Blue Grass Blade

Among the rather brilliant ideas that seem to leaven all western life, must certainly be counted that one which seeks to bring into closer relationship, the plow and the public library. Instead of furthering the old attempt to make the farmer read Pilgrim's Progress and Fox's Book of Martyrs, an idea has been turned loose in Wisconsin, to let him have what he desires to read and has the taste to appreciate and enjoy. This is another break from orthodoxy.

The political and economic systems of every civilized country must of necessity represent a compromise between conflicting forces which hold each other in check. If we have ultra-conservatives we need ultra-radicals to keep the ear of progress out of the ruts. Where we have the latter we need the former to prevent us rushing pell mell into experimentalism that would lead to disaster. The radicals, however, have ever furnished the dynamics of civilization.

Instead of wasting the ammunition of Freethought upon Satan's light infantry we should train our guns upon the heavy artillery of heaven's hosts. Nothing can be gained by wrangling about trifles. What will it matter one hundred years from now? Who will know the particular crease in a pair of trousers or the frills upon a dress? We should be more careful concerning what we put into our heads instead of what we cover them with.

Thought and action are the great necessities of human life. It were greater glory to have lost at Thermopylae than to have won on fairer fields. Lucifer's blazing banner may cover an imperishable crown. Who knows?

There are noteworthy instances at hand to indicate that the thought force of the American nation has been seriously arrested. The average business man has so little time for reading and as a natural consequence he does but a small amount of real thinking. He may crave knowledge, but he wants it in condensed form. He wants it prepared for him. As there is nothing national in art or literature, these belonging to the world, the purveyor of thought and opinion strives to put his wares in acceptable shape to the multitude, to please rather than inform, to amuse rather than instruct, and this will readily account for the suspension of real advanced thought on this continent.

Hell is a practical necessity to the preacher. Abolish hell and the preacher's occupation would be gone, for he would have nothing to save us and take up a collection for doing it. Abolish hell and the preacher would have difficulty in warning the people to dodge infidelity or Freethought. Abolish hell and the whole plan of the redemption through the blood of Christ is upset, for there would be nothing from which man had or wanted to be redeemed. Out of hell and the fire that melts and tortureth the preacher derives his great strength. It is really the one rock upon which the church has been built. Remove it and the church is gone forever.