is disorderly conduct on the streets. Through all this, in country after country, the Army makes its way to a position of universal respect, that respect, at any rate, which is shown to those who have conquered. Their methods are plain, simple and unique, yet they believe them to be in accordance v/ith the teachings of the Bible. Those in command hesitate at nothing which they think a means of attracting the attention of those THE SALVATION AR:\IY. 1 53 for whom they are seeking, so they parade the streets with banner and music, and their posters, placards and advertisements are different from the usual religious announcements, and may offend the cultured, but they attract the attention of the fallen and degraded. They study the law of adaptation, and by their many devices lead the sinful to their meetings. Attracted by the songs, many are induced to enter the barracks who seldom, if ever, have listened to the word of God. Many, out of idle curiosity, attend the meetings, but they soon find that the soldiers are in earnest, so that ''many who go tO' scoff, remain to pray." The services are informal, and they endeavor to make the people at home. A large number of those who are now most prominent in the ranks of the Army had settled into a profound conviction, before they attended its services, that every- thing connected with religion was utterly false. Having given satisfactory evidence of conversion, and signed the articles of war, in which he promises to live for God and the army, be obedient to lawful orders and lead a pure life, a recruit is expected to become an active worker. There are about forty trained homes which graduate efficient officers. After spending about six months in one of these training homes, a recruit may then be sent out to take charge of a company. The service is voluntary; no salary is guaranteed and no ofificer receives mxore than is required for the supply of actual wants. The private income of General Booth, who is still at the head of the organization, is derived from other sources, and he has never drawn any salary from the Army. The Salvation xArmy is a powerful missionary agency, and has made greater progress than any other religious 154 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. movement since the Lutheran reformation. Members of this organization are now working in thirty-four coun- tries. The especial field of their work has been in the slums of the large cities. The Salvation Army officer, instead of standing upon some dignified pedestal to describe the fallen condition of his fellow-men, in the hope that, though far from him, they may thus come to a better life, goes into the street, and from door to door, helping these poor, unfortunate ones. The mem- bers of this organization visit the wretched hovels, pre- pared to clean the room, clothe and feed the inmates and better their environment as much as possible. They help those who are out of employment to obtain work and become independent, and, after attending to the physical wants, they talk about salvation. They show that "doing is more than saying," and "example more than precept." Instead of propounding religious theo- ries or pretending to teach a system of theology, they speak much after the manner of the old Prophet or Apostle to each individual about his or her sin and duty. A few years ago General Booth published a book enti- tled "In Darkest England and the Way Out." He tells us of some of the misery that exists in East London, where tlie people live in the midst of crime and all kinds of evil. The condition of the London cab horse is much higher than that of those depraved, destitute people. When the cab horse, for any reason, falls, he is helped up, and while he lives he has food, shelter, work, and the protection of the law; but this is not true of many tmfortunate people, for when they fall their fellow-men, instead of helping them up as they would a cab horse, begin to wonder why it was they should have fallen, and CO not attempt to help them, Happy, indeed, would THE SALVATION ARMY. 155 many of these destitute and forsaken ones be could tliey receive such consideration as that bestowed upon the London cab horse. Three kinds of colonies have been organized to render these people self-helping and self-supporting, each com- munity being a kind of co-operative society. These col- onies are the City Colony, the Farm Colony, and the Over-Sea Colony. The establishing of these colonies has been the means of bringing many thousands from a life of vice and crime to one of honesty and self-support. Men and women regain their lost manhood and live happy, useful lives. Each one who is taken into one of these colonies must w^ork, and thus learn to be self-supporting. The Salvation Army has not been a popular organiza- tion, but it has done much for the bettering of the world. A celebrated leader in the evangelistic world, when asked some time ago what he thought of the Sal- vation Army, replied: ''I do not like it at all, but I believe God Almighty does." Perhaps, as an agency, they were not doing just as he would have done; but think of the countless human wrecks living in this broad land, and of the great work of rescue that the Salvation Army has been carrying forward. 15^ ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. THE VALUE OF COLLEGE EDUCATION. The word commencement, seems at first thought, to be a strange one to apply to the closing day of school life. Custom sanctions its use for high school and col- lege ahke, so its meaning must be applicable to either, and as usually accepted the term suggests the begin- ning of one's work in the world. Then comes the query, Are we prepared for this? Knowing what study can and cannot do for a man, it is a question whether one may educate himself to a greater advantage, or whether a college education is of more value to him. A person who works his way up into a profession has usually a larger stock of actual informa- tion, but it is scattering and often he has spent a good deal of time and energy in acquiring knowdedge bearing on other lines. Such outside or extra lines of study were more useful to a man fifty years ago, than they would be to a man of to-day. Time has changed conditions, for now a man is required to be a specialist. To attain this end, a college education is of greater value to him than a self-educa- tion, for in a college the theoretical part of the subject is taught, and a man is not required to begin on the lower round of the ladder and work his way to the top. Besides this, more men to-day have the advantage of college training, so that in the future the number of self-made m.en is likely to grow even smaller, and at present one cannot help seeing that their ranks are decreasing. To realize the value of this preparation, one must VALUE OF COLLEGE EDUCATION. 157 study the aims of a college and the methods used. The purpose of the American university is to make thinkers, rather than scholars. It is a mother of men, rather than a school for scientists. Perhaps all that a man needs for a liberal education is to know how to study. In most public schools the pupils have not learned this, and this is generally the reason why the first year in college is so hard. It is probably of as great importance to know where to find information, as to possess the knowledge. A person cannot be a walking encyclopedia, no matter how wise, and as it is impossible for him to be posted on all subjects, he should be able to help himself with- out loss of time or strength. He should also be able to handle this information after he has found it. There are many persons who have the power of appli- cation necessary for receiving information from books and other sources, without the direction and spur given by the teachers, and in class work, but in self-education, they lack the personal influences which surround school life. The students are brought in immediate contact with the finest and best-trained minds of the time, and with their classmates. It is the testimony of m.ost men that personality is of far greater importance than instruc- tion, or, as some one has said, "Books can teach, but per- sonality only can educate." The ansvver made by repre- sentative men and v/omen of to-day to the question, What is the best thing the college education did for you? were almost unanimous in this idea; college educa- tion elevates one's, ideal and broadens his views of life. It is here, too, that one learns how to work hard mien- tally or physically upon a given task at a given time, and this training is valuable. Another influence of a college education is that it 158 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. gives a man the power of acting self-reliantly and of contr9l!ing his own desires. In the early school life, chil- drea'are given a time for studying each lesson, and in the high school, while there are study periods, each stu- dent can use them for any subject that he pleases. The supervision in college extends only to class work. A student must attend recitations and make a fixed stand- ard in his work, but aside from this, his time is wholly his own. So habits of independent action and self- imposed work are developed. Contending with the best men, whether in the athletic field or in the class-room, gives strength and courage for contests in actual life. A fault found with our public-school system is that all scholars, whether they are bright or dull, are required to receive the sam.e mental training. It may be compared to the physical drill in an army, where all must obey the same rules and regulations, do the same v/ork, and in concert. But this is not wholly a disadvantage, for there has never been a time in the history of the world when men v/ere more dependent upon each other than to-day. To a great extent each individual is only a part of the whole great machine, and he must not clog the