The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-26

deeds and noble thoughts, to mark the
humanity of man in that exalted plane
the higher Pythian Knighthood. Such
thoughts may be but flights of the inn
agination. They may be in the pro-
cesses of nature scientific facts.
So it may be that the disintegrating
forms of decay. going on in the grave,
is but a revitalizing life in other forms.
1t still lives. Then whether this be
life or death / know not.
who fathoms the eternal thought?
Who talks of scheme and plan?
The Lord is God He needeth not
The poor device of man.
Il know not what the future hath
of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies."
These thoughts of life and death in
nature were suggested several years
ago while ascending Mount Vesuvius.
This great volcano was in action at the
time of my visit, and was full of inter-
est to tourists. In spite of the danger,
we were ready to risk our lives to the
care of the guides appointed by the
Italian government to see to the safety
of travellers. l shall never forget the
wonderfully beautiful nights we spent
at Sorrento, directly on the bay of
Naples. The day had been one of per-
clearness of the delicate blue of the
fair Italian sky. The surroundings of
lemon, olive and orange groves and
the enhancing beauty and abundance
of flowers, the scene and the richness of
the delicate perfume of flowers and
songs of birds invited the mind to rev.
cries of the past down 10 the dim dawn
of European civilization; and then re-
trace the steps of progress to the wond
rous grandeur that developed in the
magniffcence of Herculaneum and
Pompeii.. Indeed, all that could in any
way contribute to the elegance of life,
was had in scholarship, art and music
the table and the bath and every lux
ury needed to make up the ideal life
was theirs.
The setting sun added to the beauty
Of the bay of Naples, with his marvel
ously brilliant prismatic colors that
penciled the calm surface of the water.
Faint music came and went from the
boating parties on the bay, as the last
rays of the setting sun deepened into
twilight. Then, with the darker shades
of hight, the stars came glinting in
brightness above, and danced in the
water below. Everything seemed to
conspire to add to the perfect charm
of the scene. AS the night deepened,
the flame of the volcano would light up
the whole heavens and would be per-
would be rumbling sound, and
belching out of molten Stag and ex-
corfa. Succeeding this, the subdued ST.
lence would come again, while the
gathering forces, again pent up, pre-
pared for action. The flame of the vol
cano's fire was reflected in the bay,
giving the sharply defined outline of
the mountain top and the lurid sky
above, while the lower lines faded
away into darkness, leaving the mind
to re-people Herculaneum and that ter
rible sea of scenes that occurred when
it was flooded by the sea of fire-and
Pompeii where the dense clouds of
ashes and excoria buried its people
who could not escape from the terrible
death that was imminent. Then, too,
came to mind the sad story of that
brave Roman soldier who stood at his
post in that hail of fire-his post of
duty till death commanded Fall in re-
lief" So they lived in the past. So
also we live in the present. OF all the
grand traits of character there is none
greater or grander than being faithful
and loyal to duty. 1t is our Pythian
watchword, and we would caution all
to be true and steadfast.
so live, that when thy summons
comes to join
The innumerable caravan, which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each
snail take
His chamber in the silent halls of
death.
Thou go not, like the quarry slave at
night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained
and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy
grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his
couch
About him. and lies down to pleasant
dreams"
I did not mean to digress in this way,
to tell you of nights in Sorrento, but to
tell you of the thoughts that We're sug-
gested while climbing Vesuyius.
AT the foothills l was attracted by
the wealth Of yerdure and the wonder
full richness and variety of color in the
flowers that were so abundant. Well
up the mountain side the ashes We're
deep and dry, and the ascent most diff
cult The fearful heat of the volcanic
fires had consumed every particle of
life. There was nothing but the dull,
grey ashes, belched out with terrific
force from the bowels of the earth.
Imagine my surprise to notice here and
there, at occasional points where mois-
ture could lodge, that some vegetable
life would spring up. and now and then
blossoms of rare beauty added pleas
ure to the wonder. This is very life
out of death in nature; but whether
this form Of calcined dust by the in
ternal fires of the volcano be death or
life, 1 know not, for out of such death
comes manifest the most beautiful and
brilliant forms of life. 1t may be the
heroic process of nature to purify it,
self. So do we need the heroic process
to purify US at times, to qualify US to
achieve success radiant with happiness
to Others In the excoria of the vol
cano it is the small, light particles of
ashes that develop life again most
quickly. The largest pieces need the
disintegrating influence of the elements
to reduce them to conditions favorable
to life.
So it is with the acts of every day
the dust of thought and the atoms of
action are blessed with the most fruit
full results of good. From the ashes of
the good brothers We remember to-
night springs the spirit of their lives
vitalized by every good deed done in
the body, in friendship, charity and
benevolence, for though dead, they yet
speak" as their works live after them.