Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-10-30

StCatHSSSt h1'U SfhestDt oub cOiut
great character on the starry heights
of eminence, and have unswervingly
and undauntingly pressed upward to
reach it. 1t is this spirit OF inspira-
ton, caught from the examples Of
greatness and goodness which have
preceded them, which has caused
men to aspire TO be warriors, states
men, patriots, sagcs and martyrs.
Who shall say but that many of
the great names, which our country
has produced, who shine forth as
brilliant stars in our nations galaxy,
have caught their first inspiration
from the magnanimons life of him
who was "first in war, first in peace,
and first in the hearts of his coun-
trymen 7" Who shall say bus that
the life Of him who went from rail
splitter to the highest office within
our nations gift, to there die mar
tyr to his country, has been an in
valuable guide to many who have
followed? And who can possibly
conceive the scores and hundreds Of
young men, of the present and future
generations, who will achieve dis
tinction in life, inspired by the exalt-
ed career Of the lamented and be-
loved Garfield +?
How many, ungifted in speech,
have, by perseverance, made them
selve great orators by remembering
how Demosthenes, by practicing
with pebbles, corrected his manner
of speech, and made himself one Of
the greatest orators the world has
ever produced? How many pious
prosecuted christian has caught hope
and inspiration from the life Of John
BunyanY How many u brave war
rior has had his bravery cnthus-
ed, on the bloody field of car
mage, by thinking Of the courage Of
an Alexander or Napoleon How
many an inventor has been stimu-
lated to action by the greatness
achieved by Watt in discovering the
power Of steam? How many Of
those who have become great philan-
thropists have caught inspiration
from such characters as Granville,
Sharp and Robert Raikcs And
even in our own race, how many are
there who have caught inspiration
TO labor for the upbuilding of down
trodden Ethiopia, by the example Of
the "old man eloquent" Frederick
Douglass, who, passed from the de-
grading cabin Of slavery to rank
among the foremost orators and cit
liens of our country?
And we might cite numerous in
stances of greatness which has been
the compass by which many have
been guidcd,--the incentive which
has prompted to action. The inspi-
ration which great life breathes
is that it awakens virtuous, praise
worthy ambition in the breast ofthe
young, and leads them to follow the
examples OF true greatness and ex-
cellence. 1t was this thought which
caused Longfellow to touch tho
harp of poesy and sing:
elves of great men, all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing, leave behind us,
Footprints on the sands OF time"
"In the lexicon Of youth there
is no such word as fall and
guided and inspired by the example
of greatness and goodness, late en-
ergies have been aroused, which
have madess their possessors names
which will never be forgotten. Too
much stress, then, cannot be put
upon the Importance Of initiating
the examples of the great and gath
ering inspiration to duty from their
lives.
1t is one of the natural character
istics of humanity to initiate. A
boy reads the history Of some great
and GOOD man--it becomes the