works. Yet, with the talk of the aims and influences of school work, one must remember that college education, taken as a Avhole, is self-education. It is not opportunities which make the man, but his use of them. Study can make no more of a man than he really is, or is capable of becoming; or, as Mr. Watson says, "Fools cannot be made wise or a mediocre man brilliant." All that education can do is to mature and perfect the nature which is already in him. But by saying this one should not imply that study is of inferior importance, because without it, no end can be attained. BY THEIR FRUIT YE SHALL KNOW THEM. 159 "BY THEIR FRUIT Y^E SHALL KNOW THEM." Y'^ou will all remember tliat this proverb was taken from an old book — the Bible — and its truth has often been proved. i\ll through life we have learned that there are poisonous influences all about us, and it is necessary that v\'e examine closely not only what w^e eat, but the books Vv'e read, and the company we keep, so that the fruit by v/hich we are judged may be something m.ore than leaves. In our lives we are constantly bearing fruit. Perhaps we are not avvare of it, but every word and every act is a seed which will spring up and bear fruit ; and whether it be good or bad depends upon ourselves. If at all times we make the m.ost of our opportuni- ties, do what we know to be right, and in our relations with others always follow the Golden Rule, we w^ill con- stantly benefit some one, because every noble act bears its legitimate fruit. While, on the other hand, if we spend our time in idleness, choose our associates from the degraded, it will not be long before we will be like them. By some careless act, unconscious, perhaps, we may mislead one of our fellows, and thus the fruit of our lives be shov;n to be worthless, or worse than worthless. We cannot always tell the character of ,a tree, or of a person, by a fair exterior. We must examine the fruit in the one case and the life in the other. Personal comeliness and pleasing manners are often used as a disguise to cover a vile character. When we i6o ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. hear accounts of murder, theft and other kinds of wicked- ness that are constantly going on, and are thus led to think of the men and women who are becoming moral and social outcasts, we are filled with contempt for them, yet pity them to think they have so little force of char- acter. But they are only bearing the fruit of seed sown in early life. No doubt some of these had as good opportunities as any one could wish for, while others might have been moral and good citizens could they have had the early training, and culture, and help of the good people around them. Their lives are similar to a crab tree that is cov- ered with thorns, the branches growing out in all direc- tions, the fruit small and gnarly. This tree may, by cultivation and care, be made to grow into a symmetrical tree that will bear large and luscious fruit. But it is not by bad fruit alone that we may be known. Good fruit gives equally as true indica- tions of v/hat we are, of what we aspire to be, and of what we seek to do for the benefit of our fellows and those who come after us. When we read the works of a noted author, we some- times seem transported to another world. We know the people he is describing; we walk by his side over mountains, through valleys, expose old ruins and castles, and visit many places of interest with him. This author's life has borne fruit, perhaps centuries before we were born, by which our lives are brighter and better. It is such fruit as this that has aided us so much in revolutionizing the world. xAll the great inventions and discoveries are the fruits by which we are made acquainted with many who might otherwise have remained in obscurity. For instance, BY THEIR FRUIT YE SHALL KNOW THE^I. l6l take Charles Goodyear, who would not have been known to any one outside of his own neighborhood, had it not been for a discovery which he made. For nine years he struggled in poverty, trying experiments with the sap of the India-rubber tree, and giving up every pleasure that he might get some substance that would neither m.elt in summer nor crack in winter. Ke was so poor that when his child died he had not a dollar with which to bury it, but carried the coffin to the ceme- tery himself, where he laid the little one to rest. At last, success crowned his efforts, he gave to the Vv-orkl, vulcanized rubber. His valuable discovery, of which the whole world is enjoying the benefit, was the fruit of won- derful determination and perseverance. Some people are too timid to brave the scorn and criti- cism of the vvorld, and do what they are capable of doing. Many have the ambition, but not the necessary advan- tages. We may, if we will, help such to the enjoyment of better advantages, and it is a duty we owe to liumian- ity to help one another, and while we are helping them we wnll receive such strength that when we come to the hard places in life, we Vvill be enabled to pass safely over. We may not succeed in being to the world what Mil- ton was, or Newton, or Dickens, but we can cheerfully cultivate the talents God has given us, and bear such fruit that the world may be better for our having lived in it. l62 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. EVERYTHING HAS ITS MODEL. At first, this may seem too broad a statement, but I believe that an examination of certain well-known facts will either convince us of its truth, or awaken in our minds a desire to know how generally it may be applied. The model may be in a real tangible form, or it mav be only a mind picture. God, in making this world, did not form it wdthout thought, but sav/ with His mind's eye the world as it would look when He had completed it. So we, in building a house, conceive in our minds just what we wish the house to be in all its parts, and from this conception we draw our plans from which the builder constructs the house. When a new machine is invented the inventor's con- ception is embodied in a small model, from wdiich its merits may be ascertained, and others copied. The artist, in painting his beautiful pictures, follows the model which his imagination has formed. The junks which the Chinese and Japanese use are modeled after the Chinese Emperor's shoe. The junks used by the Japanese are considerably superior to the ones in use in China, but all are clumsy, and though inca- pable of much speed, have proved themselves safe and serviceable on voyages extending even to America. Even in v^riting w^e copy from models to wdilch ail people adhere more or less closely, and also in our talk and manners we copy, unconsciously often, after some other person. Prof. Morse wtiS some six thousand vears behind in EVERYTHING HAS ITS MODEL. 163 his invention of the telegraph, as we already had these useful instruments in the nerves of our bodies, for the nerves telegraph messages to the brain, and then carry back the information needed. The same may be said of the telephone, which is a faithful copy of the human ear. When we study the construction of our most impor- tant implements, we discover that they are true copies of some parts of our bodies and simply a further com- pletion of them. In the first stone hammer, man uncon- sciously imitated his forearm and closed fist; in the shovel and spoon, we see the forearm and hollowed hand; in the saw, the reproduction of a row of teeth; tongs, representing the closing together of the thumb and finger; in the hook, is represented the bent finger; ■he pencil, is simply the forefinger prolonged. So we see in all implements, from the simplest to the most com- plex, only an improvement and completion of the human organs. It has often been noted that a child takes the life of some person who is prominent in his life, perhaps, or even some person of whom he has read in history, as a model after which he is to shape his ow^n career. The success of this plan, depends largely upon the nature and character of him who tries it. It is often very suc- cessful if the will is strong enough to withstand the temptations in his path, which would deter him from his chosen course. Even the birds, in building their nests, copy after the nests which their predecessors have built. We all know that each species build certain styles of nests, and have often wondered how they instinctively construct nests which are peculiar to their own species. l64 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. We have all noticed the work of ''Jack Frost" upon our windows on a cold, frosty morning in winter. Now, what does this cold, chilling individual take for his models? If we stop to think a moment, I think we can recall having traced houses, trees, shrubs, delicate leaves and vines, and if one has a very vivid imagination he can trace old castles on the banks of picturesque streams, or among lofty mountains. The development of the child from infancy to mature years is marked by the same stages of advancement, both physical and mental, that marked the development of the race to which it belongs, from its primitive con- dition. If we trace man's gradual advancement from the savage state, we find that it corresponds to the devel- opment of the child, in which, at first, the animal nature predominates, but is afterward controlled by the mental and moral faculties, as they become more fully developed. All nature, all human experience, seems to abound in models and their copies. Whatever we do, seems to be a conscious or unconscious imitation. After what, then, shall we model our character? Whether we will it or not, it will be modeled after the ideals which we have always before us, after our ambi- tion and inspirations, and if our ideal or model is a noble one, so will our character be worthy of esteem and admi- ration. SILENT FORCES. l6; SILENT FORCES. People are naturally attracted by