The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-02-21

"A FEW years ago we stood by the side
of monument; and gazing up to it's
top, marveled at its great height, and
at the skill of man in placing stone up
on stone in such perfect order that each
but added strength to the other. 1t
was WashingtOns Monument: the
highest in the world erected to the
memory of man. AS we approach the
day when every village and hamlet,
every city and town throughout the
United States will do honor to the
memory of the immortal Washington,
by laying aside the cares of business, and
participating in some demonstration
wherein the life. struggles, and victories
of the great patriot and statesman will
be re-tOld as they have been during the
past three quarters Of a century, we
ask ourselves, is not this monument,
we gaZed at so idly, through curiosity,
but reflex of the man? Grand, mag
nificent, sublime; first in war, first III
peace, and first in the hearts of his
cOuntrymen: towering above the Ordi-
nary man, even as his monument
towers above that of the lOwly shaft in
the church yard What an incentive
to the young American; what a guide
in LIES battles is the character and life
of Washington. \ character embodied
in thought and deed, that will dwell in
the minds of man down the centuries
| till time is no more. Yet it is the history
of all great men, that they began in the
humber walks of life: and ever keeping
in the paths of duty and honor: with a
persevering energy to overcome all
obstacles, and with an undymg faith in
Almighty God, won their place in the
world and left history of lives and
characters that will inspire and guide
mankind throughout all the coming
ages. While strictly speaking Wash
ingtOn was not of so humble parentage
as Lincoln or Grant he was, neverthe-
less, at the time he lived in what is now
designated the middle class. Left at
an early age with widowed mother;
the eldest of five children, he was edu-
Gated and reared surrounded with all
those Christian virtues, with which a
fond mother encompasses her orphan
children, and perhaps, all those great
attributes of tenderness industry and
vigilance that marked his life, were the
result of the solicitude and care that
mother bestowed upon him. She it
was who guided the principles, conduct
and habits of his youth: and the crown
ing glory of his life was the love and
veneration he held toward that mother
But the greatest lesson for us today, in
the life of Washington, was his great
sense of duty; his upright course
through life in which he never faltered
What he conceived to be his duty. he
would conscientiously perform, anC
nothing could dissuade him. He valued
his conscience above all else Ambition
popularity, power, influence, all were
insignificant compared with the sense
of duty well performed: obeying the
dictates of his conscience. We have
all to do our duty in that sphere of life
, in which we are placed, and the creates
pleasure in life is consciousness o
, duty performed. Let us, therefore, il
; our humble way, endeavor to do on
duty towards each other, our friends
our superiors, and toward ourselves
and while we may never rise to fame
while we may never perform great act
, of herOism. or call forth the plaudits o
the world, we will find peace, con
tentment and happiness in better an
, purer lives; and consciousness 0
having done our whole duty.