Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-11-07

the 500 years OF It's written history
II 1t were to gather together its wan
dering members and once more as
sumo place in the worlds affairs as
concrete entity in place of its present
status as q wandering, broken, scat
tered people. Many nations have been
destroyed and many have lost their
very name, their language and their
home, but history nor legend tells Of one
that was scattered by time and fate
to all the mountains, plains and val
leys Of the broad earth and after
ward became reunited. But the
Jews are not as other people. Wan.
derers for thousands Of years, they yet
in their own gatherings speak the Ian
guage of Jerusalem and know no su-
preme law save that of the tablet of
stone and the later covenant with the
Lord. So, while it has never occurred
in the case Of other scattered peoples,
we need not despair of the Jew. A
century may see Jewish temple on
the site of that Of Solomon and the
wanderers building up great nation
in the place where the fostering Turk
incumbers the earth.
Winged Civilization.
1t is doubtless true that it was long
period between the day Of the cart
wheel and that Of the potter's wheel,
and probably thousand years inter-
vened between the dugout canoe and
the sailboat, but when once the evolu-
ton of progress had fairly got started
the intervals between the first rude in
yention and the perfected machine grew
rapidly shorter until now the pace
is terrific; man power, horsepower,
steam, hydraulics, electricity and COM
pressed air-what next? The steam To-
connective drove the stagecoach out Of
business, the steamboat is passing, and
one of these days, If Edison is to be
considered major prophet, the rail-
roads will be bowling about the air.
ships running their passenger traffic
It is wonderful procession, this march
of progress, and ruthlessly the hulks
of bygone glory and achievement have
to be trampled under foot by the sweep
Of a mighty people, awake, alert, ac-
tive, who let no idol rest and who are
constantly seeking to better that which
now is the best.
The boys can remember when the
mail was delivered once or twice a
week by star route carriers to all post
offices not on the railroads. Now the
mail is delivered day after day at the
farmers door. Ten years ago we would
have smiled incredulously at mention
OF such thing.
Five years ago If Doctors services
were needed the boy of the farm was
told to saddle old Bill and ride in
search Of the disciple of Esculapius.
Today the telephone bell Is rung and
the country doctor answers at the
other end Of the wire.
Within generation the farm has
seen the passing of the fail and the COM
ing Of the steam thrasher and the reap
ing hook has given place to- the self
binder. The sulky pillow, the disk, the
corn cutter and the shredder have all
come to increase the profits Of the hus-
bandman and provide food for the
teeming millions that are populating
the earth. The cable links together
the islands Of the sea, the long dis
lance telephone brings to our ears the
music of the distant voices Of our
friends, the international postal union
| permits frequent and rapid transmits
sion of letters from the uttermost cor
ners of the earth, and all of these
things bind the. nations into a great
brotherhood - "the federation Of the
world - and make for truth. peace,
liberty. Prejudice fades before the on
slaught Of the passenger train carry
| ing citizens Of one state to visit those
Of another; bigotry perishes at the be-
hest of free press. What was yes
terday the dream Of the enthusiast has
become commonplace reality today,
| and men have ceased to wonder at any
thing.
America has done her share. She
has outstripped England in manufac-
turing, taken her place beside Germa-
ny in knowledge Of the sciences and
won her place in the art salons of
France. Young, virile, ambitious, she
has taken her place in the van of ma
lions and increases the lead with each
passing month. With breadth Of view,
industry, well directed effort, what
may she not accomplish?