"WHATTHINK YEOFCHRIST? k i i A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst. Aby Sa Ms Pjop'e Q t Tl.ed ol 0:b; 'brilliant, ISr.w obk C'ITY.-Dr. Charles H. Park hurst, pastor of the Madison Niiinre I'res bytenan Church, preached Sunday morning j an 'What Think Ye of Christ?'' from the tvoids found in Mark viii:23: "Whom aay ye that I am?" Ur. Pnrkhurst said among aiher things: J.'hrist meani to you something; what il Christ Himself aski this of Hit disciples It m the hint Christian catechism. Urief, ini nciniutmi iv is e-aiecnism, nnu k tiods warrant for our asking doctrinal riuesiions, and Ilia warrant, too, for our inswcr to thorn. Christ's inquiry litre moans that He ex pects Jl is disciples to have convictions convictions in regard to Himself nt any late and definite enough for them to be able to stale them. Ntch convictions may be more correct, may be less to, but an itn in'i i'rct opinion is belter than none, and no opinion ends in beinu periect that did not begin by being imperfect, and sound con- .'vicuon is blunder convicted and converted. J'vrrytliing human lupins in a mistake. ' Knur is tne lonniy noil out of which truth 'srgetatr and b.ossoms. 'J'lie history ol iiiiiubiijiii , ncieiK-e nnu meo.ofry illustrates s jbis principle with a distinct cogency that is unanswerable. So that we need iiot be loo much niraid of being in error provided on y we cling to our error with a tenacity that is not simply tenacious, but that i o honest and intelligent. What think ye of Christ! His appeal here is to man considered as an animal who thinks," who has ideas, ideal of his own, take's impressions from what is shown him, - ' told to him, acted out before him, and im pressions that so groove themselves into bis substance as to take defined shape and snap that is fairly permanent. Just as objects make an image of themselves in the ve, so facts, events, truths, make an ini .citfe 01 themselves in the mind that is, they do if the mind is an alert mind, sensi . tive, responsive. A man can, of course, Wk without seeing anything; so he can ' a ii' ar without learning anything; live in the " presence of great realities ana come awny .iimi enrin v-iiuoue. carrving upon uis soul ny of their imprint. An ox can look to-wn-d the west at 6 o'clock in the afternoon without observing any sunset; there is a yoou. ilea i oi me uovine still in most ot ut that call ourselves human, and that is why we behold so little of what is realiv visible nd why we garr.cr so little of the fruit that falls into our laps. A duck can go through the water and still come out dry A boy can go through colleee without anj of the college going through him. Juda wa.Ked three years with Jesus and finished by being a devil. What think ye of Christ? He wants tt find out from His diciplcs, then, what im resion of Himself He has left with them .v.-hut stamp He has put upon them. Whai they think of Him will be only anothei nam" for the record of Himself that Hn teilhinps and demeanor have left prlntcc u pea their intelligences. 1 um trying ti liave you realize that their opinion of Tlin that He was trying to get hold of wai iimethiug definite. y traceab'e to the working influence upon tliem of His oni presence and activity. He is not interest 1 to know what they imagine Him to be nor what they logically imer He may be ' nor what some one has told them that H is. He has been for some time demonstrate i lie Himself to them by word, act and spirit, and if they arc not altogether like the duck in the water or the ox before the 'unset, as presumably they are not. tliu demonstration of Himself to them bos in come way told upon them, it has lodged something within t liom, and He want) them to give a name to it. Their opinior. of Him was something that He had Him self been the means of making to grow u; in them without their consciously having ( -any part in the matter themselves. It wat tint something they had borrowed froii somewhere nor something that they hac jicrsonully striven to acquire. Opinion, then, if it is anything more than mere quotation, copy of what some -one else ha thought, is one of the tlii'iai that grow The influence that starts the -conviction .ill, if it continues to operate go on mil' '. f to that conviction's strength -and inter y. As illustrative of this com pare the "leebleness and timorousuess ol the convictions of the disciples when the) began to believe in Jesus with what tho convictions were when at the end of theii course thev laid down their lives in mar tyrdom. That , is the natural course ol things. It is natural for a Mower to con iinue to grow if it stands in the same sun shie and rain as that which first made il begin to grow. If a flower conies up out . -of the ground, crows for a day and then uddenly stops growing and remains as il is, you know something is the matter cither there is a worm at the root or tin .air too cold or the soil too dry. It is not natural for it not to go on improving upon itse'f. adding to itself. Jt is a sorry condition, then, that a mac ij in, that a Christian believer is in, when be says tbat he has the same opinion ol Christ, that he had a year ago. It toils t ad story of the way the year has beer passion with him. If the vine that i twin ing itself around your trellis clothes i tacit in no more leaves and nuts forth no mon V.ossoma this summer than it did last snm mr, the season must have been an infefici tnus one for plant life or there if some ' thine serious the matter with the viue. I have in this been speaking broadly ni conviction in general, but of course thi reference specifically intended is to relig ious conviction, and more specifical.y stil. to the conviction contemplated when th iiestion was asked, "What think ye o: Christ?" We doubtless all nf us havi some oqnvict.on respecting Him; that is we V us possess among our other com . oij ' - nd be'ongingK either out on thi labli tinted away in some drawer oi sr'osev -r stored in the garret among othei -Oiiijsed furniture or obso'ete bric-a brac aornething which we called (and proper!) fa'!) a belief in Christ, an opinion ahull Him. a conviction concerning Him. V are willing to assume, too, tbat it may b a verv valid conviction, sound, yea, thor oughly in the terms of Scripture. Yes. but granting all that, is there any of to-day 'i ap in it or is it an antiquity? It