Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-29
WHEREIN WE ~
BEAT EUROPE
EACH MAN HAS CHANCE TO WORK
HIS WAY TO THE
TOP.


strain has played in our nationa
drama, who could view without some
slight emotion the green shores of the
north of Ireland would be singularly
cold and unresponsive. From a point
far out at sea we discern the Bloody
Foreland," a bold, bare headland jut
ting into the cold Atlantic and know
that we are now upon an ocean road
stead over which, for more than 3O(
years, the tear dimmed eyes of Scotch
and Irish exiles have been gazing a
the dim, receding shores of their birth
land. Here for ten generations WON
ems tears have fallen; here hearts
courageous have faltered for a mo
ment, and here the recollection of al
that opened in distant America-th,
chance to struggle upward from poo
surroundings; the right to cling tt
Mother Earth and claim of her broad
acres as Gods natural hertage-has
brought back the light of hope to weep
ing eyes and restored faith and dar
ing to fainting hearts.
The American who may spend a
few weeks of study and observation in
the British isles must cease to won.
der that a constant stream of immi-
grafton has long been flowing from
these islands to the United States and
Canada, and cease to wonder that ev.
en- now that stream is swelling in
greater volume than ever.
For the most distinct impression
left on the mind of the American visit
or to the British isles and Europe is
the vivid contrast between the oppor
tunity that is afforded the poor boy
or girl in America and their proto
types in these older lands. So much
Importance attaches over there tC
caste and family that the few fine
spirits who struggle up from mean
surroundings are never quite permit
ted to forget their lowly origin. A
little of that mean spirit we have here
in the United States, but it does not
exist to anywhere near the extent it is
seen abroad. I say mean spirit ad
visedly. for the world wants its lead
ers, and it wants them whatever theil
origin and know of nothing more
contemplate than the petty spirit that
prompts the sO-called upper classes tC
beat back poor boys or poor girls who
hearken to the worlds great call ant
are preparing themselves for leader
ship and guidance.
1t seemed to me that | could read
pathetic helplessness in the faces OF
majority of people in the great. ov
ercharged centers like Glasgow and
London, and I attributed a large part
of the drink evil to that hopelessness
which drives men and women tc
strong drink as their only surcease
from despair.
So it was pleasant relief one June
morning to find in public square OF
Glasgow a noble piece Of statuary
which indicated that even there was
still preserved a divine spark of ap
probation of high achievements b!
men and women of lOw1y origin.
thought it quite the most insprine
piece of art that I had seen in all tbs
British isles. An equestrian statue oil
general rested upon carved base
of four sides, and on that base was
written with a sculptor's chisel the
life story of that eminent soldier: ant
it was pleasing to note that the open
ing scene portrayed highland cot
tage and the departure Of poor boy
with pathetic little bundle swune
from stick across his shoulder bid
ding adieu to a peasant father anC
mother.
On one other occasion only did
discover in one of the galleries ar
ficfin Of hot ,hor ,;o1
appeals so strongly to American
the Royal Art academy in London wa:
exhibited noble painting of the boy
Lincoln, reading with hungry eye:
from page of knowledge by the far
ing light of the heath fire.
A condition which is particular,
shocking to American sensiblities il
the lack of that respect for woman
hood which we find everywhere il
America. 1t is startling to see S,
many women laborng in the fields
gray haired women bending TO tn
scythe, and mothers toiling in brick
yards and factories. This condition
becomes all the more repugnant t,
American eyes when accompanied b,
so many evidences of idleness an,
shiftlessness of men. In some vii
lagos it almost seemed as if everything
of industry was carried on by women
while the men idled away their tim
In the streets and pot houses.
And yet with all these evidences O
the fundamental superiority of Amer
lean institutions and American civ
liZatOn over the old world conditions
you will find that travelled Britain
are still reluctant to concede the poin
of inferiority. even when an Amer
can may frankly give the Old countr
just credit for SURPRISING us in man
ways notably in art and literature
in the rearing of the children of tn
better classes: in superior use of til
English language among educated pee
pie as compared with educated peopl
in the United States, and perhaps i
more rational pursuit of quiet hal
piness.
I invited criticisms from a numbe
of intelligent persons with whom
was brought in contact and it seen
ed that always their criticism wa
superficial. For example. was inte
ested in little good natured encour
ter on the steamer between an Amer
can lady and an English governes.
who was returning to London fror
the United States. This English go,
erness tainted us with the fact the
in the United States we have no mon,
ments of stored past: no vast C;
thedrals with their tombs of genius