River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-08-17
Remarks by R. L. Reed.

All along the highway by which the human
race has travelled in its onward progress,
memorial stones have been set up, memorial
DAYS appointed, memorial ceremonies insti
tuted. The great events of history have been
thus marked Thus, reading backwards over
the stages of the long march of ages, we see
the birthplaces of nations, the camping places
on the toisome route, the victories achieved,
the defeats suffered
From some far height could we look down
upon the world, we should see it dotted with
monuments, and answ ering the question sug
gested by the twelve stones set up by Joshua
at the crossing of the Jordan, ''What mean
We by these stones?" we could read the story
of humanity.
Nations rise and fall, cities flourish and de-
cay, religions absorb the devotion of millions,
serve their end and pass away, but the pyra-
mids, the mounds, the temples, remain and tell
the old story. So national days reveal the
nations history in answer to the question
"Why?" Why Forefathers Day? Why hide
pendence Day? Why Decoration Day? Why
to our colored brethren Emancipation Day.
Birthdays of eminent men keep alive their
memories. ST. Patrick's Day to the Irishmen;
Washington's and Lincoln S birthdays keep the
children informed of great national facts. Re-
igious days are full of history. The Sabbath
tells fifty-two times each year of the creation
and after labor rest. Kept on the first day of
the week, tells of another most stupendous
fact, the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Christmas, the great birthday of the ages, OBJ
served throughout Christendcm by saint and
sinner. No law passed. no document signed,
no letter written without acknowledging the
birth of Jesus Christ. The subject widens and
the time is short.
The greatest social institution is the home.
A nation rises or falls in proportion to the
homes of the people. From the first pair in
Eden the divine law has been one man and one
woman enter into life compact to establish
a home. In the ideal home, the husband and
wife are equal in their different spheres of ac-
ton. Each day sees the labor DONE each
night the rest enjoyed. Not crowded tene-
ment house, not hotel, not temporary tent,
but a home. Into this home the children may
safely come, assured of proper care and edu-
cation. Out from such o home the children
may go in due time, with happy memories.
Thither they may return on anniversary occa-
sions birthdays. weddings, perchance golden
weddings. child is cheated out of his birth
right who has no childhood to remember but
of a hotel or boarding house, A home with
| only mother and the children in it and father
roaming the world on railroads or toiling in
far-of mines, even if the mines be golden, is
not good for father or mother or children
/ We assemble to-day to greet our friends who
| have had home more or less ideal for half a
| century Fifty years is large part of the
three score and ten allotted Few homes re-
main so long. We congratulate you on the
hftieth anniversary Of your wedding. May the
closing miles of ife's journey be pleasant, its
end golden, and your landing on the other
shore glorious. am commissioned by friends
/ to present this gift. Gold untainted. 1t may
have been in questionable places, but it stands
| for nothing bad in itself, and the stamp of
Uncle Sam is upon it-God's gold originally
coined for prudential reasons, entrusted to
you for your pleasure and profit and may God
bless you in it.-Prescott Tribune.