i"eans a great deal to sav of a min'i Christian conviction that it is a living von viction. that it it aoing on to-day min laimntra continuous life, freshly ministered to and daily sunnlied by communication! from the same divine source that first ini iiairu ii. a uesu conviction we uave tc x aroun.' s conviction that is alive take) tia around. It means a continuous sensi ot the reality of that to which our eonvie tion fastens. It brings everything dowt to dute and sets it out in 'front of us Memory does not have to be appealed tc to recall it, nor books, manuscripts, cate chisms rummaged through in order to so thepticate it. It is an imbedded impulsi tl. ,t keeps pushing and that goes on -push in with an ever accelerated pace and i widening nergy while we stand neai enough to Hiin whom we believe in to have His preence made ever more immediati 1o us. His reality more real to ut. It ii for that reason that some believers can be licve ''tiy nicely and yet behave very bad Iv. There is not the s'ightest inenmuatibil ity between being orthodox and being vil lainnus, only in order that that may Ik posiib'a the orthodoxy in question must hi a 'cad orthodoxy, last year's leaf tbougt till slued to this year's tree. When Christ taugat us to pray "Give tu this any our daily bread" He probabl) mi ant us tu understand that in the spirit vol life as well as in the stomach eontinu tnus health means consecutive supply. Th're is no incompatibility between your parlor Wing brilliantly luminous at noon and lilsi-k with Kgyptian darkness at midnight, flight is not laid on in fast colors; neitlier "is the light of God, and the heavenly ra ils noe that was upon us in 1902 is no guar antee against devilish blackness being upon sis in ltK.'t. Kven Christ's power over us is s-slid only for the time that it ia over us, o that the liveliest kind of orthodoxy, lM-ovided it ia merely a mummified re siduum from an extinct experience, is no , V.ind of an soibsrrsssinent to the sery liveliest kind nf depravity. It ia all right a believe in the doctrine ef perseverance f the saint that peaaerere. bat that doe trine, applied in cold literalism, has bne as much aa any ooe thing perhaps to pre ent their persevering. If the money a man has in his pocket to-dav ia thnuyht by j.'.ar U.uuOkiratao. VJtl. CI but ti-bu, Jefrsy all his expenses ami secure an no li red comforts and luxuries for an indefi nite time to come he will feel no incentive (o going out and eirning a couple of dol lars to-morrow, an ! so his confidence In the ihsolute and everlasting suflicioncy of his present nooket containing may esi!y is lie in his turning n"U"r. Thoje illuatrn lions only serve to indicate what T mean by saving thnt n r"in may be a orthodox is r'alvin snd ss wicked as he know how. The principle we hove been discussing i'so explains whv it is thnt so many people who show a good deal of Christian real nt the stsrt so soon get tird of being Chris tians. To have earnest views of Christ and to be intensely interested in them and con trolled by them cannot, nnfortunntcly, be ;sken as a certain ign of the onntinunnce jf that interest. The falling off. the cool ing down of Christian cnlnusiaam is com non exnerience. Kven the disciples, at Jesus' temporary withdrawal from them t crucifixion, threw up th whole matter, resumed their old life and went birk to their fishing. Interest is rjot self-sustaining. Enthusiasm, like a burning candle, :onsumes itself in its own hent. The sun. to astronomers tell us. would burn itself nut and our systems fall hack into originnl rlarknes were not special provision made for keening un the sun's temnernture. t At the same time there are lines nf ef. tort and employment where interest, on the contrary, never docs seem to flag, where heat is not only maintained, but with ft mercury that is rather steadily on ;he rise. Setting aside the familiar' and :ather shop worn instance of the money tetter, who, the more he gets, the intenser, ts n rule, becomes his ambition to got. :hat is onlv on of the man'- pursnits s-here the like enhancement of interest, counting tin in many cases to the height if a steadilv growing passion, is seen t-i vince itself. Kxamnles of this nre. I ilioti'd say. eapecialiy frequent nmon-t icholars devoted to the scientific investi lation nf rntnre and nature's bonifies and marvels. Hut in the lnstnnces of such ad vancing and steadi'v intensifying interest the particu'ar fact t wou'd beg you to no t;ce is that what keeps the investigator's heart glowing with a warmer and wanner fervor is not the arrnv of facts that have been brought distinctly within the range of his knowledge, that he has been ab'e definitely to tabulate, and of which in some time post he has Issued ft complete and finished catalogue. It is the constant stepping forward on to new ground that keeps his thoughts alert and his heart aglow. Wbatevr it be, the old is n!wa-j tiresome, only the new is interesting. To the naturalist the world regains its fascina tion, although an old world, because of the deeper entrance he day by dav trains into that world and the ever frsh disclosures of newly discovered wonderfulness mid beauty thnt she thereby makes over to him. In the same wav there are certain books that we read and re-read. In a way they are old books, but it is not their old ness that fascinates us but a certain ever-l-sting newness that lay beyond the read of our previous perusals, as eyes thnt look quietly and intensely into the night-sky see stars that are sunki oo deep in the firma ment to be caught by n first and ray glance. And that suggests tVc old holy bonk, the liible, which is always new ami which the church a'ways loves, because there is that n it always which ur Ia; reading was 'y on th edge of discover ing. If the c' .ireh should ever come to the end of the Jiib'e it would throw it away. Some people have thrown it away al ready: som who seem to them--" .es 'to b Christiai "lave thrown it n. ... ;.it seems to them they have come to the end of it. To them there is noth;ng new in it ary more, so, of course, by the nrincinle we are illustrating they can do nothing hut throw it awav. The ox kuows enough to Seel when it is dark, but never sees a sunset. All nf this leads up easily to an explana tion of the fact stated a moment ago that so many who have begun to be