The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-04-30
MARTYRS TO DUTY.

THERE died in Cincinnati q few days
ago a man who az richly deserves the
houors of martyrdom as any that ever
won and wore the fiery crown. lie
was yOung-oniy twenty six-and the
sole support of an aged and intirIn ia
Their and mother. The parents were
unable to do anything. tic provided
them with shelter, clothing, food and
fuel. His wages were small; 50 small
that after paying the bills Of the house
hold he had nothing left for himself.
He could not buy either an oveicHa'
or undergarments to protect him from
the rough weather of the past winter.
Tn order to 60 out with his car at
twenty minutes before six every morn
ing, he was obliged to walk four AID IL
half miles. The rules of the company
fprbiddng the employees TO ride with
ont paying fare, when not on duty
forced him TO walk back every
night. Thus in addition to his fifteen
hours of hard work, he had 1t daily
walk of rine miles. For two months
he never spent single cent OF MS
earnings. All went home to his
mother. Continued toll, exposure and
pyjyation broke down lis health. lie
was attacked by quick consumption
and died-dying literally that his father
and mother might live. When little
band of synpattizing friends and
neighbOrs carried him to the grave,
the wailing of that poor mother were
enough to move heart Of stone.
We believe Petel RaPp was a Cath
Ollie. We DO not care whether he was
Catholic, Protestant, jew, Turk, Pa
gan or Atheist. His creed mag have
been good, bad or indiifrrei t. His
conduct merits admiration lnttiiS W6FtH
and reward in the next. His religion
was of the simple, practical sort which
finds expression in dcetts-not words.
His was iifezof genuine stlf-sacrifice.
StimuIatedhv nnanibitinn, eiicnnraged
by no applause, with M hope that the
future wonld be any brighter and bet
ter than the past and present, I've quiz
city laborea, patiently suffered and
calmly died-a- martyr to tllal duty
No saint that ever ended a life OF iast-
ing, scoargips and, prayer by giving
his body to lie burned made a nbblPr
record than this street car cstFVcri
Contemplating that recol, one has 4
higher opinion Of hnman nature. 1t
shows that in the humblcst, station
there may be divine humanity which
lifts the sonl above tho troddep clod.
and fits it for an Immortality OF JOY,
1t shows that around and amoug US.
there are those sofgE llehltbe world -
not worthy; men aud women ,ln ne
ticed and INK newn, who intheir obScH
rity, poverty and wretchednencsS I'M
consciously display subllMity Of VIZ
tue which wins the smile Of an aPprov-
ing God. For Peter Rapp is not alone
in his modest glory. gThere are many
treading the same, tIiony patti driall s
ing tina same bitter cup, Sacrificing
health andllappiness on the same altar,
Sons working for tdthers,5 dSiaghsefs'
for mothers, wives. for husbands; work
ing uncomplainingly, cheerfully-sus
tanned not, perhaps, by faith, certainly
not by preaching, and not always by
affection, but by that sense ofduty
which is at opee aSburden and bless,
ing. The lives thus employed may bel
coarse, ufleultured, and to the ordinary
observer unloved. But they are con-
seerated, nevertheless, and witlfa lio- I
lier consecration than priestly oil or
ecclesiastical benedjctinn can inipart.4
Look at tho heroism of Niessen aud
Reutx, who, contending last Friday
night upon pcrilous roof with a
seethingl hell of fire, sacrificed all they
had to give that the property of others
might be saved. There is something
appalling in the very thought Of The
fate that swept these staiwart men a
way, yet the name they leave is all the
brighter for the awfulness of the ordeal
through which they passed, and for the
valor with which they faced it's fright
full chances.
Doing one's duty only seems like
little thing; and yet it is great thing
the greatest of things, if We look Mt it
rightly. For what more can man or
woman do And how many of us do
it'll If duties were all easy-if they
involve no sacrifice, no painful effort,
no desperate struggles with inclination,
no tugging at the lleart-strings, no mis-
conception, no contemplation, indeed,
their performance would be of small
consequence. When the cross is of ro-
SEES, all are glad to bear it; but how few
are there who will not fling down the
rugged wood that bruises the spirit
while it cuts the flesh. How few are
willing to be unappreciated, misunder-
stood, laughed at-despised, it may
be--for duty's sake. How few can
find in the simple consciousness of du-
ty done-faithfulIy, conscicntiously
d0ne--suhicicnt consolation, support
and recompense. How few are not
ready to purchase peace, pleasure,
prosperity, popularity, by base aban-
donment of every duty which has a
pain attached. How few, how very
few, will fight the hard battle to the
death. Seneca was right when he said:
"Phe noblest virtue is not fpsteref by
garlands and incense, but by sweat
and blood."-[St. Louis Republican.
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BURNED To DEATH.-0n Weilnes-.
5oy 1ybiIa nrnpor;nng dinnnr Mrs