The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-05-12
REFLECTIONS
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VI Ne
i HAT the majority of the inhabi-
tants of Russia are the most ig-
norant lot of human beings on the face
of the earth cannot be doubted. They
contribute freely to the cars war fund,
and the car in turn exiles them by the
thousand to the wilds of Siberia. The
car evidently realizes that in the con-
tinued ignorance of his subjects lies his
own safety. For with enlightenment
would come that same spirit which
prompted the Revolutionary patriots
to administer a severe rebuke to roy
al tyrant. What the car of Russia
needs is the same kind of a lesson. He
has it coming and he's going to get it,
all in good time.
/ SEE "be the papers," as Dooley says,
that there is movement on foot
to erect monument to Napoleon in
Washington. This is certainly the
limit! II we are going to honor men
of this class, why not select some
American traitor to the cause Of liber-
ty instead of foreigner? However, to
do Napoleon justice. there should be
three monuments. One representing
him in the uniform of a general of the
republic of France, one in the gorgeous
uniform which he designed for himself
after overthrowing the republic in 1904,
and another showing him behind the
bars. These monuments would show
him in his true colors and serve as an
object lesson as. well. They would il
lustrate the fate of man whose chief
characteristics were greed and vanity.
ANY monument intended as an honor
to Napoleon is entirely out of place in
this country. His character was not
ideal according to American standards
That character must be absolute in
conviction with a fatalistic dependence
on truth, justice and regard for the
rights of others, and these qualities
Napoleon did not possess. 1t is to be
sincerely hoped that no ground in this
free country will be desecrated by 6
monument to the greatest anarchist
that ever lived.
| IT is said that there are no errors il
4 the Great Eternal Plan and tina
all things work together for the fina
good of man. But it takes a man O.
strong optimistic tendencies to hav'
constant faith in this great truth. Fo
lust as soon as we get into a tigh
place we are apt to think that tn
scheme isn't being worked according
: to specifications. AS rule, it is
mans gospel only so long as he is rid
ing in the band wagon of prosperity
!, | 1t is only when the skies are brigh
"Whatever is, is BEST" When the da
4 is aglow, the heart light and the spiri
firm and strong, we believe this son
to be fair and true. But leave a ma
to battle as best he may in spiritles
> solitude, and he cannot help but sing
different tune. Still, it would be
; great deal better if we could always be
I lieve that all our trials were simply
. part of great plan. Would our lot i
, life not be easier if We had absolut
faith in the fact that every sorrow ha
its purpose and beneath every wron
there is the root of right? What tn
purpose is, only the future can tel
But the time Will probably come whe
4 we can look back and say, Eyes, wha
+ ever is, is best F."
of the cleverest of America
ri writer's once said that 'rtligion an
y law and the whole social order of civ
lized society are so founded on sent
ment that they would all 60 to piece
d without it," Without thinking, SON
e people would probably deny the trut
n of this statement, but it is true neve
theless. (Ha ha, say the local poet
he's coming round.) Sentiment, rath'
J. than necessity has been the mother {
all the wonderful inventions of u
day and is at the back and bottom
a every successful venture in the bus
10 ness world. However, the sentimel
= which makes man cling to an i'd
until materialized into a reality is n,
the same brand as the weak, mawkis
: slopover and emotional sentimentali
IL of the poet. The two are as wide apa
Is as the poles. The one both consum
and produces, the other consumes ,b1
does not produce. Poet1cal sentimel
t. is the veriest kind of sop compared