Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-07-04

| which the mind lives only in review
| ing the past, it is then that the keen
| appreciation of the soul for its lost op.
| portunities is aroused. Ii
seems a trait Of human nature to real
| iZe the true worth of anything after il
has passed away, and is beyond the
| grasp. Willie the DAYS
were fitting by drawing nearer and
nearer the end of the year, life seemed
a pleasant dream. But the stern real
| titles are forced upon US as the requiem
of the departing year is heard in the
solemness of the night, and the bless
ings of the past gathering increasing
brilliancy as they recede in the dis
| lance. As We allow the
more common blessings to escape US,
so too, we often fail to improve the
Opportunities for securing those moral
endowments that would add SO greatly
to our own and others Welfare. 1t is
not folly to be wise, because ignorance
is not bliss; and among the saddest of
all losses is the loss of those quail
ties which aid in the development
of character. While
we are surrounded with friends and
all that goes to make life happy, little
do we realize how great would be our
loss should they be taken from US. But
as the flower that blooms to-day, to-
morrow may be dying, they too may be
snatched from us ere We are aware of
it; and when the unwelcome truth is
forced upon us that they are no more
we are filled with despair. If we would
but estimate more highly their worth
then and not wait till they are suddenly
taken from US. we would not be left to
mourn that they were not duly appre-
ciated.
Fred 7. Kelly, in discussing Failure
a Means of Success, said: Success
in anv department of life is proper
tional to the ability possessed of
overcoming difficulties" "What
are often called failures are many
times only a means of stirring. up
greater exertions to succeed. \ i
That cannot be called failure which
stimulates to more vigorous effort, for
absolute failure must be wholly I'M
productive of good results. In the
pursuit of any line of study, even if
the ultimate object is not reached it
can scarcely ever be said to be Il total
failure, as the exercise of the mental
powers gives strength and firmnesS to
encounter obstacles, and this is the
most valuable result of all mental
efforts.
Because the old alchemists did not
succeed in transmitting baser metals
into gold, their efforts were not fruit
less, since "it is to these Investigations
conducted without the light of science,
attended often by lamentations ard SUI
perstitions murmurings that modern
chemistry owes its origin"
The idea that time spent in attempts
that result in failure is wasted should
not be entertained, for the very at
tempt itself gives experience and
strength to make new efforts.
Success i'll education depends on
persistant effort and "the degree of
thoroughness with which the element
airy subjects have been mastered"
Failure often leads to greater enjoy
ment. Success is never so highly
priced and enjoyed as by the one who
has failed and afterward succeeded in
attaining the object aimed at"
Many man fails because unlimited
success in youth often brings indiffer
ence which when fastened as habit
can not be thrown off again. On the
other hand every successful man
might say with the renowned AgaSsiz
!" have learned as much by my fail
ufeS as ny luy SucceSSeS.
Miss Agnes McIlhon in her essay on
the Commercial Future of the United
States first briefly outlined the history
of commerce. this history tending to
show that d" there are three conditions
essential to extensive international
traffic viz: means of transport, free
dom of labor and exchange, and securi-
ty. AS commerce extended farther and
farther from the European centers
people were brought into direct con-
tact land through this the different ma
lions became more enlightened"
The three conditions have been real
lied in the United States, and its COM
merce from the beginning has been
carried on successfully. In 1861 it I'M
derwent a change owing partly to the
civil war and the great demand from
Europe for breadstuffs which closely
taxed the Western lands to supply.
Since that time the commerce has I'M
der gone but little change. Harvests
have been good and the production of
grain has been increased, as year by
year vast territories have been opened
to market, facilities by the construc-
ton of railroads and the improved
methods upon the lakes, the Erie canal
and the Mississippi"
The resources of the U. S. are I'M
bounded and the facilities for trans
portion unequalled. Although the
present condition of our agricultural
and commercial affairs, is very crafty
ing, we must not let our present pros
perity assure us of its permanence.
The market of the world is receivine
wheat and cotton from India; ar.
New Zealand and Australia and are
sending meats and wool; while Russia
has been in part supplying the mar
ket of Europe with fresh meat. In
manufactures we are compelled to
compete with our unskilled lab or
against the highest skill of the older
countries. AS means by which this
country is to take its proper place
among the nations, "the profits of
manufacturing must be kept at home,
and the youth of the land must be
trained in the public schools to the
practical arts and sciences"
Alfred Vivian in an essay en-
titled, Is the American jury a sue
cess? touched on a subject of vital
interest to American institutions. The
essay touched on some points which
are certainly worthy of the attention
of well-meaning citizens. Mr.. Wv
ian took the ground that the jury
system has Outlived its usefulness,
and should be succeeded by something
better adapted to the needs Of the age.
AS to the origin of the system he went
back in history to the time when the
barons of England obliged king John
to sign magma charta. Among other
provisions this famous document con-
tanned one by which free man could
be punished only "by the legal judg
ment of his peers, or by the laws of
the land" : The jury served
we'll its purpose, the protection of
the people from the tyranny of the
monarch; and even to-day, in Eng
land, in consequence of careful and
elaborate laws planned by the best
thinkers of the past and present ages,
the jury proves a good and efficient
means for the administration Of
justice. But in Amer
lea the jury is a superstition. The
Englishman always links his thoughts
of the jury with the circum stances
connected with its origin. and most
naturally regards it as the only method
of securing justice. The American,
the direct descendant of the Anglo
Saxon, inherited this superstition.
and introduced it into his constitu-
ton, in direct opposition to the theory
of such government.
The most important defects pointed
-