Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-03-11

schooners trailing across the great
prairies and plains west of the Mis-
sissippi, and moving towards the set
ting sun. They were conveying ci.i
zens in search of new homes in thls
great west. They were prompted by
the same motives that led the little
Scotch boy to leave his native hills
and settle amid the mountains Of ron
Ill Pennsylvania.
Some of these emigrants cams up
into the Rocky Mountains, and being
attracted by these snow clad peaks
and this beautiful valley, made homes
here and laid the foundation for the
future gres tness of Durango. Some
of these pioneers are here today par
ticipating in these exercises, while
others have crossed the great divide
and Will labor with us no more. These
pioneers will always occupy high
place in our estimation.
This structure Is the product and
elimination of these two forces. The
poor, plain Scotch boy who crossed
the ocean, and the common people
who crossed the plains in the pioner
days. The one furnishing the money
for the building, the other the means
for its furnishing and maintenance
and the request for the donation. Both
of these forces germinated In the
ranks of the poor and humble; that
| great mass we call the common peo-
Pile. the common source from which
much good flows to the betterment
of man in every age and cline.
We hear much today about tainted
money and there seems to be a diff
ference of opinion about the accept
| ance of so-called tainted money for
educational and religious purposes
hut we must remember that all money
is tainted; 1t is only question of de-
gree. I presume that II we have
dollar in our pocket and fellow be-
ing who needs it more than we do,
| does not have the opportunity to en-
| joy 1t, because OF our refusal to yield
| 1t up to him, this taints the dollar In
| our possession. We must not forget
| the age In which we live. This is
| commercial age and the struggle for
the almighty dollar is keen.
We do not know what will take the
place of the commercial age When
mans love of money shall have pass
| ed away something better will occupy
his attention. That something will be
more elevating. We must be con-
vinced that mans tendency is upward
and not downward and that from pc
riod to period mans ideals will oc.
culpy higher ground than in the pre-
ceding period: but ii is not for us to
say that certain money Is tainted or
that donations are not made with the
best of intentions. We are too near
the scene of action to properly Judge
the matter 1t will be for the future
historians to say, after being possess
ed of all the facts at the time, prior
and subsequent, and II may be after
all. that the discipline that comes to
man from the accumulation of wealth
may be essential in his training for
better things.
That the commercial age will pass
away We have no doubt. There is one
thing that the history of the past has
certainly demonstrated, and that is,
that the average man cannot stand too
much prosperity. The luxuries that
come with extreme wealth have a ten
dency to set in degeneracy and decay,
and our recent experience confirms
the opinion OF the past, and that is,
that the highest type of man must
continue to be Graded in the cot
tage rather than the palace.
1t might be that the pessimist may
think that the American people are
coming too much to the point of wor-
Shipping wealth. There may be some
foolish people who do this, but the
great majority of American people are
estimating man today for his true
worth, regardless of wealth, more than
they ever have in the past. Wealth
worshipers are not desirable in this
country. and the principle has no place
among our institutions. Man in this
country will ever remain the para
mount issue.
Andrew Carnegie was not spoiled
by wealth. He has been too busy in
dedicating his fortune as a blessing to
the human race. Any man who can
| make such gift as this to people
he has never seen still has great
qualities OF heart and mind.
It Is no disgrace TO be rich. but
wealth alone will not make a great
man, neither is 1t disgrace to be
poor, but the time will shortly come
when ignorance and the want OF hu-
man character will be a disgrace.
rs there. for honest poverty,
| That hangs his head, and a'that?
The coward slave, We pass him by,
| We dare be poor for a'that,
For a'that, and athat;
Our tolls obscure, and a'that;
The rank is but the guinea-stamp,
The mans the gowd for a'that.
What though on namely fare we dine
Wear holden gray and a'that;
Gle fools their silks, and knaves their
wine
A mans a man for a'thati
For a'that. and a'that,
Their tinsel show, and a'that:
The honest man, though e'er sac pool
is king omen for a'that,
Ye see yon birkie, cad a lord,
Wha struts. and stares, and a'that
Though hundreds worship at his word
He's but coof for a'that:
For athat, and a'that,
His riband. star and a'that;
The man Of independent mind.
He looks and laughs at a'thatl
A king can max a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a'that;
! But an honest mans abOOn his might