The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-02-16

nations of the old world is yelled in
the mists of antiquity. We see the
streams as they flow through the
plains but the sources are lost to
sight in the clouds which surround
the mountain top. The Greeks and
Romans ascribe to their old settlers
the intimate friendship of the gods
or direct descent from supernatural
ancestors.
'sWhen we read of Hercules and
Romulus we feel that we are in the
domain of myth and poetry rather
than history. But the people who set
tied the United States trace their an
cestry back to the beginning. 1t is
a plain, practical beginning, full of
hardships and sorrows.
The pioneers were chosen by the
laws of natural selection. 1t was not
the weakling of the dissolute who
faced the dangers of an unknown
world for conscience sake. The men
who chose this course of life needed
no pedigree. AS Marshall Lannes
said, they were ancestors, not de-
%scendants.'
And the nobility of the old world,
in seeking new blood to restore de-
caying or decayed houses, may look
with some degree of care upon the
bank account or rent roll of an Amer
lean girl, but they ask her in mar
riage with no requirements as to an
cestry.
1T was fortunate for the settlement
Of this republic that the splendid do
main of the great northwest was so
far in the interior, so that the barren
land of New England could be occu-
pied before the population had seer
the fertile prairies.
The founding of the great Schools
Of New England were the greatest
factors in giving to that section it's
dominant influence in our history.
"The man who is educated in New
England becomes a missionary of the
thought Of those with whom he was
so intimately associated in early life.
"The career Of President Roosevelt
is an illustration of the effect of such
training as Harvard affords. Though
of Dutch ancestry, u President had
the environment Of New England at
the fortunate period Of his life. We
can say of him in the language of the
breezy west: HE is as straight as a
gun barrel and as clean as a hounds
TOOTH
"The Pilgrims landed in 1920, and
only seventeen years thereafter, in
1877. Harvard college was founded.
They did not wait. They recognized
at onc the value of seats of learning.
These ancestors of yours builded bet
ter than they knew.
In the early days there were many
conflicting claims to the great west.
Virginia asserted title to the North
west territory and Massachusetts and
Connecticut laid claim to everything
west of them to the setting sun. Most
Of Michigan was in Massachusetts,
and the present site of Chicago was
in Connecticut.
"The anti-slavery crusade in New
England changed the history Of this
nation.
at is hard to realize that only for
ty-six years ago old John Brown was
captured at Harper's Ferry by the
United States forces under Captain
Robert E. Lee and by Virginia troops
under Stonewall Jackson. Death and
Immortality, had an appointment of
martyrdom for John Brown at Har.
per's Ferry, he must keep his engage
ment. 1t was destiny and his soul is
marching on.
Brown captured from Lewis Wash.
ington the sword which friedrich the
Great had presented to George Wash.
ington and this sword ihe surrendered
to Lee. Only seven years later he
came to the great event of Appomat.
tox. How fast the world moved in
those eventful years. When Governor
Henry A. Wise returned to his home
after the surrender in 1865 he found
his house converted into a freedman's
school; John Browns picture hung on
the parlor wall, and John Browns
daughter was a teacher in the school.
"The influence of New England may
be found in all parts of the United