A TRIBUTE TO LAURA ARCHER
By Glenn L. Archer
We buried Aunt Laura (Archer) today in Densmore beside her husband Joseph who died in 1915. I traveled 1,400 miles to be at her bier, because to me her passing was like the closing of a final chapter in a pioneer family album.
In 1939 I prepared and delivered an address for the Governor of Kansas at the dedicatory service of the pioneer father and mother represented today by two huge bronze statues in Gage Park, in Topeka. Into that speech I put the roll of covered wagon wheels, the silent marks of sturdy plan, the flash of everyday rifle. In it too was the hardy; brave spirit and the indomitable faith of the men and women who "crossed the Prairie as their forbearers crossed the sea." That speech spoke of droughts, grasshoppers, prairie fires, Indian raids, hunger and hardship, and as I presented true images of pioneer life Governor Henry J. Allen, sitting close by, pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and brushed away a tear.
In many important ways Aunt Laura was the living incarnation of those beautiful bronze statues of pioneers standing in Gage Park, symbols of strength and courage. She lived what all such memorials represent.
When she came to this County, Norton City was but a few huts, log and sod houses on the Prairie Dog; the entire county was one vast expanse of Virgin prairie. Now and then a buffalo was seen south of Densmore, and a few Indians, fall-outs of tribal life, lived along the Solomon River. To our county she witnessed the coming of the train, the car, the radio, the airplane, the telephone and the television. In her span of ninety-one years science gave to the world more inventions than it had in 5,000 years previously. Also she saw three wars and gave her sons to each. All of this and more she saw with eyes now closed forever, and heard with ears that shall hear no more.
Death is a sting and a station, but only a station in the upward climb of mankind to higher things. I believe that Aunt Laura, and all other brave and true pioneer women do not really die but have an immortality that shines thru children, neighbors, and live in mighty deeds. Their spirits never die but live on forever to encourage and inspire, new achievements and fresh devotion.
So we buried only her body; that gay, brave, triumphant spirit that was Aunt Laura's dances now upon some other dawn.
By Glenn L. Archer
We buried Aunt Laura (Archer) today in Densmore beside her husband Joseph who died in 1915. I traveled 1,400 miles to be at her bier, because to me her passing was like the closing of a final chapter in a pioneer family album.
In 1939 I prepared and delivered an address for the Governor of Kansas at the dedicatory service of the pioneer father and mother represented today by two huge bronze statues in Gage Park, in Topeka. Into that speech I put the roll of covered wagon wheels, the silent marks of sturdy plan, the flash of everyday rifle. In it too was the hardy; brave spirit and the indomitable faith of the men and women who "crossed the Prairie as their forbearers crossed the sea." That speech spoke of droughts, grasshoppers, prairie fires, Indian raids, hunger and hardship, and as I presented true images of pioneer life Governor Henry J. Allen, sitting close by, pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and brushed away a tear.
In many important ways Aunt Laura was the living incarnation of those beautiful bronze statues of pioneers standing in Gage Park, symbols of strength and courage. She lived what all such memorials represent.
When she came to this County, Norton City was but a few huts, log and sod houses on the Prairie Dog; the entire county was one vast expanse of Virgin prairie. Now and then a buffalo was seen south of Densmore, and a few Indians, fall-outs of tribal life, lived along the Solomon River. To our county she witnessed the coming of the train, the car, the radio, the airplane, the telephone and the television. In her span of ninety-one years science gave to the world more inventions than it had in 5,000 years previously. Also she saw three wars and gave her sons to each. All of this and more she saw with eyes now closed forever, and heard with ears that shall hear no more.
Death is a sting and a station, but only a station in the upward climb of mankind to higher things. I believe that Aunt Laura, and all other brave and true pioneer women do not really die but have an immortality that shines thru children, neighbors, and live in mighty deeds. Their spirits never die but live on forever to encourage and inspire, new achievements and fresh devotion.
So we buried only her body; that gay, brave, triumphant spirit that was Aunt Laura's dances now upon some other dawn.
