BililHiTTl
&F!m
j'.-r -
?
S
i1
THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, SUNDAY,' MAT 26, 1889.
U
A YISIT .TO MEXICO.
Some Glimpses of tlie People and
Scenery Along theEoad.
THE TALKATIVE MAN FROM IOWA.
Bailroads Hare Quickly Superseded the
Lively Cow Trails.
IMMENSITY OP THE LONE STAE STATE
twiUTTxy Fon tub dispatch. 3
The trip by rail between Denver and Tort
"Worth is always attractive. This morning,
with the Deacon by my side, something is
promised to relieve any possible monotony.
He possesses a reverence for the grand
mountains at onr right. The main range is
resplendent in its immaculate mantle of
white, with a rolling foreground of dead
grass color, the brown of the foothills and
the deep bine of the gorges to vary the spot
less covering above and beyond. And we
may have 300 or more miles of these moun
tains, ever changing in appearance and al
ways beautiful. Should they become weari
some, a very unlikely event, look off east
over the vast stretch of the plains, a little
lacking iu variety of color now, in the cold
embrace of the dying -winter. But you will
anticipate when the soft breath of the early
summer has wooed the brown into green and
with exquisite taste and dainty touch the
emerald carpet is tricked out with the hues
of myriads of wild flowers, then you will
love these broad lands for the loveliness
'they promise.
On the Divide "the man from Iowa"
"boards the train and announces himself
harshly, with his hat on the back of his
Lead.
"Yas, yas! This sile's no good! now in
Iowa"
This man I suppose he was a man we
lad with ns two days and a night. His
"yas, yas," was jerked out convulsively; it
prefaced every remark he made and was
lis method of approval, disapproval or
doubt of anything addressed to him. That
"yas, yas," became monotonous, tedious, in
sufferable torture. Think of yourself bound
and water d lpping on your head drop by
drop; and yet this man from Iowa was hap
py, well satisfied that he was doing more
good in the world than any other man in it.
ONE GOOD POINT.
Perhaps he was, for such as he make the
burdens of life bearable. "We think of our
encounter with him in our afflictions and
enjoy the rheumatism and the toothache
wbeu he is remembered. He took a fancy
to tbe Deacon and demanded his name, but
ignored the name, and in a moment after
called my friend the Deacon, as kindly and
familiarly as if they had been cherished at
the same breast
"2fow, this land ain't no good all sand.
Uow, in Iowa we have sile and them
mountains you can't use them for noth
iu'." "That sand, as you call it, will produce
wheat as fine as can be raised in the world,
and as bountifully," remonstrated the Dea
con. "Yas yas when you make me believe
it let me know. X ow, in Iowa "
And so, during tbe forenoon, the passen
gers smiled at first and the man from Iowa '
laughed, a stridnlous cackle. The passen
gers became sedate as mutes at a funeral,
but the laugh of the man from Iowa went
on, while he at last looked in vain for ap
proval. The Deacon managed to rid us of
the enchantment for an hour by introducing
lim to a cowboy of his acquaintance in the
forward car. But he returned with a
blanched face.
"Yas-yas some bad citizens in this coun
try, Deacon that friend 'oyourn is he a
jedge, sure and sartin ? He threatened to
11 me full 'o lead yas-yas I"
Dinner time arrived and the man from
Iowa lunched on the cars rather than take
lis chances with the bad citizen at the sta
tion table.
On tbe wing again the afternoon was un
relieved; the gray clonds hovering over
Pisher's Peak put on tints of amber and
crimson; away to the east tbe clear skv was
of deep purple along tbe line of the horizon,
fading into gray, and then blue toward the
zenith; the Spanish Peaks, snow covered,
were set in pale gold and away in the dis
tance the grandest pile in tbe range loomed
np through a delicate veil of blue.
ALWAYS with us.
But intermingled ever with one's thoughts
came that interminable "Yas-yas." Would
the man never cease talking? "We couldn't
kill him nor put him off the train. I sought
the Deacon's friend, the cowboy, and in
duced him into the sleeper. Tbe man from
Iowa became dnmb in the cowboy's presence.
In the morning tbe Deacon was taking an
early enp of coffee and enjoying the sunrise.
A hint of green in the broad, brown carpet
that seemed to reach out unbroken for miles
touched a rift of clear sky below a lowering
cloud on tbe horizon, and our faithful dailv
friend in deep crimson looked in shape like
a hnge baker's loaf that had failed to suc
'cumb to the virtue of yeast.
"Yas, yas, havin' breakfast, ain't yelaigs-
,an coffee, an toastl xne .Deacon s bavin
ibreakiastt Yas, yas," and the man from
'Iowa walked down the aisle announcing the
fact with a satisfaction that it seemed a pity
to interrupt. But near the end of tbe car he
reached a berth, the curtains of which re
mained drawn, and snddenly he encountered
the face of the cowboy looking ont at him.
The man from Iowa caugbtsight of his in
cubus, and, without finishing -the word on
lis lips, turned and retreated. Having dis
covered the charm, every passenger made it
agreeable for the cowboy. The ladies en
gaged him in conversation and the men
tarnished him with cigars, that he might re
treat to the smoking room at intervals and
lose no enjoyment. The stridnlous yas, yas,
was resolved into a murmur in the smoking
room; when it arose in the car the cowboy
jrat aside his cigar and the man from Iowa
returned to the saloon. Finally, the only
place in which he found rest was at the door,
where he stood staring at the uninteresting
end of the forward car, or entertained him
self with unsatisfactory glimpses of the
country.
BAILBOADS SUPERSEDE COW TRAILS.
