Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-17
A PROPHECY.

me appeared form, dark ana 1Orblu-
ding it seemed at first, but as it came
near, it grew less formidable until
when it reached the place where ]
stood, its presence seemed pleasant,
indeed inviting. al am the Future"
it said gravely, "and if you will come
with me / will show you some of the
things that will come to pass" A
strange feeling came over me and
when | recovered myself, we were
standing on a hill overlooking the
city. "You are now in the year
nineteen hundred and q failed to
catch the exact date. Olympia has
grown you see." And it had far
down the bay stretched the houses,
east and west too. Tumwater was
now within its limits, but here and
there, as if for monument, arose SOL
itary fir tree. Large vessels were in
the harbor, many of them stopping at
a large warehouse running along the
east side Of the bay. | turned for an
explanation. The Future then said
Some years ago, there came to Olym-
pia people from Michigan. They
found the city different from what
they expected, different from what
they would have it to be. They were
discouraged. They did not under
stand the climate, the country, nor
the condition OF things. What was to
be done? Long each one pondered
the question in his heart. A meeting
was called and thus one spoke:
Dear friends we are here, bound by a
common tie. Each and every one of
US has once lived in the grand old
State OF Michigan. When we re-
member how the pioneers of that
State came and bravely overcome what
seemed to them then a wilderness,
full of malaria, shall we who have in
lis the spirit OF those grand men, shall
we be overcome by the obstacle we
find in our path here? Here is q
chance for development. Here is a
chance to bring out powers of which
we never had dreamed. 1t were easy
for us to live in State which half
century of statehood had made rich
and beautiful, but to live in new
country, like this, and overcome the
condition of things - that means
growth. Let us band ourselves to-
gether. Ito overcome shall be our
motto. Its symbol taken from ma
ture, shall be the stump, the fir stump
which we eau see on every side, and
let our growth be like the tree, straight
and reaching great heights upward.
AS firmly as the roots of the stump
are fastened to the soil of Washing
ton, so firmly shall we fasten to the
principles of truth and right. AS
hard as it has been for the old settler
to overcome the stump, thus hard
shall it be for us to be overcome.
"The spirit that was manifest at that
meeting soon stirred every breast. 1t
was not long before the leaven was
seen working; it was gradual but it
was sure.
"Soon one of the members CHANGED TO
make an important discovery. Think
ing how to best make use of every.
thing, he wondered if the rainy season
could not be made to serve its pur.
pose too. He began a series of ex-
periments which resulted in the now
valuable product known as condensed
moisture That long warehouse is
where the moisture, in air-tight cans,
is stored for shipping. You will no.
tice that every home has it's apparatus
for condensing, and during the season
very thriving business is done.
That alone should have made Olym-
pia rich and prosperous town. as the
moisture is in great demand from all
parts OF the country when drought is
threatened. Another profitable bust
ness is the making up OF fir stumps
into miniature stumps for souvenirs.
Co al
of the people who chose the stump for
their inspiration that its fame has
spread all over the country, / might
almost say around the world, and Or
ders come in daily by the thousands
for the small model stumps more as
ornaments on watch chains. larger
ones for mantle ornaments, while
many of the larger cities have full
size stumps, beautifully dressed,
placed in their parks as a reminder to
their people OF what has been done in
Olympia. For Olympia, you know, is
now q model town. Saloons, cigar
stands and all places hurtful to the
young or old are banished. Reading
rooms, art galleries and gymnasiums
are in their place."
The Future paused for while then
continued BRIGHTLY" How glad 1 am
that so many Of that early band OF
Michigan people, both men and women,
were prohibitionists. What do you
say, that it does not count, when
man votes for the right person, even if
he knows that he represents a small
minority, rather than that he should
countenance what he thought wrong,
and be with the MAJORITY All! the
principle that moved those men and
women was the acorn from which has
grown the tall oak OF temperance
which now spreads its refreshing shade
over the city of Olympia.