Christians get tired of being Christians after a while; it has ceased to offer them anything new to which interest enn nttm-h and Ytv tv'ninh therefore enjoyment can he kept alive. I imy reaened a littie conviction ua to the real import of Christ, entfred into a cer tain amount of relation with Him. had a degre of experience of Him, learned a iitt'o 3f what He could do to strengthen in weak ness, brighten in darkness, comfort in sor row and disanpointm t, and then every thing stopped. Ins. d of "going on to know the Lord," drawing closer and closer to Him, and pressing forward into the deeper and deeper meanings involved in His Spirit, presence and companionship, they drew up all that purt of the matter, ruiiiiuatcd only upon such little prospect as had opened to them, till they became weary of it, drank the old cup of consola tion till its waters became stale, munched the drying crumbs of light, strength and comfort till they were moldy, strained themselves to keep v. arm by a tire that had gone out, and ended, of course, by con cluding tliut whatever might be the theo retical value of personal religion it was nothing if not uuinteresting, and people will not, if they can help it. permanent!? commit themselves to a course of drudgery, even if that drudgery be baptized by so honorable a name as Christianity. Closing this morning with the prnyet that we may all of us feel oursc.ves moved by a reverent and holy ambition to break free from the burden and entanglement ol all the petty and now withered experiences garnered long ago, entering into ever new prospects, into larger discernments, into an ever wider world of knowledge, comfort and anticipation. To this, end may we have with ua in our closets and in out sauctuary gatherings the abounding Spirit of God the Father and of His Sou Jean Christ, to whom with the Hleased Spirit U given oar obedience, adoration aud love foreves' and ever. Amen. A Duty to ! I'leasnnt. ill are ar io wiina mac our oeina i happy or uuhappy is something that af lects only ourae.ves. u.i tne contrary neither condition is ever absolute, y con lined to the person who experiences it. ind, unfortunately, the "black edge' of one's unhappy moods laps ovei on the lives of others. J'hc girl who comes down to breakfast "feeling blue' is apt to impart a tinge of the same mel incbaly to every one else before the mo is over, and the mau or woman who is ab (orbed in the contemplation of h.s cr hei )wn troubles, real or fancied, is doin something to add to the gloom of a worm that is more lacking in sunshine than il need be. No matter a hat oue's private feeling may be, one can always make hi effort to be pleasant for the sake of othei people's happiness. While the ommrtuni ty of doing aome great and noble thini may not often occur, the simnle but Ix-an tifiu opportunity of being ple'asant is al waya present. Others Klrst. If, in additioa to the desire to live dnj by day aright, we wish to add soini pledge, can it not be that self shall sin mto significance, and tbat the good, thi happiness, the welfare of others, slial come first? Bird That Blush. An observer finds that aome birds blush. Ho writes; "We bare a very fine specimen of the blue- and yellow macaw which displays this trait not often, for be Is remarkably good-temperedand the 'blush' Ja an Invari able sign of anger; so much so, that re warn all friends that while bis sheeks remain white all attacks are feigned and In play and can be disre garded, yet If the 'danger signal' red shows, to look out and keep out f reach." . The owner ot a blue and orange macaw says tbat Its white, parchment-like face becomes bright pink, especially above the beak, when sver 'It Is angry or excited. Wrote After Many Years. Mrs. Lucy A. Davis of Canton, Me., has received ft letter from her broth-, r, George Butterfteld Smith, who for over thirty years has not been beard from by his relatives. I 0j. Connecticut Claims Sole Honor. A Norwalk, Conn., man who has Jutl returned home from Gettysburg suys Connecticut Is the only slate tbl has A flag flying over the battlefield. THE , SUNDAY SCHOOL "' - ,.t . . INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS FOR JANUARY 3. fiuliject The Itnylmml or Jesus, l.nhe II., 0-fW - tlolili.ii Text, I. like II., til Memory Versus, 40-31 Commentary nil the line's Lesson. I. The growth and advancement r-t Jesus (vs. 4U. 112). 4'l. "The child grew." rroni this verse and vcrae tii we learn that Jesus had a human body nnd soul. He was a genuine boy and grew like other boys, but He was sinless. Kvil had no p.ace in Him. "Strong in spirit." In mind, intellect and understanding. "Filled with wisdom." He was eminrnt for wisdom even when a child. "Grace of God." Grace commonly means favor. God was pleased with Him and showed Him favor and blessed Him. i2. "Increased in wiadom and stature." In the perfection of His divine nature there could be no increase, but this is spoken of His human nature. II. .lesus in Jerusalem (vs. 41, 42). 41. 1 he Passover." There were three prin cipal feasts of the .lews. The Passover in April, the Pentecost near the first of June, and the feast of the Tabernacles in Octo ber All males over twelve veara of age were required to attend these feasts un 1cm they had a legitimate excuse. The name expresses th design of the celebra tion. 'J'hc destroying ungcl "pasacd over'' the Hebrews 42. "Twelve years old." At the ate of twe.v" a Jewish buy bee me "a son of the law. and came under the obligation of obeying all its precepts, including attend in re ot the Passover. It was probable that his was the first time that Jesus had been in Jerusalem at this feast. To a bov who had never been outs.de the hills of 'Naza reth, the journcv tu Jerusalem, the ap pearance of the city at this time, filled, ac cording to Josephus, with more than two and a half millions of people, a sight of the temple, the preparations for the feaft and especially the feast itself, must have been an imposing sight. ,. Ill- Jesus lost (vs. 43 41). "Had ful filled the days." Kight davs in all onit the Passover, and seven the davs of un 'avened bread "Tarried behind." L,uko ncitner tells us that Jesus remained b-i-h.nd nt Jerusalem unintentionally, nor that Joseph nnd Mary lost sii.ht of Him tMough want nf nci-essary care. A circum stance must have been omitted, and we tnnv safely