The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-10-04
CIRCLES AND THINGS.
BY MEMBER OF CLASS F.

I believe that my selection Of subject has
been very fortunate, not so much by reason of
it's being an ineXhaustble one, for if all the ma
teral that could be supplied by this topic were
placed in book form, the world would not con-
tain it, and we would be compelled to annex
one of the larger planets, to be used as library,
but because it can be applied to all thoughts
that may stumble over or run up against While
rummaging through the wOrm-eaten and dust
covered truck that is Wondering in the lumber
room of memory. Perhaps some may inquire:
Is it not possible to take the circles without the
things, or vice versa?"; but by little study you
will readily perceive that they are very neigh
borly, and. in fact, as nseparable as the Slamese
twins. From the humble daisy that blooms De-
side the shetering rock in the meadow, or the
most minute organism discovered by science
with the aid of the microscope, to the stars in
heaven which the astronomer examines through
a powerful telescope. each enters into the con-
structiOn Of the other
Ask Dame Nature and she will say: ayes,
the circle is my square, and have applied IL
faithfully. diligently and increasingly to all the
works of my hand, and what is the result? L
have gained the love and alteration OF those VINO
appreciate them. and the fear and awe OF those
who do not and will not understand them.
| Can YOU imagine what a condition things would
be in if Adam had been the designer and creator
of the world? The superstition that he did Gre
ate it would furnish material for an interesting,
perhaps humorous, but certainly not instructive
paper. But as we have group of circles in view
that all are interested in. it will be well to drop
all "things and circles" except those that inter-
cept and touch each other. The first. and by no
means the least important one, is this circum-
r. fCy, piCfn fInn
do not know more about it, but this l do know,
that to the one who introduced Chautauqua
work into this or other institutions of the kind,
we owe debt that can never be paid unless the
gratitude of his fellow man is accepted as the
only coin which we possess; and if the tree can
be judged by it's fruit. this is all that is necessary
The next circle is life. Yes, life is circle, cal
it what you may; and as the days, months and
years glide silently through the portals of the
past we are approaching the point from whence
we started We may be compared to the boom
erang, since hurled by a skillful but mysterious
, hand we whrl through the years of our life
some skimming the ground, some soaring high
but all returning to the hand of the master from
whence we were sped. Herein lies our equality
we may be superior intellectually, morally, so
cially or physically to our felOw-men, but here
> we all meet as equals. But in this, think, VIZ
of the common herd are little better than The
kings and rulers of the world. They, when the,
shuttle Off this mortal coil, are buried under vas
piles of stone, while we are content to be laid I'm
der the green sod where we nOursh the grass ant
flowers that wave in glorious beauty over ou
resting place.
- After all, life at it's best is but point in thu
circumference of larger circle. To illustrate
this point: Here is mule cOntentedly break
ing his fast upon a bunch of thistles that hav
sprung up among the ruins of tomb unde
which lie the relics of king who, ages ago, rule'
II the world. By way of dessert he wanders off t.
: clump of grass growing in a hollow of tn
y ground, where weary tramp long since lai'
- him down to his final, everlasting rest.
After deliberation I have come to this con
- cusioh, and hold the fact to be indisputable
~ that we are not so much indebted to the law o
. heredity for the general make up of our charac
' tiers as we are to what we eat. In our labOratC
! ries the habits of all the animals, vegetables an
" things which we consume therein, as well as a.
= the material they contain which can be used il
+ the upbudng of our physical being, are unite
l. for that purpose. Lo! thus we have searche
~ for it; so it is Hear it and know thou it for tn
IS good.
This is evolution pure and simple.