The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17
THIS IS THE GOLDEN AGE.

From the Dayton News
This is the Golden Age. II there ever
was such thing. He who looks into the
age that has so far been. for there has
been no period OF the worlds history
comparable with :he present.
Not that things have as yet reached
the highest possible point OF development.
1t is not that. Affairs on this old sphere
are still IN a chaotic condition TO some
extent. compared with what they may be
expected to be in the future. But the
fact remains that this Is the best "age"
the world has so far known.
There are opportunities upon every
hand. There are new worlds begging to
be conquered. There are plans upon the
trestle- board OF life only awaiting the
workmen 10 execute them. There are
flowers in every field. and laurel ready
10 be woven into wreaths TO crown the
vIctors.
The Golden Age. indeed, What more
glorious time has there ever been TO live
than right now-and here? When was Il
ever before possible 10 talk 20 so many
people? At what point in human history
has time and space ever been so COM
pletely annihilated2 When was human
charity any sweeter. or love more potent ?
But in all ages there have been those
TO covet the past. The earliest writings
OF man record his longing for the good
days gone Throughout human history
there runs strain 20 the effect that "the
present" is not so wise or virtuous as the
past. We do not believe any such thing.
Rather do we believe that to-day is the
best day that has been, and that to-mor-
row will be better.
The trouble is. If there is any trouble
the trouble Is people do not appreciate the
age in which they live Delvfng into the
musty past. back 10 a time so remote
that the evils thereof cannot be seen
while the good IS still visible. we are
prone to deplore our weaknesses and 20
magnify the strength OF the ages gone.
But when we sit down and mediate upon
the blessings we have and compare them
with the vices OF the past. We may easily
see that to-day is the most transcendant
period OF the earths history
The Golden Age! Here 1t Is, spread
out before US. The elements conquered,
the earth known. the deserts giving way
20 blooming vegetation. No shadowy
hand rises out Of the ocean to brighten
the mariners back 10 shore. No siren
lures him upon treacherous reefs. No
giants slumber beneath volcanoes, to
become wrathy and to destroy a nation.
No personal god sends vengeance out OF
the cloud 10 destroy those whom he does
not fancy. No horde OF devils fingers
about the home 20 bewitch the family.
The fires Of the torch no longer burn the
quiverfng flesh; the spiked vestments
have grown rusty. The prison bars are
farther apart than formerly. And II the
bandage has been torn from the eyes OF
Justice II is that she may do full justice
with a clearer vision.
This is the Golden Age. A human life,
cheap as Il still is, has enhanced in
value. The shrieking OF suffering child
IS heard farther now than at any other
time. and more people are rushing 70 its
rescue. The mind has been unfettered-
and men made free. No longer Is man
locked behind the bars. to rot in obscur-
ity, for expressing his honest opinions.
1t is a Golden Age, because the dross OF
the past has been melted from It IN a
million crucibles