suppose that Joseph nnd Mary joined their elder fellow-travelers in the persjasion that Jeans, who knew of the tirr.o and place of clonarture, was among l.io younger ones. The more M.irv was accustomed ti trust ti nis obedience and wisdom, the less necessary would it be a. ways io watch Him. An invo'untary mis take, of whatever kind it might be. sc arated the child from the parents. Jesus was so intensely interested in the rabbis .hat He failed to start with the caravan on the hon-.cward journey. "Knew not of it." I his i shows the perfect confidence thev l"id in the boy. He was probah'v as far advanced in judgment as uu ordinary youth many years ms senior. : "?" tlie company." Jesus had evi dently been allowed a more than usual amount of liberty of action, as a child, bv parents who hod never known Him to transjireas their commandments or be pinlty of a sinful or foolish deed. 41. "Pound Him not.'' Thev had pruinhly left in the night to avoid the heat of the ray, and in the confusion Jeans is lost. The 'boy hot! evidently been in company with some of their Hrm!.. and the time ef the departure "f the caravan was thor oughly understood. A". .Ictus found (v. 43). 43. "After three days." An idiom for "on the tlrrd day; one day for the:;-.- departure, one for u.T,,T rplur" and one fir the search. "Thev found Ili:n." Jerusalem was over crowded with millions of people packed into a small aria, and they had none of the means to which we wou'd at once look for afcslstaii c in searching for n lost child in ri great city, "in tho temple." Joseph ami Muy tvidentlv know where they would he n-ost likely to find Him. Jesus was prnhab'v in nr.e of the porches of tho rnurt of the wnmcr. v here the echo ils nf the rihliis wire held. "In the mieUt I tun do. Mrs." TiacheM of the law, Jewish rabbis. ".Wcing t'tem qtt-stions." irte 'iiestion-' were no doubt su'estcd by the:r Icacliin. . Jesus as'onisliini; Hi? ''oarers (vs. '"Mi. 47. "Astoni'licd." 'he Over!; vord 's very foivib'c. 'ft,s -ort is I hat ll.iy were in u transport nisli menl. end stntcl; with admiration. 'At Ilia - iindcrs'.aml'n;-." lie brought with Him u e oar knmviedi-e of God's word in which in doul.t. He linn been versed from earliest years. They Inul never heard one so yoiinj, nor i:deed. tlieir greatest doctors, talk sense nt the rote lie did. 4'. "Amused." To sue snch honor given to their bjt and Io see such boldness in holding a iliscus siou with these learned men. "Whv." etc. Th.s was the mi'dest sort of a 're rcrn0'' ,a",'' "aj uroballly given privately. in; father." This form of snecch was rece'SHiy for linw else co-ild she apeak? Mie had pronaoly never told her Son of tho peculinr circumstances connected with His birth, ''.-'ought Tl-.re sorrowing." P,eini! not on.y troubled that we had lest Thee, but vexed at ourselves for not taking more :aro of Thee. The word here rendered sorrowing is repressive of great o-iguish. 41. "How is it that ye sn-isht Me?" This is no leproachfal question, it is asticd in all the aimiuiclty and bo'dness of ho.y childhood. He is apparently as tonished that He should have been so'uelit, or even thought of, anywhere else than in the only place which lie felt to be prop er.y His home. "Wist." Know. "Abo -t Mv lather's business." See II. V. "In M) Father's bouse" unnecesearilv narrows Uu fu.ness of the expression. Ketter, 1n thn things or atlairs of My Fadier, in that which be.ongs ts His honor and glorv. fiO. "Understood not." The did not yet understand His mission. His first re corded utterance is too deep for them, .lesus was a mystery to His parents, am! lie has been a mystery to the world evtr since. r,yi- Jcttis subject to His parents (v. r.J). SI. "YAent down with then.." It His heart drew Him to the terr.nle. the v. ice of duty called Him back o G'a'ilee: and perfect even in childhood, lie yielded imp icit obedience to this voice. "To Naz areth. Here He remained eighteen years lonser. These were years of growth and propsration fur His great life work. "Vas auojwt unto them." There is something wonderful beyond mersure in the thourht r. Uim unto Whom all things are subject suomitting to earthly parents. No such honor was evc done to angels as wus now done to Joscpli and Mary. Great .men lave learnr.d first to obey. That general could not command an urniv if by most se vere dis-.ipline he had not learned to obey. That college president could not till his fosit on if he had not learned this lesson, t in a sign, not of abjectness, but of greatness, to be subject to law. "In her hurt." Expecting thut hereafter they would be explained to her and she would understand them fullv. CLEVER RUSE OF AUTHOR. Advertised His Book at Dangerous to Public Morals. A story of an author who waa com pelled to resort to subterfuge in order to get his book into public notice ia being told In Paris. Jean Lombard bad fought for many years against poverty and 111 health, but neverthe less had produced several novels which were considered by those who bad read them to be' works of genius, though they had been total failures as salable commodities. On his last work be concentrated all bis hopes of recognition, but on publication the book showed every sign of going un noticed. The author, however, hit up on a unique way of advertising It. He wrote from Marseilles a letter signed "An Indignant Republican," to the au thorities In Paris, violently censuring the. book at dangerous to public mor ality and demanding the Imprison ment ot Us author. When Inquiries were made, the writer aud the author ere found to be one and the same person, but too writer' object was accomplished. ' mm ENDEAVOR TOPICS- JANUARY THIRD. "The Kind of Growth I Need Iff 1334." Eph. 4:11-16. Scripture Verses John 22:21; 13:2, 6: 2 Cor. 9:8-11; 12:7-10; Eph. 6:11; Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 4:15; 2 Tlra. 3:16, 17; Heb. 2:1, 2; 4:16; 12:11. Lesson Thoughts. Thnt Is an erroneous view of relig ion which looks for sudden bursts and violent changes In the spiritual life of men; tho growth of genuine plnty Is gradual and almost Invisible, like the courfre of vegetation In the nat ural world. As without Industry man would have no harvest, so without active effort he would have no religion; though both depend on God for Increase. W are always growJng either "unto the measure of the stature of tha