Port "Worth looks brilliant under the
jtlare of the electric lights. Twelve years
ago it was a terminal point of cow trails,
sow of a dozen railroads,and doing a whole
sale business alone close to $10,000,000 per
annum. It is a live Southern town with a
little Northern blood infused, and is already 1
sued with beaut'ful.homes. Its well paved
streets presenta'pahoraitta.in motley
lroadclctk,"the leather chapperajoes of the
cowboy and the rags of the negro. Sur
rounded by a farming country unsurpassed,
it promises to be a city lor which 1 have a
weakness, for the simple reason that it is
the outgrowth of American enterprise.
Along the lines of the Missouri, Kansas
and Pacific and the International and Great
Northern railways, from Port "Worth to San
Antonio, the country becomes more popu
lous, and the Deacon and myself avail our
silves of the daylight ride. In the rail
fences and weather stained houses, with
broad stone chimneys built up on the out
side, but every house seemingly with a wide
porch; in the troops of darkies with attend
ant curs; in a man planting corn and a
razor-back pig following and diligently un
doing thn work; in stray cattle with free run
of the winter wheat fields, we find a linger
ing of the old regime.
Bnt now and again a wire fence will be
discovered, and maybe an agricultural ma
chine, or a painted house with no sign of
dog or chicken possessed of the front door,
and these indicate a change creeping in.
The chances are, however, that the reaper
or mower has been subjected to the inclem
ency of the winter weather; sudden meta
morphosis is impossible. But that the
delvers are looking for the millennium may
sot be disputed. They expect the angel to
lay hold on the dragon and bind him, not
jonly for 1,000 years, but for eternity.
an -iwrtiii evil.
The present satan in coma localities i
Johnson grass. This evil is deep rooted
and as uneradicable as bnrdoek; it is re
sponsible for the scragginess of the horses,
and the northers that were wont to bear the
involuntary burdens of fatherhood, to the
drawbacks of Texas, can have a respite.
The farmer who cursed to us "the idiot"
that introduced the pest, glowed in his con
demnation. He discussed Johnson grass
with the dignity which a statesman, over
his lager.or champagne, would bestow upon
tbe lieavy affairs of the Republic. He
made me-quite believe that all trifles are
serious; the acquisition of such knowledge
is valuable. The pigs only could thrive on
Johnson grass; he had endeavored, to de
stroy the noxious growth in one of his fields
by turning in his entire drove of swine. In
the morning his porkets had disappeared,
and he would have lost his herd save for tbe
indolence or plethora of one razor back,
whose tail was discovered above ground.
It took him and his hands two days to pull
his pigs out of the earth and get them to a
place of safety. This Texan swore it was
no lie, and it is not always safe to contra
dict a citizen of that State, even when he
fails to swear to his statements.
The lightning rod man has visited Texas.
The Deacon is in doubt of this being an in-
dication of an improved civilization, Dut on
a house 12x16 feet I counted five of these
mythical protectors, resplendent in, nickel
and gilt. The owner of that domicile did not
lack company, and the.v thus manifested a
Texan characteristic "in one direction:
"Whatever they "go for" they "make it,
dead sure," if within the limits of human
achievement I am no lover of lightning
running around loose and, except that it is
claimed that fair Athena requires it as a
renovatort I would rather dispense with 'it.
But in this environment I was compelled to
an expression of sympathy for the erratic
element. It will be ashamed to visit the
vicinity.
4 BELLES IK CALICO GOWKS.
Stopping at a water tank, with not a
house in sight save that of tbe humble -employe
of the railroad company, the Deacon
directed my attention to two pretty girls.
Their cheeks were rosy, their eyes elo
quently large and dark, their hair black, of
course, and still, of course, they were belles
even in calico gowns. Seated in a dilapi
dated dog cart, with the dogs underneath,
holding the rope lines of a thin, rope-harnessed
pony, their beautiful eyes flashed
back and forth interestingly, along tbe train,
to them evidently a marvel yet. Uncon
scious as babes that they were the center of
more than 100 pairs of admiring eyes, they
laughed and chatted. Plainly the passen
gers had no interest for them, or they
would have halted, abashed in their enjoy
ment, at the encounter of any one pair of
the male optics fastened upon them.
"See how their jaws wag and how white
their teeth are!" murmured the Deacon in
my ear.
"Yes, thev are chewing gum."
"Well, what of it? that's cleaner than the
dogwood stick and the snuflbox of their
grandmothers," retorted their apologist.
"But without either vice, Deacon, how
would they seem?"
"They make it a virtue, and gracefully !"
The Deacon is young. What will become
of him among the dazzling orbs of the
sensuous clime toward which we are speed
ing? Further on I discover a shanty set in the
brown prairie, isolated but cheerful in the
color ot fresh pine. A sign painted on can
vas larger than the house proclaims a
"Real Estate Office," .The boomer is here,
but the iegend is superfluous; nothing is
apparent but real estate. With the plow a
few hundred acres have been lined off into
blocks, and lot stakes stick up like a vast
colony of prairie dogs. When we return a
few weeks hence, possibly tbe shanty will
have company, and the next largest sign
will bear the fiction: "Saloon." A few
years and there will be a stone court house
and a county reat, while tbe real estate office
will be preserved in photography and rev
erenced as the shadow of the pioneer palace.
A WOELD IN ITSELF.
"Did you ever attempt to realize the area
of Texas?" inquired the Deacon, "No!
well jnst think ot it as covering quite 275,
000 square miles, capable of affording to
each man, woman and child of our glorious
Republic a patch of three acres of gronnd.
Here is land in abundance. "We are seeing
only a strip of it by the roadside, covered
with grass and wild flowers and a grove of
timber here and there; think of the miles of
it stretching beyond our vision, beautiful
as the descendants of Adam could wish;
think that any man can homestead 160 acres
of it with the cost of only the surveyor's
fees, and then tell Mr. George: he and his
followers can all be supplied out of this
State alone and enough be left to furnish
those who are not paupers. But they'll
have to work, and that's what they don't
want. If Texas would only cultivate and
stock it for them and keep it nnder cultiva
tion at the expense ot the State, pay the
taxes and "
"Deacon, you are growing heavy and
worse, cvnical; drop it and look at that wild
rose bush banking the corner of the worm
fence with exquisite bloom. There 1 you
have lost it; bnt here is another and num
berless beauties in pink and purple and, as
sure as the sun is lighting our way, wild
marigolds and buttercups. See that hound
peering through the fence, his ears look as
if they were afoot long; did you ever hear
the voice of one? Nol well, when you do it
will make you forget for the time all the ills
of this life," you will want to follow the
sound over "
TIME TO STOP.
