Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-20
LANDMARKS OF
THANKSGIVING

To all the modern nations 1t means
much that the family of the patriarch
broadened out into strong tribe. that
the 1sraelites crossed the Red Sea. that
they passed over the Jordan. that the
Assyrian fell back from their yates.
Few as the Hebrews were. narrow as
were their boundaries, though their
armies were small and their resources
limited. Christendom exists because
that mysterious people. like the burn
ing bush. though often ablaze, was
never consumed.
1t means more than we can put into
words that Persia did not CONQUER
Greece. The Maker OF mankind pre-
served that gifted race which has given
us well nigh all our words of highest
import. Even the idlest who laugh at
"olosies" know that every ''ology'' is
part OF our Greek Inheritance. The in
ventor. the biologist. the philosopher
and the divine can scarcely open their
mouths but they drop d creek word as
the maiden in the story dropped a gem.
Goethe's intellectual delight was TO
Gretchen" (and always the Greeks).
The ode Is Greek. Music and mathe-
mattcs are words OF Greek birth. As
tronomy, ''the law OF the star" and
economy, tho law OF the house, are
equally Greek. The highest of ali COM
pii,nenz to the poet is to say that he
= Homeric. the praise OF all praises to
the historian Is to say that he may be
ranked with Thucydides. the revela-
ton Of Bethlehem did not come until
the ancient Scriptures had for two CEN
turtles been read in a Greek version.
A modern thinker may well bo Grate-
full for the old Roman empire. We have
6t. Paufs assurance that tho Redeemer
came when the fulncss of the time
was come" The blcmishes OF the en-
pire, the arrogance OF its officials. the
Eladiatorial combats. the prosecutions
arc only too evident. still the Roman
did = great deal for the world. His
roads ran everywhere. His ideas OF
law and government won the adrnira-
ton even Of those who hated him. In
all the practical side OF life tho Ro-
man influence Is strong. The old
tongue is warp and woof OF French and
Spanish. of Italian and Portuguese.
Latin ascends helvmward in the Te
Deum, 1t looks on US from the pre-
scription, 1t summons the coroner to n
post mortem. Lord Beaconsficld said
that our progress depends on a Syrian
religion. a Greek literature and a Ro-
man law.
Years impressed more and more upon
the shrewd, Unconditional Franklin that
God rules in the affairs of men. Gi-
EAntic. restless, daring was the Mo-
hammedan power: 1t seemed likely to
overrun all Europe. yet its proud
waves were stayed. In due time over
ruling Providence brought the printing
press and the telescope: In duo time
the learning of tho Greeks was car
ried to the western world, in due time,
let II be reverently owned. the Atlantic
was crossed. and a land of promise
greater than thousand Canaans
yielded treasures surprising milk and
honey. Before another century had
passed there were great languages in
England and Germany. There is cause
for gratitude today that Spanish
tyranny did not crush Holland. and
that the Invinciblc Armada was in
vincible only in name.
world was kept for the Middle Ages.
The noblest thought and work of
medievalism was saved for modern
times. Over the sea came the best
thinking. the highest aspirations of the
ages. To this land of dense forests and
mighty plains. OF towering mountains
and rivers without end, France sent
priesthood and of the flower of her
Huguenots. OF England's Puritan stock
came the Adamses. and OF her Cavalier
blood came George Washington. To our
shores came sturdy mariners from
Holland: canny Scots. as brave as Paul
Jones: 1rishmen as courageous as John
Barry or Phil Sheridan, We have had
driftwood. we have had flotsam and
1etsam. yet what country in Europe
has not sent us a portion of Its best?
1t seemed to some wise and worthy
men that our Revolution was an act OF
madness, yet we givo thanks for its
success. 1t seemed II the poor little
confederation would fall asunder yet
II wrought that Constitution Gladstone
deemed the most wonderful document
ever struck off at one tlmc by the mind
of man. Scarcely had the puny repub-
lie begun TO live when its boats wcrc