fulness of Christ," or In tho like, ness of ln, These growths are in opposite directions, and each advance in one takes us so much farther Irira tho other. Which way In 1904? Selections. After all the researches of phlloso" pliers, not one has boen ablo to tell the way In which the grain grows. They n observe one fact after an other; they can seo the changes; they can seo the necessity of rains and suns, cf care and shelter, but bt?yond thU they cannot go. So In religion. Wo can mark the change; we can seo the need of prayer, and examination, and searching the Scriptures, and the tire of the ordinances of religion, but we cannot tell In what way the re ligious principle is strengthened. As God unseen, yet by tho uso of proper means, mak'es tho gross to flourish, so Qod unseen, but by proper means, nourishes the soul, and the plants of piety spring up and bloom and bear fruit. Prayer Lord God, graciously strengthen our faith, that our growtb and progress are in thy hands. En- j able us to bp what a precious, pow- errul life was implanted in us by thy s?!f, a life that Increases with a dl vlns Increase. Teach us to take away all that can hinder the new life, to bring forward all that con further It, bo that during this new year thou mayest make thy work In us glorious Amen. RAM'S HORN BLASTS. HE only doubts to be ashamed of are those you are proud of. Free lusts make fast links. The purposeless Is powerless. Preaching down never lifts up. The wastes of wealth lead to the wail of want. When tha door is shut it Is an Invitation to knock. It Is no use denouncing sin before you renounce it. The offense of the Cross Is the Christian's best defense. There Is nothing pleasant about the savor of a dead piety. Many a man who gets on In this life will never get Into tho other. Prayer Is rarely a privilege where It is a duty. The great Pulsion subdues all our passions. Psychical research never sought a soul to save tt. God's love is not Intensified by our limitation of It. You cannot hide poverty of thought with polysyllables. An entertaining pteacher may be a detaining leader. The best In this world never find their best In this world. A hand in the pew l.i often worth ten arguments In the pulpit. The garment of truth cannot be used for the cloak of pretense. The devil weeps every time a saloon Is closed. Fools always try to retrieve folly with falsity. . The wise man fears pride when he tLoars praise. The doing of a duty sows the seed of a delight. ' God's silences may be aa Instructive as His speech. The bric-a-brac of II fo makes Its greatest burden. HAS SCHOOL FOR PARROTS. Philadelphia Woman's Ingenious and Novel Scheme. One of the strangest schools In the world has been established In Phila delphia by a woman. It Is a school for parrots, where the birds are taught to speak by a phonograph. The custom bas boen. In teaohlng parrots the lingo which they prattle so amus ingly, for the teacher to crouch In a corner out of sight of the bird and re peat thQ"ands of times the same word, tbe'sarrfe phrase, till bis back ached and his voice refused to emit more than a whisper. The way de vised by this woman requires no ex ertion, and Is much more successful. Bhe sets a phonograph going at the parrot's ear and then attends to oth er affairs. The phonograph, with a precision and a perseverance man could never equal, drums Into the ears of "Polly" the sentence that Is to be learned. The term at tho Philadel phia phonograph school of languages for parrots lasts six months. The tui tion fee Is 40 a term. Mercantile Fleets. Compared with the year 1901. the German, English, Danish, Dutch, French, Italian, Austro-Hungarlan and Greek flags show an Increase, espe cially the two latter; tha Norwegian, Russian and Spanish flags thow a de crease. Non-European flags are sel dom teen at Hamburg. In 1903 only on American ablp, of 1,147 tons; one Brazilian ship, of 121 tons, and on Argentine ship, ot 1,068 tons, tntered the harbor. Mad Money In Kansas. . Thirty-one yesrt ago a young mac drove Into Butler county with all Mr possessions contained In a "prairie schooner." Tbt other day be took at Inventory of alii that be hid slncti ac cumulated. It easj.e to 1 1,216, or ex actly fl a day for ovcry da be bad spent In Kan sue. "30 A Prayer of Oratltode. V Jord, for the erring thought Not into evil wrought; Lord, for the wicked will Hctraved and battled still: i Kor the heart from itself kept, .i t, - . vur inanssgiving accept. f For ignorant hones that were I Itroken to our blind prayer; j-ur puin, dent ii, sorrow sent tjnto our chastisement; Kor all loss of seeming good, ' I l,iil,., .... um uiavieu.ii'. -W. D. Howclls. A Lost Opportunity, r-J' W" tl,e undtty before Christmas. Christmas cheer was everywhere in the fragrant wreaths of evergreen, in the joy ous strains of church choirs, in the smil ing faces of men. women and children. It seemed as if pain and loss and struggle and failure snd death were forgotten in the joy that Christ was born. But not even Christmas could ens" the ache of one heart. In all the great city there was probably no woman mote wretched than Agnes Kafrar. Mie bad once had nil that seemed best in life health, beauty, wealth, charm, love. She had had them, and bad spent them. She had chosen ten years before to ignore the requirements of her world and to be come a law unto herself. She bad found the fate which surely waits for a woman who so chooses. On Christmas S'undav she faced the truth. Her money was gone. She had bartered her health for Pleasure. Only faint traces remained of her beauty and her grace. Of the abun I'ant loves onco given her without stint, she had chosen the cheapest nnd poorest, and tbe last fragment of that was gone. 