"You'd better drcp that; there is no tell
ing where you will land following that
vein."
"True enough, Deacon, we may bring up
in a swamp."
"Talking about dogs, that reminds me."
This from 'a neatly dressed,' black-eyed
stranger with a neatly trimmed black beard
and drooping mustache. "I'll trouble you
for a light," and he reached for my cigar
with tbe air of one assured of my willing
ness. I offered him the box of matches fur
nished by the Pullman company, he took it
unhesitatingly, lit his cigar and began to
entertain us with a coon hunt. His cigar
would go out every five minutes, and he
would invariably reach for mine with the
same expression of certain accommodation
as at first. I presented the box of matches
each time and he received and used it with
the same satisfaction.
We were joined by another Southern gen
tleman and he went through precisely the
same form while I enjoyed the office of
match bearer in ordinary. I gave the sec
ond gentleman my cigar on one occasion,
curious to learn bow he would use it. He
jammed it into the charred end of his own
weed with a reckless disregard of conse
quences and returned it ragged and offen
sive. His polite "thank you," could in no
wise restore the fragrance of my property,
nor palliate a disagreeable custom. The
Deacon, quietly amused, charges me with
.being fussy about trifles; but I have said
already that trifles are serious and the
Deacon does not smoke. L. B. France.
At the Hotel Fire.
Hoseman I'm 'raid poor Beddy's done
for this time.
Foreman What struck him ?
Hoseman Dey was a woman from Chi
cago in one of th' third-story rooms, and she
chucked out them valises before we could
stop her. One of 'm pasted him in d' head.
Judge.
-l;ol
THE POET BROWNING.
His Personal Characteristics in
Yontb, Manhood and Old Age.
FAILURE OP DRAMATIC POETRY.
A Bich American Widow and the Circle
Which Surrounds Her.
DOEOTHI TEKB, AN ARTIST'S MODBL
rWBTTTXX rOK THE DISPATCH.!
It is said, that great poets are always
lovers from the cradle that is 'one of the
signs. ,An old marquise, who had lived
in the passionate days (and nights) of
France under Alfred de Musset, told me
once as a bit of advice, as she showed me
the collection of antique laces which be
came her passion in her old age, "My dear,
never think lightly of a boy lover the.
great men of the world are made out of
them, and they learn more from their sweet
hearts than their schoolmasters, so in one
sense we are responsible for them. A boy
of 10 once drowned himself because I
laughed at his passion, and I often think of
what I may have robbed the world, for the
letters which are among my dearest treas
ures, and over which I have shed many
tears, tell me that he would one day have
been great."
Browning's childhood was full of stormy
loves. I wonder if he remembers them him
self now and looks back to them from the
snow-capped summits of his age.
Poor little.fellowl He was often very un
happy, it is recorded, when slighted by
some grand lady he thought was like a
queen and to whom he would like to be
knight errant. Av8 he wrote humorous
translations from Horace, at 12 his poems
had a most passionate Byronlc flavor and
he had tried his band on some prose essays
on "Typical Souls" (the "white" soul of
Mary Anderson was not then io existence
and, of course, not then a subject of literary
discussion while now, unfortunately, what
should have been a flag of truce, has been
the cause of a deadly battle between two
most distinguished dramatic critics).
A PECULIAR STYLE.
The turning point of Robert Browning's
life and the forming of his artistic style
seems to have occurred during his first
Italian journey, when he made a tour of the
monastic libraries and lingered long over
their precious volnmes. It was then he
learned to love that quaint vocabulary,
those mystical allusions, strange names and
obsolete twistings of meaning that now form
the decorative element of his poetry. He
has retained his passion, but now keeps it
in an embroidercJ case, so quaintly enriched
and delicately illuminated that it is some
times somewhat difficult to recognize. Some
think he belongs to the "spasmodic school,"
that he endeavors to be obscure, some that
he cannot help it.
Robert Browning is one of the most cele
brated men of the age, but he is also one
of the most accessible; he has none of Ten
nyson's or Carlyle's rudeness when ap
proached from without. He goes out a
great deal in society and has an especial
weakness for dinners. He is short and
stout with whit hair and a glow ot ruddy
health. He wears his hair quite long and
has a mustache and goatee. He enjoys
the best of health and has an almost boyish
flow of animal spirits and enthusiasm.
Society is his life and he-is always en
evidence. He dines out nearly every night
and loves balls and receptions. Most
agreeable in conversation, or course he is
well posted on every subject and his friends
number the great men of the entire world.
He is a great flirt and very proud of his
conqnests. Of coarse, all bow down to the
Browning name, one of the grandest in lit
erature, much sought after bv all classes of
society. His presence is thought to put a
most learned and distinguished stamp on
any reunion, Mrs. Browning compared his
heart to a ripe pomegranafei-the emblem of
immortality it certainly contains all the
seeds of life and is red and full of sweetness
to the core.
FOND OP THE TABLE.
Tennyson, although unlike Browning, re
sembles him in being a great diner-out.
But the table-talk ot poets is so uninterest
ingpoetical lions do not howl when they
are fed. I know a young girl who worked
for months to get an invitation to a dinner
where Tennyson was to be; she even sat
next to him, but she said be only turned to
her once during the meal, and then glared
at her fiercely and said, "I like my mutton
cut in chunk's."
