New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-06-09

feeble strength. No age was ever fraught
with needs, and possibilities for satisfying
them. The tide of our times seems at
its fullest, the flood is in; the waters will
quickly recede Shall we who must soon
step into our fathers places omit the OPP
portunites and, allow our lives to be
spent in shadows and miseries, our ma
ton $ history to be as a tale that is told or
shall we lay strong hold of the wheel and
guide on to fortune, peace and prosperity.
The possibilities of noble and remunerative
effort in the material world are no less
few than those of the social and political.
In glancing over the history of the past we
find long history of those who read their
destiny in the stars, who won the crown
of laurels.
Every inventor who by his skill and in
genuity gives comfort and happiness to
the human race, is benefactor, and his
gifts rich blessings.
We live in an age of push and power
and progress. The old iron wheel rolls
on leaving Joy and sorrow, hope and des-
pair in its wake. Yet the world moves
on nearer and nearer the sun of intelligence
and knowledge. We close our eyes in
the dark night of ignorance and wake with
the light of truth shining bright in our
face.
One by one the superstitions of the past
have faded away. Men no longer swear
by Jove, and Venus exists only in stone
the torches which blazed on Albion hills
are forever quenched.
The martyrs and stakes live only in his
tory. The heavens remain no longer Il
mystery-but through the glass ofthe telc-
Ioo1ora tba er1o,.v of Cod Tho Sf
coach moves to the west and our country
has become labyrinth of railroads, over
which we thunder across the continents as
on the wings of wind. Our oceans and
rivers are white with sales and alive with
steam Our ships plow every sea, bringing
to us the produce of every land. The
frankincense and myrrh of India, the gold.
silver. and precious stones of Africa; the
silks and fine linens of Europe The winds
and waves obey our will. We harness the
fire of heaven, and cause it to bear our
messages. Behold old things have passed
away and all things have become new, and
to what is the mighty change due
Tis this 'The mind of man has got the
start of this majestic world and bears the
palm alone Mind is supreme, matter is
a slave. To such men as Luther, Watts,
is indebted for all these blessings. But
has all been accomplished. has perfection
been achieved? 1t was never natures will
that man should gain complete knowledge
of her at one mighty effort. Her book is
not to be read at glance, but leaf by leaf
with careful thoughtful study. Each sue
ceedng age draws from her vast store
houses some rich truth. To each genera
bo ot riff of knnxy-
ledge. None but the fool was ever heard
to exclaim, E.of knowledge have reached
the further goal But the cry Of every
honest heart is and always has been. o!
God the half has never yet been told. Step
by step we climb the ladder which leads
us above ignorance and superstition, and
as each round is gained we approach nearer
and nearer the lights of God and his truth.
A vast host of phenomena surround us,
waiting to be understood. Natural laws
are now at work patiently awaiting a
worthy soul to whom they will impart their
secret.
To the highest minds electricity is still a
mystery and battles all definitions. It's
breadth and scope is still unmeasured, its
utility employed but in part. The tele-
scope, the microscope, and the telephone
have yet to be perfected. The motor is to
be applied to all vehicles and engines
must run by electricity. Machines which
will save more time and energy are to be
constructed by the coming generation.
The air is yet to be navigated on wings.
Yes, in the eye of every wide awake youth
of to-day "hope can see a shining star
and listening love can hear the rustic of u
wing" In the paths which our fathers
have travelled and in ways unknown to
them honor, wealth and fame await the
courageous heart, who dare reach out and
grasp them. And what is the sesame to
these laws, to these inventions and these
mysteries Edison who has startled the
world with his so-called genius, says that
''ninety nine per cent of genius is applica-
ton" Morse labored life time, and
won fame only after death. Cyrus w.
Field toiled for years, poor but determined,
despairing, yet hoping and snatched victory
out of defeat. So have all the world hon
ored and cherished men been men Of sacri-
fee, thought and study.
If we then hope to win for ourselves a
seat in the temple of fame, we must, as
did Jacob of old, wrestle with the angels
of knowledge and truth, though often cast
down. Never turn loose, till she give us a
blessing. We must march onward fighting
and falling, but ever singing the battle cry.
"Conquering and still to conquer