Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-02-15

Besides the Knights of Pythias,
there will be domicilcd within these
castle walls, the Rathbone Sisters,
the Post and Corps, the Modern
Woodmcn, the Royal Neighbours, and
the Forcsters II goOdly company,
representing some of the best char
actcristics of life.
We love to think of chivnlry. It
brings before MS the romantic, the
poetic side of life. How much of the
heroic past, which awakcns the best
sentiment in human life, is bound up
in the chivalric story of Damon and
lPythias. This story cmbodies, friend
ship, chivalry, and valor, which find
their counterpart In the good deeds of
all true knights OF the order
But life IL not all chivalry. We
think of the sturdy pioneers, who with
their axes laid low the forests and
transformed them into the beautiful
cities and fruitful fields of our land.
The forcfathers who laid so well the
foundation of our material greatness,
were the Woodmen, who knew how to
handle the axe, and how to redeem the
land and make it glorious. 1t is we'll
that the poet who wrote WOodman,
spare that tree was not born at that
time, for trees were wanted then for
use, not for poetic sentiment. The day
OF sentiment had not come to them. It
was the day of honest aud real work.
Woe to the people who over think that
they can get beyond that day. The
Modern Woodmcn and the Forcstcrs
have their place in the history and
life of the country.
But what IL all this worth without
law and government. We think of
the Post, rs the defenders of national
unity and power. With us the veteran
can never bo n back number. Why,
he is one of the most picturesque
characters Of our day. The veteran,
weighed down with years and many
wounds, gray in the service of his
country, Is now the only living and
tangible Witness of the great civil CON
Met The physical traces of this tcr-
rihle war throughout the South have
disappeared. Here and there arc ma
tionnl cemeteries that tell their sad
and pathetic story; but in the great
centres of conflict, manufactures, bust
ness and prosperity, born out of
renewed confidence and national scnti-
meut, have wiped out the evidence of
such bloody conflicts, We turn to the
veteran, not To stir up the old section
nj fccling, but to recall the fact that
we arc what we are as ~ people and
~ " great republic because of him.
His presence IN our midst keeps alive
the thought that helps us To apprcci-
nto all the more our national and
political blessing, and to love all the
moro our Nag, We are glad that the
Post finds its homo in these now quar-
tcrs. Self limited in its organization,
while others increase, it must de
crease, and in it's declining days,
and rs the Veterans faces are towards
the sunset, may they find their pleas
urc and comfort here.
We part from the old always with
regrets No true one has ever left II
cottage iur n palace but the vision of
that cottage and its simple life was
always power for good. SO, we
have no doubt, these orders think of
the good old times in the old home.
May the beautiful vision OF that past
make more beautiful heir new home
for the good of all, One thing moro,
last, but not least, how true these
orders all of thcm are to what is
hest Ia life.
They all have their woman's auxil-
iarics. The divine idea OF life is here
employed. The divine idea OF life is
here emphasized, The story of ere
alton runs ON this line; and how good
and true and helpful woman has been
TO man. They, as the mothers, OF
wives, or sisters, embracing all
the purposes OF these orders, have
brought into the world hope and
! faith.
Tho new hall, for its beauty and
convenience, ranks among the best.
The transforming skill of the ME.
chanics who had the work IN charge
speaks we'll tor the worSmcn Of Min,
cral Point.