'I've oomc to the end of it Ml!" she said to herself, as she stood before the dull niirror in her cheup lodging on Christ mas Sunday morning. With that word upon her lips she resolved to go to cliurcn for the last time. She thought with a bitter smile that she would al least bo warm there. She entered the church as if in a dream. As she was shown up the broad aisle a Hood of memories swept over her. An mem and Scripture lesson and praver passed unheeded. One scene after another of her life enrolled before her inward vis ion, until she was suddenly conscious that she was weeping, and that a gracious wo man beside her looked at her with gentle, pitying eyes. She roused l.crself and turned her fi-e up to the preacher. He had been speaking some minutes, although she had caught no word of the sermon. Now this was what she heard: "One night a man was groping his way tlone aoross a dark nnd tlnngernu moor. Suddenly he slipped and fell into a deep pit. In vain he cried for help. In vain he struggled to climb up 'he nte.ep sides of the pit. Morning broke, and found him wounded, thirsty, exhausted, despairing. "Then there came to the nmuth of the pit a Uuddhist. He looked down nt the broksn figure mid said, 'O wretched man. your struggles nre useless, snd your suf fering is because of jour struggles. Ccnc to desire to lire and nil will be well. Fix your thought imon eternitv. and present-l- you will find Nirvana,' nod the Buddhist pasned on. "Then there came n student of Confuc ius. He also licnt over the pit to see whence the cries came. '1 hen he ciid. 'My poor man, 1 see plainly that you have disnbfyed the great moral laws of this world. You have neglected tn reverence your parents or tho state. If you were up here I would gladly instrii"'t Jon in the,e duties, but as you are ctiite' inc-ap-blc of getting out. 1 must leave you.' "Then there came a Mussulman', nnd he counseled patience nnd belief in one God, nnd also went his wav. But at last there e.nr.e a ('htisii.m. He leaned over the pit. and he ivllcd to the man. who bv this time was nlmost dead. 'Courage! Courage, my brother! We will help you. I was once in that verv nit myself. Be of good cheer; keep vour hope a lilt'"1 longer nnd I will return.' Thin the Christian hurried nwny, nnd ouickly returned with men nnd rnpes and food nnd drink. They nil worked togeth er to lift tbe injured man out of the pit; and omong them ns tiny worked his dim eyes seemed to fee a strange Figure, like as it had beun the Son of Cod. Sit pres. enlhy the man wus saved from his dire vxlrsnutr, nnd was carried by strong, lov ing bands to his journey's end." The woman in the pew hung on the jirearher's words. When thev ceased she fell upon her knees ns he gave the bene dic(ioB. There was a hushed moment, and then the cdngreg.it ion rose aud began to move slowly out. The lady in whose pew the woman hod snt glanced at her tear stained face. She thoueht quickly, "That woman is in tremble. 8he looks as if she had been hearing, her own story. I won der if I dare speak to her?" While she hesitated a friend whispered. What, time to-morrow can you come to the Christmas sale?" The two moved down the aisle talking nuietlv. Agnes followed them-hoping she knew not what. They halted nt the door nnd oth ers joineel them. "What a thrilling ser mon!" said one. ''I never heard him more inspired," answered another. The woman, now very pale, listened for a few minutes to their friendly chat. She heard one esl) back. "A inerrv Christinas fo yon all!" and then as the vestibule was almost empty, she made her wav out, A fine, dry snow was falling, and the wind was bitter cold. For an instant silvation had seemed possible to her. although she know not "w. But. the moment of hope had passed, ine black pall of temotntion, failure and jD?'r. wrPuei """If again around her. and hid her forever from the eyes of those who might have rescued her. The next dav the preacher said to one of his most useful parishioners. "Who was that striking woman in your pew yester dav? , "I never saw her before." she replied. Do you know, I was almost tempted to apeak to her after service; she seemed much moved bv the sermon. Hut some friends came up. and she slipped away." I wish you had snoken to her." said the preacher. Youth's Companion. Mr s, Reality. Life is reality a useful, usable, noble realitv. Happy, too. when on"e the grim idol Self hss been dethroned forever. For it ts a truth which we all have to learn oftentimes throngh many a bitter lesson that we can never be happy until we rene trying to make ourselves so. Dinah M. lock Craik. Kim ply Ways I'p the Mountain. Trouble and labor and weariness are simply ways un the mountain of loftier destinies. Tears may be given to wash our eyes that we may sec tiirse loftier destinies more cl'arly. "The grave itself is but a covered bridge Lea ling from light to light through a brief datkness." Rejoice then even in the difficult and darkened wayi; the reason in them is just larger, loftier life. Tha Ilsst Advice, Whatever you do, begin with Cod Matthew Henry. Village of Deformities. Tho strangest village la the world la undoubtedly tbe little hamlet ol Jatt, near Culos, in France, not fai from the Italian frontier, where dwell about 200 deformed men, women and children, who In Paris go by the nam of "CuU-de-Jatte." They are deprived of the use of their logs and thighs these being withered aud stunted, aud punh tbe in aloug Io primitive wooden carts wltb wooden wheals hlch they propel by means of a Cat Ironshaped block of wood tn ei.het hand.- - THE GREAT DESTROYER . SOME STARTUNC FACT3 ABOUT THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE A -Slrlltins; Artloleon the Fating- offsml r. ... s w niclt ts Hound I n a Most lietnsrk nlile Temperance Lesson The Voonjj .Man Who Craves Sweets ts JCo Drinker The tISU-s ctnnita in lalliv..,! ...i:n.. ...J . ' - ...n.'.n.i pinuuiin Hint leriy houses sell s:nnng other things indis ii'iuni pines oi canitv at one or two :cnts each. 1 here nre huge chocolate drops, ns big as the end of your thrmb, other large drops, 'il.ed with sweet, th't-k cream, and so on. In the evenings it is veiy interesting to natch those who bu;' these candies. Thero re very many young boys imong the huy pis. Hut there are also a great msiiy coung men. They rush up, buv their even ng newspaper, nnd take in addition two or three pieces of candy to b: eaten on the wav home. This spectacle nf young men clerks and working men eating candy is new and tiic.