The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-21
VNpUDITC C.IIZuSS.

"The bee is among the least OF things
that ny. but her fruit is the eii'oi 0i
sweet things. "--Ecc.us
4 man is none the less cltl1eh am
man for not being an officer OF SOM
thing with a title TO 30. \ mug is Hvi,'
me less mug for not having q hahais
TO e. We are apt 70 iofs tii.7' "'''
because ne are not coioneis. OF J''-'''
or presidents or something in The llhic
service We are apt TO feel an aenins. Foll'
like TO that which goes by more Idini-
lar name And still we may be noinlnss
and nevcr get into the newspapers. out
side Of the funeral notices, and i've as
happily as the FISH AT the bottom OF tie
sea. Life is life, and Joys are JOYS, ID
spite of everything.
The unpubnc citizen was not put mp
for celebrity. He does not like response
bllity. lie does not care very much Tor
honor and glory The fact u.s. ne does not
understand them, and wnen he has studied
samples ne has not been inclined 10
enter an order for them. IL is not that
no is unaccOmmOdating but he does not
ike to be oficious, and put himself FOR
ward lie "runs his own machine. and
is happy when IL goes smoothly. Ana
mis- great ambition rs to keep the peace,
to do kind and honorable things. ana
lie down 10 rest. not like warrior, but
Ike SOOd qutfi man.
Still. this dnpublic citizen is not nom
entity. Ito is an actual fact. and a
positive factor in HIS circle, in his cons
munity. i'm his country and in The world,
and Just as much so as one OF those
nxod stars. that are so far off i'm space
have such a back-sodt-t that their rays
have been n thousand years in reaching
the eye of the astronomer ana are yt'
stars in the universe.
Grant that our Insignificant, our I'M
public, citizen is only an atom hDrc' Il
speck, grain. yet when you como 10
look a. him. he is full Of wonders. often
fun of mind sonsibilty, and diNincness.
He is a perfect thing ion his way though
he can't De bought. Down in his soli-
tude. there rests on him great rcsponsi-
bilitv. lie must do his duty we'll and
faithfully. like the pivot on which the
balance-whoel Of the watch rests. II
he is not sound. and his brethren Of the
same rank are not true, the entire system
will Dee corrupt and 20 10 pieces. The
fidelity and purity Of the little atom-one
little atOm-determines the whole. He
is a centre; he cannot confine his in
auence and example. The regular, good
and true atom is vital element. the
primal crystal the baby figure Of the
giant mass OF government. IT an the
atoms are right and Just and healthy,
the GENERALIZATION of government VIII 20
on. and the whole business viii work
itself without King, or President, or
a Common Council.
But there is something prettier sim
about this minim matter. The atmos-
phere around as. beautiful and incandes-
cent. IS made up of particles ninitesi-
mals-aud vet. how glorious. And every
particle is a centre and reflector OF lghi.
And the smallest human Being is of one
sort. or the other. lie IS lght-giving or
OPAQUE. The Opaque body neither gives
out nor transmits light. II is an en-
| bodiment Of darkness. And that sort
Of body is said to move among the stars.
The luminous particle is lost Ia The gem
eral air. but its brightness shines our and
it's influence is felt generally. 10 cannot
be hid. And at fast the unpublic citt-
zens doing their duty IN their place, IN
the common crowd, or In the rear ranks,
may yet be compared TO the elements
that make mp the armament or the DIS
;ant stars that adorn II
And. one day. they may. with all peoples
and nations ana languages be- known
even as they know, In the presence OF
the Father: nay, even in the most hon
orable company shine as the stars for
| ever and ever.