Peter Cooper

One can hardly realize tbat tliat noble senefactor, PeterCooper, has crossedthe dark river. Although for over 20 years living upon "borrowed time," we had almost grown to count the pleasant old man as among the immortals, and to beieve that the pure, holy beneficience of lis life might remain for loDg years, as a purifying, sauctifying influence in the midst of a world feverish with care and urmoil. Températe in all things, his ife had lasted f ar beyond the "threescoro years and ten," until at last inexorable Nature claimed her rights, and ?eter Cooper's name was a d d c d o the list of those "gone bef ore." His was the life of a representativo American, in every sense of the word. 3e entered pon the active duties of ife, when men of energy and perseverance were required to develope the material resources of our country. He bean his career poor and self-dependent, Dut possessed of a versatility of powers, lonorable shrewdness and an indomita3le persistance equalled by none. Sfaturally a mechanic, his genius found scope in inventions embodyiug ideas far n advance of his time, and the record of his business nndertaking and inventions is one of active industry and scrupulous ftdelity to every trust. Whatever he undertook, was done in the best way that he could command. But wkh all his business cares and perplexities, he did not allow tiis eneigies to be confined to business rangement of the moments, he found time for that wonderful self-education and the fostering of thoso benevolent tendencies which in after years took shape in manifold eflbrts to do good for others. Combined with these traits was a wonderful fav-sightedness, to which he owes his place as the father of American railroads, and the surety which enabled the iirst Atlantic cable to be corupleted. In this life of Peter Cooper, as, indeed ín the lives of all noble men, therc are [essons for all, and we do well to emulate their worthy example. There are rnen who have worked their way up to positions of affluence, and, dving, have been forgotten. Not so with Peter Cooper. When his life and that of our beloved country entcrcd upon the stage of growing wealth and comparative ease and comfort, in which the hidden treasures of our land began to yield to industry, education and culture, Peter Cooper carne prqmptly forward to raeet the increasing need, consequent upon the advancement made, with the institute which will transmit his name to posterity. No more royal, princely gift was ever bestowed upon the people by a private citizen. No better gift was ever made to art and reience. Our nation neecis more citizens of this stamp; more men, vvho from their abundance are willing to give to aid in lifting the burden of sorrow and care and sin from the life of their fellowmen, who move in the humbler walks of life. In private life he was the friend of all, and it were yain to try teil of the nuniberless charities, the overilowing goodness of heart, thesunny, cheerful philosophy of life, whieh made him the loved and venerated friend of the rich and poor. As to his political views, many have held them to be erroneous, and men of more zeal than charity have held them up to ridicule; yet many of his peculiar beliefs are really due to his unbounded charity and good will. As no man can point to an unjust transaction in his business career, so none, whatever the question may have been, havo ever found reason to assail him in a spirit of uittcrness. His sturdy, upright honest life is a model of virtues, foreign to too many of the yonnger generation of men, and his work as a philanthropist and benefactoy stands waiting temulalion. fr - Prof. A. E. Blount, in a lecturo on "Wheat and Wheat Culture," before a Colorado institute, said that smut in wheat often is cotnmunicated to the growing erop by the pafticles of smut that auhere to the oíd stublo, and he advises the burning ofl' the stubblo of fields of wheat wherc smut had prevailed. Vitrioling seed wheat woultl ouly purify the seed, but if smut was on the old stubble it would be of no avail if wheat was to follow wheat. Two young fellows stoodin front of a bill-board the other night intensely perusing the nnnouncenient of the Boston Ideal Opera Company. Finally one re marked: "What is the 'Boston Ideal anyhow?" The latter looked at him half contemptuously for a moment and replied in a deprecatory tone: "Don't yoB know what the Boston Ideal isP Why, you ninny, it's baked beans." - Hartford Globe. A man is not good or bad for one action.