It was thought for a long time that
Robert Browning would marry Mrs. Bloom
field Moore, the rich American widow, who
is the special patron and sustainer of the
"Keely motor," and well known in London
society, where she lives in great magnifi
cence. Her circle is a most interesting one,
including many of the nobility and tbe
leading artistic and literary lights of Lon
don. Some two years ago she announced
that her circle was complete and she wished
to open her doors to no new acquaintances.
Browning is always there and most de
voted in his attentions. Mrs. Moore is an
elegant woman, about 60 years old (Brown
ing is nearly 80), with white hair combed
over a roll, and portly but com
manding figure; she has many dia
monds and dresses in good taste. She was
left with a comfortable property, but
has so managed it that it has increased to
enormous proportions. She has written a
little poetry herself and even a novel or two;
she poses as a patron of art and literature,
but especially of Keely. One day in
Philadelphia she was told a man lay dying
ot starvation. Sho climbed many attic
stair;, and at last found him in a bed,
haggard and gaunt. The room was devoid
of furniture, but strewn with strange
machines and models. He could scarcely
speak. She sent for food and wine, and
when he was recovered, listened to his
story. She helped him with large sums to
carry out his plans, and in gratitnde he
told her all his secrets of power. "Now we
are the god and goddess of the material
world!" he cried.
Jt the "motor" ever runs the world and
performs the wonders which she asserts to
have been performed in her presence, the
world will owe to Mrs. Bloomfield Moore
its preservation.
PRIVATE THEATRICALS.
In London there is a "Browning So
ciety," composed of many members who
meet for the study of the poet's works and
the production ot his plays. Its leading
member is Alma Murray, an actress of
earnest purpose but little talent, who per
formed the role of .Beatrice in the secret per
formance of "The Cerci," by the Shelley
Society, which caused a sensation some four
years ago. On account of its revolting sub
ject and the hot passion of the speeches, it
had always been prohibited from tbe En
glish stage, so was performed ("un
abridged") before the society with closed
doors and no one but members allowed ad
mittance. When any poetic tragedy or Greek
play is privately performed in London
Alma Murray is always given the leading
role. She is neither beautiful nor talented
and has net a high position on the regular
stage to which she belongs, but for many
years has been a member of all these select
societies and has gradually worked herself to
the lead, being a hard worker and consci
entious student.
Browning's plays are performed- about
once a year. Occasionally Henry Irving
attempts something of Tennyson, mounted,
of course, with great splendor. "The Cup,"
which Mary Anderson contemplates bring
ing to America next season, is a tragedy by
Tennyson which failed at the Lyce
um and will fail here. I am
airaid America will find it "loo English,
vou know'.' &t it has found her. Indeed.
there is great doubt amongst her friends
whether she will evf r return here; she lives
with a baroness, is petted by dukes and
duchesses, while here actresses, even of her
high moral character, are, not received in
society. Itis narrow of course, iut it is her
custom. Browning is -a great .admirer of
Mary Anderson and in the Tennyson
family she is adored. Whilst women think,
her cold, I must sav that I myself, when
with her, never feel that she too is a woman
she is now over 30; but I always find my-1
selt talking to her as to a school girl, and
thinkiug of her as an iceberg.
The poetic dramas of Browning attract
a literary audience for a single performance
under distinguished patronage, and are usu
ally repeated once or twice for general so
ciety to go and think itself literary and fash
ionable. They are pretty "slow," and I must
Confess that my attention wandered often
from the play to study the new hatsand bon
nets or the jewels which Lady Colin Camp
bell sported, and that the notes on my pro
gramme were not of the play, but for my
next fashion article. The "Browning bon
nets" of the society itself were dull enough
but the outside wdrld came to the rescue
with a good deal of style. The great poets
of the present day seem to have very little
practical stage knowledge. What reads
well often acts abominably. Phrasing must
be larger and time left for action, which in
poetry wonld be taken up by description.
Few modern poetic plays succeed for more
than a single per.ormance, and then only
when propped np by the efforts of some
special society.
But the coveted invitation of the day is to
the reception held behind the scenes when
the play is over and the general publio de
parted. There Browning can be seen sur
rounded by all his satellites. The girls of
the society all love him, and the old maids
fairly adore him. If these artists are re
markable for their amorousness in their
childhood, they are no less distinguished for
it in their old age. Whv, Gounod has to
be actually driven from the back door of
the Grand Opera at Paris, he annoys the
ballet jirlsso. I remember once falling
into his arms coming through a dark, pas
sage from Madame K 's dressing room,
when he mistook me for one of "les rats," as
they called them when the "Chab" of Per
sia was in Paris, ,
At all these artistic performances may be
seen a beautiful girl with a classic head
who is either on the stage or in the audi
ence, but always there Dorothy Dene, the
celebrated model of Sir Frederick Leighton.
He discovered her, a poor girl, and as year
after year he painted nothing but her face,
she became the rage, and his pictures were
known to everyone, not as, Hermione or
Helen or Andromache, but as Dorothy
Dene.
She then became ambitious to be some
thing more than a model, and took to the
stage, but with little success. In Liverpool
the authorities refused to allow her to play
because she had been a model. Is it not in
credible that in these artistic days such non
sense should exist?
Robert Browning has one son who is both
poet and painter a meager, inferior look
ing man with none of his father's brilliancy
and health. The Browning name has been
a great help to him of course, and some
time ago he endeavored to make a stir with
a realistic statue of Salambo. For a sensa
tion to be talked of he obliged his model to
submit to the dreadfulembraces of ahideous
python, which he procured from the Jardin
dis Plantes. It is said the poor girl olten
fainted, but tbe statue was a wonderful
piece of realism.
One day while driving through High
street, Kensington, I saw a funny sight. A
party of Yankee schoolmarms a whole
Cook's excursion had caught sight of Rob
ert Browning walking briskly down the
street past Albert Hall and recognized him
by his photograph. With a wild whoop
they all gave ohase. He crossed the street
to avoid them, then dodged into the park;
they followed, and pursued him round and
round the Albert Memorial until at last
they played the Juliet-and-the-nurse dodge
and' rushed at him from all sides.
