The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-05-15

"Thc troops. from officers of rank down, lack
individuality" said he. Each one is so ac-
customed to look to his superior for orders and
to depend on those supcriors for definite plans
of action, that they would be utterly helpless
in an emergency when predetermined plans
must be suddenly changed and when every
soldier must, to greater or less degree, rely
upon his own resources.
Herein too is an Illustration Of the super
ioritr of our civil institutions over those of
Germany. Germans are accustomed to look to
the Government for everything. They arc
children in old age, to almost as great an ex-
tent as son would be if kept always under the
parental roof aud clothed and fed by parents.
The theory of that government Is that the ctl-
zen must do nothing for himself except what
the government can't do for him, while our
theory is that the government must do moth
ing for the citizen that the citizen can do for
himself. The one teaches dependence and the
other independence. Our theory develops the
resources Of the individual By forcing him to
RELY on them. Instead Of looking to The gov
crnmcnt, he looks to himself When Amcri
cans are marshalcd into great armies they
carry this individuality with them. If regi-
mcnt is isolated and It's commanding officer be-
comes untrammeed by the presence of his
brigade commander, he at once thinks and
acts for himself and his command. He simply
resumes his old habit in this respect and, in
stead of becoming confused and ratified not
knowing what to do, he very often does better
than if embarrassed BY superior orders. Some
Of the most brilliant exploits, on Il small
SCALE were effected under these conditions
during our war; And it is not easy to estl-
mate the value Of this self reliance and indi-
yidual resource in the mere movement of an
army over bad roads, with inadequate equip
ment and supplies. The same number of
German troops that the South had would not
long have withstood the Northern armies dur
ing our war;
Rev. john c. Wool, the Prcsby tcrian Evan
gcIist, has been assigned to the Clinch Valley
district and will leave his present charge. Mr..
Wool has impressed the community with his
pictv and zeal, and has accomplished a valua-
bic work for his church and for christianity.
He is remarkably free from that scctaran
bigotry which so often mars the usefulness of
ministers, and his departure from the Gap
will be regretted by all sccts and crccds. Be-
ing an evangelist, he is always on the frontier
preparing the way like John in the Wilder
ness for those WHO are to come after him: and
as little Dick kunklc says, he is John the
Presbyterian, instead Of John The Baptist. ~
regular stationary minister has been selected
by the presbytcry to take charge of the church
here.
The Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix. Of Old Trinity,
New York, has the correct idea of society
leadership. lii the course of a sketch of
John Jacob Astor, delivered before the
Genealogical and Biographical society the
other day, he said:
"New York society is Il living entity and has
an existence of its own. In tas in everything
else, there is good and there is evil. In our
society there is no crown no hereditary aris-
dcvolycs upon those to whom the headShps
tacitly conceded.
"Mrs Astor was one Of this number, and so
assiduously did she attend to her duties that it
ended in shortening her life. She knew that
she must set IL good example to society; that
doors must be closed against dubious women
and men with prolligatc tastes. She knew the
extravaganza, the low rivalry, and the secret
or open sympathy with an age which tended to
corrupt the heart. 1t may he said for her that
society was rendered the purer for her lofticr
ideals"
This is no doubta just tribute, for the Doctor
said he knew that Mr.. and Mrs. AStor gave at
least $780, goo per annum to charities, unostcn-
tatously and Of which no public record was
made. Here is an example then for our ladies
of society Instead OF becoming leaders in
extravaganza and prohigacy, dragging down
instead of lifting up, they should seek to purify
and elevate, raising the standard Of social cul-
ture instead of debasing it. But ladies Of
fashion in most of our cities must experience
great change of life before they reac the
standard prescribed by DR.. Dix.
Speaking of society leaders reminds me Of
the brilliant eminence which Mrs. Kate Chase
Sprague acquired. She was The head and front
of fashion; and her asccndency YVES almost as
undisputed in Washington as was that of the
Empress Eugene in Paris Well born, highly
connected, the daughter of an e&-Governor,
ex-Secyetary Of the Treasury and Chief jus
tice Of the United States and the wife of an
Ex-Governor and Senator. She was an ex-
trcmcly handsome woman, and possessed
charm of manner that fascinated those who
came in contact with her quite as much as her
brilliant qualities of mind. Then she had a
talent for leadership. She was born to COM
mand. But her eminence and the ease with
which she maintained it, brought imperious-
ness and over confidence. She thought she
could violate with impunty any conventonalty
she deemed too restrictive of her pleasures.
She did this openly and dcfantly. Like the
famous duchess, who, when warned OF her
wicked ways, put down her father confessor
with the declaration that "God Almighty would
think twice before be damned lady of her
quality" Mrs. Sprague scorncd the hints and
shrugs that her conduct began to provoke.
Soon there were those who dared dispute her
empire. Then they demanded the scepter. |
Then the battle, the victory, the defeat. They
won, md when they won they used their power
to persecutc. Not satisfied with dethroning |