The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-26
ANVILs AND HAMMERS.
BIZ cLAREScE VERNON.

BIZ cLAREScE VERNON.
When iron ore is first taken from the
earth it is rough and ungainly. To an
inexperienced eye it seems nothing but
a elod of the ground, 4 stumbling block
TO the beauty of the surrounding land
seape. But the practical workman
waits not for idle theorizing; he casts it
into the furnace, from whence it is
taken to be placed upon the anvil,
where, exposed to the heavy blows Of
the blacksmith's hammer, it receives
its trial, its test. Afterward it is to be
reckoned as soft and comparatively use
less metal or as true, hard iron-perhaps
steel-which shall receive its temper
and shape during the same ordeal, COM
ing out at last in forms of usefulness
and beauty.
From the unmeasured depths of the
human mind masses Of thought are
brought forth, at first rude and appar-
emily without use. Cast into the fiery
furnace of public criticism, lain upon
the broad anvil of human observation,
and beaten with the strong hammer of
practical experiment, comes their test.
They will afterwards be reckoned of no
use to the world, or they will assume
shapes of usefulness and beauty which
shall be immortal and bless all future
dwellers upon the globe. Newton had a
thought that there were laws of Nature
not understood by man. He laid it
upon the anvil of observation and per-
ceived that objects, when dropped,
would fall to the ground. His thought,
though TO the unthinking Of no use, was
discovered to be one of the first of Ma
ture's principles, and was called the law
of gravitation. All have thoughts
which, if exposed to the human view,
would be pronounced Of no value. The
knowledge Of that fact often daunts
faint hearts, but makes duty none the
less obvious-offers no good excuse for
hiding light under bushel.
Galileo had thought and uttered it:
''The world movesp' ''The wOrld'' be-
stirred itself at the dangerous doctrine
lifted its hands in dismay at the pool
lunstic. Wisely they cast him into
prison-"out of harms way" "Still il
moves" murmured this 'advanced"-
therefore "unpopular'-person. Thu
was the thought cast upon the anvil o
observation. 1t was sharply smitten 10y
the hammer OF practical experiment
and found to contain the "ring of TIN
true metal" That it has been of meal
culable service to the world it woult
sound hackneyed for me TO say now.
But to you, daughters Of America
There are thoughts to-day concerning
your welfare which have been cast int
the furnace and are passing through tn
fierce fires Of public prejudice and hot
headed opposition. BE not satisfied
with the verdict of uniformed theo
rists, who denounce them as stumbling
blocks to the beauty OF your woman
nature. Accept the lessons of the past
and they will teach you wisdom for tn
future. Grasp the "thoughts," throw
them upon the anvil, smite them will
the hammer. If they are indeed use
less, you will find it out, for they viii
not stand the test. If, on the othe
hand, they are of true metal, you viii
have helped to mould them into shape
of usefulness and beauty which shal
endure and bless the world. Neve
mind If at first it does seem an migrate
full world, which calls you such YER
bad names as "strong-minded," "ad
vanced" and unpopular" or eve
casts you into prison for giving EXPIRE:
sion to your convictions. Be of goo
I, cheer and be not afraid, for "still
, moves" and still it needs earnest WORK
: ers at its anvils and hammers. Wa
not until it is too late; ''strike Will
, the irons hot"