The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-02-11
REFLECTIONS.
,sssBYs@ee
G.. S.
G.. s.

Z
IF there is any kind of a friend that
Idon't want it is the one who is
always kind enough to enlightep others
with some OF the unpleasant incidents
of my life.
WHEN we run across man of
sunny and cheerful disposition we
should cultivate his acquaintance. He
is the one that does things and makes
life worth living.
SOME fellow has just found out that
there is volcano down in Ken
lucky, but there is no occasion for
alarm. The man has probably been
reading the editorials in the Courier
Journal. They might easily be taken
for the eruptions of a burning crater.
THE thought has often struck me
that the loss of liberty demonstrates
whether man is thoroughbred or
mOngrel To be in trouble of any
kind generally brings out the charac-
ter of the man and is good test of his
staying qualities. Take for example,
the great Napoleon or our own dear
hard luck fends,-just as soon as they
are clapped behind the bars they COM
mence to whine.
AFTER reading of the business
methods adopted by the leading
financiers of our country, l fail to see
where there is any difference between
business and highway robbery. The
word "business," it seems, is made to
cover number of queer transactions,
and this, too, by men who are set be-
fore the youth of our land as ideals of
success. / believe as Pendennis said,
that these men are colossal failures
and deserve no higher place in the So
cial scale than the common thief.
| RECENT disclosures of the dishonest
|
strates that one charlatan can destroy
the good effect of dozen capable
leaders by bringing the union into dis
repute with the public, against whose
disapproval no society can long exist.
The rank and file of the unions should
profit by this lesson and see to- it that
only strong, honest and resourceful
men are placed at their head, for just
now the workingmen's organizations
are watched more keenly than others
and any unwise action on their part is
certain to be the subject of widespread
and caustic criticism.
/ F there is anything that guides and
cheers man in a place of this
kind it is hope. The days may some
times seem dark, but were it not for
hope they would be dark indeed. Ev-
er since the dawn of creation it has
been beacon light rising far above
the rifting clouds of dependency. No
matter what our circumstances may be,
we may hope and always see ray of
sunshine To trust with confident ex-
pectation of better days to come, that.
is hope and that is part of our battle
won. TO me it s always a source of
consolation, so much so that [ am
ready to forgive the poet who uses it.
as his theme, and that is saying great
deal.
F some of the orators who are con-
tinually harping on the race prob
lem would exercise their vocal powers
in behalf of the children whose lives
are Slapped away in factories, mines
and mills, they would be doing some
thing of real benefit to humanity and
civilization. A part of the money Civ
On to charity, education aud Libraries
might also be used in this cause to
good advantage. The instinct of hui
manity in all men should revolt at the
increasing rate at which little children
are made into industrial slaves. There
is no excuse for it. In only few cases
does necessity compel them to work. AS
rule they are the victims of their own
helplessness, of unnatural parents and
greed of gold. Parents or capitalists
who profit by their labor are greedy