The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-06
original elements. And they succeed

original elements And they succeed
The Creative Force in the world ap
pears to love living things and to hate
death: if it were not So why the tricks
and devices for enabling things that
live, though they themselves perish, yet
still to retain a place on the earth
through their descendants? The arch
enemy of all created things may tri-
umph over the individual of any class,
but he is not triumphant all along the
line, else were this globe long ago a
lffeless desert. Victory is wrested from
death by the various species passing on
their life into new beings of the same
species, or in other words, by repro
duction. So while the dying perish. the
feud with death is still maintained by
the living who step into the breach
they in their turn passing on to others
the precious heritage of life to be
guarded at all hazards and intrusted in
undiminished force and beauty to those
that follow still later. The greatest joy
of spring is, therefore, that is living
picture Of conquest; a short-lived tri-
umph indeed but yet sweet While it
lasts, for there is prepared from its re-
suits the next generation of plants and
insects and animals, SO that the world
may not be lifeless. Spring, now is thy
glory Grave, where is thy victory?
This is not the place for a discussion
as to whether death will be finally driv-
en- from our sphere. That is too remote
a contingency to be considered On the
other hand, the present law, the one
that has control of you and me, is that
after a certain time life will cease to
energize US and our conscious share in
the worlds doings come to an end.
Because of the agonizing fear of death
that darkened my childhood days, am
not unaware of the fierce longing in the
strong and energetic heart for life
everlasting in the world ever beautiful:
L sympathiZe with it. But that cannot
be. Then, what shall be done? Take
another glance at nature to emphasize
what this feeble mind would fain utter
with compelling force. Like produces
like, with this limitation, that an in
dIVidual tree or creature, stronger or
weaker than its fellows, passes on a
strengthened or weekend heritage to
those who follow Outside influences,
good or bad, and the surrender of the
individual to their power also help to
make or mar the prospects OF that race
Of trees or creatures. There is no i'm
aginatiOn in this, but sober truth.
Now our race also has it's perpetual
spring in the beauty and charm of
child-life; where bright smiles and joy
Gus laughter, overlooking energy and
eager hopefulness proclaim the same
truth as the glOrifed landscape that
now solaces the eye. Life is not in
chlldrensave byreason of US; life is not
in us save by reason of those who have
gone before. Existence is, therefore.
no mere toy to be played with and
thrown away, but a trust fund, from
the interest of which we gain all the
bliss and joys of life, but from the prin-
cipal Of which we must take nothing
by reason of wrong living, or those who
follow US may righteously curse us for
our Selfishness.
Sleep a the end of a weary day is
fitting and right; the death of the hon
orable and brave is part of the order of
things and part of progress. The old
giveth place to the new, and the only
sting of death is SIM