the most noise and finest display. We are thus led to imagine the greatest good is accomplished thereby, and to overlook the more silent forces which are constantly at work, and which are far greater in their results, than the more boisterous elements. We all know that the seasons are not heralded by some great noise which the earth might make in its revo- lutions, for they stealthily and quietly approach — spring, freighted with its beautiful flowers; summer, laden with its golden grain; autumn, with its purple fruitage; and winter, with its mantle of snow, wrapping each flower so snugly, and causing us again to see the wonderfulness of God's goodness. As we gaze from some elevated place at the scenery about us, or travel from ocean to ocean, we find the surface of the earth abounds in irregular elevations and depressions. Our principal mountain systems, which contain peaks that extend beyond the limit of human vision, are formed by a slow and gradual folding of the rocks, due to the cooling and shrinking of the earth's crust. Owing to the different upheavals and depressions, various types of life were exterminated and whole king- doms of animals were destroyed. All this was accom- plished silently by the forces at work within the earth. On visiting some cllfif in the early springtime, we find i66 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. great changes have taken place ; that masses of rock have fallen down and accumulated at its base. These changes are due to a seemingly unimportant force — the frost. The water, running down the crevices of the rocks, froze and expanded, thus loosening and separating large parts of them. Most wonderful are the forces of nature, which through a succession of ages, due to heat and pressure, transform the living plant into coaL It is to James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, that we are indebted for this wonderful discovery, which during the past century has been the m.otive power of the Vvorld. When left to itself, this force frequently causes great destruction, as is shown by volcanoes whose eruptions often bury whole cities and destroy thousands of lives. To-d,ay, the force of electricity is rapidly taking the place of steam. We not only use it for motive pur- poses, but for lighting our cities. Nature has been most lavish in the supply of this subtle power, as all bodies possess it to some degree. The best of all books is the book of nature. He who makes this a study, finds it full of variety and instruction. After a warm April shower, the mind of the observer travels on to the more invisible effects. He knovvs ere long, in some quiet dell, the modest violet, nature's humblest child, will rear its dainty head to the sunlight. One of God's greatest forces was silently at work. Besides beautifying our universe with its flowers, it nour- ished the embryo in the seed that was to bring forth all vegetation, on which the existence of mankind depended. The trees, that had remained dark and gray through the long, dreary life of winter, clothe themselves again with the green in the spring sunshine. The buds SILENT FORCES. 167 that v.-ere trampled down burst forth once more in fresh- ness and beauty; the streams break from th.eir icy chains; the birds come from their southern homes, and the glorious sun himself comes wandering back from his far-off journey, giving warmth to the atmosphere, and rencAved beauty and grace to everything around. All that was dead rekindles into life. How incomprehensi- ble were the links in the developing chain of growth, yet quietly was the work done, and well. Character is to a man what the flywheel is to tlie engine. Not only is it of importance to its possessor as the means of conferring upon him. true dignity and worth, but it exerts an influence upon all that lives within its reach, the importance of which can never be overes- timated. The faithful discharge of daily duty, the simple integrity of purpose and povver of life that all can attain with effort, contribute silently, but surely, to the build- ing up of a moral character that knows no limit to its power, no bound to its heroism. We must bear con- stantly in mind that there is one record which we cannot interline, ''our lives within, on other hearts." How gladly we would review and v/rite a kind word there, a generous act here, erase a frovv^n, and put a loving word, a bright smile, and a tender expression. But alas! what is written is written. "Clotho will not begin anew to spin the threads of life," and our actions go forth in the world, freighted with their burden of good or evil influence. The best inheritance a parent can bequeath to a child is a virtuous example. It cannot be seen, but speaks silently and more eloquently of duty, than the tongues of men and angels. So it is throughout the entire land, no matter hov/ small or great the sphere in wdiich we act. A l68 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. good illustration of this may be found at Hull House, Chicago. The leaders are too wise to try to accomplish a good end by preaching and scolding, but by the silent, lasting impression made by the example of their own lives, they hope to exert such an influence over those about them, that they will be inspired to advance in the highest and best directions of human progress. Life is made, not of great sacrifices and duties, but of little things in which smiles and kindness and small obligations given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort. Those little nameless acts which manifest themselves by tender and affectionate looks and kind -attention, do much to increase the hap- piness of life. They drive away sadness and cheer up the soul beyond all appreciation. They are centers of influence over others which may accomplish much good. The path of life leads through a bright and beautiful world, where the fragrant flowers of friendship, nour- ished by the gentle dews of sympathy, and warm sun- shine of affection, bloom in perennial beauty. But through this bright world there flows a stream whose turbid waters cross and recross the path of every pilgrim. It is the stream of human suffering. Real sorrow is not clamorous. There are griefs v/hich one would forbear to whisper even to a friend, and would conceal from every eye. Only in silence and solitude are breathed the sighs that come from the heart. At such times words are better unspoken. It is the caresses that comfort. Christ proved centuries ago that the sympathetic touch was healing. Conscience, the moral governor of the heart, speaks in duty done, and without its regulating and controlling SILENT FORCES. 169 influence, the brightest and greatest intellect may be merely as a light that leads astray. So, in the silent majesty, are gathered the forces which rule the world, until they at length emerge, full formed, into the daylight of Life. 170 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. PASSIONS. Man is subject to many passions, both good and evil, although in most instances, the good passions far out- number the evil ones. The bad passions impel man downward, the good tend to ennoble him. What makes the great artists? Is it the thought of the wealth they can command by the exercise of their wonderful gifts? No! It is the love of the beautiful which makes the artist wish to picture beautiful scenery upon canvas; the passion for sweet and harmonious sounds that makes the skilled musician; and the appre- ciation of beautiful and ennobling thoughts, beautifully expressed, that makes the great orators. What is more beautiful than nature arrayed in her glorious garments? And is it not one of the noblest pas- sions to wish to picture the scenes in nature upon can- vas? Though the true artist may have no words in which to express his feelings while looking at a beautiful scene, he shows his appreciation of it in the harmony, beauty and symmetry of the objects that appear in his pictures, one seeming to blend with and support another. He can change ''the black canvas to a magic mirror, making the absent present, and shadows to give light, depth, substance, bloom — yea, thought and motion." The true orator is no less an artist than he who images his feelings upon canvas. In perfect oratory we have the same harmony, beauty and symmetry that exist in the pictures of Titian or in the architecture of the Ionic temples. PASSIONS. 171 Others, have not the power to depict their thoughts and feehngs upon canvas, or have no adequate words in which to describe their thoughts and feehngs upon canvas, but through the medium of a beloved musical instrument, they make known their every mood, from the light, airy music indicative of happiness, to that of love, hate, revenge. Without any feeling, what w^ould art be? Says a modern writer: "Though critics may bow to art, and I am its own true lover, It is not art, but heart which wins the wide world over. Though perfect the player's touch, little, if any, he sways us. Unless we feel his heart throb through the music he plays us. It is not the artist's skill, which into our soul comes stealing With a joy Avhich is almost pain, but it is the player's feeling, And it is not the poet's song, though sweeter than sweet bells chiming. Which thrills us through and through, but the heart which beats under the rhyming." The passion of ambition, if not carried to the extent of subduing our better impulses to sinister ones, is a very worthy one, and is the mainspring of most of the world's enterprises. It was ambition which led Franklin to devote all his leisure hours to reading, while his com- panions were amusing themselves. While the passions for certain things should be culti- vated, there are others that should be uprooted. i\mong the latter are hate, vice, anger, jealousy and revenge. T\[an, when under the influence of these passions, is hke the ship when dashed upon in fury by the waves. If he does not seek the calm, the ship of his anger may be dashed to pieces, and reason be lost. Anger m.anifests itself in some, as the low mutteri*ng of distant thunder 172 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. and other indications of an approaching storm. There may be grumbhng, and the flush of anger may redden the countenance. While the storm of anger is upon us it is seeking only to wreak its vengeance. It may soon be over, but for a time it holds the better feelings in complete subjection to it. Man was given dominion over the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the flsh of the sea, and over everything that creepeth; but if he has no power to control himself, he surely cannot be expected to rule with justness over the dumb beasts and his fellow-men. In closing, let us cite: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," words uttered by the World's Saviour in the hour of his agony, as the sublimest instance of calmness and per- fect control of the passions in the world's history, and it should be an inspiration to all to make the struggle for the ascendency of the better nature over the baser pas- sions. MUNICIPAL REFORM. 