-isatit. The man who craves sweet things is al most always a man who uses little or no iliihol. The man who suddenly gives up the nnnking habit feels a strong riisire for uiirar. for sweet things of all kinds. And for the same reason the yo ing men whom you see buying candy as they rush homeward nt night are young men of tern orr.ite habits. Temperance is a virtue that gains ground laiiy nil over this country. The eandv Mting habit slnuM be welcomed e.s one of -.he tcmperute sinns. There is. by the way, s hint for young S'onien and for mothers in this question of .atitig candy. It n young man brines you a box of candy ind sheepishly eats ebo'it half nf it b'fore vou can eat. six pieces, he is a .oung man most promising. Vou may be quite sure that he is not a cocktail young man, or one if the young men who think "a little wh'skv is good for the system." Candy mil whisky rarely meet in young men's in .eriors. On the other hand, there is something Hirer about the young man who shows 'Miinly thnt he cares nothing for candy. He may be n i exception or he may be a oonr unose hiding his real longines because ie thinks it unmanly to want sweet things. Hut iii i lly lie is tho sort of young person '.hot a gir! can well do without. One other word on the candy question ahich r"sy not roni" up here again for fars. Iterremher. fathers nnd mothers, that your child's desire for candv is per-tc-t'v natural nnd should be grntitied. There is no more wholesome food than cure s'ltfur. The candv which comes near- st t-i beint pure sugar, with a little harm less flavoring, is nn excellent thing for ii'Mren. T'.n cr.ivini; for candy is ss natural in a hilii as the craving for salt nmong us all. Vou know that no man or other mammal m i d without sVt. The old monks, tor menting their hmlirs for the sake of their s'liils. initine 1 many privations upon them selves. But no one ever succeeded in oing without salt. In .Africa, where salt is sf, scarce in wimp places, the children crnt lu red around white explorers and licked nieces of rock ealt. chewipr and swallow ing il. ns our children do with candv. A fntl'er who wants to please his chil I'ren witho-tt nurting them can not do bet ter t!'i:i take hnnie to them occasionally a nniind nf plain moin.scs candy. Thit is t'ne '-cry best kind. Thete nre other p'.iin randies about as good. And the child thnt has such csndv often in moderation is all t je heticr for it. f'nndv ilifagrees with grown people and wii'i children sometimes. H'lt if the diet is otherwise sensible, nnd if there is n craving for ivtndy, it never J:nrives with those who cat it. Ii is an niiso'.iite'v natural fond. It does l:itr!-i milv whci addpd to an alre.v.lv over-i-nrkcd ftt.miach. The danifer about it re- iii.'s in this fact: it temnts the pa'ate nnd iv. rnilea trod judgment. D.i not let your fhihlren till their htonia-hs with other lI'tiKS tirs:. ami then hurt themselves bv Hiding isu'iy to nn already too heavy load. I.ct them bvc the candv first at the l-exinning nf the nienl. If it be pure, do lint hesitate to let them have a piiod deal nf it- sav. un eighth, nr. for big children, a sixth "f n pound. Thru let the m cat the stt'er llnnr'. A mi'ii verv well known in New Vnrk. richrrd Croker. in fact, iu,id to a friend that he cnitld t-tit hi much is tuste candv. on nc'Tit nf dvsnens'-a. Hut he w-s told that if he wnuld t'll'e sirmi'v r-iiik nd c-.indv he i-ou'd cnt anil digest all the canv he wanted to. And to his surprise he found tnat it was so. A diet of nill swallowed slowlv in stnall sip:, and of absolutely pure candv "il 'lire ''vsiiensin nnd improve the com-pV-niii. if krrit un for four nr six weeks. We wis'i thnt the bi stores that com hine great faVs with chenn nrices would make n sifriaitv nf pure and cheap mo lasses cvtidv. made fresh daily. They should be able In sc.'l il tt a iirofit for twice or three times 0" prim cf eii'-ar by the barrel. Thev would render a eetniine service tn chi'dhood ood to larenta if thv would make a fpsture of ttiis, 1 them nut the "fresh mo' asses candv for he children" fenU"-s in all their ad vert iseniei's. The- will make thou-snds of little friends nnd Vu ones. loo. Thev might even, occasionally, ns a Santa Clans s'irprise. send home a quarter pound sam ple of the candv free w'th the mother's purchase. wT.mped np in a state-pent somewhat en the lines of this editorial. From nn F litorial in tht Now York Even ing Journal. A Ruined Career. One of the best Ureek scholars in New York is a guard on the Sixth avenue ele vated railway. Not long ago a fatuous protessnr in oue oi our leading universi ties published a volume on certain fea tures of the ancient tireek din'ecte. of in terest only to scholars. The "L" guard re ferred to wrote to a newspaper, pointing out several errors made by the professor in his hook, and signed i.wnsclf by his road and number. After a month's search a correspondent found the man. "How docs it happen," he said, Khowinc his card, "that you, a (ireck scholar of lirst rank, ehou'il be doing such work as this?" He looked at the correspondent sadly, and his red fare tiushesl more than usual. "1 was lirst ll-llcnist of my vcar at Dublin," he replied. "My (J reek ia still what it used tn be, but my career has been ruined by whisky!" Christian Cen tury. T.lqunr the Chief far. Cardinal Manning once said: "For thirty-five years I have been priest and h'slioo in London, nnd 1 now approach my cightitth year, and have learned some les sons, and the first is this: The chief bar to the working of the Holy Sti.rit of Hod ii the siuls o,; men and women, is intox icating liquor. 1 know of no antagonist to that good Spirit uor direct, more sub tle, more stealthv, more ubiquitous, than tnloxica.inj drink." The Criisaile In HrleT. Vi"iam Hr- vn was arrested at New-fie-.lis, .V II., in a drunken stupor, alter having consumed fony bottles of brer. tiovcruor Yules, of Illinois, has appoint ed live commissioner to purchase a statue nf Kri-.nces E. W'ilhird, and erect the same in Slutu.iry Hull, Washington. She naa against w his'.y to the end and her memory is l.lc-.-cJ. A fad comment on the liquor trsfHc following the tUg aa it dors, is the fart that in the adaiceinent of the Lng.ish Hair and eiviiixatiun, the Mohammedan, when they see a drunken man, dcaiguata bun as a Jesus man. The 'barkeepers have a total abstinence association; nobody knows better than the bartender that total abstinence ia the ony aura way to avoid druukenneas. Tbe conclusions of the committee of fif teen scientists appointed io IHUtt to s.u.ly the liouur question is that: "ilucb of the so-called scientific temps-ranee mstrurUoa in public, schoo.s is unsoeutino aad unde sirable, aud is not in accord wita the opinions of the large majority of the lead ing physio ovists in rlurope. ' In iVyiuni statistics indicate that whereas lor fifteen years tbe p.i;j'at.na hss on.y increased fourteen per rent., t ' consumption of alcohol haa ine t) aeveu per cent., and i hss increaaed forty-tive ai-ve-tv.'nnr per c".. si em... and po.trly I'd u COMMERCIAL Ocseral Trad Ceatfittetai. T r nr , oi j raoe says: uusmcss is aecidwi, better than at any recent date, and tcasr. improvement is not confined to actiwifyt in holiday goods. Building; permits i4 sued during the month of Novr-mbsje' exceeded the same month last railway tonnage is heavy and sr manufacturing'' branches are sta Mi ,..