The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-08-28
oUR ANCESTORS.
Creation Of a Family Tree ssoerins
Popular Industry.


Popular Industry.
A rather interesting tendency Of tha
times is emphasized ia the amount
OF space which number OF ncwspa-
pers are devoting to genealogical
articles. In other words. we are De-
ginning to manifest some concern re-
garding our ancestors.
The creation OF family trees has
never been a popular industry in this
country. It was discouraged by onr
ancestors, who felt that they had
enough to do in subdulng tyranny,
fighting the Indians, and conquering
the wilderness, without expendln,
time and thought upon pedigrecs ana
hersldio devices. They we're a sturdy
spd practical people. those ancestors
Of ours, and very democratic IN all
their tendencies They Judged a man
by what he said and did. and not by
what his Iather had said and dane be.
fore him. II there was one ming whicn
they conscientiously antagomzed. It
was the idea of inequality OF bidth.
They believed that all men were crsat I'd
equal. and genalogy was. TO them, an
unnecessary science. They were not
even careful In the matter OF presery-
ing records for future generations.
They seemed to argue that II they did
their whole duty before God and man.
there was no necessity TO look into
the future or trouble themselves about
their descendants
With the increase Of wealth II
leisure in this country, together with
a desire to initiate the aristocracy OF
Europe, there had come a marked
change in the attitude toward geneal-
ogical research. A great many pep
pie who resent any question as 20
their real Americanism are now *.
ploring Burke's Peerage and Fairbanks .
Crests or pedigrees and coats-of-arms.
In some degree, this industry is not
TO be condemned. II man or wo-
man has any pride or self-nespcct
Al all, the possession Of an honorablo
pedigree will be helpful and stipulat-
ing IL is worth while to know tho
names Of our great grandparents and
the work in which they We're engaecd.
especially il they were useful and re.
spected members OF community,
We like a good pedigree in a horse ur
dog, and why not in man? II
means that a close tab has been kept
npon the family, and that It's personnel
was Of some Importance In The world.
II there is a record of courage and ln.
dusty and achievement 60 emulate.
SO much the better The knowledgs
that a long line of ancestors has ac-
eomplished something in the world
ought to make the descendant anxious
70 preserve the record unbroken
The great trouble with the seekers
after pcdigrees and coats-of-arms. now
ever is that they are generally willing
70 rest upon The records Of the dead
and gone, rather than themselves
struggle for 2 niche IN the ban II
fame They build exclusively npon
PAST glories. and the structure is ae.-
ssariy weak aud nimsy rhey are
content TO remain known as q member
of an honored family. instead OF add
ing 20 The value OF the family name.
When this trait manifesis itself. the
result is fatal 10 all endeavor. Thers
are too many cases 81 this 9iuo--
enough, in fact. to throw the luae-le
OF suspicion and criticism upon nearly
all who indulge IN genealogical re-
searches. The man who Is coiuert
with what bis father or grandiataef d.d
instead OF adding TO their glory by
his own enoris. is not a very essential
member OF any community ON lee
other hand. a man who labofs 10 ei
to ,he prestige attained by mis- ances-
tors is putting bis geneoiogicll re-
searches 70 practical goad.
Il is very fortunate however that
ia this country eoal-oi-anms ANA =
pedigree are not essential 20 sutceHs
They may Sc good things 70 lossssS
bui Il b achievement Whien esiahlisAfs
. mans place 10 the world. When a
man has mounied high apon the ped
eslai Of success he can anotd 10 look
forward 10 he future ana SEE The itn'-