Victories Of The Trowel

tValkins tJ day among the beautiful diurehes. and the grand public buildings of "Washington, I am reminded that while the victories of the sword have often been sung, and the power of the peo. has been recognized, tmd sculptor'e cblsel has leen lionored, there is one einployment that lias nat come to due appreciation. The trowel has liad much to do with the world'S history and progresa. Iedebrate the victories of the wowel. When the Prince of Wales in England, aft&r the ceremony of laying the corner Btone of a bridge, or art-gallery, or castle, or church, hangs up the trowel w-hich he used at the ceremony amomg the hundreds of trowels of similar occasions with wliich he has adorned a room in hls palace, he only honors that implement which has keen potent for ages. The sword does well, but it must have an armory in whicli to drill. The pen does -well, but It must have a library building in which to put its productions. Sculptor's chisel does well, but it must have a gallery in which to fetand its nchicvomeut.s. Science does well, but It must have a laboratory to shelter its batteries and telescopes. Religión does well', but it must have ohurcues in which to pray. ('ome, then, all prowess, all literature, all science, all civilization, and all religión, and help celébrate the victories of the trawei. It is an unpretentious implement, and is thrown carelessly among the kit of mechanic's tools. The -vorld has allowed all the years from the creation to thie moment to pass -without ono word of eulogy or appreciatiom. TVe all know the sound of It, aad day by day Kve hear it on the rising "walls of cities, and -we hiardly look up, and do not realize w!hat the trowel has done, and is now doimg in tbe nations. As it rings out on tJhe air, it gives the keynote to the Grand March of the centuries. Oh ! tOie trowel ! When it moves, the world moves, and when it halts the iworld lifllts, and when it goes down tliO world goes down, and when it rises, the world rlees. The Pantheon of Rome, tlie Parthenon oí Athens, the Allxambra in Spain, tlie Taj Mahal In India, Solomon's Templo in Jerusalem, the cathedrals of Salisbury and York and Lincoln and St. Paul, Arch of Trajan, Arch of Titus, Arch oí staatine. All tliese are children of the trowel. What built Thebee ? What built Babyion ? "VVhat built Ixmdon? What built these great sea-coast cities ? "What built the bright homes of the hemUpheres ? lh? trowel. It has 'been the lron liand tJhat more than once has held in its palm the destiny o; the nations. May the llessing of Go-d, come down upon all wlio wield it ! May its victories in the future surpaaa lts victories in the past ! And long after the last sword has clanked into its scabbard, never again to be unsheathed, may the trowrl g-o on buililina; up our inilividunl, domest ie aml uational prosperities.