The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-04
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ENGLAND.
[BY MEMBER CLASS F.


Der of 5000 lying off the west coast of Europe The
area of the British Isles is 121 481 miles square.
A little larger than New England. and a little
smaller than Japan. In the earlier centuries
Great Britain was very frequently conquered by
her neighbOrs on the continent.
One of the most important things that must
be taken into account in seeking for Engand's
greatness is her nsular situation. She has the
finest internal communication of any nation on
the globe. No part of the country is more than
100 miles from the sea coast, and her natural
and artificial waterways give access to the re-
hottest parts of the kingdom. She has five naVl-
gable rivers and they are connected with sys
TEN of canals that reach into the heart OF the
country.
Another element in England's greatness is her
maritime enterprise. England lying AS she does
surrounded by water on all sides with numerous
good harbors is in consequence. the home of the
marines andshe is further blessed by hav-
ing salubriOus climate. She lies directly in the
path of the Gulf Stream, that bears upon its
bosom the atmosphere of the sub-troplcal seas.
While the latitude is that of Labrador, the eli
mate is about equal to that of the State of Virginia
in America.
The English race are we'll endowed in natural
resources coal, iron. zinc, tin and copper are
Salt in Cheshire, along the valley of the Weaver
is also found.
In Statfordshire is found the pOtteris, where |
is made the famous WedgwOod ware.
What race of people first inhabited this pro-
gressive England of today? The earliest imfor-
nation we have of the country it was Inhabited
by two distinct races: the Iberian and the Celt
There were but few of the Iberans. the bulk OF
the people were Celts. The Celts were OF the
Aegean group, which includes Teutons. Slavs,
Greeks. and some of the ancient races of Persia
They came first and the Teutons later. Later on
came the Gaels and the Britons who gave the
island its present name. All spoke the Celtic
tongue in the Scotch Highlands and Wales.
| The religion was the wOrshiping of gods.
| Their priests were called Druids and took an
influential part in the government. In fact they
were nothing more or less than the rulers.
1t was about the middle of the first century
| B. C. that the BritainS come into contact with
them and it is from them that England's civll1-
zatiOn and progress commenced in reality.
After Caesar conquered England and for hun
dred years afterward it was practically left alone
In the second century things began to revive,
and the island rapidly became Roman province.
under Roman rule peace and good order were
maintained Fine roads were built. towns and
the marshes drained and brought under agri-
culture.
England at the present time is in some respects
the most progressive nation on the globe. II er
sailors have planted the British flag on nearly
every continent and Englishmen may well say
that the sun never sets on the EngliShman' S
possessions But in England itself progress
has been nothing remarkable, we think taking
, into comparison the people and the times at
: which the most important changes occurred.
We think that the true start of progress COM
menced when that great man Onver
Cromwell was at the head of the government,
Here is a man who stands out prominent
, as che man who did more for the advance
ment of the English nation, than any other
man before his time or for centuries later,
On Cromwell's assuming the head OF the
government there was really no government
Cromwel's policy was from the start vigorous
one. characteristic of the times and the man.
, The navigation act was one of the first meas
ures passed and the result was d war with Ho
O land and it was this war that led to the founda
= ton of England's present maritime supremacy
:, CrOmwels rule was stern. but 1t was productive
= of peace. and order was maintained. All out
. breaks were quickly repressed. Taxation was
f heavy but industry was not crushed. Cromwell
- had MANY important measures he wished tC
:, carry out for the advancement of the nation
= The reform of the law courts and the misrepre
4 sentaton of the country under the electora
4 system were evils that he had at heart. Butt
was not to be; his work was DONE If he hat
lived he would have advanced England more
than it is possible to imagine. But he died ant
puritan rule was practically a failure.
ii There we're 80 members at Roll Call. After tn
e Question Box had been disposed Of the follow
Is ing excellent program was submitted:
. Paper
i "England"-by Thompson. ............. CLASS +
49, Paper
% "a talk about the N. Y. World Bulldlng"-
"a by Ramp. .................. .....-OitISS ~
. Paper
: "Our National Enterprises''-by Fuller. Glass
Paper
r. "England"-by Price. .............Oia ss
+, Paper
ut present Times''-by Stansbury .....C Class L
is Farewell Address by Trowbridge. ...... Glass a
ry Mr. Ramp, as Critic pro. tenn. proved interest,"
Is ing and amiable in his admirable summary
s. the papers rendered. After routine business Tn
Id Meeting adjourned. r. H. D., sec.