Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-02-21
CASUAL OBSERVER

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"At a gathering in Australia not long
since four persons met, three of whom
were shepherds on a sheep farm. One of
these had taken degree at Oxford, an
other at Cambridge, the third at Ger
man university. The fourth was their
employer, q squatter, rich in tlocks and
herds. but scarcely able to read and write,
much less to keep accounts"
Last week the Observer called attention
to the young men who had struggled into
prominence by hard work and good brain
power. The same will be seen in the
young ladies. some OF whom have gone
into public life.
But the place where the men and wo-
men, young and old, will tind the greatest
field Of usefulness, calling into play the
brain and heart is in the home-around
the freside.
The man who works and tolls to get a
home and make his life and that of his
family happy is great man, And the
woman who stands by him through the
struggles is great woman.
If any one thinks this can be accom-
plished without talent he or she is mis-
taken. There is no grander place to dis
play kindness, and frugality and useful
ness aud good manners than at home.
There are few persons with an exiguity
of intellect who insist on making display
of their good manners and great Kindness
and love for wife and child while at some
large public gathering. The moment the
door closes, their disposition is found to be
really antipodal.
The opening paragraph will readily
show what practical talent will do. 1t
does not necessarily follow that because
one has an education he Is bound to sue
coed in any undertaking to which he may
| put his hand Neither is success sure to
come by reason of lack of education.
| All school the foundation is laid and it
then remains for the pupil to make appli-
cation-to build the structure that shall
adorn the foundation.
| Nature has given to the world the raw
materials with which to beautify and
adorn itself and mako its Inhabitants
| happy and comfortable. The large and
imposing oak tree is the raw material for
the handsome antique oak furniture. The
rich black sell has the elements beneath
/ its surface that briug forth the American
Beauty rose, the wheat and corn and my
RAIDS OF other things.
Man is furnished with brain to take
hold of these things. It does not require
genius, but a man of practical common
sense. Let US strive to make the
best of opportunities and bring them down
| to practical basis. The outcome will be
gradual but sure. The Mecca will only
be reached through the paths Of learning.
The Observer has notices for several
years the growing disposition to have
specialist during the winter months to So
| cure converts to the various church.
These specialists are not men Of marked
ability usually, but of mediocrity and
some are positively ignorant, noisy and
uneouth. They come into a town, scatter
bills about the streets and then use all the
arts known to the business. Some appeal.
some threaten, some open the door, OF
hades SO wide that brim stone is smelled
BY the audience, some recite stale death
bed scenes, some whoop and yell, but few
use common sense. Some use poor gram
mer, vehement gestures, loud, coarse
| voice and wretehed rhetoric. Why such
men should have any following IS not
| clear The Observer has listened to the
best of sermons by resident ministers-full
of love and kindness for God and man
full of good thoughts about the present
and future life. God is love, not revenge.
| There was much reason in what the min
lister said. There was no excitement.
Aroused passions unseat reason and make
man little more than a brute Its strange
The following is an extract from SER
mon by Rev. N. D. Hills of Chicago. and
shows what can be accomplished by hard
work and study and a pracsical use OF brain
/ power:
| "This blaming surroundings isingenious,
i but it is also foolish and false. Men have
broken every barrier Of circumstances, as
Samson broke the green withes with
| which he was bound. Fred Douglass was
born midst such squalor and poverty and
| wickedness as no tenement-house has ever
| witnessed. and to all this was added slay-
cry. But, unassisted, the black boy
| learned to read, shook off his slavery, con-
1 quered his environment, and literally beat
his iron letters into sickles and pruning
hooks. so deeply did Dickens feel the
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