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Yol. YIIL— No. 11 TO THOSE WHO FAIL Courage, brave heart, nor in thy purpose falter; Go on and win the fight at any cost - H . t Though sick and weary after heavy conflict, Rejoice to know the battle is not lost. The field is still open to those brave spirits Who nobly struggle till the strife is done. Through sun and storm with courage all un- Working and waiting till the battle’s won. The fairest pearls are found in deepest waters, The brightest jewels in the darkest mine: And through the very blackest hour of midnight The star of hope doth ever brightly shine. Press on! press on! the path is steep and rugged. And storm-clouds almost hide hope s light But you can pass where other feet have trodden— A few more steps may bring you safely through. The battle o’er, a victor crowned with honors— By patient toil each difficulty past— You then may see these days of bitter failure But spurred you on to greater deeds at last. —Nellie Barlow, in Demorest’s Magazine. COTJBAGE. Man Should Never Become Discouraged, For With Faith, Hope, and Love, he Can Surmount all Obstacles in His .Pathway of Life. “Nihil mirarv' was a favorite term often employed by the stoics, because it conveyed one of their leading prin ciples. Literally it means, “admire nothing." This was not, however, the sense in which the stoics used the above quoted sentence. To them it had a much deeper meaning, and when uttered by some venerable teacher in the stoical school of philosophy, it sounder! on the ears of attentive discip- les with a greater force than if hurled from Mount Olympus, accompanied by Jove's most fearful thunderbolts. Wherever they went, “nihil rnirari” rang in their ears; whether they were found among the gladiators in the arena at Rome, or chained down toil ing at the oar under a blazing sun on the blue ocean for years as galley-slaves, or pining away their advanced days on some foreign coast in ignominous exile. The meaning ‘it carried to their minds was something like this; “Never despair;" “perseverance is the key to success;” and above all things keep cool;” be of undaunted courage, sober mind and pure heart and you shall, in spite of every thing to the contrary, be crowned with garlands of victory It is this meaning of “nihil mirari, I wish to impress on the minds of the many readers of Tim Miruok, if the editor will kindly allow me the neces sary space for my feeble effort. It is the ear of the more youthful reader I am anxious to gain; and especially do I wish to shout as loud as I can ‘ nihil mirari ” into the ears of my fellow un fortunates, whether they be confined within these massive walls, or in similar, institutions, or drifting about on the rugged sea of life. To you who are so young, so fair and so full of hope for the future, it is a pitiful thought, but nevertheless too true, that in a very short time you will discover that your beautiful plans do not work as smoothly as you dreamed; that your fine pictures are fading, and that your most adored ideals cannot so easily be realized. You will soon learn that life is not a holiday, but a tierce struggle for existence, a mighty battle in which humanity is engaged to eke out an ounce of pleasure at the cost of a ton of pain. Your brightest hopes may be blasted; but never despair; hope again and at the same time, stop for a moment and take an inventory of your own char acter, capabilities and surroundings, and when you have thus acertained your latitude, you may then determine on your future course. True, you may have your idea of a hero, and no doubt you desire to be one. It all depends on your own action, whether you will become one or not. One thing is cer tain, life will afford you plenty of op portunities for both physical and moral courage. Turn over the pages of history and select whatever true hero you like, you will find him at the moment -of peril, when it is most needed, a cool, deliber ate and invincible giant who had ban ished both fear and despair when he enlisted for battle. In short you will find him a man imbued with the stoical nihil mirari of old. If you desire to be a hero, try the same medicine. The world is before yuu, and in the path of life you will find your allotted share of obstruc tions and difficulties; but remember each victory will renew your courage and reinforce your strength. Never yield one inch from your duty, though the temptation be ever so great; it does not pay; there are a few hundred of us here who can testify to this from our sad experience. Many of us have “yielded,’’ some driven probably by despair, and others through want of moral courage; and still others because they did not keep cool, and act deliber ately at the hour of peril. IV hatever it may have been, let us profit by our past experience. Exiled from society, branded as convicts, and shut in by heavy bars our prospects are not to be envied. How many of us have not felt the last rays of strugling hope over shad owed and chilled by gloomy despair ? To know that you are lost, banished, dead-and still feel the living warm blood coursing through your veins is a horrible sensation; but my friends, let us not despair! It is of no use. Cour age, my boys! Take your medicine with the “will” and the “hope” though the taste may be ever so bitter. I overheard a remark the second of September made by an inmate, that he “wished it was the second of Sept, next year.” Of course it is quite nat ural for us to wish away our time; and I suppose that most of those who are “doing time” will agree on this par ticular point however widely they may differ on anything else. Still I cannot help but think it very foolish; such a wish is not only foolish, but wrong. First, because time is a precious gift beyond the power of man, and we ought therefore not to esteem it lightly or use it carelessly; and second, because the very wish increases our already heavy burden. Make the most of your time whether it be in prison nr “outside.” When at work, work with all your might, and employ evenings, and holidays in im proving your mind. Work, read, write, study, think, but whatever you do, do it with all your soul, and by and by you will find