Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-11
Peter Cooper.

We recall a little incident we observed
a few years ago "A workman in Cooper
Institute, having occasion to ascend a
ladder to do some repairing in oneIof
the public rooms, called to an old man
whom he happened to see standing near
by. watching him.. ..Here, old fellow,
hold the ladder for me, won't you?',
The ''old fellow" started forward and
held the ladder for The workman, while
he climbed up and did his work. That
unpretentious sold man WAS Peter
Cooper. ss..se q 813slN
We ay-that was Peter Cooper. 1t
was Peter Cooper through and through
and all over 1t was ambition enourh
for him to hold the ladder for otherd,eo.
pie, He might not climb himself; he
remembered how hard the climbing had
been for him when he tried to study anil
learn and fit himself for his sphere Of
usefulness and service; and he had made
up his mind many, many years ago that
he would make it easier for other pcoplb
to climb. His Institute was a ladder;
and he stood by it day after day, hold
ing it that other people young men and
young women might climb. ''' -i'''s
And what is this but saying that Peter
Cooper was Christian? What Is this
but the very essences of Christianity, the
very meaning of the worda What is
this but the very life of Himw taught
that :, it is more blessed to give than I'd
receive of whom His Disciples said
that "He pleased not Hinls;lf," and
whose enemies gibe was: "He saved
others; Himself He cannot s1ve!" What
is it but Christ's own summary of the
law of God incarnated again in human
life, as it has been incarnated, thank
God, many times since Jesus set us. the
| example?
That was a white day for Peter
Cooper and for the world when he made
up his mind to give his life, his thought.
his wealth for other people. The world
Is better and happier for it. Peter
Cooper was happier for it, We could
easily mention the names of more than
one rich man of New York who counts
many times more millions than Peter
Cooper ever amassed; but who holds
and grasps after dollars and never
cares to hold the ladder. For them
the hungry. toiling, climbing world
has no benedictions. Their hearse
will Sbe followed by no reverent and
grateful crowds. No tears will fall for
them. The morning paper will report
of them that; they died and that they
left behind SO. many tens millions, and
left them because they could not take
them; and It will say nothing more.
Whyp Because they have planned.
labOred, amassed only for themselves.
They have held no ladder They have
despised the law of love and service,
which is paramount to all laws and on
which not only God Judgment Throne
is set, and by which we Judge the
world, but by which we Judge Him and
He shall judge the world, but by which
we Judge our feilowmen Peter Coopef
had enough simple, deep wisdom, many.
many years ago. TO take into his OWN
heart and life that blessed rule which
humbles self, If it can only uplift others:
but which in, Gods owned blessed
economy of law and life uplifts both the
worlh.and its benefactor. Trust God
for it, he that humbleth himself shall
be eXalted.----------------e
fI What have we been talking abouti
Peter Cooper's conversion y l,s-
dependent,