THE HESPERIAN.
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he did c.cconiplisMKwSSmt5ninSanuc following words
of Cnrlylc concluding fciscsaiy on Voltaire, in which ninny an
adverse crilicisMjfwd'o him: "lie gave the death stab
to modern supcrMition! - jjjy. That, with superstition,
religion is" also passing nwayjvsmns to us a still more tin
grounded fear. On the whole',' wc must repent the often re
peated saying, that it is unworthy a religious one cither with
alarm or aversion; or with any other feeling than regret, and
hope, and brotherly commiseration." It is time that it
should cease to be a mark of piety to refuse to recognize the
good, little or much, that has been done by those who have
been led "to oppose the church.
CUKRUMT COMMENT.
Again the South has been the scene of another outrage.
The newly appointed postmaster at Sharon Ga., was not long
ago brsct by a democratic mob "and forced to resign. The
only reason given for this detestable act is that Mr. Duckworth
the postmaster, had formerly been a democrat, but had ac
cented the office from a republican administration. We do
not dispute the fact that partisanship is a good thing but
when one becomes so infatuated with a pol tical party that
one is blinded to all principle and right, it is time to call a
halt. In the case of MfflDuckworth his ability to discharge
the office was not asssRca. He had simply gone from the
ranks of one political party to the ranks of the other, and for
this icason alone he was ousted. Men arc continually chang
ing from the republican party to the democratic party and
vice versa, so why should there be such a commotion in this
case? The federal government saw fit to place Mr. Duck
worth in this high position, anil the action of the democratic
mob has placed a slur on the government that intelligent and
fair minded men should strenuously oppose. It is supposed
that the federal government is able to perform its duties and
fulfill its obligations without any outside help and until the
contrary is proven an uniawuu resistance suouiu ue mmwi
alcly quelled. Such strifes as this, between the republicans
and democrats tend to destroy that fellow feeling that should
exist between the two parties, and to place our country in no
enviable condition.
An amendment to the world's fair bill has been proposed,
the object of which is to place ladies on the board of commis
sioners of the fair. This is a good plan, and the amendment
should be adopted. Both sexes will then become interested
and success will be assured. Next to Columbus, who dis
covered America, credit should be given to Isabella, who
made it possible for Columbus to go on his voyage of discov
ery. The ladies' "Isabella League" would sec that the
queen would not be forgotten at the celebration, and the un
veiling of a statue of her would form a very interesting part
of the ceremonies.
At last the place for holding the world's fair has been sc
lectcd. The fieht has been lone and hotly contested. Of
the four cities that wished to have the fair Chicago and New
York were in the lead from the start, but when the final bal
lot was taken New York had to give way and see her oppo
nent, Chicago, carry off the honors. The West may consider
herself fortunate in obtaining the world's fair, for the im
mense crowds of pcopli that will be brought here during thai
time will have a splendid oportunity to obscive the resources
of this country, and this is what we want. The licit, fertile
soil is the principal attraction of the West, and by locating the
fair at Chicago those who visit it will be brought almost into
the heart of the western country. While the products of for
cign nations will be there in abundance, yet products from
this country will be there also, and besides these, we will have
the advantage of othef nations by placing our whole country
on exhibit.
Chicago has taken a very heavy burden upon herself. It
is a great responsibility and one that she should not be left
to bear alone. No matter whether the fair will be held in
1892 or 1893 there will be an immense amount of work to be
done; work that should enlist the interest and aid of every
loyal American.
From the ranks ol the corps of civil engineers one of the
brightest lights ol that profession has passed away. A man
who is as old as the profession itself, and to whose cfTorts is
largely due the greatest advance in civil engineering as re-"
gards steam and its appliances. Although now dead Captain
John Ericsson, during his life, carved on the walls of fame a
name which time will not efface. A vast amount of work was
marked out for him to do, and nobly did he do it. His
mind was always under his control and never once did it re
linquish its duties. His labors were so constant that he
found little time to devote to the outside world and for this
reason was never brought into very great prominence before
the people, but who deserves more to have his memory per
petuated than John Ericsson? He was a Swede by birth.
I3orn July 31, 1803. His principal study through life was the
steam engine, and it is said he designed over 500 of them.
After he had been in England two years (1S2S) he invented
a steam firexnginc, the success of which exceeded his ex
pectationsyMK he was no more free from trials and reverses
than was anyothcr great inventor. This invention was looked
upon with suspicion by some, the hose was cut by jealous fire
men, and for want of a better excuse the authorities claimed
that the engine consumed too much water, hence they did not
deem it advisable to use it. v
As an illustration of his great inventive genius, and to
show how carefully he studied and how well he had his work
planned out in his own mind one incident will suffice. In
1829 a prize of 500 was offered for the best locomotive built
on certain principles. Twenty -one weeks were given the
contestants before the day set for testing the engines. Mr.
Ericsson did not hear of this offer until seven weeks before
the time was to expire. He then went to work in earnest
and constructed a locomotive which he called the "Novelty,"
but he had no time to try its merits before the day of the
trial came. Ihcrc were several engines tested but the two
best ones were his engine and one made by Stephens called
the "Rocket" The "Rocket was a clumsier engine than the
"Novelty," but Stephenson had tried it himself anil had it in
good working order. The "Novelty" was the favorite from
the start, but while it was being examined some parts of it
gave way and Ericsson withdrew it from the contest and
Stephenson was awarded the prize although the judges ac
knowledged that the "Novelty" made the better appearance.
Captain Ericsson ncer spent much money on himself, but
in order to realize an idea 01 theory he would spend enor
mous amounts. In 1839 he came to the United Stales, and in
1843 built the "Princeton," a vessel on which he spent two
years of constant labor and which, when completed, was a
great benefit to the nation. The advent of the "Princeton"
was a new departure in the method of navigation vessels. It
marked a distinct change in the progress of naval science,
but, although it was so highly advantageous to the govern
ment, yet Ericsson was only awarded a very trivial sum for
what he had accomplished. This sort of action seems to
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