Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-06-23
WORDS FIFTY SPOKEN.

w " N ~ - II - " n EN-
Chief Justice John B. Winslow
delivered the commencement address
before the graduates of Racine college
last week. 1t was an address full of
warning against evil tendencies of the
present age and generation. The
thoughts to which he gave utterance
should be needed by all who would
place earnest endeavor above the love
of the pleasures and luxuries of life.
The Chief Justice said: es"z.~
1.-The tendencies of the age is to place
the emphasis of life upon the comforts,
the luxuries, and the material achieve
ments of this world to the entire or
practical exclusion of the things of the
mind and soul. The very air which we
breathe is feverish with the mad desire
for wealth. How / can get rich?
What occupation is the most proftable2
What is the easiest road to luxury
These are the questions which youth is
constantly asking and which age as
constantly approves.
1.-The acquisition of property has be-
come the only good and the money
changers fill natures temple with the
discordant din Of vulgar greed. tr
II do not say that money is to be
altogether despised or that the desire to
acquire property is in itself wrong.
But the labor which seeks to pile up
wealth for its own sake or for the sake
of the luxuries which it brings saps the
moral nature and weakens the fiber of
the race. When this and this alone
becomes the object of labor the. future
Of the state may we'll be viewed with
apprehension. Its citizens may have
culture, education, and refinement, they
may be highly civilized as the world
goes, they may appreciate the arts and
graces Of life but their civilization will
be but pagan civilization, their culture
but thin veneer, a mere varnish cover
ing barbaric sensualism. They will be
the true muckrakers; eyes that are
fixed upon the ground will never see
the stars; souls that think only of the
qualification of bodily desires are brute
souls to all intents and purposes.
There is no future for such state save
the future of decay. This is the lesson
of the past and the warning of the
present. Is this our national danger?
Are we drifting toward refined SEN
suality? Is character shriveling and
are the homely virtues dying out as the
race for wealth and luxury increase in
intensity? Alas! There are signs that
point that way with startling clearness.
1t would be foolish to ignore them,
indeed, we can hardly ignore them if
we would. Wealth, vulgar wealth and
Ostentation, her repulsive daughter,
surrounds us on every hand.
The speaker in referring to the great
multiplication of amusements, both
public and private, said:
1--WE need all the legitimate recrea-
ton and innocent diversions that we
can get without neglect Of duty. God
gave us the love of beautiful things,
the longing for beautiful sights, and
the appreciation of harmonious sounds.
Upon the other hand it is just as
certain that He never intended that we
should spend our days or nights in "joy
riding" or in chasing the will % the
wisp of sensual pleasure until it pals
upon the jaded senses. Is not this a
real dangerf Can any one doubt it
who pays any attention to the trend of
life in our cities today Assuredly
not" $50 RS f.1 @atg $50
It will be well for the people in gem
eral If due heed is given to the wise ad-
monitor Of Justice Winslow which is
contained in the following words:
Much as we may rejoice over the
general dissemination of learning, the
advances of science, and the great inn
proyement in the material condition Of
civilized life, no thoughtful citizen
can close his eyes to the fact that there
are dangerous tendencies abroad which
must be bravely met and stoutly OPP
posed if onr country and our ciyilixa-
ton is to endure. These are the forces
of the time to which the university,
the school. and the scholar must not
yield.
Tie dangerous tendencies pointed out
@LHf5 X*ssf IfI4