The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-11-27
' II thanksgiving BomiIy Uitb Dieressicn$. /.


but for few moments illuminate the
dark corners and the innermost re-
cesses of our minds; let us, aided by
this light, closely examine the true
state of affairs, and what do we find? ?
That whatever the conditions of the
past may have been, or the conditions
Of the present may be, we can easily
imagine that they might have been far
worse. Suppos1ng we had lived in the
sixteenth century. The thought makes
the flesh creep. Or supposing but
what's the use supposing? Here we
are; and most of us manage to extract
certain amount of sweetness from
our mode of existence; which, taking
into consideration where we are, and
what we are-or rather what others
think we are-should awaken in us the
spirit of thankfulness. And since this
day has been specially set aside as
day of thanksgiving, it seems to one
totally free from bias in the matter,
that it will be highly proper to make
use of this day as has been suggested
in various proclamations, issued by
those having authority. But take
warning! Don't be too beisterous in
your thanksgiving. It isn't necessary
to let your neighbor to the right or the
left of you know what you are doing
The chances are about ten to one
he has troubles of his own-that is I
mean he is Offering up thanks in his
own way, and really doesn't care q
dang what you are doing.
The elections are over. Praise ye
the Lord! The country is safe once
more. The enemy has been routed.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
the pineries of Minnesota to the orange
groves of Florida, you hear shouts of
triumph penetrating the clear, or hazy,
or foggy atmosphere. WE have won
a great victory. WE, who believe in
perpetuating the form of government
handed down to us by our revolution
ary forefathers have crushed the SER
pent, the enemy of our institutions
under our heels-no; that's wrong: we
smothered him with ballots. Who's
the enemy? What a foolish question!
Why, we class with the enemy all those
who disagree with us on matters po-
litical. WE are true patriots, because
we only desire the welfare of our coun-
try. THEY are boodlers, tax dodgers,
despoilers of the people, because they
are chronic office-seekers, woula-be
perpetual feeders on public pie. Praise
ye the Lord! The elections are over.
The defeated candidates have picked
up the precious fragments of their
once flawless regulations, and are
vending their ways homeward, wiser,
If not better men. And the over
worked campaign liar seeks rest from
his arduous, but patriotic duties, and
will soon sink again into obscurity.
May he sink deep, and deeper, past all
hope of resurrection! The elections
are over. Praise ye the Lord!
Man is mortal. Just as sure as you
were born, the time will come when
you must die. Have all your friends
forsaken youp Have all your schemes
failed? Is your ambition deadp Is
there nothing in this wide world in
which you can take All interest? Have
you opened Pandora's box and let out
all the evils without finding Hope at
the bottom? Is life burden to you |?
Take courage! The Grim Reaper may
even now be whetting his scythe for
you! Be thankful! Why? Oh, you
foolish mortal! The Fates have been
kind toyou. Before cutting the thread
of life they have deprived you of every
thing that could tempt you to continue
your stay in the land of the living.
Death will be relief TO you. The
grave has no terrors for you. Millions
try to avoid the Angel OF Death. You
seek him. Besbut patient. Soon he
will overtake you. He will make his
salaam and then smite you under the
fifth rib. And you will welcome the
stroke with smile, because you have
nothing to live for.
ALL men are mortal There are no
exceptions. The poor and the rich;
the oppressor and the oppressed; the