As I looked back a gaunt female had him
by the hand, and they were all looking at
him with an eager, hungry gaze, as if they
were going to preserve his every word to
can them in fact, and take them back to
Boston. I was in terror till I saw him the
next time for fear that in their desire for
souvenirs they might not leave him a single
hair, bnt he bobbed up just as bright as
ever, so perhaps it is a common experience.
Olive Weston.
THE HEALTH OP THE WOELD.
A Vast Improvement Noticeable Since Onr
Grandfathers' Dnji.
Boston Herald.
The other day I took up a New York
newspaper and read: "The dictates of
fashion is death to health and happiness.
The world is cursed with sick people. It is
almost impossible to find a well woman,
and not a little difficult to find a perfectly
well man," and so on. It was all anent the
poor, much abused corset that hapless
woman insists on wearing to tbe grave, but
let that pass.
We don't care a button about corsets in
Boston, where the women go about looking
like bags run through a cylinder press; but
what I would like to remark is this: Corset,
or no corset, a consideration which ought
not to affect the sterner sex, the world is
much more healthy than it was CO or 100
years ago. It is a deal bigger than then,
and the sufferers may be in proportion, but
physicians who have reached the good old
age of 70 odd affirm that the average of life
is greater than in their youth. One of the
most thoughtful practitionershere, a man
of learning and wide pathologicalresearch,
says the improvement in the American race,
physically, is due to its regard to hygienic
laws, better food, less medicine, and the
protection science has afforded against the
attacks of climate.
Our great-great-grandmothers killed
themselves cearing low shoes in mid
winter, and died of consumption because
they would not ?ovcr up their necks and
arms; and it Was rare in those days to find
a New England family that had not lost
one or more members by that disease, while
now their descendants have almost eradi
cated its seeds from their constitutions and
look the picture of health in corsets.
Well, you pays your money and so forth,
but as to getting frightened by the resound
ing phrases of dress re'orm, don't. Per
haps the dear girls, though, are not as
healthy as they appear to the appreciative
eye of a believer in anti-sloppiness.
THE TABLES WERE TUKNED.
A Case of Heavy Artlllory vs Grape Shot
and Wads.
Lewlston Journal. 3
The other day an old fisherman was seated
in his boat near the west shore of the An
droscoggin at the rear of Miller street. He
was not having remarkably good luck fish
ing, but was'minding his own business and
patiently waiting a bite Several men at
work in a shop near by thought to have
some fun with him. They got a long piece
of brass tubing and opening a window
enough to furnish a port hole, began shoot
ing wads of paper at him. They kept
themselves out of his sight, and still thev
were in a position to watch the impression
made. The paper wads were sect with un
erring aim. They struck the old man on
all parts of his body. He stood the bom
bardment for awhile without saying a word,
but later his temper was aroused and he
decided to resent the attack.
Though he could not see his assailants, he
knew they wert in tbe building from the di
rection in which theshotscame. He paddled
his boat ashore with all baste, and, jumping
upon the bank, he picked up three or lour
bricks or clubs and let them drive one after
tbe other at tbe window.- Some of the mis
siles went crashing through the glass, caus
ing the wildest sort of commotion inside.
The besieged party called for quarter
loudly, but the old fisherman kept the
bricks and anything else he could fay his
hands to flying. It was only a matter of
time before every pane of glass in that side
of the building, sash and all, must have
fallen victim to the fisherman's volleys.
The man who tells the story of the affray
says the fellows inside managed to come out
at a back door and run uptown after the po
lice, one of whom went down and after a
while persuaded the brick thrower to cease
hostilities', as the enemy whom he desired
to harm was not there and the battle must
be decided in his faVor, It was a case 'of a
turning of the tables.
AT A SPANISH OPERA.
Tbe Kind of Music That Satisfies the
Aristocrats of Cuba
EOT PLEASING TO AMERICANS.
A Theater Where Everything, From Cos
tumes to Chorus Girls,
BELONGS TO BEM0TE ANTIQUITY
fconnisroimiscE or thi dispatch. I
Havana, May 11. According to the
guide books, the Tacon Theater, of Havana,
is not only one of the largest and best ven
tilated in the world, but is devoted to tbe
production of the finest Italian and French
operas. May I be permitted to remark
that this is but an illustration of the de
lusive powers of guide book? Considering
the information authentic, and worthy of
being relied upon, I went, I beard, I doubt
ed. The theater was large and well venti
latedso far, so good. When it came to the
performance, however, I was led to believe
that the compiler of the book must have
stood in with the management.
The edifice is one of the most magnificent
in Havana. It may be comparrd, in, point
of size, with the Scala, of Milan. Four
thousand spectators may be comfortably
seated. The division of the house is simi
lar to that adopted by most of tbe Eu
ropean theaters stalls, boxes, galleries and
an orchestra. The lunetas (orchestra seats)
are used by the multitude. The Spanish
ladies and families of rank always occupy
the "palcos," or stalls. As in Europe,
everyone is in full dress. There is nothing
of monotony or uniformity in the audience
seen in the Havana .theaters.
. AN" OLD WORLD SCENE.
Here the Spanish women, the octoroons,
the ranlattoes, the soldiers, the aristocrats,
each clothed in an unique and picturesque
manner, make one think the world has gone
back 100 years, or that he is in Spain, wit
nessing a carnival. The price of admission
is reasonable that is, for Cuba. Cuba is
the home of extortion. Otherwise it would
be chosen by our ex-bank cashiers for the
place of their settlement. I paid $2 50 in
Spanish paper, about SI in our money, and
wjis permitted to walk in. The interior of
the theater looked bare and bleak. Cane
seated chairs take the place of the luxurious
ones in use in our theaters, and is observ
able throughout Cuba, neither hangings nor
draperies are seen.
