Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-24

LII IVY, Dut WIS LOU dOOpCeu uOLll IL
had been submitted to number of
scientific associations at home and
abroad and received their approval
Toledo Blade.
The Stimulus of Persecution.
Prot. Bonstadt enumerates the in
comparable difficulties under which the
genius of Hebrew literature produced
its modern fruit, and propounds the
question: Was that fertility developed
in spite or by means Of persecution?
The Hebrews, before the loss of their
national independence, he holds to have
been anything but an intellectual peo-
pie During more than eight centuries
of national prosperity that did not pro-
duce q single philosopher, artist, or
sculptor, added not single fact to the
e2tant stock of scientific knowledge.
They had poets, but no unbiased critic
would name their works with the mas
terpieces of Greece and Rome. In
exile handicapped by all the burdens of
social, political, and religious ostracism,
the grandchildren of Israel produced q
larger percentage of immortal writer's
in all possible branches of literature
than any other race of the contempo-
rary world. But, on the other hand, it
must be admitted chat persecution has
often failed to produce any analogous
effects. What have Russian bayonets
done for Polish literature Or for the
literary productiveness of Polish exiles?
Under the stimulus Of fierce and re-
peated prosecutions the early Christians
produced nothing but theological drive.
The beginning of persecution marks
the eclipse of the light that shone with
such meridian splendor during the
golden age of Moorish Spain. DR.. We'll,
the historian of the caliphs, estimates
that with the single exception of re-
publican Athens, no city of the world
ever rivaled Cordova's galaxy of poets,
philosophers, and scholars. When
Spain rocked with the smoke of the
aattos-dGfe, those stars set in the gloom
of IN endless night. But it is true that
religious persecution has never failed
to rouse spirit of fanatical resistance.
1t is, indeed, not saying too much that
many anachronistic superstitions owe
their vitality to the vivifying influence
of hostile interference. The limitless
power of the Spanish priesthood, ex-
erted with an incompatible persistence
of ingenuity and remorseless cruelty.
failed to effect the conversion of tile
Spanish Jews. Pagan autocrats who
could exile millions Of warlike bar
barians tried in vain to exercise the
specter OF mutinous sect. The
Mosleni conqucrors of Hindoostan,
with all the complex advantage Of su-
perior civilization, were unable to en-
force the conformity of the ignorant ma
tives. Extreme absurdities look vener-
able in their halo of martyrdom as soon
as tyranny lights the fagots Of persecu-
| ton.
"Ei,1 feste bu1g list at7aser GoN"-and
even the miserable bulwark Of Nor
mon tabernacle is proof against the
more contemplate weapon of an Ed
munds bill.-Prof. Osecald. ~
Had Gone Up.
COL Moley sent q recently employed
colored man to the postoffice for fifty
cents worth of postage stamps.
"Look here, Simon, said the Colonel,
when the man returned, "you have
only brought me thirty cents worth of
stamps. How's that?"
II paid him SO cents fur 'em sar.
"No, you didn't. You have kept 20
cents. Stamps are cents apiece, and
you have only brought me fifteen, in
stead of twenty-five"
"Look heah, boss, Use powerful sorry
ter see dat yer doan keep up wild de
market. De price O stamps hab dun
.i::."
"What?"
"Dun riz, tells yer"
"Give me 20 cent, Simon"
"How ken gin yer de ermount when
da charged so much fur do stamps
Con an wheat an oats an rye an
stamps is all dun gone up, an heah yer
comes maxim er mouf er bout 20 cents.
Neber seed de like in mer life. En-
pusson KANT lib in dis heah country
widout gittin' inter trouble. faint my
fault dat de market changes. Reckin
dat if 1 went out ter buy some meat
fur yer Id be 'cuzed of stealin'. Neber
seed de like. l Spite er white man nc
how. ".-Arha2sa10 TraUeler.