The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-10-15
THE LESSONS OF THE FIRE.

And now abideth faith, hope and charity, but
the greatest Of these is charity"
As the fire in Chicago is the
greatest known to modern times, so the
exhibition of charity it has called forth
has never been equalled. From every
part of the civilized world to which the
news have been carried by the telegraph,
comes back the answer that the great
est of the virtues is alive in the hearts
Of the people. Cities, towns and vii
lagos of the union have come forward
to the relief Of the sufferers There
was no waiting to see what others would
do, no hanging back because the offer
ing was small, no sentiment of envy or
jealousy of Chicago's former greatness.
Nothing but the most generous desire
to help those so suddenly and unex-
pectedly made to need help, has shown
itself. Sympathy more active has never
been known, charity so l1unifcent has
never excited the admiration of the
world. And not in our own land alone
have the people been thus
stirred by the calamity. From for
eign countries also come offers of
liberal assistance People who
could not understand the tale if
| rol,to1 60 ,ha,, =, o,r ,u,, &onuuo
many, perhaps, whose knowledge
of the ruined city began only with the
terrible story of its fall, have contrbu-
ted their offerings for the relief Of the
houseless and homeless. The specta-
Gle is one calculated to make us better
pleased with humanity, to strengthen
our faith in the good impulses of our
common nature, and assures Us that,
although the christian world may be of
different tongues, nationalites and
habits, yet its great heart beats toward
common center, that of love and sym
pathy for mankind. The burning of
Chicago has been a charity sermon,
than which a greater one never was
preached.
And the great fire has given Us more
than sublime exhibition of charity
- 1t has taught lesson of faith to the
rs world at large--faith material, mora
Gu aud christian. The material faith il
shown IN the confidence of the people
l both OF Chicago and the whole country
that the natural resources of the cit,
@ -, the importance OF its location, and tn
''' aids OF art and mechanism which cor
trlbuted TO make it what it was, are a
yes surances that it will rise again an
,ip- soon be built anew. The moral fat
an. is shown in the confidence of the bus
,ry ness men Of Chicago in the generosit
aud patience they expect of the busi
ness men Of the country They sho,
to no fear that any will take advantage
the their position to push them to the wal
The Serene and confident they COZ
the template the situation. Their chri,
tian faith i. shown, to use the words
Mayor Mason in his proclamation I
hk- the city, in the humbleness with whic
the they submit to the terrible calamit
inc which in the providence of God h;
'Ner oyertaken them, and their determin
ton that, with His help, order pea
ION, and private property shall be preserve
-. And last, but not least, we have also
400. inspiring example Of that blessed sent
m ment Of human nature which men ca
r,o hope. The charity so generously e
49, tended to the fallen city, the faith f
Of its ultimate restoration, has co
s?lred to generate feelil
Of hopetulncss in the future, whic
radiating from Chicago, is now c
~ tended far and wide through the coul
try. We see the city again built ,
fair and new, but better and strong
raj in its second growth than in its fir:
,ug The trial by fire, out Of which the Ga
Who den City has come manned and vel
ent nigh destroyed, will teach the lessc
by that the beauty Of stability is more in
aker press'ye and noble than mere supe
lana H''a' gFanduer. BY the light of hoy
lefs, We nce the homes and the businc
g to houses the schools and the churche
rant the temples OF justice aud Of art aga
for adding beauty aud stateliness 10 tbc
surroundings and hear the voice Of No
terity, credulous Of the des,ructi,
state which once laid Chicago low, say, " b
oil hold the city which our f,,b,