The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-09-27

poor people out Of money justly their due
causing them more or less inconvenience, If
not positive suffering. A man incapable of
appreciating the significance of facts like
these is incompetent to control the earn
ings of the, at best, over-worked and un-
derpaid employees of the Government Print
ing Office.
AMONG THE CEREMONIES yesterday over
the grave of the dead President was the
chanting of the 10Th Ode Of Horace in Latin
by the German Harmonic Societies of
Cleveland. The music of this celebrated
production of the very finest Odist who
ever lived is rs familiar to the memories of
student life the world over rs the Star
Spanglcd Banner is to our people at large.
There isa solemn and impressive, indeed an
almost regal, grandeur in the air; and it
was rendered yesterday by that trained
Cleveland chorus with nevcr-to. be- forgot
ten effect.
The first verse in the original Latin is the
most famous one of the Ode. 1t is rs fol-
lows:
Integer pitde, SceiorisQuc pWus,
Non eget Mduris jacutis neQuc drcu,
Nee rcneaotis 0raridd sogiuiS,
Fuscc, pharetro.
Translation
"The man who is firm of life and pure of
sin needs not, friend Fuscus to be pro.
tected with Moorish javclins and bow, or
quivcr heavy with its poisoned shafts "
For two thousand years this triumphal
statement of the old Roman poet has been
echoed and re-echoed through Christcndom
set to the music Of martyrdom and hope
No proverb of Solomon deserves n higher
place in the world affection. But yesterday,
when that solemn audience listened
tc the words of this ancient chant
what mockery seemed to be the
finest axioms of moral life and the most
sterling edicts of philosophers. Here is n
case in point that for centuries to come
will figure in history as a startling refuta-
tion Of the safety claimed for purity of
character! Gen. Garfield was so utterly
guileless in his purposes and disposition
that the whole world, especially his coun-
trymcn, echoed the wall that came from
his stricken old mother as she asked, "Why
| ohouiu hhy Vhp Nhht W ohoob my DUy
How could 1t be that man Of his honest
purposes and fine aspirations and gentle
temperament was exposed to deadly attack
Where is our philosophy now? Where arc
the sage maxims and pous guides to bet.
ter life contained in the reflections of proph.
cts and priests?
Purity Of character should be its own
body-guard, but it is not. Virtue should be
its own reward, but it is not. Tho moral
codes ofthc universe were shivcrcd into frag-
ments over Garield's coffin yesterday, and
the mourning world stops with batcd breath
beside his grave, to ask whether in the
dreams of philosophers the rcvcries OF
heroes, the ecstacies of saints, or the hymns
of poets, there is any positive and exclusive
secret whereby the honest man can find d
way to walk the avenues OF life without q
loaded quiver by his side?
When raised into prominence, the very
excellence and dignity of his character be-
come the targets for public malice, and
envy and plots. Like that old Athenan
who was tired of hearing Aristidcs callct
the Just, there are thousands to whom th,
very name and reputation of goodness be
, come oppressive and hateful, and this feel
ing is nourished and cultivated in the brcas
of fanatics till it eliminates in open hos
tility and crucifxion.
The Christian world recognizes one un
failing source of comfort during all thu
slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
: The old time axioms have been infused
with the breath Of a higher hope and con
: ISOLATION. 1t is well for us, as we place
: martyr to rest, that in place of The cx
: plodcd theory that the pure in heart will
t need no Moorish javclins, we can substi
). tutc that later promise" The pure i,
j heart shall see God"
when We Are Conc.
Hermit.
Gna ,s,rH n .