The opera had begun. When my vision
had become accustomed to the imperfectly
lighte'd auditorium, away off in the distance
I saw that something was going on. Al
most in shadow figures were moving. Upon
closer inspection I detected an appearance
of singing. Yes, I was sure of it. I act
ually heard notes that might have been
some distant connection ot the musical
family. The singers were original in their
interpretation ol the opera. I learned when
I got home that I had heard a Spanish ver
sion of the "Mascotte." I never recognized
it, not even the best known airs. From this
you can see how perfectly the score must
have been adhered to. It was a burlesque
burlesqued.
ANCIENT STAGE BEAUTIES.
The women certainly were the biggest
part of the show. They represented each
about 200 pounds of Cuban talent (?). The
Bettina weighed about 180, and did not im
buethe part with the coyness and verve
it demanded. Her singing, as indeed the
singing of all, resembled that of variety
and concert hall favorites. Had her figure
possessed the thin element of her voice, she
might have given a more balanced rendi
tion of her part. Her execution was de
cidedly through her nose, and when she
came to a high note, to the attainment of
which she felt incompetent, she simply
substituted a kick or a wink, and the
audience r6ceivei it most graciously. The
Cubans enjoy everything. They applaud
and shout and cry "Vulva ulstedl" (come
back) to show their appreciation of singing
so "bad that it would not be tolerated any
where in the States, even at tbe concert of a
very bad circus.
The Bettina as well as the chorus generally
would bring large prices in New York at a
sale of antiquities. Had Ponce de Leon made
the acquaintance of these artistes, he would
never nave sought for the fountain of im
mortal youth. The search had been made,
evidently, and a Cuban chorus were the
lucky finders. These women are veritable
companions of She, though they have not re
tained their pristine freshness, as that mys
tical and veil-shrouded exaggeration is said
to have done.
A PECULIAR PIPPO.
These specimens are indigenous to the
Cuban soil. A few of them have escaped to
our land, where they may be seen in beauty
shows, ballets and Roman populaces in the
tragedies of Shakespeare. Unfortunately
their voices had grown old with them. Many ,
quavers were detected not in the original
composition. Their costumes, too, shared in
the general decay. The only woolen goods I
saw in Cuba I saw on tbe stage of the Tacon
Theater. The moths, as is their custom, had
chosen them for winter quarters. The gowns
looked as though they might have extended
a welcome to Columbus upon his arrival in
this country that is, if clothes were affected
at this early date. My historic information
is a little vague on this point. Fippo could
not be said to be immense either in size,
voice or in the conception of his part. He
was les3 than five feet in height, with a voice
correspondingly and correctiy matched.
His feet and waist were very small, and I
wondered how be had the effrontery to take
so large a contract upon such very small
hands. Had he dropped a cent in one of
the conveniently placed weighing machines,
it would have registered him at 90 pounds.
Tbe Havanos evidently held him in high
esteem, for his entrance was hailedVith
shouts of "Siga usted" (go on). The
clangor increased until it reminded one of
the Stock Exchange upon some unexpected
rise in the market.
AN EXCITED FUNCTIONARY.
The height of Cuban operatic triumph
was reached when Bettina and Fippo
walked up to the feeble footlights to sing
what I alterward learned was "The Gobble
Duet." Bettina's method of locomotion
may be likened to the movement of a darkey
carrying a bale of cotton along a wharf.
Pippo't look of importance was indicative
of bis size and the popularity he enjoyed.
The tender portions would have been most
excellent had the accompaniment been left
out; the love-making was very pretty, but
'the sight of that big, adipose Bettina re
ceiving the adulation of that insignificant,
attenuated Pippo, to my mind savored
something of tbe pathetic.
In a box to my right I observed Madam
Sadie Martinot, the queen of opera boirffe
iu America. She was exquisitely dressed,
and I could not help wishing that she migbt
be prevailed upon to step from the box to
the stage and show these Cubans what opera
bouffe really was. I had but recently heard
her sing the role of Bettina at Amberg's
Theater, in New York, and the comparison
was all the greater on this account. After
a half hour's entertainment, and at the
close ot tbe first act, during which the popu
lar members of the company bad received
ovations and tbe unpopular ones had been
dismissed with hisses, most of the audience
arose, and one by one passed out of tbe
building. I did not.
AN INTERPRETER CALLED IN.
With the American love of getting my
money's worth, I stayed. Finally an im
portant functionary came up to me, and in
an excited manner proceeded to express him
self. He gestured wildly. He talked faster
and faster, to which tirade I blandly smiled
and sat where I was. . I soon found I should
have to interrnpt him. I did not want to
sav anything harsh. The reason of this was,
I did not know any harsh words in his lan
guage, so I merely informed him "thata la
dida nota speaka Spanish."
I thought anybody could understand that.
He did not. What might' have happened
remains unknown. Something serioas I
have no doubt. He might have killed me
in.self-defense, for so murdering his lan
guage. An interpreter connected with my
hotel here came upon the scene, however,
and politely told me that in Cuba one buys
tickets for bnt one act of the play; that I
was therefore entitled to but one act, and
that I mnstpass out of the theater and.allow
others to come in. This explanation I
blandly received. Beneath treatment so se
vere I could see the sweetest charity. To
stand more than one act of a Cuban opera
would be the act of a martyr. This method
of dismissal was in the nature of a life
preserver. So I went out and proceeded
homeward, reflecting that it was well it was
in Cuba and not in Texas where every one
of tbe performers would have been in dan
ger of being assassinated before daybreak.
A FIELD FOE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.