173 MUNICIPAL REFORM. Much attention has been given of late to the weak point in our poHtical system — the government of cities. This is a Hving question, and we are repeatedly asked, "Why are American cities so generally misgoverned, and what is the remedy?" This question has long been discussed, and the discussion has produced many plans of reform, some of which have resulted in the establish- ment of anything but tem.porary improvement. When city government first failed to give satisfaction, the earliest and not unnatural appeal was made to the states. Most of the states tried to rem.edy the govern- ment by creating commissions having direct authority from the state to do work vvdiich, under a prosperous government, should be performed by city ofiicials. They also passed mandatory laws compelling cities to under- take public work, whether they wished to or not; and they further interfered quite generally in the details of city action. Even at the present day, except in a fev/ cities, the legislature, under the power to provide their charters, can interfere wath their affairs. Sufficient tests have been made of this remedy to make it perfectly clear that the cities should have the power to organize their own system of government, leaving to the state control over such matters as concern it alone. Certainly, the primary end of every reform system is good city government; but there is no prospect of obtaining it in the cities, until the "party government" 174 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. is overthroNvn. If there could be genuine municipal par- ties, representing divisions between citizens on questions of municipal concern only, one need have no fear ot p:irty government in its application to a city. But when paity lines are drawn upon questions on which local matters have no bearing, the evils of tlie party outweigh what- ever advantage the system may have. The concern of party managers is for the party. They feel no responsibility tovv^ard the city, but great respon- sibility tov/ard the party. Few of them, are v/ise enough to see that one serves his party best, v/ho serves liis city best. The m_ayors, therefore, are made to feel under obligations to those wdio elect themi, and it requires more courage to resist this obligation than most of them have. ^ Any change that leads to the separation of city elec- tions from those of the state, should be made. Yet it is plainly seen that the general public interest cannot be maintained for two elections a year. Consequently, the lesser, or city elections attract a fewer number of citizens to the polls. It is true, however, that the average citizen is aflfected financially more by the character of the city government, than he is by either the state or the national. Nevertheless, many more vote at the Presidential election than at any otJier. We are inclined to charge all the v;orst evils of our misrule to the ignorant and corrupt vote; but the trouble is, that men of intelligence and cliaracter, who are most needed in public affairs, do not perform the part they should. Not only do they decline to take any part in the nomination of officers, but they refuse to accept nominations. This, need not surprise us, if vv'c consider how temporary and uncertain is public lite. It MUNICIPAL REFORM. I75 cannot be expected that young men of talent and charac- ter will enter into public service until they are offered inducements to do so, which are as attractive as those offered by professional and business life. What every worthy man seeks is a position v/hich promises to give him sure employment, with a promise of wealth, or at least a comfortable living. If he could see such a prom- ise in the public service, he v/ould enter into it eagerly enough. The result is that, as a rule, the capable young man shuns public affairs and looks for an occupation in another direction. The American municipal reformers are not miistaken in thinking the Brooklyn plan well suited to the needs of our cities at the present time. In this plan the mayor is the chief ofiicer. He is elected on a general ticket and receives a large salary. The executive power is put entirely into his hands, and he is held responsible for the whole administration. He appoints the heads of all departments, and they are directly responsible to him as lie is to the people. Their term expires with his, and therefore a change of mayor, places within the reach of the voters, a change in the entire character of the govern- ment. Under such a system, the people know the rem- edy for misrule is within their reach. The officers know this also, and must rule justly if they wish to retain ofifice. By this system, party politics are done away with. There being a good compensation offered for public service, more intelligent men are attracted to the polls, and a greater proportion of good men v>'ill accept offices. By this means only, can Vv'e obtain good city government. In order to establish such a system in our cities, the people must be brought to a thorough 1/6 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. understanding of it. Once in practice, municipal reform will be a thing of the past. The work is a great one, and requires intehigence, perseverance and courage; but it is one which ought to arouse the spirit of every Ameri- can who loves his country and desires to serve it. CHARACTER. Ij'7 CHARACTER MORE VALUABLE THAN REP- UTATION. As the object reflected is superior to its reflection, so is a person's character more valuable than the reflection of character, which we call reputation. If, however, the reflecting surface be a perfect one, the reflection will not be inferior, but be equal to the object reflected. So with a person's reputation; if the popular judgment which determines reputation were infallible, reputation and character would always agree — only the real defects in character,! and none of the fancied ones would be reflected in the reputation. Character is growth nourished by impressions of sur- rounding nature made upon the individual, beginning from early consciousness, completed only at maturity. "Character," says one, **is a completely fashioned will." The young child early shows that he has a will of his own, and the character of the man will depend upon how that wall is directed. Under proper influence, he learns obedi- ence to rightful authority, which is so necessary to good citizenship. He also learns self-control, the most posi- tive evidence of a strong and well-trained wiU. Character is made up of small duties faithfully per- formed. There are many little acts of kindness which teach us more about a man's character than many glow- ing eulogies which might be spoken in his praise. Over our thoughts we have not complete control ; they come unbidden, but our acts are in our power, and they are the forces which give the indelible tone to charac- ter. 178 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. The character of a nation depends upon the character of a majority of its individual citizens. If they are strong-willed, well-bred and kindly disposed, its laws, will be just, its people happy, and it will be known as an honest and happy nation. A man of character^ must be a man of strength and courage, for in trying to do that which is right there are invariably obstacles in the way which tempt him to turn his course in another direction. Take, for exam- ple. President Lincoln, who, seeing that the abolition of slavery was the thing most needed in our country, had the courage to issue his famous proclamation, and also put it in execution. A nation may well be proud of such a man. Phocian, an Athenian general, was also a man of great integrity and moral courage, and was nicknamed the Good. Alexander the Great, when overturning Greece, tried to Vv^in from him his loyalty. He offered him great riches and the choice of certain cities in Asia, but Phocian's answer was convincing proof of his character: 'Tf Alexander really esteem me, let him leave me my honesty." Brave and upright men do not work for gold alone; they work for truth and honor. Many have suf- fered death rather than give up their ideas of right. These worked for the benefit of all who think, and all who suffer. In politics, office and money are too much sought. Would that office-seekers were more like Michael Angelo, who, when commanded by the Pope to super- intend the construction of St. Peter's, consented only upon the condition that he should receive no salary, but should work for the love of God alone. An old proverb tells us that "A good name is rather CHARACTER. 