Gilpin observer., 1906-12-06

we seem to open the wounds OF grie
anew, it's but to pour within the healing
balm born Of our sympathy and love. TT
those Of you who have suffered direct
personal loss in the death OF one of oul
departed brothers, this occasion may, ir
truth, renew your tears OF sorrow, but
through those tears we see eyes shining
with hope, the solace and compensation
born of this commemoration OF the vir.
tues Of the dead.
Could one but gaze backward with an
all-seeing eye and pierce the past back
to the beginning Of Time, one might be
enabled to solve the philosophy of life
to analyize the events which make his.
tory, and to weigh the relative merits OF
deeds and character, and the compare.
tive worth OF madness and Reinforcement.
But even without this, summary glance
through the past teaches much OF life's
mysteries. Today, Celt, Tenton and
Anglo Saxon share the supremacy in
ancient Athens, where once the kingly
Fericles sat in judgment and Alcibiades
set the fashion for the civilized word;
today the seven hills of Rome look down
upon a motley crew where once the
proud, imperial Caesar sat enthroned in
royal robes and ruled the world; today,
ashes and lava possess the spot where
once noble lords and stately DANES pass
ed along the paved streets OF Pompe,
and ornate temples reared their majestic
towers in the clear stalian sunshine. The
glory Of Athens! The supremacy of
Rome! Where are they now? Thebes
and Carthage! or what avail your an
cient power and wealth?
Out Of nebulous haze smiling madly
through chaos, the universal cosmos was
born; light was separated from the dark
ness and the earth from the waters.
Universal change is the law OF natural
and historical evolution. The acorn
sprouts the oak which hourishes decays
and dies; nations rise and fall; empires
rule the world and pass into oblivion.
Thus throughout the universe the evan.
escent nature Of material things is every
where apparent. The great ruler OF the
universe unrolls the panorama OF events
before our wondering eyes, here paints
a scene anew, there blots out centuries
OF achievement and we call it history
And yet, as the great master painter
sits in his workshop enthroned on high,
the world for his canvas, human virtues
and human failings for his colors, and as
we watch with mortal gaze the painted
scenery- shifted hither and thither upon
the stage Of life; the play developing into
comedy, romance, drama or tragedy,
faint glimmer Of the true philosophy OF
life bursts upon US like a light out OF
darkness. For on the painted scenes we
see, here is widows grave, the shaking
sobs OF the orphaned child wiring our
heart strings, when out of the midst OF
the mourners comes one with kindly face
to lead the little stricken waif to a home
OF comfort, to mother and father. Here
again is strong man suddenly struck
down in the very prime of life and am
bition by the cruel hand OF misfortune;
and behold! out OF the strenuous strug.
Cling mass Of humanity comes band OF
men with faces aglow with good cheer
and hands outstretched in good fellow
ship, and they clasp the palsied hand Of
the stricken brother and bring him back
to life and hope. Here is the scene of a
battle field where one lies hurt unto
death-as his eyes scan the field, looking
their last on Gods sunshine and Gods
green trees, his dying gaze falls on
gasping in agony for water-and
his last mortal act is to press his canteen
to suffering brothers. lips. Here is
populous city at the western gateway to
our continent, throbbing with life, pull
sing with happiness and prosperity; tall
buildings catch the breezes OF the Paci-
fic, palatial hotels bask in the glory of
perfumed gardens, and 10! in the night,
without an instant's warning, comes the
the storm, the hurricane and
the fire, and when Gods sunshine comes
again, desert, barren, desolate, mourn.
ing charnel house OF ruin and death
stands in the place OF palaces and gar
dens. And yet, fast and faster than the
wings OF the wind can carry the news Of
San Franciscos holocaust, tho heart OF
from boundary to boundary,
beating in sympathy with suffering and
affliction has poured her aims into the
stricken city to house the homeless and
feed the starving, to care for the sick
and bury the dead
And thus, throughout life, we find the
Of the light and the shadow,
crime and suffering are with us; the
struggle and trials and turmoil OF life
begin with the cradle and end with the