Upon my next visit to the-thc theater I
received some degree of satisfaction. A
farce was in progress. I recognized the
orchestra, which was quite Chinese in its
disregard for harmany, the costumes and
the actors. Tbe Bettina of my last visit
was simply a "fill in." Her histrionic
ability lay in the uttering of lines as impor
tant as "Mr. Featherbrain waits below," or
"I go, but I return." The Pippo was en
acting thcdifficult role of a heavy villain,
in which the heaviness was altogether car
ried out by his costume, which would have
done for tobogganing. v
Some energetic American theatrical man
ager should avail himself of the scarcity of
attractions in Cuba, and next season send
them some ot onr "Uncle Tom's Cabins,"
"Lady of Lyons," "East Lynnes" and
"Almighty Dollars." These attractions
have been running so long that a season of
recuperation in tropical Cuba will be most
beneficial to their exhausted vitality, as
well as a positive boon not only to the na
tive Cubans, but to the long-suffering
Americans as well.
Lillian Spencer.
A MARRIAGE IN RUSSIA.
How the Upper Classes Wed A Description
of the Ceremony.
Harpers' Magazine.?
The Bussians generallymarry quite young
in the upper classes, and among country
people even at an earlier age; and to the
honor of this society be it said, love mar
riages are the rule, and marriages for money
are very rare exceptions. Dowry-hunting
and marriages of interest have not yet made
their appearauce in Russian manners. Girls
of high social position readily marry young
officers of the Guard, who furnish the largest
contingent of dancers to the balls at Peters
burg. During the carnival fetes the two armies,
tbe army in petticoats and the army that
wears epaulets, learn to know each other
thoroughly. Priendships spring up, the
young man pays court, and one day, with
out having consulted anybody, two finances
come to ask of the parents a blessing, which
is never refused. The Church does not
marry during Lent,sp they have to wait
until Easter week. Fashion demands for
the celebration of the ceremony the chapel
of some private house, if the couple have
not sufficiently lofty relations to secure the
chapel of the palace.
A family that respects itself ought to have
at its wedding as honorary father and hon
orary mother, if not the Emperor and the
Empress, at least a Grand Duke and a
Grand Duchess. The honoray father gives
tbe holy image, which some little child re
lated to the families carries in front of the
fiances. They enter the church, followed
by all their friends in gala uniform. The
ceremony begins; it is very long, and com
plicated with many symbolic rites; a small
table a sort of movable altar is placed in
the middle ot tbe oratory; the
couple are separated from it by
a band of rose colored satin;
when the priest calls, they must advance,
and the first who sets foot on the band,
whether hasband or wife, will be the one
who will impose his or her will in the house
hold. This is an article of faith for all the
matrons, who watch them at that moment.
On the table is placed the liturgical formu
lary, the candles which they mnst hold, the
cross which they will kiss, the rings which
they will exchange, the cup" of wine in
which they will moisten their lips, and
which is called in the Slavonic ritual "the
cup of bitterness."
Pages relieve each other to carry with out
stretched arms two heavy crowns, which
must be held above the heads of the fiances
while the ceremony continues. At the de
cisive moment, when the priest is nro-
nouncing the words that bind them together
tbe couple walk three times around tWe
altar, followed by the crown bearers; until
the third turn is completed there is time to
turn back; alter that the die is cast, the
couple are united for life. Thereupon the
singers strike up in their most strident
voices the joyous hymn, "Let Isaiah re
joice." The bride and the groom then go
and prostrate themselves before the Virgin
of the Iconostase, and kiss her filigree robe,
after which they pas3 into the neighboring
salon, where they gavly clink glasses of
champagne, while the invited guests receive
boxes of sweetmeats marked with tbe mono
gram of the young couple.
BOW YICT0KIA PROPOSED.
An Interesting; Bit of History Recalled The
Queen's Fall Name.
Philadelphia Press.
"I wonder how" many people know that
Victoria the Good-, as it has been suggested
the Queen of England shall be called, when
she fell in love had to do the proposing for
herself?" said an Americanized English
man the other morning.whose reminiscences
were called up by the fact that Queen Vic
toriatvill be 70 years old to-morrow.
I was very much interested in reading
recently the 'account of her betrothal. It
had always been expected that she and her
consin Albert would eventually make a
match of it. When tbey were both about 18
years oldhe visited England, but did not
make much impression on the newly
crowned Queen. However, three years
later he made up his mind to. a "now or
never" game, and with his brother visited
her at Windsor Castle. Like more hum
ble lovers he was placed in a rather
embarrassing predicament by the non
arrival of his luggage, and was thus
prevented from dining with her Maj
esty on his first evening as her guest. For S
nve aays am victoria study mm, and then
after farst telling her adviser, Lord Mel
bourne, what she had decided to do, she
sent for Albert saying "that she desired to
see him particularly. One account of tbe
affair is certainly valuable for its brevity,
reads as follows: "What the Queen told
him was that she loved him with her whole
heart, and that she desired to be his wife."
She was accepted without hesitation, as any
good-looking sovereign of 20 might have
hoped to have been, and so tbey were mar
ried. Another fact about her life which inter
ested me was the fact that she was christ
ened Alexandrina-Victoria, with a hyphen,
and not plain" Victoria, as she is gener
ally called. As a child she was called
"Irina," and her maternal grandmother,
who had a fondness for nicknames gave Eer
tbe endearing titles ot "Sweet Blossom of
May" .and "May Flower" because of her
birth. Oddly enongb, two of her eight
children were born in the same month, He
lena on May 25, 1846, and Arthur on May
1, 1850.
Temptation.
M. J. Gould O'Quirk. Look here, Lucre
tia: if yer shakes datchromo yer got dere,
yer gits de parasol and a half interest in der
railroad. Puck.
THE LORD'S MONEY.
Not a Part bat tno Whole of Oar
Possessions Belong to God,
TO BE USED AS HE DIRECTED.
How the Evils that Follow Wealth May
Be Changed to Blessings
BI OBSERYLN'G CHRISTS TEACMXGS
iwairriLN ron the msrAicii.i
The subject is money. We eo straight to
the heart of this matter when we affirm that
money belongs to God. All that we have
belongs to God.