179 to be chosen than great riches." By a good name is undoubtedly meant a good character, which makes one so deserving of a good name, and without which, ,a good name cannot last long. Character and reputation should go hand in hand. If the character of an individual is good, Vv^e generally conclude that reputation — reflection of character — must be good also. But this does not always follow, for noble characters have sometimes been cruelly misrepresented and traduced. On the other hand, one's reputation may for a time at least, be good, while his character is far from it. Take, for instance, a person who, by his pleasing manner, wins the esteem of all, while at heart he is one of the lowest of characters, and not at all deserving of the praise that is bestowed upon him by his new acquaintances. After a time, however, and a short time it generally is, these people find to their sorrow that it is a great mistake to put too much trust in a person until they find out a little more of his character. Again, a person may have a good character and not an equally good reputation. He may have a dififident or awkward manner, and may on this account seem cold and disagreeable, causing them to think ill of him, while really he is deserving of- their fullest respect. Such have only to v/ait until their character becomes known, and then reputation will take care of itself. l8o ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. THE COMING FARMER. In order to predict with any great degree of correct- ness what the coming farmer is to be, and what he will do, it will be necessary briefly to glance at the past his- tory of agriculture. Such a history, from the earliest times down to our own, is the history of the labors and progress of man in one of the most important branches of industry, and through its whole course, continually gives us indications of the farmer's progress in the arts of civilization. We may conceive of a time when men subsisted on the spontaneous productions of the earth and the easy gains of the chase. These were obtained by little exer- tion, and in sufRcient quantities for the support of the limited population in the temperate regions of the north- ern part of the eastern hemisphere, where the human race is supposed to have originated. But the race was doomed to toil, and those supplies becoming inadequate to meet the wants of the increasing population, necessity sharpened the powers of invention. We have neither the time nor the inclination, to give even a brief summ.ary of man^s progress from these primitive times, when the chief tool for v/orking the land was a jagged stick, afterward improved by the addi- tion of a shell or flat stone, down to times comparatively recent. Nor do we need to do so in order to show plainly great advancement in agricultural methods. What contrast is presented when we compare the farmer of the recent past with the farmer of the present! Why should there not be equally great improvements THE COMIxXTx FARMER. l8l for the farmer of the future? Compare the farmer cut- ting his grain with a sickle, and doing his plowing Vv'ith an old wooden plow that would just scratch the surface, with the farmer of to-day with his modern agricultural implements. Now he can go into the field in the morn- ing with three horses and an improved self-binder, and at night he can leave tv^-elve to twenty acres of grain all cut and bound, ready to be threshed by a steam thresher. The farmicr of the past worked hard for days with his old wooden plow, to scratcli over an acre of land. Now, v/itli polished boots and standing collar, riding on his gang plow, he can easily turn over four or five acres. Indeed, plovv'ing is now done by steam. Why not expect that the coming farmer will do it by electricity, or by some power and in some manner equally wonderful? The coming farmer may have to V\'ork just as hard as the present farmer, but it will be more with the brain and less wdtli the muscles. He ought not to lose as many crops from bad v/eather, nor from bad management; neither should he sufier as much from heat and cold. For the onward march of science should give man con- trol of the elements. Until science puts him largely in control of the elements and forces of nature, he has not secured its reasonable expectations. Surely, man can in no just sense be said to have gained ''dominion over the earth" v/hile crouching under storms, and hieing away in terror before wrathful and uncontrollable ele- ments. Must the farmer forever be dependent upon the caprices of the Vv'eather for the irrigation of his fields? Must he forever watch in impotency the onrushing of the tempest? Does not the present achievement in science forcibly suggest the negative, as the probably correct answer to these interrogatories? i82 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Farming is no nobler, higher or more pleasant calling than many others. A farmer has many advantages and some disadvantages. He has plenty of milk, butter, eggs and spring chickens which other people cannot always get for either love or money, but to offset this he has to get up at five o'clock in the morning and milk cows, take care of them, feed pigs and other animals, while the fellow in tov/n in snoozing in bed. Nevertheless, of the farmer we may, with the poet, say: "Cheerful at morn, he wakes from short repose, Breathes the keen air, and carols as he goes." Sundays the man in town rests, but the farmer, in addition to the regular milking and feeding, has to go down into the back pasture and salt the sheep or mend a hole in the fence, taking due care to keep out of sight of the road, so as to be safe from the prying eyes of his church-going neighbors, who, possibly salt their sheep and mend their fences after church. But how about the farmicr in winter? you say. Well, to be sure, he does then have some leisure that the m.an in the city does not have, but he does not have the city man's free lecture, libraries, etc., to occupy that time. Some farmers are so worldly that they sell off all the good articles of food that they raise because they can get what they think is a good price for it, and then buy things for their own use, not nearly as wholesome, but a little cheaper. This, however, is the exception rather than the rule. As a rule, the farmer lives better than many classes of people. I hope that the coming farmer will not rob his stomach, for the sake of filling his purse. Farminp- will not make anv man honest. A hod- THE C03.IIXG FAR:\IER. 183 carrier may have just as much honesty as a farmer. So let us stop this "croaking" about tlie honest farmer. If the coming farmer piles a cord of wood so that you can throw a cat through the holes without any friction; if he sells a diseased horse for a sound one; if he sells 1,800 pounds of hay for a ton; if he rides to church Sundays, pious and clean, with his family, and skirmishes around the rest of the week to see if he can't find some poor fellow whom he can cheat out of ten cents, the fact that he is a farmer will not save him from the contempt of right-thinking people. Thomas JefTerson says: ''Let the farmer forevcrmore honor his calling, for they who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God." When farm.ers manage their afiairs so as to develop their highest abihties — •when they becomiC studious and progressive — then v/ill honor come, and not before. I hope that the coming farm.er will fill all these conditions, and then shall he command honor. As an indication that the coming farmer will be bet- ter educated in his business, witness the numerous agri- cultural schools that are springing up in this, and other countries. Austria has seventy schools of agriculture, with twenty-two hundred students, and one hundred and seventy evening agricultural schools, v;ith fifty-five hundred students. France has forty-three farm schools, with forty or fifty scholars at each. Paris has the depart- ment schools of agriculture and a national agricultural institute. Germany has one hundred and fifty schools teaching the different branches of agriculture, and in our own country a large number of states have agricul- tural schools supported by the government, and numer- ous schools supported by other means. 154 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. The farmer will therefore become more and more intelligent and wealthy, and as he advances will not so easil}^ be kept in subjection. He will have something to say about the prices he gets for what he has to sell, and vvliat he will pay for the things he buys. He will have those things which make men independent. He is also making great advancement politically, as well as in mat- ters pertaining directly to intelligence and wealth, and Avill yet be one of the controlling forces in our govern- ment, and then no longer so subservient to the wiles of the speculator in his products. Looking at the deplorable condition of affairs in the past, the grand improvements the present shows us, should lead us to think that we may reasonably expect grand and marvelous advances in the future. What a rush there has been for the great Western agricultural regions during the last few years. Why is it? Is it because of the undesirableness of such an occu- pation, of the Httle profit it affords, and because of the dishonest}^ of the business? Rather is it because of the hope of wealth, enjoyment, and independence that these multitudes flock thither. The signs of the times indicate that this upright, healthful and independent occupation, is every day gain- ing greater popular recognition, and that the "coming farmer" is not to be the "hayseed granger," but the popular man. A GLIMPSE AT THE COFFEE-HOUSES. 