The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-01
THE EVENING STAR.

The Kansas daiIies have lately beeL
devoting a good deal of space and their
editors some valuable time to specula-
ton and conjecture regarding the big,
bright star that shines In the eastern
sky every night. These papers are to
be congratulated on their choice OF a
subject for discussion at this time. l.
beats politics all to shucks and is an
exaltation after the Chautauqua season
which is just passing away.
Why not write about the stars? They
are farther away from the earth than
any other material object. therefore we
know as little about them as most other
things. Their steadfast lights are 4
beacon of hope and faith to the NOR
tails struggling in the dust and turmoil
of the earth's constant, never ending
battle so far below them.
Then of all stars this particular one
should prove an inspiration even to
long headed, quick witted writer of the
Kansas language. These country edi-
tors think and write too much Of ma
terial things. Land values. wheat and
corn crops, guaranty of deposits and
the building of cities take UP too much
of their time and thoughts. AS a re-
suit. when their harvest song has been
sung and their cities built they will
have smothered the sentiment in thei4.
makeup and cannot therefore properly
enjoy the years of plenty. Now this
particular star about which these edi-
tors are writing so wisely shone over
the hills of Bethlehem some two thou
sand years ago and was followed by
the shepherds of Judea and the wise
men Of the east until it led them to the
Babe of Gallilee.
The babe grew to be a man and was
crucifed and rose from the dead. A
majority of the people on earth today
worship His memory and try after
fashion to follow His teachings. AS for
the star, it shines in the same orbit and
with the same light that it did in thu
beginning. The other stars only look
well when it is not visible. The old
time Kansas editor, looking at that star
tonight, can think of his own great
faith in the prairie state he has de-
Tended from the gossip of the east and
the plaques of hot winds and grasshor-
pers and famine. =.
The star was a symbol of hope yet
to be fulfilled, and that editors paper.
in the days of long ago. told the story
of q hope that then looked as far away
as this star. But the editors hopes az
came true long ago and now the rea.
fulfillment is beyond the dreams 81
even an imaginative newspaper man.
They say that this star is invisible
for period of FIVE hundred years at a
time. That's a long while when you
consider that Kansas is only fifty years
old. But anyway, this is the same star
that shone the night Christianity was
born and the world saved from its sins.
1t will be shining still when the earth 10
resolved back to chaos. 1t may not al
ways be visible but it will be shining.
sure as fate, and looking, these nights,
at it's tiny points and constant light,
there's world of hope and meaning
in the message it flashes to those who
will only take the trouble to look long
enough to catch and hold its purpose.
The motto of the state OF Kansas, al
astra per aspera. when translated
means. ITO the stars through bolts and
bars" and the Kansas editor therefore
has the full right and privilege to write
at length and often about the evening
star for he has withstood bolts in the
shape of cyclones and has passed
through the bars of the seven lean
years to enjoy this time of plenty and
wax fat and write about stars or suns
or moons or comets, if he desires so
to do.