Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1914-11-06
THE THING OF F

1t happened that a stenographer was present at a banquet where
Sam Davis as called o unexpectedly TO respond to a toast, The
Thing of Life 1t took place years ago in Virginia City in celebration
OF the installation OF electrical pumping machinery in the lower levels
OF the Comstock lode. DR.. George Wharton James referred to the re-
Spouse while making his address 20 the Nevada Pioneers, a n of the
most eloquent postprandial addresses he yer heard lnasmuc as It
probably is OF yet a familiar bit OF literature, it is published here:
strength OF a giant, dies, is born again; lives a thousand lives and di S
a thousand deaths in a single pulsatins second Of time.
1T scars to every height, plunges to every depth, and stretches its
vast rms throughout ilimtabe space.
1T plants the first blush upon the cheek OF dawn; with brush OF
gold upon the glowing canvas Of the west it tells the story of the dying
dy
from the dark and sunen sea- which surge about the poles, while from
its shimmerng loom it cave the opaleseent tapestry OF the aurora to
hang against the black background OF the Arctic night.
1t rouses nature rom Ter wnter sleep breaks the 'y letters ol
the frost that binds the streams, lifts the shroud of snow from off the
som; bowers the flower with perfume and clothes the earth with tne
verdure Of the spring.
at rides the swift courses OF the storms that circle round the bald
crest Of old Mount Davidson; ceaves the black curtain OF the night
with scimiar of flame; rouses the lghtnings from their couch of clouds
and wakes the earthquakes.
Beneath its touch the betting crag. which took omnipotence a
idle wind; it lays its hand upon the populous city with its teemng,
restless multitude; and where yesterday stood the gitterng aeie, iAe
shining tower, the browning batdement, today tn cold grey ocean
rolls in undsputed might.
1T gathers the doings OF the day from the four corners of the
world; the tales OF love and death, of fire and flood, of strife and pest-
lence, and, under 5000 miles OF shivering sea whispers the babble d
two hemispheres.
at turns the wheels of peace where poor men toll and helps the
husbandman to pillow and plant and reap his whispering grain.
1T rides the wings of war, where brave e die; and when It
stalks between contending hosts, exalts the kngly crest and helps an
empire plant its flag of conquest.
1T gows in lonely auics, where weary workers toll to earn their
crust. 1t shines ~oer scenes where feet of feasters tread the halls Of
revelry. 1t lights the mourners on their pathway to the tomb. 1t gares
in haunts where jewe1ed fingers lift the cup of pleasure to the mouth Of
sin, mid the sobbing OF sensuous music and flows the forbidden wine;
and, speeding o its way, ilumes the dim cathedral aisle, where sr-
plced priest proclams the teachings of the master and goldenthroa'-
ed choms lift their hosannas to the King OF Kings.
1T was the Makers ally a the dawn of time, and when God, from
the depths of infinite space, said: Let there be light it sent the pulse
OF life along creations veins, baptsed earth's cold brow with floods OF
fire and stood the sponsor 81 a Graded word'