Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-17


itv have given form to generous
thought, and noble idea, by organ
izng the Andalusia Memorial and His
torical association.
The making of the past is history,
written and unwritten. The making |
of that part of the American nation |
embraced in Rock Island county west
and south OF Rock Island was an UNI |
certaking neither vain nor small.
How it was done, and by whom, is
history; ana The frequent reviewing |
Cf that history in meetings of the as
cociation, AMI adding brief chronicles
of current events. or interesting items
which had net occurred to writer's OF
former years, may be. ought TO be
very profitable exercise.
The people Of the present may well
profit by notrs the good deeds, and
even the mistakes, of those of a for
T. er generation. How former genera
tens toiled and won, suffered and en-
dared succeeded and enjoyed the
fruits of thei.' labors, or were crushed
by disaster and defeat, should make
II lasting imp ession upon us; should
be mighty stimulus to us to do and
to dare and peTsevere amid discour-
aging circumstances. or to be patient,
and heroic, end hopeful under dis
tressing trials, adversities and disas-
'rtus conditions.
History as Teacher.
History is a great teacher. The
past is a schoolmaster to every OBJ
servant and willing learner
Yet we are constrained TO say, when
we look down the vista: THE fathers.
where are they? And the prophets,
DO they live forever"
Nay! One generation passetn
away, and another generation cometh,
hut the earth abideth for ever"
1t is true also now, as when uttered
by the Great Teacher, that other men
tailored and We are entered into their
lafors.'
1t means that we are profiting by
The works Of the people of former
generations. Are we making good use
of our heritage: Are we learning our
lessons well? Are we building upon
the foundation laid for us, wisely. in
dustriously, economically with the
gold silver and precious stones of
honesty, sobriety. fidelity loyalty, in
dustry and charity? Or are We
squandering our patrimony, or letting
it run to waste?
These are questions which should
have our most thoughtful considera-
ton, and should bear down upon us,
with much force, while our minds are
occupied with the making of yester-
day by the fathers and mothers who
rest from their labors, and whose
works do follow them.
What has been done for us is often
referred to in conversation about the
past, but the half cannot be. told in
one discourse, or at one social meet
ing. There is always something of
interest left untold.
Even they who are accustomed 70
read between the lines do not read
the entire volume. Every subsequent
reading reveals something unnotice
before. And so every meeting should
be of benefit to all the participant
who appreciate the good things, ma
terial and intellectual, provided by in
dividuals and communities of a former
age.
Pictures Money Cannot Buy.
Pictures may be drawn in reminis
cent conversation which money can
not buy.
In the case of some who hav'
known our pioneers there are picture
on the walls of memory that are ro
painted on canvas. They are not see
in the galleries of art, nor has tn
artist been found who can reproduc
them with pencil or with brush
They are life scenes in which prom
inent characters have been men an
women possessing genius for har
work; toilers in the vanguard of ely
ilization; breakers of the prairies; fe
lers of the forests; foundation layer
OF homes, and schools and churche!
towns and cities. They located farm
and improved them. They set u
landmarks, builded highways, plante
orchards. erected dwellings, bridge
streams, rearer families, made a coul
try.
Who were they? Whence cam
they? Whittier have they gone
Their names are worthy of a plac
on the scrolls of fame, but not bein
there inscribed they should be write
Gil the pages of our own local histor.
and kindly remembered for what the
were. and for what they did.
They should be written in our al
nails with ink that will not fade.
In the list there are many name
5 end in the spelling of the names til
initial letters summon into service a
most every letter of the alphabet. Tn
writer has found it very interestin
TO con them over, and, from memoir
note those whom he has known, an
has thought that it might interei
others to see them, or to hear thel
s~Norl<orc