The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-24

4
VT, Thursday Evening, February
10, on the Life and services os the
Late Hon. benjamin m. steele. by
I1On. George ". Dale, 7siand Pond.
In olden times, when Rome was the cen
ter of all the pride, enterprise, national
hopes and aspirations Of her people, roads
were constructed from all pats of the
country leading to the Royal city. From
this originated beautiful illustration of
the TACT that various things tended to the
same result, like that all men, through va
rious religions, would reach common
happy home at last, and was found in the
favoritc maxim, "All roads lead to Rome.
Whenever the Roman people were TO cele-
5rate any of their national virtues or
achievements, for which they were so cele-
brated, surrounding tribes were invited TO
join in their festivities and to compete for
the prizes. Their attainment came TO be
the highest honor which could be con-
ferred, so much so that proficiency in their
games became the very life-hopcs of the
flower of the manhood of that age, and for
which young men were educated all their
lives. To prevent too much education or
preparation of their ncighbors, and to Sc
cure the development Of her own sons, any
particular games were not announced until
a late day before they occurred, then her
aids were sent forth into all parts of Rome
and among the surrounding tribes to pro-
claim them, and also to the frontiers to in
form all strangers, who inquired which
road led to Rome, that all roads led there
but that each one required an immediate
and decisive selection and constant and
| lively travcrsing to reach the amphthcatrc
in time to participate in the competition.
This led all young men, ambitious to join,
to educate themselves in all the games and
each one so select at an carly time, and
thoroughly acquaint himself with the most
direct road to the city, in order that the
doors might not be closed against him nor
he be found inefficient in their perform
ancc.
Now whether this picture be ideal or
real, it may perhaps imperfectly illustrate
the situation of young man training for
lifcs great struggle AS those ancient
athletics and warriors were looked upon
with admiration, so among the first ideas
which are written upon or born in the in
FAINT mind is profound reverence for
achievements of men. How the big frock
boots and gun of the hunter, standing at
sunrise in the corner of the old cabin, i'm
their possessors footprints in the forest
For what wealth would you exchange the
memory of that moment when, looking at
the picture of some Alexander in The midst
of furious strife, your mind first conceived
the idea Of military heroism? Or OF later
time, when boy, you, in the rude
chapel in your chldhoods Sweet
Auburn felt the blood warm in your
veins and your heart beat high at the grand
hopes of II better land, which that rude
country eloquence was terminating in your
! soul Or the time when, a little latc,, as
boyish spectator IN one of your country 5
forums, your mind was filed with rever-
ence for those men who were excl cising the
awful responsibility of holding the scales
which were to determine the fate of a fcl-
| low man, whose very life was at stake (;
your cheek blanched and your body, all Il
fever, burning under the eloquent words of
the advocate, who, nobly pleading for his
brother man, was wrought up to pitch of
mental anxiety, even beyond that OF the
victim, as if offering his own anguish of
mind as an atoning sacrifice tor him whose
mind was night and gloom
And so all young men are looking after
and admiring those who are running ahead
TO determine which he shall follow, which
| is the nearest road 10 his success, his dcs-
| tiny, his Rome but in one respect at least
the comparison is bad. The ancients edu-
Gated their sons in barbarous games and
absorbed their minds in useless exploits.
| fitting them for wars, tumults, disturbances
and all the yiicissitudes of barbarous age;
while the purpose of young life to-day is
to struggle for higher civilization, for the
peaceful industries, a pr0fOunder respect
for the laws and institutions of the land, as
contrasted with the wager of battle, in
mass or in personal conflict With these
purpose, all young men look forward along
more roads than ever led to Rome. Each
school of men, selecting each his road,
start. Soon the voice of one comes from
the national councils lie instantly ran TO
the very acme of his success that of an
other comes IN dignified tones from the
bench; another runs in freedoms ways
and pcrchancc dashes against deaths her
aids, which proclaim his race finished
but not till he had plucked the highest
honors which the world yields. Is the
death that cut HIM off in the midst of
| heroic deeds reward Alas, we cannot
tell. Another starts without education,
and in the faith that as all roads led to
Rome, he would take one by chance and
with greater effort reach the goal with
others, but he soon found himself in a cir
cuitous road-with many Others, It's true
but it was so grown up 10 weeds and en-
tangling vines, AS to exhaust him ere yet
one half the distance was gained His de-
spair and chagrin brought TO him impru-
dence, and bewildered, he lies looking for
and upward through the entangling briars
to- the bright lights in which his fellows are
contending for honors which have forever
eluded his grasp. How mysteriously inter
estng ii is to imagine the reflections of the
boy-man, us he stands gazing on hfes diff
ferent roads, pausing where his own trees
i'm summer yield him shade, IN winter fire,
or run the nervous road which leads
through his countrys forums, in which he
may get very temporary, yet lively honors,
aud the gratitude which SO soon passes
away with clients success or take the
road he must traverse YEARLY in the cold
December midnight and the hot midday OF
August, as well as in more pleasant sea-
sons, assuming the VIII responsibility of
conducting his felk from deaths door
back to health and strength, or whether he
shall select from the many other roads be-
fore him.
Wherever he may go, it is pleasant re-
Election that in our country all the ways
are open; none are excluded from that en-
ployment in life most congeniali that there
are no titled essentials. He does not go
into profession by purchase. lie main