We hereby republish the editorial, as above entitled, which appeared in the June, 1897, Journal, giving our editorial space in this issue to it, as somewhat changed.
"It was a fair and beautiful city, set in a valley of enchanting loveliness. It numbered many thousands of inhabitants, a thrifty, happy, contented people. Sickness was almost unknown within its healthful precincts, and death a rarity. Of physicians there were few, and those few did little business. Fear of sickness prevailed not. for there was little to arouse fear. A panic of sickness had never been known. Epidemics of sickness had never been heard of. So healthful was the mental atmosphere that physical sickness had little sway. And so, for many happy years, the people came and went, living away the days in such employments and pastimes as are peculiar to mortals in their best estate.
"Suddenly there came a change. Sickness in varied forms appeared. The erstwhile serenity vanished. The people became panic-stricken. The physicians already there were kept busy day and night; others were called from neighboring places, and many new ones located there because of the opportunities for employment. Hospitals, before unknown, now sprang up on all sides, where the sick and dying were placed in scores. The good Christian people of the city organized all forms of societies for the relief of the sick and suffering. The hearts of human love and sympathy went out in tenderness to the afflicted. Many heroic acts, bringing out the better qualities of the human heart, were performed. The physicians wrought nobly and heroically, many of them almost wearing themselves out in their zealous efforts to relieve and cure their unfortunate patients. Their noble efforts were well seconded by the good men and women of the city who themselves escaped the dread maladies. The good clergymen were not less busy than the physicians in visiting the sick and dying and preaching funeral sermons, in the which they discoursed beautifully, if sadly, of the mysteries of divine providence, and the wondrous works of God. They were wont to say that God sent sickness to remind the people of their wickedness, to chastise them for it, and to purify and chasten, that they might be better and happier when it was over. When they were not engaged in preaching funeral sermons they were as heroic, in their sphere, as were the physicians and other good people, in their efforts to prevent their neighbors from dying. But notwithstanding all the untiring effort, zeal, sympathy, and medical aid, thousands were annually dying of the unconquerable maladies.
