The Goodland republic., 1907-04-05


(By Priscilla LeOnard.)
In the dark, in the cold,
Who would search for the spring.
Yet the dahOdil's wing
And the butterhy's wing
Lie safe hid in the mold
And the chrysalid's fold
Through the dark, through the cold,
God prepareth the spring.
In the dark, in the cold,
Who would search for the spring.
Yet loves purest Of gold,
Hopes most radian wing,
Lie safe in the fold
OF earth's pain, OF Deaths mold
Through the dark, through the cold,
God prepareth the spring
The Final Test.
The final test OF a state or a city
or a community IS not its outward ap-
pearance, prosperity or numbers, but
the quality and character OF its men
and women-the virtue and intelli-
gence, the ethical and spiritual per
lection OF its people Rev. +. L
Phalen.
What kind Of a town is Goodland,
anyhow? How would you answer this
question to a stranger2 You would
Der Of new buildings, etc, first, I'm
sure. You would tell him OF what
the Rock Island railroad does for the
town, in the large number OF en-
ployes, and the large sum Of money It
pays to them each month. You would
tell him Of our fine water system OF
pure water, and our electric light
plant. You would say that we have
as good schools as any town Of our
size in the west You would count
the churches and tell the number and
the denomination I doubt, however,
whether you would tell the whole
truth about what a very small per
cent OF the peoples money goes to
the support OF the churches, and
what a large proportion Of our peo-
pie do not go to church at all
Have you ever reflected that the
appearance Of our church buildings
tells this story plainly to any Observ-
ing stranger? The churches ought to
share in the general prosperity, but
the fact is they have not as yet.
If you were asked, els it a good
moral tOwn-a good place to bring boys
and girls?" What would you say?
Many eastern people are coming to
Kansas, because it is a prohibitory
is well enforced in Goodland and
Sherman county. What could you say
to this2 Any open-eyed stranger who
stayed here a few days would have no
need to ask these last questions. If
he should meet on the streets or see in
the alleys men too drunk to walk
straight; If he should penetrate into
some back rooms in our so-calIed
business places, or If he should hear
OF the disgracefuI Dutch lunch" that
followed a recent dance, he WOULD
know that the men and women If
GOOdland were not doing all they
might to make q good moral town. II
he was endeavOring to be fair and to
get a just estimate Of the conditions
he would find that there was a min
OTity Of our people who were giving
time and money and effort to create
a more wholesome atmosphere for the
weak and tempted, and the young. He
would also find out that there is a
much larger number who are making
no active effort and giving no active
support to the efforts OF others, who
nevertheless wish things were diner
ent and better. They belong to the
class who have Wish-bOnes instead Of
backbOnes. Are you one Of the wish
bone kind? If you are, take these
two notices for your own: What
ought to be done, can be done" and
What can do ought to do; what
I ought to do, by Gods help, viii
do" As a recent writer has said:
There's the responsibility that lies In
ability. But turn the thought around
and find that after ali it's oppOrtuni-
ty for the individual To be able to
do a certain bit Of work, to lend 2 bit
OF help. is an opportunity to carry
forward eternal interests"
Remember, that what is called de-
feat is nothing but education; moth
ing but the first step to something
better.