Fergus County Democrat., 1905-10-31
IMPRESSIVE
CEREMONIES
CONTINUED from page one.)

few none has made so wise, so gener-
Gus use.
Himself, born in the humblest ranks
of society, with little of school educa-
ton, early assuming the duties of self
support, toiling from one position to
another of ever increasing usefulness,
from telegraph messenger boy to rail-
lying the founding Of libraries and de-
scribed a number Of the libraries, both
past and present Referring to the
value of libraries in our educational
system, he said:
To many a college education is in
accessible; the institutions of higher
education are beyond their reach.
But the public library is open to all,
and through it's volumes a sufficient
and sometimes a comprehensive edu-
cation is open to all who avail them-
selves of it's opportunities. AS an ele-
waiting influence its benefits are wide
spread. AS a means of diversion it
brings it's Votary nto touch with every
aspect and condition of life. The poor
man may roam through it's pages and
become the companion of kings, poets,
philosophers, statesmen and warriors.
He may enjoy the wealth of Golconda,
the treasures of Monte Christie; he
may in fancy quaff the nectar known
only to the Gods of the Ancients, and
revel with the sprites known only to
the book worm; he may touch the
mainspring of science and cause ma
tions to bow in reverence; roam the
sun-lit fields and beside the gurgling
brooks and enjoy the plethora of ma
ture in her various forms; he may
whisper words of love in the ear of
queenly beauty, and on bloody fields
prove the ardor of his effecton he
may join in the wedding feast and en-
JOY the peace that follows bloody war;
he may enter the cabin of the lowly
and see there the contentment which
follows a Virtuous life; or mayhaI
drop the tear of pity DER the couch o
suffering and pain; clasp the hand O,
misfortune, relieve the beggarly ant
distressed; engage in the shock of bat
tie; battle the brow of the dying sol
der; he may eXalt his soul with the
companionship of saints, aye, walk
with the very angels of God, or, with
Dante, decend into the precincts OF
hideous hell. All this, aye, more, is
open to him who seeks, through books,
the companionship of those who have
entertained, instructed, raised up and
enlightened the human family through
all the ages.
The treasures acquired from deep
delVlng in our libraries are beyond
price; they are treasures which
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt
neither thieves break through and
steal Treasures which are never
ending source Of satisfaction and un.
alloyed enjoyment
We have laid the corner stone of ar
edific which we hope will last fol
years, aye, for centuries. Within it.
ample breast have We deposited mem
orlals of our people, of our times an(
of the OCCASION
When the ravages of time shall hay,
laid low this structure and futur,
generations shall have opened thes
archives, they will know of what stuff
we were made. They will know tha
we were animated by Noble
thoughts, grander deeds and highe
aspirations
We trust that the seed we have thi
day sown will, through the lapse G
time, reach a mature frution Whic
will be blessing to all who sha
partake thereof.
Two thousand years ago, a flower
Bloomed lightly in a far-off land,
Two thousand years ago, it's reed
Was placed within a dead mans han
Before the Saviour came to earth
That man had lived and loved az
died,
And even in that far-off time
That flower had spread it's perfur
wide.
Suns rose and set, years came al
went
That dead had kept its treasure we
Nations were born and turned to du
While life was hidden in that shell.
The shrivelled hand is robbed at la
The reed is buried in the earth;
When 10, the lifelong hidden there
Into a glorious flower burst forth.
Just such a plant as that which gr'