The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-23

the golden DAY OF Roman ascendency the
most skilled artisans and artists were
often siaves from Greece.
This dsy has
MAKET ron svnRyrafrc Thar wn tAvr
casionai slight Inequalities between sup
ply and demand, but as q rule one creates
the other. The wants Of citizen ef Prev
idence, OF an Intelligent nature, hufpass
the wants OF court a. Il existed thous.
and years ago In Britain.
This general and cursory view OF some
features In the worlds development may
serve 10 show the privilege Of being q
young man In the closing five years OF the
nineteenth century. A great contempo-
rary poet felt this when he wrote:
BETTER fifty years OF Europe than q
cycle OF Cathay.h
Behold, then, the theater upon which
the young man steps out. Had he been
born before Christ he might have aspired
to influence in Greek state no larger,
scarcely more populous than Scituate or
Coventry. Now II cannot Dc said what
land or zone will prove TO be his work
shop, or what ears will listen to his
achievements. He may go with Rhodes
ana discover a diamond mine in South
Africa, or with Gordon and quell rebel
lion in interior China. lie may become,
like one Amer lean, noted London jour
nalist, or like another the adviser of the
Middle Kingdo in its negotiations with
japan. He may cross Siberia and reveal
Its horrors, or, what Is more difhcult
thing, he may enforce just law In New
York city. He may renovate great En-
glish metropolis as Cha berlain has done,
or become burning light in the two
greatest nations of the earth like Phillips
Brooks. Roger Williams did not prompt
all the openings for heroism, nor did
Perry and Burnside fight all the world
conflicts OF the present. There was never
a day when a great character, with fervor,
could do SO great work. Given fair
intellectual capacity, q, steady training,
and holy purpose, and there, is more in
life for you aud me than for the king OF
the ancient world. Your time of youth
Is the worlds frujting time, climax; Its
elimination from cycles OF preparation
day In which Diogenes should have been
young, for he would have seen his man in
the artist who recently leaped before
train to save baby's life. For this day
liberal men have hoped and the large
minds of the past would have been de-
lighted to project themselves upon this
moral heroes have yearned that they
might stamp the glory OF their character
upon II.
The armory from which young manhood
may equip itself Is stocked to the full
with all the accumulations OF ages. Po-
litically and historically the youth scans
the rise and wreck of twenty world en-
pires and descries the causes OF their over
throw. Only now has the eiucidation of
languages and the Interpretation OF mon
uments unfolded fully to us the art, the
philosophy, the social status of whole
epochs in such a manner as to furnish a
panorama of the meaning in history.
Now first the effect of culture without
iG n n m nj f,ea
with the Asiatic and the African. Now
arc open for our conclusions the maxims
OF profound pagan philosophy in the
orient; the doctrines OF Greek sages, and
the naturalist summit of thought in
Tyndal and Spencer, by the side of the
sermon on the mount, and the philosophy
of Jesus.
Now first we are permitted to compare
the ancient literary productions OF India
and the pristine glory OF Attic genius,
with the best poetic expression OF the
nineteenth century; we may study
THE SPRINGS OF POWER
i'm each of these who wrought nightly
with the great themes of our race and
we are ena bled to say which has greater
heart, what aims and what faith has in
spired the most permanent and glorious
literature.
Poverty Of equipment would seem need
less when admirable compendiums OF the
worlds best thinking can be obtained
free at the public library by any young
man in Providence. The lack OF keen
spiritual attitude must argue low tone
In US who are free to explore the motives
that stirred Moses, Paul and Augustine;
Anselm, and Luther; Savanarola and Lat
inner; that sent Edwards to the Indians;
Judson to Burmah; Livingstone TO Africa
and Booth to London night; the motives
that could make Washington unselfsh
an1 William Pitt defend America that
caused Lincoln to choose right before
the Presidency, and gave to Garfield In
the dark the voice to declare hat God
reigns. tt
Young manhood Is on ground from
which it may discern the significance of
Gladstone's recent remark, that Chris
tianity no longer needs, although IT has,
the endorsement of science. We occupy
q position from whence Ii appears from
the aged German chancellor's appeal 10 a
merciful God that the authority of the
revelation which reveals Jesus has not
been shaken in these last years when all
else changes, but that still, as when New
ton lived, the greatest minds, in their
llfe's evening, can rest on the surety OF
our religion.
1t is surely a wide outlook that awaits
young manhood, and the glory Of a great
faith that Is possible for him.
What IL this young man? A frame well
tDHcu up ny thc utaiVNit sBiiN w Ahc
a full chest, a firm step, quick eye and
hand. Within, a mind reading the mis-
takes, the successes OF history, and con-
fronted with the mysteries and the GER
tainties OF the twentieth century. life
that sees to match 1t a high and emulous
type of womanhood, better fitted for
companionship than were tho women of
the dead nations. This is the young
man, better clothed, for given exertion,
better fed, on food prepared according to
nature, than former citizens OF the world.
He is better informed on the past, better
fitted for his life. There Is university,
a mechanical school, a christian associa-
ton, a church within his reach. A new,
strange, exhilarating means OF locomotion
is ready TO tone up and not debase his
leisure hour. A rich world lies about him;
new avenues open before him, thousand
voices call him, and God waits to see him
become great. Shall his youth be despi-
cable? Shall sneers and pessimism DON'T
nate it? Shall he look up with a dark
face into a world of light, and with i'm
patience at the calm stars? Shall hate
gnaw at the heart which is the real tenn
pie of God in the world?
To be a man at any time Is nothing