A TRIBUTE TO LAURA ARCHER
By Glenn L. Archer
We buried Aunt Laura (Archer) today in Densmore beside her husband Joseph who died in 1915. I traveled 1,400 miles to be at her bier, because to me her passing was like the closing of a final chapter in a pioneer family album.
In 1939 I prepared and delivered an address for the Governor of Kansas at the dedicatory service of the pioneer father and mother represented today by two huge bronze statues in Gage Park, in Topeka. Into that speech I put the roll of covered wagon wheels, the silent marks of sturdy plan, the flash of everyday rifle. In it too was the hardy; brave spirit and the indomitable faith of the men and women who "crossed the Prairie as their forbearers crossed the sea." That speech spoke of droughts, grasshoppers, prairie fires, Indian raids, hunger and hardship, and as I presented true images of pioneer life Governor Henry J. Allen, sitting close by, pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and brushed away a tear.
In many important ways Aunt Laura was the living incarnation of those beautiful bronze statues of pioneers standing in Gage Park, symbols of strength and courage. She lived what all such memorials represent.
When she came to this County, Norton City was but a few huts, log and sod houses on the Prairie Dog; the entire county was one vast expanse of Virgin prairie. Now and then a buffalo was seen south of Densmore, and a few Indians, fall-outs of tribal life, lived along the Solomon River. To our county she witnessed the coming of the train, the car, the radio, the airplane, the telephone and the television. In her span of ninety-one years science gave to the world more inventions than it had in 5,000 years previously. Also she saw three wars and gave her sons to each. All of this and more she saw with eyes now closed forever, and heard with ears that shall hear no more.
Death is a sting and a station, but only a station in the upward climb of mankind to higher things. I believe that Aunt Laura, and all other brave and true pioneer women do not really die but have an immortality that shines thru children, neighbors, and live in mighty deeds. Their spirits never die but live on forever to encourage and inspire, new achievements and fresh devotion.
So we buried only her body; that gay, brave, triumphant spirit that was Aunt Laura's dances now upon some other dawn.
By Glenn L. Archer
We buried Aunt Laura (Archer) today in Densmore beside her husband Joseph who died in 1915. I traveled 1,400 miles to be at her bier, because to me her passing was like the closing of a final chapter in a pioneer family album.
In 1939 I prepared and delivered an address for the Governor of Kansas at the dedicatory service of the pioneer father and mother represented today by two huge bronze statues in Gage Park, in Topeka. Into that speech I put the roll of covered wagon wheels, the silent marks of sturdy plan, the flash of everyday rifle. In it too was the hardy; brave spirit and the indomitable faith of the men and women who "crossed the Prairie as their forbearers crossed the sea." That speech spoke of droughts, grasshoppers, prairie fires, Indian raids, hunger and hardship, and as I presented true images of pioneer life Governor Henry J. Allen, sitting close by, pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and brushed away a tear.
In many important ways Aunt Laura was the living incarnation of those beautiful bronze statues of pioneers standing in Gage Park, symbols of strength and courage. She lived what all such memorials represent.
When she came to this County, Norton City was but a few huts, log and sod houses on the Prairie Dog; the entire county was one vast expanse of Virgin prairie. Now and then a buffalo was seen south of Densmore, and a few Indians, fall-outs of tribal life, lived along the Solomon River. To our county she witnessed the coming of the train, the car, the radio, the airplane, the telephone and the television. In her span of ninety-one years science gave to the world more inventions than it had in 5,000 years previously. Also she saw three wars and gave her sons to each. All of this and more she saw with eyes now closed forever, and heard with ears that shall hear no more.
Death is a sting and a station, but only a station in the upward climb of mankind to higher things. I believe that Aunt Laura, and all other brave and true pioneer women do not really die but have an immortality that shines thru children, neighbors, and live in mighty deeds. Their spirits never die but live on forever to encourage and inspire, new achievements and fresh devotion.
So we buried only her body; that gay, brave, triumphant spirit that was Aunt Laura's dances now upon some other dawn.
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