-,-!,;.,...-.. i .. . i ...i l um.: m uu iiiipiuvt-inrnc or ise tiuia- tion in the cotton injttstry, and SmrX- producers are restricting ontput.'' r, Confidence is increasing in the xcmA and steel industry, and the feeling ia oW coming more general that prices w& not be materially lower. The steel markets have been in a tt- of uncertainty, owing to the namrrocui meetings in progress for the scttlevurna: of price lists anil wage scales. Failures this week numbered nv the United States, against 267 las year, and in Canada 20, compared with 1 a. year ago. Uradstrcct s says: Wheat, includinir flour, extxtrfs fwrsr' the week ngRrcgate 3.363.035 btishsrl ntramst 4.5W5.?o last werk, 3,256.01 thts week last year. 4.112.812 in ive- nnd 4. 1 2.1..1SO in 1000. Corn exports fiW the week aggregate 6.57,857 busheW against 659.025 last week, r,3z6.ri year ago, 3.10,941 in 1901 and 563.57 in lono. LATEST MARKET QUOTATIONS. Four Snrinn- clear. ti Xiffflios- bfen Patent $5.25; choice Family $4.35. Wheat New York No. 2, o?scj Philadelphia No. a. 86',ira87c: Balti more No. 2, S2'A. ' Ccrn New York. No. 2, 5oj4e; Pfcit adelphia No. 2, 4fJ448; Baitiroora ixo. 2, i"iC. . Oats-s New York No. a. dalle: Pftff- sdelphia No. 2, 4i42c; Baltimore Noj. a. 41c Hay No. I timothy, large ki!, (fflS.oo: No. 1 timotttv. sm.iii bales, $ tfris.oo: No. 2 ti moth sr. S;i4-o; No. 3 timothy. $r2-cxKr tj.oo. Ureen I-rutts and Vceetables. An- ples Western Maryland and Fenosyi--v.tnia, packed, per brl $l.sof.2;. Beets Native, per bunch iyi$2c Broccoli Native, per box 20250. Cab bageNew York, per ton, domestic, $20(325; do, New York Slate, per tne. , Danish f.yaCcj.15. Cranberries Cape Ov?., per brl Jo.oofei. 7.50; do, per box $1.75(31 1 25. Celery New York State, per dozen 30(50; do, native, per bunch 3'it. Carrots Native, per bunch ttic Grapes Concords, per 5-lb basket rj' 14c; do, Catawba, per 5-lb basket rt ffl4C Horseradish Native, per bushel) box $1 2.si.5o. Kale Native, per brisk -1 il box 2Xo;25c. Onions Maryland ami' Pennsylvania, yellow, per bu 55S".05cii Pumpkins Native, each 3feC4c. Spin.-'' . ch Native, per bushel box 759e.: 5tring beans Florida, per box $z7i0r- J.oo. Turnips Native, per bushel box;'. l5e40C. Potatoes. Maryland and Pennsyl-i rania, good to choire, per bu 78((i.Soc; New York, per bu 78&H0. Sweet pota-j iocs North Carolina, yellow, per brtj j2.oo(-2.4o; Potomuc, S'oo'u 2.40; East-i trn Shore, yellow, 75c(i$t.5o; jrariw.i i. 25(11 1. 60. ; Provisions and I log Products. Buk :lear rib sides, 7-4c; bulk shoulders, 8;' tellies, 8)4; bulk ham butts, 7-)4 ; sugar- ttrcd shoulders, blade cut, 9; stigar-car- id California hams, ; canvased an-ft. incaiivasrd hams. 10 lbs and over. It:! s-IH'Vll IUIM, OV IWIIU I 111 l IV l,UI.1 U a IV ineel lard, half-barrels and new tus I'A : tierces, lard, X'A. Poultry. Turkevs Young, 7 lb laufiA vcr, (i $'ic; do, old, do, (ni'4'Ai 1.. 11 . . . . i'i ( r Hens, medium to heavy, lodiio'ic; eJ.C lens, small and poor, rn)'A; do, old,' roosters, each 25(11-30; do, young, goosi to choice, per lb io(ei3; do, staggy, per' lb fe'io; do, do rough anel poor, -fjv." Ducks White I'ekings, 4 lbs and over. ; iJI2c; do, mongrels, 3'A to 4 lbs, pec,' lb lltVi.12. Gcesc Western and Southv trn, each fio(fV75c. Dressed Poultry. Turkeys Choice, per lb, fil6; do, medium to good, rj ' jti 1 5. Ducks Gooel to choice, per lb i 14. Chickens Young, good to choioo. ri I2CJ do, mixed, old and young, (al 11; do, poor to medium, (0)13. Gecm. Good to choice, per lb lofjfiijc. Kggs. Western Maryland and Penes- ivlvania, sale. We quote: Western Maryland and Pennsylvania, loss off. pear dozen jofaj c ; Eastern Shore, Maryland' ind Virginia, loss off, per dozen i30? Southern, do, 37((i!i; storage, fancy, UT. nark, do, (Jt.25. Cheese. Fancy, September .mads large and small, 2'(au,; late, nsaoVv October, ir'.jOt'llfi as to quality. ..-" Butter. Separator, itoC&j; gather"!' :rcam, 2rn 2 ; imitations, &2i; prtrvsv !4-lb. 27fi28. Livs Sloe. Cliic.iRO. Cattle good to prime steers 55cl575 i Blockers and feeder $1-75(33-90; cows Sl.satJTj.qo; heifetf (175(0450; canuers $1. 50(0-2.40; hull? $ 1. 501.4 35; calves $2 oati$ .75 ; Texts feil steers $(65400. Hogs Mixed and' butchers' $4.3561 4 65 ; good to chocos heavy $4 55(ei 4 to', ; rough heavy $4.3044 4 50; liRbt $ l.5(("4 50; bnlk of tales 4 4S(' 4 55. Slice p Lambs steady ; gooel lo choice wethers, $3 7.S(et'4 3o; fair to rhoice mixed $jootji3 75; native lamVi ,400(55 75; fed Western yearling $470. Pittsburg, Pa. Cattle slow; ckoice f5.atxH5.10; prime, 47051485; far, $3031 H j'o. Ilos higher, prime heavy, $47(1 (4 75 ; mediums, $4 cxxu4 65 ; Ix-avy Vuikers, $4.55C4.fo; light Yorkers. $4-4? . ft4 So; pigs. $4J5sf4 4o; roughs. $W) I 15. Sheep firm; prime wethers, $v8.54 1 00; culls and common, $trs(vzi; :hoirr lambs, $535(!i5 5o; veal calves, f75i7SO. PCRS'J.sAl. MLNTiOM. Major Frank J. Jones, president sf the Board of Trustees of the Ohio University, has just rctarned horns after a long stay abroad. Congressman Ollie lames, of Ma rion, and David ilighbaugh, of lfodge ville, are called rite David and CuUttH; ol the Kentucky delegation in Cvn. gresi. Major General John C Bates wilt, on January 15, open offices in St. Loumj making that the headquarters svf tho Northern division ol the army. George Franpton's Wis! sf Gsaeffrew Chaucer, jus unveiled t lie mld- hall Library, the gift ol Sir Cegmaltt , 1 . , -1 f tianton, is a conventional iikcbcm sr (he father oi t'neltsk Iiteratave. ' Mrs. John J. IngaUs has been askest by the Kansas Executive Council to. git to Ne- York to expect the clajr iikhIcI r' bust ol lorsner Stenatoe la- i to b placed to "c Ca ytost. v v svka is v-v itul at tv V1 . r 7 4 '1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers