The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-23
A WORD ON A FAMILIAR TOPIC.
(RepOrt for Class A by Il. S. d.

There has been quite a little discussion in the
circle of late, over the rival merits of ancient and
modern civilization, and. as one may as we'll be
out of the world out of the fashion. | will
present thought that occurs to me in this con-
nectiOn.
1t is true that our ideas on very many material
points of that time so long ago. are a trifie haZy
yet, enough has come down to us to impress us
with the fact that as poets and artists. workers
in marble and statuary they were far advanced;
this may have come from development, or from
the vOluptuOus dreamy age and climate in
which they lived. Certain it is that their Statu-
airy and their poets to-day hold foremost place.
even in our progressive age: but that they are
convincing proofs of higher civilization is not
so clear. great many years have passed since
then. Mighty nations have come and gone. and
with the growth of mankind have grown their
wants These have been supplied as fast as the
needs of the hour demand it. Those marvellous
inventions and discoveries that have character
lied our 10Th century, have been but the natural
results of an increasing and OverfiOwing pOpula-
ton; and corresponding demand upon the Gre
alive and inventive faculties of its members.
These again are not positive proofs of higher
civilization We must look for a much loftier
plane. a more decided and SOftening influence
than any of these material issues. The world is
peopled and governed by two beings, Man and
Woman. Man has always been the greater
factor in the struggle for existence. Woman has
held her place by the freSde and miniStered to
the wants of her lord Yet how varied her con-
ditiOn at different stages of the Worlds history.
As we note her changed surroundings. we note
the advancing strides of civilization. From the
time when as the drudge of the hut. her presence
when all the masculine world is at her feet her
evolution has marked the march of refinement
and culture. No doubt she was but factor in
that march. but how important a factor we can
imagine. Men toll and accumulate wealth that
they may pour it into the laps of their loved One
All earthly JOY. all earthly pleasure. all worldly
desire centre about woman Take her away and
what is there left to live for? AS she has been
elevated. as she has been refined. as she has been
lifted up and civilized so has the world pro-
crossed. | might fill pages with descriptions of
her charms. from the rustic of her skirt to the
-egg-Shell of bonnet she wears. and occupy your
time Indefinitely singing her praises, but we are
familiar with them all: and whether she wears
silk or cotton, hustle crinOline, we all know
her and love her. 70 be sure may strain the
point in laying too much stress upon this, and
upon that influence but it really appears to me
that we yet have a long ways to go, or we have
come long ways. When we look back down
the ages long gone we can trace innumerable
evidences of higher, wider civilization than we
have any idea of. What were their knowledge
of the arts. the sciences, and how profound their
intelligence we can only surmise but when they
leave such monument of their skill and power
as the Pyramids, we are lost in wonder and can
only gaze in awe. HerOdOtus tells us that Ra-
meses II. one of the Ptolomies, or Kings Of
Egypt. made repairs on the Pyramids over 6OOO