The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-05-26
Reflections.

while the sun shines These two
sayings are brought to our minds
at this time when we are reading
the lengthy and many-siled col
ums IN all publications, concern
ing the late King Edward VII of
England. We are inclined to think
that the reign of Edward V I was,
as far as his personality and pur-
suits are known, one which more
readily comedies with the second
bove mentioned proverb. OF
course, national etiquette has cloth
ed in glowing tributes and long
wiLded praise, the career and biog-
raphy of his late majesty, Edward
VII, but the public mind, especi-
ally foreign public, always seeks
to know both sides Of the career of
a King, Emperor or President.
When death claims one Of us OF
binary folks, only our immediate
relations and friends mourn our
departure. II we have made our
selves conspicuous or famous dur
ing our life, the circle Of mourne1s
is enlarged, the press will print an
account of our career, authors will
find ground and material for eulo-
~ or criticism; but when mon
arch dies, particularly a much-trav-
elled and popular one, the entire
world wags lis tongue, p1aising.
slandering and criticising the event
full life which King, Emperor or
President lives.
1t is a significant fact, though
n OF altogether appreciate, that
public opinion always maintains
either respectful attitude toward,
or withholds it's criticism d
SANDER till after the death Of such
persons as rulers of countries, when
it belches forth simultaneously all
it's knowledge of the deceased's per.
sonal traits, pursuits and frivolities
While ruler lives, his subjects
and even foreign residents manifest
in manifold ways their general APP.
proval of his majesty's high stand
ard of principle, his nation wide
interest in political and domestic
affairs, his sterling worth, his high
integrity, charity and popularity
among bis suhjecis On the other
hand, when this same person jour
neys across the line into the I'm
known public opinion tax es a
greedy delightiD Analysing. defam
ing, ridiculing more frequently than
otherwise his character and career.
Those countries whose conceptions
of government, beliefs, ideas, opin-
ions on all things pertaining to the
wheel of progress, which are con-
fiicting with or contrary to the sys-
tenn Of government of the country
which has lost ruler, are usually
the poisiest and often it is regret
table to note, like a flock Of vul-
lures which swoop down on the
carcass of the dead to greedily de-
YOUR all that is left-his career.
An exhibition of hypocrisy and
cowardice, no doubt.
If not out of place in dealing with
this subject we might liken the
demise of King Edward V | / and
the tone of public opinion to the
following anecdote: A farmer wac
once on his way to market and when
crossing a field of his neighbor, he
was attracted by the cries of a
tramp whom he found tied secure
ly to a tree. The tramp told the
farmer that he had been tied there
by farmer who had gone off for a
sheriff, accusing him of chicken
stealing. He pleaded innocence
and asked to be released. The old
farmer stroked his beard and final
ly said: you're sure you cant get
away?" The tramp replied in the
affirmative whereat h e farmer
said: 'sWell, if that's so I'll just
take good whack at you meself. +"
i And so it is with the voice OF
public criticism. Some may ask
who would dare to tell a ruler oil