185 A GLIMPSE AT THE COFFEE-HOUSES. That little bundle of humanity, the bab}^ has for a beginning a score of possibilities and capacities, with perhaps a spark of originality, and we wonder what will be the outcome. Just watch the child as he imitates his elders, as he makes believe, and we see one of the most powerful factors of his life. Thus we find that in everybody, whether young or old, the beauties of nature, one's sur- roundings, heredity, all have part; but the strongest influence is that of man over man. The basis of society is the craving men have for human companionship and sympathy, and to this longing are due the orders and societies of ancient and modern times. We are apt to think of the club of to-day, with its lux- uries and congenial companionship, as belonging wholly to this, the twentieth century; but it is really only a modification of the cofifee-houses of the time of Elizabeth and Queen Ann. Coffee-houses, existing before the general introduction of newspapers, became the centers of information, and the places where the literary men ^nd politicians of the age met for discussion. They were formed in some of the inns or eating-houses of the time, and generally occupied three rooms — a library, where the newspapers and a few good books were kept; the drawing-room, and the coffee-room. Members belonging to the club were chosen by ballot. They had the privilege of using the books and of having refreshments at any time of th^ day by paying for th^m* l86 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. A man might dine here for a couple of shiUings. Almost every one you meet in the coffee-house, is a polite scholar and a wit. Jokes are echoed from box to box; eA^ery branch of nature is critically examined, and the merit of every production of the press and of perform- ances at the theaters weighed and estimated. One of the earliest coffee-houses was the "Mermaid." It was a club instituted by Sir Walter Raleigh, and some of the leading men of his time were its members ; among them_._ Jonson, Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher. Here were held many combats of the wits between Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, of which the following is an instance: One afternoon the two great men were at the club, as usual, and Jonson, being in a merry mood, began to write his epitaph in the following words: ''Here lies Ben Jonson, Who was once one." He stopped, and Laughingly handed the paper to Shakespeare to finish. After a moment's thought, the following words were added: "That while he lived was a slow thing, And now, being dead, is no thing." But these clubs were not intellectual resorts only, for the city coffee-houses were the places where a great deal of business was carried on. Of the coffee-houses of the seventeenth century, the one most interesting is the "Wills." Let us take a look for ourselves into this famous place, where the wits of the time were gathered. Suppose it to be the middle of a winter's afternoon: vre find ourselves in the convent A GLIMPSE AT THE COFFEE-HOUSES. 1S7 garden, at the end of Bow street, in front of a square white building. It is evident we have reached the place we are in search of, for at this moment the well-known form of Jonson enters the building by the side door. AVe will follow him, unnoticed, up the rickety stairs and take a peep at the room he has entered. This is the drawing-room. It is a plain, substantial-looking place, with quaint, wide windovvs, draped Vv-ith warm, soft hang- ings. On one side the window^s open upon a sloping roof. The floor is sanded^ and easy chairs are in abun- dance, with here and there a small table. Across the whole side of one end of the room is an open fireplace, and a huge fire is burning brightly. Upon the walls are several pen-pictures, and at the end of the room we see a large placard with the following words in conspic- uous lettering: "Enter, sirs, freely, but first, if you please, Peruse our civil orders, which are these." Then comes a long list of rules, among which are mentioned that any man who begins a quarrel shall for- feit a twelvepence; that no loud disputes shall be had; in conversations, sacred things or affairs of state must not be touched upon; and the rules close with the fol- lowing verse : "Let mirth be innocent, and each man see That all his jests, without reflection be, To keep the house m.ore quiet, and from blame We banish hence, cards, dice and every game; Lastly, let each man what he calls for pay, And so you're welcome to come every day." Underneath the rules is an engraved representation of a coffee-house. 1^8 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. There is no one in the room at present, so we will follow Jonson into the so-called library. We find it to be much smaller than the dining-room, and it contains very little furniture. In the middle of the room, stands a three-legged table, and two or three chairs are around the table. It is scattered with papers — not such news- papers as we are accustomed to see, but smaller sheets and rather quaint in style. A few books are piled here neatly, and glancing at them we find they are familiar to us all, but hardly such as we should find in a men's club of to-day. ^'Paradise Lost," Dryden's "Virgil," and somiC of Locke's books on philosophy and science are among the number. We leave Jonson seated at the table and satisfy our curiosity still further by passing into the room beyond, v/hence comes a smell of tobacco and hot coffee, together making an odor not altogether pleasant. Here we find a few people seated about a table, upon which are tobacco pipes, and several small basins with- out saucers, while a v/aiter is engaged in serving coffee. From then- dress, the men seem to be of different ranks, but as we see no one here whom vv^e recognize, let us go back to the drawing-room. It is no longer empty, and we hear voices before Vv^e reach it. A glance into the room shows us a spectacle we shah not soon forget. In a chair drawn close to the fire sits a v/hite-haired man, with a plain, grave face and an unusually quiet manner. He seems to be the center of attraction for a group of men, both young and old, who are gathered c:bout him. Of course, we know at once that the gentle- m.an Vv'hose opinions seem of so much importance is the aged poet, Dryden. Seated about him are the well- known figures of Gay, Swift, Addison and Pope. We A GLIMPSE AT THE COFFEE-HOUSES. 189 recognize Gay by his kind, jovial face. He sits next to Dryden, and seems perfectly happy to be only a listener. Now and then he bows his head in assent to some remark, but never says much. Opposite him sits a young man whose eyes are fixed upon the face of Dryden with eager wistfulness, as if he fairly worshiped him. By his sadly misshapen back and sweet voice we know he is Alexander Pope. Addison and Steele are seated together, as usual. Just at this moment Jonson enters the room from the library. His face is disfigured with marks of scrofula, and has an overbearing and intolerant expression over- shadowing it. His heads rolls from side to side, while he walks with an awkward, stooping gait. He approaches the group with a paper in his hand, and they at once make room for him in the circle round the fire. After he is seated, he unfolds the paper, which proves to be a manuscript, and from it he reads a short account of the outbreak of the Revolution. After he has finished, he bursts out with, ''I think the xAmericans a party of con- victs, wdio ought to be hanged." With the uttering of this emphatic announcement, he rises and paces the floor, only returning now and then, to give his opinion upon some subject of which the others are talking. Only to-day, he sent the last sheet of his English Dictionary to the publisher, and he expects the messenger's return. Presently the boy enters, and Jonson eagerly inquires: ''What did the publisher say?" "Sir," comes the bashful answer, ''he said, Thank God, I have done with him.' " Jonson looks rather displeased for a moment, then replies: ''I am glad he thanks God for something." The group round the fire are in a merry mood, and topics of all sorts are handled. The final d^gision m IQO ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. every dispute rests with Dryden, and his opinion is given in a slow, quiet manner. Jokes seem to be the order of the day, and once, in discussing the fame of a new writer, Swift remarks: "I'd rather have a nutmeg than fame." "Why?" is asked, in astonishment; and Svv^iit repHes, v;ith invincible gravity: "Because fame is for tlie great, but nutmeg is for the grater." Thus, the long afternoon is spent in talking of books and their authors, in reading, and in general good cheer. The whole place is delightful, for a spirit of refinement, of social companionship and sympathy, seems to pervade tlie very air. But the room is growing dark, and the members of tlie club will soon be leaving. We, too, must be going; yet, before starting, let us unite in a toast to these brothers at heart in a pledge to good-fellowship. To "The Prince of good fellows, The v.'Orlcl holds him dear. Love bless him, joy crown him, God speed his career." THE LADDER BY WHICH WE RISE. IQI WE BUILD THE LADDER BY WHICH WE RISE. As we look over the history of mankind from the ear- liest period of civinzation to the present, we find charac- ters that have risen from positions of obscurity, to others in which they have exerted a marked influence upon their associates, and upon the age in which they lived. There were no carefully constructed steps to assist them in climbing to these positions, but upon some sure founda- tion they began the construction of a ladder, adding to it round after round by patient toil, and rising step by step, till tliey reached a place v;here no others were able to stand. There are fev/ people in the world v\'ho have not engaged in the branch of architecture called, castle-build- ing. These airy palaces contain the most pleasant abodes for the builder. We may have planned cur way througii life, but as time passes, v^ith its inevitable ups and dov/ns, what a diiicrent picture is presented to our view! We. learn that we m.ust build upon a surer