that time is flying faster than you really wish. Ho not say, “that this is all very well, but it is of no use to the convict; he is doomed.” True he is, and I realize it as keenly as any of you; but in spite of the doom, we can by perseverance and honesty, with the blessings of God, yet work out our OAvn salvation. The prison gate may not be the most advantageous starting point from which to begin a new journey of life, but if you desire to become what the Creator intended you to be —an honest man, you will find plenty of work awaiting you; and in the end receive the reward of the true and faithful. These are not empty phrases; I know whereof I speak. It is a fact proven by the life of men, who today occupy places of honor and trust. Some twenty or thirty years ago a young man was discharged from a prison in a certain country in Europe, after having served three years. Dur ing his imprisonment, and especially the first two years, he was often on the point of giving away to despair, and at one time, as said by himself, he actu ally raised the knife in order to end his -• a, '; • “IT IS NEVER TOD EATE TO MEND.” STILLWATER, MINNESOTA, OCTOBER 18, 1894. miseries; but an invisible hand stayed the arm, and when he walked out of the prison, it was with a determination to lead an honest life, and do what he could to save others and bring them to Him who in his mercy had spared his life and saved his soul from eternal damnation. Has he done it? Ah! my friend, there is a whole nation who with one voice will answer; “Yes ” He has converted a whole nation to Chris tianity, and civilized and educated the barbarians into an intelligent and prosperous people. His work is amaz ing; but he is a man of courage—of faith, hope and love; and such a man can accomplish wonders, At present he occupies a very high and trustworthy position in his adopted country, and is highly esteemed as a powerful divine, and a wise statesman, throughout the entire civilized world; i and honors rain on him wherever he • goes; still he is humble and does not • even now forget that he was once a prisoner. Other cases like this might be men tioned, but let this one suffice at pres ent. We can not all accomplish all this great man has; but if we do our best; if we make honest and rightful use of the talents bestowed on us, our reward will be in proportion. When the devil of despair, is after you, make him tiy before the bright sun of hope, and make a firm stand for whatever is right, and you may yet realize the dreams of your youth, Remember al so that, although the entire world seems to be against you, there is a merciful God who loves you. The nihil miruvi of the stoics, was a good grand princi ple; but it sinks into insignificance when compared with the lessons of courage and love, taught by Jesus Christ, both in life and death. If you want to be a hero, try to fol ! low him. Omega. CHARACTER AND PATRIOTISM American Citizenship a Sufficient Incen tive to Youth to Become Men of Great Character, and Patriots. Though man is not responsible for his reputation, he is for his character. It springs from the sentiments he cher ishes, and the habits he follows. The formation of a noble character is the noblest aim of man. By this he obtains his just rank in the scale of human be ings. Character lingers in public mem ory, as shades of the departed among the'living; and they are distributed in rank and place of honor, as paintings and statues in an art museum. Char acter follows man from youth to old age, from place to place, to his office, to his home and to the halls of congress, Dr. Johnson, apologizing for an English man, who was surprised at his speaking to Robert Burns, in coarse boots, said, “I spoke not to the boots but the man who stands in them; a man may not wear elegant apparel; live in a palace, 1 or dine upon luxuries, but if he has a character “A man’s a man for a’ that.” In his character he must appear be fore God. In it resides all the virtue and vice of his life. Mark well the growth of character. Just as a tree rises from the earth nourished by thousands of fibrous connections of roots, so is character nourished by a thousand unsuspected sources and con nections of life, knowledge and experi ence. Just as the rose bush and fruit tree extract qualities from the soil to make the color of the flower or the flavor of the fruit, so man draws from the soil of life material to form character. In certain seasons of the year there is a grand luminous light which appears in the west after sunset, and the twilight hours have faded away. The light is very delicate and appears in the shape of a cone which extends far over the sky but does not hide a single star. So exalted character shines brightly on the horizon of the world’s history. The character of the Son of Man has shone forth upon the world, making the moral heavens glow with splendor, and has awakened the awe, admiration and praise of generations. \\ ith distinct, but inferior brightness, have appeared Abraham, Moses and the Apostle Paul, though they are worthy of all imitation. The poet represents the man striving for fame as a traveler ascending the Alps at twilight, waving a banner with this inscription, “Excelsior/’ He pur sues his upward course, unheeding the clamorous voices of pleasure as they call to him from below; undaunted by the sliding avalanche and the frowning night; but ever his clarion voice rings out, as he ascends, “Excelsior.” After passing difficulty after difficulty, scaling summit after summit, and he is lost in the distance, a voice from the sky softly and musically utters, “Excelsior.” Nothing is beyond the reach of one who is constantly striving. But as he strives in this upward way one should always remember that others are striv ing as well as himself. He should not look simply to his own selfish aims. He must lend a helping hand to the faint and discouraged. In aiding others he will gain strength for himself. Un selfishness is the chief element of a noble character. It is this last that makes man willing to die for home and country. Two armies rush upon each other like avalanches from the side of a mountain. They pour volley after volley of death in each other’s ranks. What is the cause of all this bloodshed and destruc tion ? It is the love of home and native land. It is patriotism. The love of country is next to the love of home. Who has not realized this? "Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who never to himself has said, This Is my own my native land?’ Whose soul is it that is not stirred by the lines of our own dear hymn: “My country tis ot tliee Sweet laud of liberty?’’ r who does not feel sincerely “1 love thy rocks and rills: Thy woods and templed hills, My heart with rapture tills Like that above?” Patriotic achievements have been re corded by the historian, celebrated by poets and orators, and commemorated by painters and sculptors. The story of the three hundred Spartans sacrific ing their lives to the glory of their country; of Regulus spurning wealth offered for the compromise of Rome, and of Washington presenting himself to help protect the feeble colonies, then laying aside power and retiring to pri vate life, will be taught to the children of every generation. The love of coun try is sometimes great even if the country is not very magnificent; but it is increased to a great extent by the beauty and advantage of the land. If the Laplander, amid banks of eternal snow, or the Russian, writhing beneath the heel of oppression, or the Turk, a tool of lust and power, or the Chinaman, immersed in his seclusion of the world where ignorant hordes are born and die in poverty and stupidity, can shout, and fight, and die for his country, what ought not American youth to feel, and do, and dare, and suffer for their country? What is England’s glory as queen of the seas; France with her vine-clad hills and classic groves; Italy with her sunny skies and genial climes, and mementoes of other days of grandeur! What are they, compared with our own great land of prairie and sloping hill, of broad rivers and rolling lakes, of wide swamps, of towns, and of cities and states; of busy millions of free, hap py, thriving people; with schools, and churches at their doors, with telegraphs, railroads, and libraries in most of the towns? What are the European mill ions huddled and cramped in their corn ers, jostling against each other at every turn, compared with our own broad sweep of territory, stretching from sun rise to sunset, the unbroken solitude of which would hide these European mill ions from the light of the sun ? T „ uo ,| sl.ooper year, in advance I ERMo.-j six Months 50cents. We have room to strive labor and grow. If the young men had the stimulus of all things great and glorious to awak en their patriotism and stir their young blood in their country’s behalf, the young men of America must be the favored ones. Liberty’s home, freedom’s cradle, religion’s altar, humanity’s shrine, learning's retreat, the ark of safety and the olive branch of peace, are all theirs. Who can keep from loving such a country ? E. O. E. GENERAL LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, DICTATOR, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO. After Living: a Stormy and Brutal Life, His End Was Peaceful and Quiet. Few characters of whom there is any authentic record, have passed through greater vicissitudes than did Santa Anna. During his reign from 1825 to 1855, his life reads like a romance. Exiled no less than four times by the country, he returned each time but to increase his power. In viewing his character we should remember that it was moulded in a country whose people had passed two centuries in bondage, lie had seen his fore-fathers butchered, robbed, and held in slavery since the advent of Cortez, in the sixteenth cen tury. The blood of Mexico commingled with the worst of Spain's treacherous bandits. Many of the vices of his day were considered virtues, by the semi civilized people of Mexico, especially those of duplicity and cruelty in war fare. What nation of uncivilized peo ple has ever endured the treatment, that Mexico has received from Spain, and not borne traces of it, in their actions. The inhumanity shown by Santa Anna to Texas prisoners, captured in terri tory acknowledged to be a part of his country, at the Alamo, and Goliad, shows that the lesson was taught him by others. The encroachment by Ameri cans in Texas, California, and new Mexico was viewed by the Mexicans with alarm. The liberty which they had but recently gained from one foreign power, was threatened by another. In 1835, Santa Anna leading I a semi-civilized army against his re bellious subjects, as his fore-fathers had led the simple natives against the well disciplined Spaniards, he encoun tered his first opposition at San Antonio. With an army numbering 3,000 men he demanded the surrender of Col. Bowie and his command of one hundred and sixty-five Texans. The demand was i refused, and history records the in human butchery of this noble band of men for their refusal. Ilis next oppo sition was at Goliad, which was de fended by Col, Fannin and his com mand of 500 Texans. After a short resistance the Texans surrendered. Two days later they were marched out and shot down like dogs. Here Santa Anna used that duplicity characteristic of the Spanish blood. Under promises of being allowed to lay down their arms and retire to their homes, the Texans surrendered; a few days afterwards they were shot. Marching onward, Santa Anna encountered Gen. Houston at San Jacinto. No artifice could now be used, as the Texans were fully ac quainted with his methods. It was an unequal fight; twenty-two hundred Mexicans, against six hundred Texans; but the result clearly demonstrated the superiority of the civilized soldier over the savage, or the un-civilized. Santa Anna, who was taken prisoner, suffered a loss of 300 killed, and between 500 and 600 wounded, while Gen. Houston’s loss was but six killed, and seven wounded. In the State Capitol build ing at Austin, Texas, is a large painting, representing Santa Anna being brought into the presence of Gen. Houston, who is lying upon a cot, having been disa bled by a gun-shot wound in the foot, and with a look upon his face in which Santa Anna could see no hope. Hous ton listened to the Mexican, who, with (Continued on second page.)