The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-06-21
ASHES OF THE PAST.


army to do it. Unconditional surren-
der he said, and unconditional surren-
der it was.
Gas have before illustrated to you,
concentration is the secret of success.
A cloud of vapOr floating in air is a
very harmless thing, but concentrate
it in the form of steam, and it will pull
the commerce of nation. The rays
OF sunlight in their ordinary condition
are harmless, but concentrate them
with burning glass and they will set
fire to any combustible material on
earth. The air about us is soothing
and life giving, but concentrate it, and
compress it and it will rend the strong
est steel that was ever made.
"Jay Gould, the great fnancier, who
died worth something above sixty mill
lions of dollars, when he entered the
financial arena, did not try to be four
or five things at once. He did not try
to be butcher, and baker, and a
candle-stick maker, but attended strict
ly to making money. He probably said
to himself: Il will make money; for
tunes may be wrecked, governments
may fall, men may die and 60 to hell,
but l am going to make money! and he
did it too.
"Wendell Philips the great abolition
ist orator was another example of a
firm will and answering purpose.
When he said: Il will 60 on; L will fight
slavery to the end, l will not retreat;
no, not one inch,' he expressed the very
essence of success. And in the END
slavery was overthrown, and no doubt
his efforts went great ways toward
fastening its overthrow"
When the old man had finished
speaking it was getting late, and l
looked out and saw the rain had ceased
and the sky was clear; the moon was
shining brightly, wrapping the sullen
old ruin in cloud of silvery light, and
silhouetting the inky black shadows of
the palm trees on the graveled walk.
"Senor." l said, 81 imagined | was
we'll on the way to understand the
problem of men and things, but since
your discourse have concluded that |
have not yet passed through the
primer"
The old man smiled benignIy and
rep led, eff aught l have said will ben-
eft you in the years that are to come,
shonld feel well content if | knew of
it, to think [ had been the humble
cause of your progress"
"Senor," l again spoke, 81 regret
much to depart from your company,
but my business is All affair of import
ance, and I.see the weather has cleared
up, therefore if you will kindly point
out the road will try to reach the city
before dawn, which is about ten miles
distant l think"
cit is less than ten,' he replied, "as
for the road just follow the graveled
driveway and you cannot miss it. 1
regret to see you depart at this hour,
but if it is urgent, should not wish to
delay you. Your VISIT" he continued,
"will always remain bright spot in
my memory, for we old men live on
dreams of the past, while you young
men live on dreams of the days to
come"
81 reside in the city yonder," L an
swered, "some day 1 may again pass
this way, perhaps we may not meet
again, but it will no doubt please you
to know that your discourse tonight
has changed the course of my life, and
has given new impetus to my ambi-
ton"
After had procured my horse and
bid the old cabalero "Adios," 1 pro-
ceded down the graveled drive and
merged once more out into the muddy
highway. Looking backward L saw
the old historians figure standing like