Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-02
=" Mightiest of the mighty means,
On which the arm of Progress leans
Mans noblest mission to advance,
His woes assuage, his veal enhance,
His rights enforce, his wrongs redress
Mighty of the mighty is The Press !"

INV Jul SniiuIeu, llal the Liberty OF the Press
is the Palladium of all the civil, political and
religious rights of freemen.n
There has never been a time "A the history
OF our country, when the services of high.
minded men were more needed than now Cor.
ruptlon, peculation, and dishonesty, in high
places, and In all the walks of life, have grown
TO De a common experience. Where else, but
to the Press, have the people right to look
tor corrective of the evils that beset the
country Shall we not take front rank among
those who would reform the demoralized prin-
clples OF the age, and yowing and ayowing our
determination to stand for equity, truth and
justice, find justification, not only in the re-
cognition of those high qualities, but in con-
science void of offence toward God and man.
The President announced that Hon. Geo. G.
Ginty, of Oconto, was not present to read the
poem which he had sent but that it would he
read by Mr.. John Turner, of Mauston, who
read as follows
THE JOYS AND WOES OF A COUNTRY PRINTER.
Knights of the quill and brethren of the press,
fe by whom literature, in rich and varied dress
Is weekly, daily, hourly and read
10 feed your thirsty minds and gain your daily bread
Whose epicurean tastes it must be hard to suit
With aught save rare and true Parnassian fruit
10 whom learned Doctor the wand did WELD
Until another Richmond took the poetic field
'NNS>
greeted,
Whose dainty palates in true 7sompsonean style
were treated.
To you come, plain and unpoetic man.
10 dose, aud please you with poem if can
No dying Byron threw his enchanted mantle sr me,
No spirits OF departed muses. passed before me:
And should fail to fill you with poetic fire.
Remember that trembling hand sweeps Ger a now
strung Tyre
Each one of US must in lfe's drama play part,
We enter strong with faith and true of heart
Fully convinced whatever mental i'll betide
We have set forth upon the rose hued side
And all those thorns that preachers tell about
That move the soul within and pierce the flesh without
We shall avoid; and swiftly gliding past
Shall jOyfully come forth unscathed at last
W lille others, earthly martyrs wish to be-
That when they cross that dark uncertain sea
That separates us from the unseen land
They may TT iumphant walk upon the pearly strand
And for good deeds-for bitter sef-denals-
For Hastings, prayers and earths severest trials
In vewless golden streets receive martyrs CROWN
And with the Sc saints departed" set them down.
The village Esculapius takes to making pills
Thinking by this to cure lifes bitter ills
And the great good which he to mortals here shall do
NIL at the final judgment get him through
That life highway has many dark and fatal snare;
But, thinks he, 4" if stay about my rustic home,
Sin cannot seattle, and sorrows will not Gomez
Down thro the gathering mist of years shall serenely
glide,
Keeping, till life shall end the peaceful, rosy side
But he who thinks printers path will lead
Where roses bloom learns a faacous creed
He seeks no peace on earthwere it mortaIs eiyep
And everybody knoUs he has no hope of EeavenI
For broken promises of dim and distant pay
have taken all the faith he had
And constant cunning stuns his poor tired soul
Until 1t takes 1t flight to reach the appointed goal
He'd like to dress in broadcloth fine and sleek
And to his debtors comes with manners meek
Thinking that they, common custom goes
Will tamely suffer while he takes the clothes
They, turning deaf to his pressing suite
Send him away, Responding, sad and mute
Disclosing what to them reasonably plain
He must trade out his bill in stout Kentucky JEAN
Some try to make him him think that he was born
Like Shanghai fowls, to vegstate on corn
Others attempt the Salamanders mode
And bring, In August, cord wood by the load
While through the kings long and freezing rsgn
He advertised for fuel all in vain
And there are those with heart and soul so small,
That deem it just to pay at all;
If one be here, pray he listen we'll
For bard immortal sang hi. funeral kne
w hen heavenly muse inspired him while he wrots
The tragic lines l am about to quote:
His shrunken " soul shall forfeit fair renown
And doubly dying shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung.
Unwept-unhonored and unsung.'
Enough Of and trials-et us turn away
To VIII ere amid the gloom shines in the coming day
But ali! We Gods. mortal pen-what gifted tongue
What dying bard just praises sung7
What heavenly muse could such a scene enhance
When mortal pays the printer in advance
Minstrel, for him, need never string his lyre
Nor gifted power to his praises fire;
His conscience never vet was racked by pain,
And gloomy visions ne'er disturbed his brain;
Tranquility within his bosom lies
He finds Eden here below the skies.
There's beauty, also, in path of life,
Although it be with and troubles rife,
And like Eolia's harp sweep by the evening wind,
They're full of beauty needing some gentle sway
To strike the Tyre and bring forth melody,
Mind is the poHer-she holds the magic spell
She leads the way where hidden beauties dwell.
out font of type, though strange it seem,
Is both for beauty and for thought team.
How many times have they the pleasing story told
So oft repeated, yet never growing DID,
Of how, beneath some bright and genial sun,
Two human souls have melted into one;
How oft announced, amid earths and strife
Another little waif upon the sea of life;
Or that far up among the santed blest,
Some weary one had found eternal rest
And softly poured into the mourner's
Some loving words of faith and hope, to cheer;
And now, out, they lie, neglected on the floor
Their influence and beauty forever DER;
But for good works, although their is run
Long shall they shine in memory's golden
A few words to the craft and have DONE
Death in our midst hath this year smitten some;
To US, sad euoges proclaim, to-day,
Friends honored loved passed from earth away;
We not here fall, unbroken band,
And as in friendly greeting hand clasps hand,
Let remember, the battle field
Where death calls loud for mortal man to YIELD
Many of us, perchance this very day,
Are mingling bravely in the bloody fray
May God protect the gallant craft who fight;
But should death claim, wasting sickness blight,
May their tired souls feel, through the coming day,
The land breeze of Heaven" Fer them play.
And brethren, eer meet again,
May peace, dove like fold down her wings, and reign.
The Secretary read an invitation from the
DOdTu VI 1Fduc VI LID CTOSSt, luflIluS tue
members of the Convention to become their
guests for the ensuing thirty-si1 hours, and to
participate in an excursion up the Mississippi,
on the steamer Frank Steele, also, inviting the
business men Of the city with their ladies, and
the Court with all the members of the bar in
attendance.
Pending an animated and personal dis
cussion on the acceptance of the invitation, the
Convention, by % ayes to "a noes, adjourned
to Friday morning, a. m.
On BOARD THE STEAMER s!ITAsCA,"1
9 O'Clock, A. NJ.
Vice President Fl. n. Ross in the Chair.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
By Mr.. Eyer: -.. .....
Resolved That the thanks of the Association are due
and hereby rendered c. W. Fitch Esq the courteous
dgned and able in which he has discharged the
duties of President of this Association the past
By Mr.. Andrews .-
Rogrsd That the thanks of the Association are tend
cred to Mr. James Ross for the and courteous
in which he has discharged the duties of Recording Score
tary of this Association.
By Mr.. s. W. Smith:
Resolved thanks of this Association are tend
cred Mr. H n Ross for his attention and promptnes
In filling the chair as Vice President.