Memorials Of The Minnesota Forest Fires In The Year 1894: With A Chapter On The Forest Fires In Wisconsin In The Same Year (1895)

MEMORIALS OF THE IN THE YEAR 1893 WITH A CHAPTER ON THE FORESTFIRES IN WISCONSIN IN THE SAME YEAR - 1895 - PREFACE - The question with vhich a man has to do, who writes memorials of events, which are worthy to be had in remembrance, is one of accuracy what really took plaoe - A-hen, where, how and what were the results. To depart from hat is the strict truth is to do violence to history, to invent, not narrate events, and the writer who descends to it finds to his cost that Fiction entices and deceives, and sprinkled oer 1. her fragrant leaves, lies poisonous dew. It is my aim in these memorials to set in order the suffering ndblj endured, the great losses sustaine.. l, and the prompt and generous help given so freely by men in every walk of life, professors of all religions and of none, saint and sinner, rich and poor alike. In the doing of this, it is my hope to further the ends of Christian charity, and the nlutual regard man owes to his fellow man as being members of one cornmoll family, the children of one loving Fathqer. In all historic time the heoric men who have added glory to their age, have been held in high esteem for them anthems have been sung, monuments raised, processions and gala days arranged the sweetest poets have sung their fame, and the loftiest prose has told their praise all this has not been, it is not now, for sentimental purposes it har a firm foundation, and serves a far reaching and useful purpose. If is by the recital of daring and unselfish deeds that high ideals art kept before the public mind, that youth, in its ardor, in its desire of achievement, may rise to the opportunities presented in all thei moral splendor, and thus renen-the valor, and conqueststheir father won. It is one of the very first principles which comes into operation in the assimilation of ideas, that men grow like the patterns they set before themselves. All tlle great writers on morals have pointed this out every page. in books like Mr. Leckys History of European Morals, proves its truth, and never failing incidents. Whatever ideals me11 have had they have sought some personifi-6 . . a... MEJIOR1, ZLS 03 JIISSE30TA FOREST FIRES. 0 LORD, ho v manifold are thy works In wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is fuil of thy riches.-KISG DAVID. The heavens are the Lords, the earth with all things therein and thereon, hath he given to the children of men. Everything in its proper place is good. Nature and natural law know no mistakes. i-otl ing exists but for wise purposes. It is mans duty to find what those purposes are, and then obtain all the good he can from them. The ancient seer probably wrote much better than he knew, ivhen he said of trees, Their frait shall be for meat, and their leaves for medicine. In nlalarial countries, this has been proved true. Since the time Adam and his wife were in the garden of Eden, trees, woods and forests have been objects of study, admiration and known usefulness. It is, however, doubtful whethe-even our wisest and most cultivated men know the most important things about them. hiany questions are engaging the closest attention of our most alert thinkers, careful watch is being kept, notes taken and comparisons made in different lands respecting the influence of trees on climate, ho vth ey grow, and -hat all the purposes they serve in the economy of nature are...