The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-03-13

ask Of the peopie- g-e ow2t, then, moth
mind and heart we're purged Of the temp
tat!ons which beset all men engaged Ia
the struggle TO survive. In view Of the
revelation OF bis nature vouchsafed TO us
that day and the fate which inpended
over him We can only say In deep anec-
pure in heart. Tor they shall see God
Even for that vision he was not un-
worthy.
THE FATAL SUMMONS.
He had not long to wait, The nex3 day
sped the bolt OF doom. and for . week
after-in an agony of dread broken by
Elusive giimpses OF hope that our prayers
might be answered-the aatton waited for
the end. Nothing in the glorious life that
We saw gradually waning was more ad
mirable and exemplary than its close
The gentle humanity Of his words when
he saw his assailant In danger OF sum
mary vengeance. Don't let them hurt
him." his chivalrous care that the ne~.'
should be broken gently 10 his vile. the
fine courtesy with which he apologixed
for the damage which his death would
bring to the great exhibition. and the he
role resignation OF his ANAL words. ''It I.
Gods way: his will. not ours. be done.
were all the instructive expressions OF u
nature SO lofty and 30 pure that pride Il,
its nobility at once softened and enhanced
the nations sense Of loss The repubiic
grieved over such q son. but Is proud for
ever OF having produced him. After oil.
In spite Of its tragic ending. his life was
extraordinarily happy. lie had all his
days troops OF friends. the cheer OF fame
and fruitful labor. and he became At last
ION fortunes crowning slope.
The pillar of a peoples hope.
The center CO q worlds desire"
T. L. ~
death. for an event 30 tragical called the
world imperatively to the immediate study
Of his life and character and thus antIci-
pated the sure praises Of posterity.
Every young and growing people has to
meet. at moments. the problems Of its
destiny. Whether the question comes. az
In Egypt. from q sphinx. symbol OF the
hostile forces 81 omnipotent nature. who
Furnishes with instant death our failure to
understand her meaning. or whether II
comes. as In Jerusalem. from the Lord OF
Hosts. who commands the building OF his
temple. It comes always with the warning
that the past Is past and experience vain.
Your fathers. where are they. and the
prophets. do they live forever?' The
fathers are dead; the prophets are SILENT
the questions are few and have no an
swer but in time.
When the horny outside case which pro-
tects the infancy Of . chFysalis nation
shock 1t finds itself floating on wings
which had not existed before, whose
strength It has never tested. among dan.
gers II cannot foresee and 10 without ex-
perience to measure. every motion 10 .
problem and every hesitation may be an
error. The past gives no ciew to the fu.
ture. The fathers. where are they. and
the prophets. do they live foreverf We
are ourselves the fathers! We are our
selves the prophets! The questions that
are put to us We must answer without de-
lay, without help. for the sphinx allows
no one to pass.
THE GENIUS OF PATIENCE.
At such moments, which have already
occurred At least twice in the brief his
tory OF our own lives. We may be humbiy
grateful to have had leaders simple In
mind. clear In vision. as far as human
vision can safely extend. penetrating In
knowledge Of men. supple and flexible un-
der the strains and pressures Of society.
instinct with the energy Of new life and
untried strength, cautious. calm and.
above all. gifted In a supreme degree with
the most surely victorious Of all political
virtues-the genius of INFINITE patience.
The obvious elements which enter into
the fame Of q public man are few and by
no means recondite- The man who nils q
great station In a period Of change who
leads his country successfully through q
| Nuuc VI CiIStSs VIM, Oy h1B powet Ol Per.
| suading and controlling Others has been
able to command the best thought Of his
| age. SO as to leave his country In . moral
| or material condition In advance OF where
| he found it-such a mans position In his
| tory il secure. II. in addition to this. his
| written or spoken words possess the subtle
quality which carry them far and lodge
them in mems hearts. and. more than all.
| II his utterances and actions while in
| formed with a lofty morality. are yet
tinged with the glow Of human sympathy.
the fame OF such man will shine like a
| beacon through the mists OF aGes-an OBJ
| ject Of reverence. Of imitation and OF love.
| 1t should be to us an occasion Of solemn
pride that In the three great crises Of our
| history such man was not denied us.
The moral value to a nation OF . renown
such as Washington's and Lincoln's and
Nc Kinley's is beyond all computation. Nc
loftier ideal can be held up to the emula-
ton OF ingenious youth. With such ex.
| amples we cannot be wholly ignoble.
| Grateful We may be for what they did.
| let US be still more grateful for what they
| were. While our daily being. our public
| policies. stili feel the influence Of their
work. let US pray that In our spirits their
lives may be voluble. calling upward
| and onward.
There is not one OF us but feels proudeE
Of his native land because the august hg.
ure- OF Washington presided over its be-
ginnings: no one but vows II q tenderes
love because Lincoln poured out his blood
Tor it: no one but must feel his devotion
| for his country renewed and ktndled when
he remembers how Mckinley loved. rever'
| ed and served It, showed In his life how q
| citizen should live and IN his last hous
taught US how a gentlemaIh could die.