foundation, for life, with its duties and difiiculties, is a reality. We are sometimes inclined to think, that the little inci- dents of common every-day life are of little consequence, and if we could only do something of some importance v;e would be happy. Great things are not done in a day. Twenty-four hours are far too short to do anything that w^ill make one famous, but it is not too short to do something, and the many little things added together make the great one. The earth is composed of atoms, the century of moments, and our lives of little acts. If Vv'e expect to reach a higher position, such common 192 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. tasks must be performed, and perhaps after these we will find our greater life-work. Life would hardly be worth living if our thoughts were for ourselves. All the beauty in nature was made for our enjoym.ent, so our actions should be for the good of those around us. The present alone is ours, and vv^asted opportunities are never pre- sented to us again. Though the remembrance of the past may mar our reputation, we may build the future over its ruins. Every one should have some work to do, and after selecting some object worthy of attainment, work for that alone. We may start at the lowest step, but if our chosen occupation will bring us at last to a higher one, we need not be discouraged. Many of those who have gained the object of their labors worked years for it, as many years may have been spent by another of equal ability, who sought a number of prizes and gained none. A good education is almost indispensable, as an aid to one who is struggling to gain a place in the front rank of the world's workers. I used to think that when the ,a, b, c's were learned, the most difficult step toward all education was taken, but these are only the implements with which we vs^ork to acquire facts and learn truth. Those who have reached the higher round are never satisfied with what they have done, and willing to lay aside their work, but still push on, hoping to attain higher eminence. Only to careful study, can we ascribe the progress m.ade in the different branches of science and art in the past. The earth has been called the geologist's "puzzle- box," and in the starry heavens above us, the astronomer has found problems too complicated to be solved by ordi- nary processes. We may not be building a structure by means of tHE LADDER BY WHICH WE RISE. 193 which we expect to make our names famous, but we are / all building the invisible framework of character. May ' the material of which it is composed be the best, and may it be held together by the nails of pure motive and noble purpose. -"'' Life is made up of success and failure, and those who are the most successful are the truest and best workers. We all expect success, and this stimulates us to greater activity. Often, however, instead of our efforts being crowned vv'ith success, we meet with failure, but our fail- ures, as well as our successes, should be steps by v/hich v/e rise to greater usefulness. Now, v/e rise only as we place our difficulties under our feet. Usually the greater the natural endowment, the higher the aim. Buffm's definition of genius, "It is patience," does not seem exaggerated, when the achievements of patience are considered. It is an old and oft-quoted proverb that, "Where there's a will there's a way." Though the v;ay may be beset with difficulties and prog- ress seems almost impossible, yet by overcoming those that are nearest, a way through the others maybe opened. It has been said of a distinguished artist that he painted the chips scattered about his father's farm all over, and then struggled through many narrow straits of poverty \/ and oppression, before the great men of the nation came to his studio for their portraits. Only by perseverance, are we able to overcome the opposition which we meet in life. The sweetest flowers are guarded by the sharp- est thorns, so our greatest achievements may be sur- rounded by the most trying difficulties. "Heaven is not reached at a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise, From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, And mount to its summit round by round." ,194 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. VALEDICTORY. We, as a high school class, have reached in our course of study, what comes to all through patient perseverance — the end. There is always pleasure in accomplishment, and in reaching a result, and there is gratification in the thought that we have, by conscientious work, reached the close of our school course, and are now ready to take a step beyond. The good results which we expect from our study, are not to be considered wholly made up of acquired knowledge. A wise and thoughtful writer says: ''The education received at school and college is but a beginning, and is mainly valuable in so far as it trains us in the habit of continuous application, and enables us to^ educate ourselves after a definite plan and system," If our school life has given us true ideals, and a start toward a method of independent thought, it has done well and fulfilled its proper purpose. These we truly hope have been the results, and, feeling that we have been thus benefited, our thoughts turn to you, kind friends and patrons, in heartfelt gratitude for the educa- tional advantages with which you have favored us. We address you as friends — friends who have watched our progress year by year, and whose words of encour- agement have often spurred us on to higher endeavor and stronger efifort. The class of 19 — sincerely thank you for your interest in the Vv'ork of the past, as well as that shown on this occasion, and we aim and hope to become members of society worthy the school so well established and maintained by this generous community, VALEDICTORY. 195 acting through their appointed school board. Nothing within its power to bestow which could in any way aid or help us in our work, has been withheld by the board, and we shall always remember the lasting benefits derived from their wise actions. As we look back upon our record, and think of all the intercourse of the school-room, as classmates together, thoughts of regret rise and steal away something of the pleasure of the day. Year after year, we have learned the same lessons, overcome similar trials, and shared the same school triumphs and pleasures. Our thoughts and interests have been one; but the day of graduation marks the first great change in our lives. The course of each of our classmates in the future will be different. Whatever rests in store for each in the future, it must surely be a life of greater activity and variety. Wherever our lot may be cast, whether in pleasant places or among thorns and briars of Hfe's pathways, we shall often think of the old schoolroom, just how each pupil looked, remember some pleasant incident, and think how short those happy school days were. We shall then know how to say, "Our school days were the happiest of our life." But we must say farewell, and break the ties that have long bound us as a class. Wherever you, my classmates, may go, whatever you may do, may you succeed in the life of usefulness, carrying with you ever the free and buoyant spirit of your school "days. Though we can never be classmates again, the class feeling of true friendship and sympathy need never cease. But we say farewell, not only to former days and old friends, but harder than all to our dear teachers, who have daily thought and worked for us to make our school I9t> ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. routine not a task, but a thing of pleasure and profit. The teacher who understands the particular wants of all his pupils, and who does all in his power to aid each in the needed direction, is doing a great work. Such teachers have been ours. Who guided and directed our thoughts, explained the hard places and showed us the important points of each lesson, as we pursued a tire- some study? Who had such patience with failures and faults as our teachers? Who of my class but will say, "All that I have done as a pupil has been through the influence of my teachers. It is they who have shown me the true import of study." The tenderest thoughts of .all our school recollections, are those concerning teacher and pupil in their daily intercourse. Regret, deep and lasting, fills the heart that it all must cease; that we shall never again receive the good counsel which has been so great an incentive to our efforts in study at school, as well as at home. For the influence of a good teacher is not only seen in the direct work at school, but shows itself in the words and actions of the pupils, wherever they go. It is with sadness akin to sorrow, that we leave the school life, made so pleasant and instructive by their efforts. Still progressing, may the instructions and pre- cepts given us day by day, and week, by week guide each of us to take up and carry forward, his or her life work. Kind teachers, as pupils, we say farewell to you to-day, but nothing can remove from our minds the remem- brance of all you have done for us, nor darken the picture of those bright school days spent as classmates and teachers together. But, mingled with these feelings for the past, come VALEDICTORY. 197 anticipations for the future, which still allures us on. Time speeds with flying feet, and all alike must follow. The curtain falls upon the past school-day scenes, but another and more glorious scene lies before our eyes — the morning of our manhood is breaking, and before us stretches far into the distance widely diverging paths, which lead us ever onward to an unknown future. Teachers and school-companions, one and all, with a last lingering look at the setting sun of our high-school days shining with a tender radiance, clothing all the scene with glorious beauty, we turn and fix our gaze upon the day just dawning. ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. THE OLD MAN GOES TO TOWN. Well, wife, I've been to 'Frisco, an' I called to see the boys ; I'm tired an' more'n half deafened with the travel and the noise; So I'll sit down by the chimbley, and rest my weary bones, And tell how I was treated by our 'ristocratic sons. As soon as I reached the city, I hunted up our Dan — Ye know he's now a celebrated wholesale business man. I walked down from the depo' — but Dan keeps a country seat — An' I thought to go home with him, an' rest my weary feet. All the way I kep' athinkin' how famous it 'ud be To go 'round the town together — my grown-up boy an' me, An' remember the old tiir^es, when my little "curly head" Used to cry out, ''Good-night, papal" from his little trundle-bed. I never thought a minute that he wouldn't want to see His gray an' worn old father, or would be ashamed of me; So when I seen his office, with a sign writ out in gold, I walked in 'thout knockin' — but the old man was too bold. THE OT-D M/vN GOES TO TOWN. 199 Dan was settin' by a table, an' a-writin' in a book; He knowed me in a second; — but he gave me such a look! He never said a word o' yoa, but axed about the grain, An' ef I thought the valley didn't need a little rain. I didn't stay a great while, but inquired after Rob; Dan said he hved upon the hill — I think they call it Nob ; An' when I left, Dan, in a tone that almost broke me down, Said: "Call an' see me, won't ye, whenever you're in town?" It was rather late that evenin' when I found our Robert's house; There was music, lights and dancin' and -a mighty big carouse. At the door a nigger met me, an' he grinned from ear to ear, Sayin', "Keerds ob invitation, or you nebber git in here.'^ I said I w^as Bob's father; an', with another grin, The nigger left me standin', and disappeared within. Bob came out on the porch — he didn't order me away, But he said he hoped to see me at his office the next day. Then I started fur a tavern, fur I knowed there, anyway, They wouldn't turn me out so long's I'd money fur to pay. An' Rob an' Dan had left me about the streets to roam, An' neither of them axed me if I'd money to git home. 2CO ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. It may be the way o' rich folks — I don't say it is not— But we remember some things Dan and Rob have quite forgot. We didn't quite expect this, wife, when, twenty years ago, We mortgaged the old homestead to give Rob and Dan a show. I didn't look for Charley, but I happened just to meet Him with a lot o' friends o' his'n, a-comin' down the street. I thought I'd pass on by him, for fear our youngest son Would show he was ashamed of me, as Rob an' Dan had done. But as soon as Charley seen me, he, right afore 'em all. Said: ''God bless me, there's my father!" as loud as he could bawl. Then he introduced me to his frien's, an' sent 'em all away, Tellin' 'em he'd see 'em later, but was busy for that day. Then he took me out to dinner, an' he axed about the house. About you, an' Sally's baby, an' the chickens, pigs an' cows; He axed about his brothers, addin' that 'twas ruther queer, But he hadn't seen one uv 'em fur mighty nigh a year. THE OLD MAN GOES TO TOWN. 201 Then he took me to his lodgin', in an attic four stairs high; He said he Hked it better 'cause 'twas nearer the sky; An' he said: "I've only one room, but my bed is pretty wide." An' so we slept together, me an' Charley, side by side. Next day we went together to the great Mechanics' Fair, An' some o' Charley's picters was on exhibition there. He said when he could sell 'em, which he hoped to pretty soon, He'd make us all a visit, an' be richer than Muldoon. An' so two days an' two nights we passed, an' when I come away, Poor Charley said the time was short, an' begged fur me to stay. Then he took me in a buggy an' druv me to the train, An' said in just a little while he'd see us all again. You know we never thought our Charley would ever come to much; He was always readin' novels an' poetry and such. There was nothing on the farm he ever seemed to want to do, An' when he took to paintin' he disgusted me clear through. So we gave to Rob and Dan all we had to call our own, An' left poor Charley penniless, to make his way alone. He's only a poor painter; Rob an' Dan are rich as sin; But Charley's worth a pair of 'em, with all their gold thrown in. 202 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. Those two grand men, dear wife, were once our prattlin' babes — an' yet It seems as if a mighty gulf 'twixt them an' us is set; An' they'll never know the old folks till life's journey's past, And the rich and poor are equal underneath the sod at last. An' maybe, when we all meet on the resurrection morn. With our earthly glories fallen, like the husks from the ripe corn, When the righteous Son of Man the awful sentence shall have said, The brightest crown that's there may be on Charley's head. — Selected, SIX MAXIMS FOR BOYS. 203 SIX MAXIMS FOR BOYS. \ Early in life secure a practical business education. Save when you are young to spend when you are old. Never play games of chance or make bets of any kind. Small and steady gains give competency with tran- quillity of mind. If you desire to prosper, do not make too great haste to get rich. Avoid temptations through fear that in after years you may not be able to withstand them. 204 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. WHAT GOD GIVES A BOY. A body to keep clean aiid healthy as a temple for his mind and soul. A pair of hands to use for himself and others, but never against others for himself. A pair of feet to do errands of love, kindness, charity and business, but not to loiter in places of mischief or sin. A pair of lips to keep pure, unpolluted by either tobacco or strong drink, and to speak true, brave, kind, helpful words. A pair of ears to hear the music of bird and tree and human voice, but not to give heed to what dishonors God. A pair of eyes to see the beautiful, the good and the true, — God's handiwork as seen everywhere in old Nature about him. A mind to remember and reason and decide and store up wisdom and impart it to others, but not to be turned into a chip basket for chaff and rubbish. A soul, as fair as a newfallen snowflake, to receive impressions of good and to develop faculties of power and virtue, which shall shape it day by day, as the artist's chisel shapes the stone, into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. HOW BOYS MAY SUCCEED. 205 HOW BOYS MAY SUCCEED. Many of our successful men began life without a dol- lar. They have won success by hard work and strict honesty. You can do the same. Here are a dozen rules for your consideration : 1. Be honest. Dishonesty seldom makes one rich, and when it does, riches are a curse. There is no such thing as dishonest success. 2. Be industrious. Work earnestly. The world will not pay you for nothing. Ninety per cent of what the world calls genius is only a talent for hard work. 3. Be equipped. Chose the trade, business or profes- sion which you like best, and for which nature seems to have fitted you (provided it is honorable), and then pursue it zealously. 4. Be independent. Do not rely on others to do your thinking or to conquer your difficulties. Master your business and then rely upon yourself. 5. Be thorough. No matter what you undertake, do it well. No one can rise who slights his task. Keep as one of your mottoes, "Once well done, twice done." 6. Be patient. Don't try to begin at the top. Begin at the bottom. Learn your business thoroughly, pursue it judiciously, and keep as your watchword, ''Excelsior.'' 7. Be sensible. Trust to nothing but God and hard work. Inscribe on your banner, "Luck is a fool; Pluck is a hero." 8. Be punctual. Keep your appointments. Be there 2o6 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. a minute before time if you have to lose your dinner to do it. 9. Be polite. Every smile, every gentle bow, means more money in your pocket and more friends in time of need. 10. Be generous. Meanness makes enemies and causes distrust. ''Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." 11. Be frugal. Spend less than you earn. Do not run into debt. Watch the little leaks, and you can live on your income. 12. Be zealous. Make all the money you can honesdy> Do all the good you can with it whik you live. | CLASS MOTTOES. 30^ CLASS MOTTOES, Aim at a definite end. Always higher. A place in the ranks awaits us. Beyond the Alps lies Italy. Candidly and constantly. Deeds, not words. End — there is none. Energy wins the way. Excelsior. Follow up advantages. From possibility to reality. Gaining ground. Greatly begin. Grit wins. Haste not, rest not. Impossible is un-American. Labor conquers all. Labor opens the gate. Look forward, not backward. Mind moves matter. More beyond. Morning dawns. No footsteps backward. Not finished, but begun. Not for school, but for life, we learn. Not how much, but how well. Now we try a boundless sea. On and on. 208 ESSAYS AND ORATIONS. On the heights the air is purest. On the threshold. Only the darkness brings out the stars. Onward and upward. Out of the harbor, out on the deep. Onward bound. Past toils are pleasant. Rowing, not drifting. Self-education. Something yet to be gleaned. Starting on life's journey. Step by step. Strive for higher culture. Strive for higher honor. Success waits at labor's gate. The beginning, but not the end. The golden age is before us. The marble lieth waiting. The measure — deeds, not years. The truth shall make you free. There are no Alps. Thus ends our first lesson. To be, not to see. To the work. Toward the heights. Try, trust, triumph. Victory beyond the stars. We are parting, new tasks to pursue. We finish to begin. We will. We've reached the bay in safety; the ocean lies in view. Who thinks can conquer. Without labor there is nothing. 31^77-2