The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22


they have lifted the dome of st. Peters
and the Tai Mahal they have worked on
the farms and swept out the stores and
died In the soldiers trench. 1t Is the ac-
emulation of the work of the obscure
individuals in this world which has made
this old earth what it is; therefore, my
brother do not say that your life's work
is useless because it is inconspcuous.
The Humble Workers.
Well did the manager of the celebration
which took place in New York city some
years ago to commemorate the inaugu-
ration of George Washington as Presi-
dent of the United States appreciate the
value of the humble workers in the hum
BILE walks OF peaceful avocations. The
first day, for 1t was a three days cele-
bration, they gave up to the navy or,
rather to the scene when Washington
crossed New York harbor and landed at
Castle Garden. Then the bay was crowd
ed with boats in gala day attire. Then the
mighty white squadron, accompanied by
representatives of foreign navies, passed
up the Hudson river In review. AS the
death dealing, floating ornaments of de-
struction passed Governors island, where
l sat, the gunners would shove the noses
of their war hounds out of the portfolios.
There would be a breath of smoke, then
a growl, a roar, and the white ships
would disappear behind the white clouds
of smoke.
The second day of the celebration was
given up to the army. Hour after hour
up Broadway and Fifth avenue rode the
different governors at the head of their
state troops. Cheer after cheer went up
to greet the famous men. There were the
regulars with such men as Schofieid and
the one-armed Howard at their head who
followed Sherman to the sea. Then came
the war veterans Side by side with the
blues rode walked the men who once
wore the gray-brothers now, with no RI
valries save with the rivalries of trying
to Guido each other in kindness and
trotherly courtesy
The Strength of the Nation.
But the third day of the celebration was
the greatest to me of all That was the
time of the Industrial parade. What is the
navy for? Merely to protect our mer-
chants and artisans at the seaboard.
What is the army for? Merely to protect
the homes of our mechanics and the fac
tories and the little stores. The strength
of our nation is not in her mailed hand
of war, but in her horny hand of toll.
Yes, on that day we saw Naassons every
where. We heard the hammer upon the
anvil. We saw the baker cooking al the
stove. We saw the farmers pow and
the woodlands axe and the typewriter's
machine and the printing press. We heard
in the fiotillas which moved up Broadway
and Fifth avenue the national song of
prosperous home industry. And these
flotillas were not manned by the royal
trappings of foreign ambassadors. They
we're filled with the artisans and the la
borers and the mechanics and employees
of foundries and factories in the common.
every day working clothes of men and
women living upon small salaries. All,
my brother, do not complain because you
are a humble Naasson. The prosperity
of this country rests upon the working
mans c.ttage far more than upon the
capitalists mansion or the Presidents
White House.
Naasson's life | find by this genealogical
account that God was keeping just as
much account of his life as he did that of
Abraham or Jacob or Boaz or David.
Naasson, in his humble capacity and
doing his lifes work well, was Just as
dear to his Divine Master as If he had
occupied a Solomon's throne or had built
Noah's ark. Indeed, l sometimes think
If God has any favoIites they are to be
found among the humble workers. Abra-
ham Lincoln Thought so. He once said,
God must love the common people bet
ter than the ar.stocrats because he made
so many of Them And Christ's actions
when upon earth seemed to prove this
theory. We find that he associated for
the most part with the poor and the hum
BILE. The greatest earthly joy Jesus SEEM
ed to have had in human sense after
days preaching In Jerusalem was to be
able to leave the capital and climb up the
hill upon which is situated TIE little viii
lase of Bethany and there lodge with his