The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-12-21

uouDl WHAT tnt vote Wouiu ne r Now
Is IL not better that we be overtaxed
and the surplus be distributed all over
the land than TO have il built up and
piled up inside OF palaces?
Continuing this international com
parison. | have 10 say TO you that
we have better climate than is 20
be found in any other nation. We
do not suffer from anything like the
Scotch mists or the English fogs OF
the Russian ice blasts or zoe typhus
OF southern Europe or the Asiatic
cholera. Epidemics in America are
exceptional. very exceptional. PEN
~ OF wood and coal 10 make a roar
ing fire midwinter. easy access 10 sea
beach or mountain top when the ar
doris Of summer come down. Michigan
wheat for the bread. Long Island corn
for the meal, Carolina rice for the
queen Of puddings. Louisiana sugar
TO sweeten our beverages Georgia
cotton 20 keep us warm. In our land
all products and all climates Are
your nerves weak2 Go north. Il
your throat delicate? - south. Do
you feel crowded and want more
room? Go west. / declare Il: This
Is the best country in all the world
10 live In. How do | know IL? /
have 100000 new reasons for saving
IL. Six hundred aud fifty thousand
people in one year came from the
other side OF the Atlantic II live in
America. and they came b&ause !.
is the very best country 20 live in.
While making this international
comparison let ms look forward TO the
time which will surely come when
all nations viii have as great advan-
tages as our own. A surely as the
Bible is true the whole earth j. TO be
gardenized and set free
Many years ago in this city gazed
upon a scene which for calamity and
grandeur one seldom sees equaled.
mean the burning OF the Smithsonian
institution. II was the pride Of our
country. In II art had gathered rarest
specimens from all lands and countries.
IL was one OF those buildings which
seize you with enchantment az you en-
ter, and all the rest OF your life holds
You with a charm. happened 10 see
the first glow OF the fires which on
that cold day looked out from the win
dows Of the costly pile. saw the angry
elements rear and rave. The shout OF
ahrighted workmen and the assault OF
hre engines only seemed 10 madden the
rage Of the monsters that rose up 10
devour all that came within reach OF
their chain. Up along the walls and |
through the doors were pushed hands
that snatched down all they could
reach and hurled II into the abyss OF
fame beneath. The windows OF the
tower would light up for a minute with |
a wild glare and then darken, az
though fiends with streaming locks OF |
fire had come TO gaze on In laughing |
mockery az all human attempts and /
then sunk again into their native dark i
ness. With crackle and roar and crash |
the floors tumbled. The roofs began
here and there 10 blossom In wreaths /
and vines OF fame. Up and down the
pillars ran serpents OF FIRE. Out from |
the windows great arms and fingers OF |
hame were extended. as though de- |
stroyed spirits were begging for dehv-
france. The tower put on a coronct Of /
hame and staggered and fell. sparks
fying. the hremen escaping. the terror
Books. maps. rare cor
autographs OF kings,
,ostly diagrams burned 20 cinder OF
for many a rood upon the
Wild wind. to be picked up BY the ex-
,ited multitude. Oh. IL seemed like
Iome great funeral pile in which the
wealth and glory OF our land had leaped
10 burn with its consuming treasures.
Hhe heavens were blackened with
Of smoke. through which
shot the long red shafts Of calamity.
Destruction waved its fiery barsaer
rom the remaining towers. and in the
hunder OF falling heams and H. the
caring surge OF billowing FIRE heard
he spirits OF ruin and desolation and
woe clapping their hands and shout.
ng; "Ahal aha!"
! turned and looked upon the white
lone Of yonder capitol, which rose
through the frosty air as imposing as
hough all the white marble OF the
arth had come to resnrrection~a and
TODD before US. reminding one oVhe
'reat white throne OF Heaven. There ~
TODD. unmoved by the terrors which
hat day had been kindled before H.
10 tremor Ia it's majestic columns 70
rown on its magnificent sculpture. NJ,
ush OF excitement in it's veins CT mar.
lie. Column and capital and dcme.
Iuilt TO endure until the world Itself
hatters in commissions OF the last
Oh. what a contrast be-
ween the smoking ruin on the one
and and that gorgeous dream OF ar.
on the otherl Well. the day
peeds on when the grandest achieve
lent OF man win be consumed and the
iorld will blaze. Down will 90 gal
sries OF art and thrones Of ROYALTY.
nd the hurricane of Gods power will
latter even the ashes of consumed
reatness and glory. Not one tower
II. not one city uneonsumed. not one
Gene Of grandeur TO relieve the desola-
on. Forests dismasted. seas licked
p. continents sunk. hemispheres an
Oh. the roar and thunder
X crash of that last conhagration!
Mt from that ruin OF blazing earth
e shall look up 10 see the temple of
he rfV and fuuff.a t.ief,.~ th.,....l -