Homer guardian. (Homer, La.) 1888-1890, 1889-05-10
HOMER, La, FRIDAY MAY 10, 1889.
These Expressions have their
Reward.
An Address by Prof. Henry Stevens,
Delivered on q Memorial DC.
casiCn near iIaynesyille.

AADlhS "A NJ oL EMEN-
The simple fact that We have
gathered here to strew fresh, sweet
flowers aborc the melancholy, but
cherished resting place OF friends
and loved ones, is Evidence Of q re-
fincment Of feelings glowing with
IN the hear, Hhoso influence can
be for good. Those to whom we
to-day with weeping offer our
tribute of respect sleep on uncon-
scious equally Of our offerings and
our tears; but this nsither removes
the sense Of obligation nor dries
the unstrained tear. Nor come
We to pows out sad obligations to
no purpose.
These expressions have their
reward. Man is a progressive,
wonderful! creature. Progressive
only in the exercise Of his facul-
ties, in the utilization Of means
and opportunities, wonderful IN
As much as so many come upon
and pass from the stage Of sction
with so little thought Of them
selves as factors society. They
come aud when they have done
with time, whatever their course,
we remember all with kindness,
others with reverential ieslings.
While we prcfusely bcstow upon
these memory's choicest gifts;
still we are conscious that these
gifts serve not to brighten the
abode efthe remembered, yet with
out the bestowal, we feel as if life
would be but a dresrv midnight
to which the grave itself would be
the dawn of $ glorious day. Is
there no pleasure in memory? Are
there indeed no benefits to accrue
irvm the development OF sensibili
ties that show to the world appro.
Citations, not mate, but attained
by assiduous labor-constant ex.
ercise. Mamory is pleasant, is
meliorsting, is invigorating. These
simple expressions nourish it, ex.
psnd it. In word, these simple
sc!ions, uEfeigned if they be, de
yelop manhood in its strength
and polish womanhood in lis low
| illness, il 1t be allowed that these
are attributes Of social beings.
Stop for one moment, and, il
you be Que who has travelled afal
down the pathway Of life, I ask
are there no "reminiscences tina,
cling around your declining walk
hsllowed with glorious influences;
If you be one who is just entering
the journey Of active life, are there
no associations, no ties, that now
surround you, the remembrance
Of which, when you shall have
nssred the journeys end, will Civ,
Joy to the csrc-worn-he heart, and in
the hope of the renewal Of which
will in past dispel the gloom and
fearIulness OF the grave? s. sta
tion in commen-not a home-tc
all humanity.
You live not to yourself. Never
yet has man reached q station il
life that there did not cling around
him the anxious solicitude Of some
loving heart.
Yearly, Yea, daily these anxious
souls are passing away, leaving III
the legacy, their love. They have
gone. We call the departure
death. But that love, that legacy
is not dead, cannot die. 1t is a:
immortal as the soul that has ia
ken its flight; nor has it like that
spirit winged its way from earth
and " = X
They arc gone. We are pass
ing on as fast as unwesried, fleet
ing time rolls from before US the
impresnable bearrier, the future
We pass on in this busy, throb'
bling, beautiful world rejoicing in
our successes, receiving unloadsd
blessings; but again let US stop
take our stand where We now arc
in life's journey, let US look TO-
wards the beginning Or the end
and toll, Of all earth's blessings
what worth the living, but for the
solicitude, the expectations Of
those present or those gone; what
Of our successes even here where
heniyn Father has layishlv be