Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-12-07
knowledge ys. Ignorance.

Bacon gave the aphorism to the world
that knowledge is power" and men are
repeating it still. But ignorance is also
power. If knowledge has the power to
build, ignorance has the power to pull
down. If knowledge has the power to
advance, ignorance has the power to
retrograde, or to place itself across the
track and impede the progress of knowl-
edge. knowledge is the good and igno-
rance is the evil. knowledge is gaining
the mastery; it is battering down the
sirengholds of ignorance in all lands be-
meath the sun. The weapons of kuowl-
edge are various and numerous. 1t is
on the mountains with Bibles and
psalms and PRAYERS; it is in the deep
mines with pick and dynamite; on the
field with sword, ,-bayonet and Gatling
gun, but wherever it fights ignoranee is
its foe, and will be found exerting tre-
mendOus influence in the affairs of the
world. 1t is very interesting to go forth
and take observation of the contending
forces in the worlds broad field of bat
tle." 1t will be noticed that in the ranks
of the knowledge-seekers there is a
wonderful contrariety of opinions and
purposes, while in the army marshaled
under. the banner of ignorance there is
astonishing unanimity. knowledge is
argus-eyed. 1t sees all the opportuni
ties the world offers for advancement
and the command goes ringing along
the lines, forward march" Ignorance
is blind and protests, croaks. loves dark.
ness better than light, and predicts dis
aster. knowledge is alert. Ignorance
inert. knowledge is pathfinder, igno-
rance is content with the old paths
knowledge breaks fetters and emanci
pates, ignorance is content to wear man
acles. knowledge is life. ignorance il
death. In the ranks of the knowledge
seekers will be found widely-divergen
views in regard to what constitutes th'
most desirable knowledge. In one di
rection will be seen men studying stars
in another direction group interroga
ting rocks and compelling them to tel
the history of the centuries. Here in ;
school investigating natural histor.
from midget to mastOdOn. and from tn
violet to the century plant. There stand
a knowledge seeker, with his kite in tn
clouds to catch the lightning; and Their
is another in the quiet of his stud
Harvesting it to wires; and still anoth
er flashing it upon the darkness to max
the night day. There is a hardy crey
sailing lone ship in the frozen region
beyond the Arctic circle hunting for tn
North Pole, while another under tropi
cal suns is seeking to solve the mysterie
of terra incognttd, and all the time ig
norance protests-sits by the waysid
and croaks; oyster-like. sticks to its ma
tive mud, or CLUES itself to a rock, wher
tides forever ebb and flow without mo,
ing it from its moorings. There Is
, knowledge-seeker dallying with steam
listening to its whispering hiss an
!, guessing of its power. Knowledg
! !, solves the problem, and the world move
on in spite of ignorance. See you tf
> ocean steamer the winds and the tide
and the waves are against, bnt 81
moves through on to her destined por
Why? knowledge and steam have en-
s braced, and in the hold of that ship the
r is a power that laughs at the elemen
n in their wrath, at Ignorance in its cav
= Certainly Bacon was right. "Knowledl
i is power" and its coDquests are eve
& year on grander scale.-Indianapol
Sentinel.