Christianity and socialism differ, it has
been, said, just here: That Christianity
teaches "What is mine is thine;" while so
cialism turns that quite about, declaring
"What is thine is mine." But they are
wise who tell us that the Christian religion
rather speaks thus: "What seems thine is
not thine, and what seems mine is not
mine." This is neither mine nor thine; it
is all God's; to Him only it belongs, not to
either of us. "The silver is mine, and the
gold is mine," saith the Lord. This is an
eternal principle.
Now, Christianity is a religion of eternal
principles. It has to do with politics; it
has to do with the problem of labor; it is
concerned in every question which concerns
men. But only in one way not as a med
dler; not as an interested partisan; not as
committed upon this side or that against
the other; but from above, as an authori
tative pronouncer of eternal principles.
This comes out with great clearness in the
attitude of Christ toward the public ques
tions of Bis day. There was tha't question
of Koman taxation: Shall he pay tribute to
Csesar or not? You remember how He set
tled that problem not by reciting history;
not by quoting law; not-by taking sides; not
by limiting the authority of the Latin
power and working a distinct boundary be
tween the State and the Church. So. He
appealed to an eternal principle.leaving the
questioner to work the application ont
There was that other question of dissen
sion and injustice between brothers pre
cisely tbe problem which confronts us at this
hour. A man came asking for the Lord's
arbitration. "My brother and I," he said,
"have a property to divide between us."
The property was an inheritance, but if it
bad been the profits of a year's business,
there would have been no difference in the
principle. "We have this property to di
vide, and my brother has taken the bigger
share. Make him divide over again, and
give me what is mine."
LABOE AND CAPITAL.
It was the labor question. The older
brother is capital, the younger is labor. The
capitalist gets a larger share of tne profits
than the laborer thinks he ought to have.
"Make him divide over again," cries labor;
"make him behave justly; make him give
me my share."
To this demand, to this importunate ques
tion, what answer did the man get from the
Master? What did the Lord do? Did He
look into the matter, read tbe will, examine
the books, appraise the property, study up
the law of inheritance, consult political
economy, and then say: "You, elder brother,
you, capitalist, have taken so much more
per cent than your share; you mnst give
that back?" Did He do that?
He had Come, had He not, to get just that
sort ot thing accomplished; to aid the
wronged, to help the poor, the oppressed,
tbe defrauded, the down-trodden? It is
right that His picture should hang to-day
upon the walls of socialist meeting places,
with the inscription written under. "Jesus
of Nazareth', the Friend of the Working
man." But what did He answer? "Man," He
said, "who made me a judge or a divider,
between you?" And He said unto them
unto one as much as unto the other, "Take
heed and beware of covetousness. lor a man's
life consijteth not in tbe abundance of the
thing'which he possesseth." Into the de
tails of the matter He refused to
ter. Between the wrangling brothers.
between tbe oppressed and the op
pressor, Detween capital ana jaoor it we
may translate the incident into the lan
guage of our modern life He simply de
clined to decide. He stood between the
brothers, as His church should stand to-day,
the friend of both. He stood between them,
desiring that they shonld decide their own
dispute. He will not arbitrate. He wants
nothing arbitrary in the matter. Above He
looks, to an eternal principle, and states
that. "Take this," He says, "and work it
out for your own selves." Only thus can
differences be determined permanently.
Now, tbe most pressing and tbe most im
portant of the problems of this day center
about that subject which we have
set ourselves just now to study.
Tbey are in line with the differ
ences between the brothers. They are
QUESTIONS .ABOUT MONEY.
And I believe that the province of the re
ligious, teacher, touching this and all other
questions like it, is to do jnst what Christ
did to declare eternal principles. Now
here fs an eternal principle about money.
"Tbe silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,
saith the Lord." That is God's truths about
money. Let us see just what this means?
Is it this: That whoever pays pew rent, and
sets a fair figure opposite his name in sub
scription books, , and does a good turn now
and then for a destitute neighbor, is doing
his whole duty about money is that it? Or
is it this: That whoever sets apart one
tenth of his income regularly, and
devotes that to religious and charitable
uses, is keeping the whole commandment
about money, is that it? A tenth of the
silver is mine and a tenth of the gold is
mine? is that what the Lord says? No,
here is a principle which goes a great deal
deeper than such rules as these. Alms
basins and church treasurers' accounts and
soliciting lists and charities and tithes, rep
resent but a small part of the requirements
ot' this universal law. "We are still afar off
from the true doctrine which ought to gov
ern the relation of a Christian man to his
possessions.
This is what the truth about it is: Every
dollar that you have belongs to God. You
have no right to use one dime
for anv other than a religious pur
pose. ''The silver is mine and the gold is
mine, saith the Lord," every penny of it.
Is there anything unfair about that?
What have we which we can honestly call
our own? Poor and unclothed came we
into this world, bringing nothing with us,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
While we stay here, God lets us use His
treasures, as His servants, stewards, mana
gers. Bnt we do not own anything. The
earth belongs to us no more than the sky.
The earth is the Lord's, and all that therein
is. People talk about setting asides tbe
Lord's share of their possessions. There is
no such thing. The Lord's share is the
whole. We have no right to spend a penny
fop any other than a religious purpose.
A religious purpose what isthat? Why,
the building or the beautifying of a church,
or the endowment of a hospital, or the erec
tion of a monastery tbe monks said. But
we know better than that now. We have
learned that
THAT GOOD "WOBD BELIGI0U3
is so wide that it touches everything in the
world that is good. It leaves nothing out
which goes to make life worthy, profitable
and pleasant. Every dollar spent well is
spent religiously. Whatever is expended to
make ypu a wiser, strouger, more refined,
pure-minded and high-minded man or
woman, is spent for a religious purpose, be
cause it makes you more what God wants
you to be, and more able to serve Him.
Money for good books, pictures and
music; money expended in such travel as
will broaden the mind and clear the judg
ment, and widen one's interest, and teach
one mors about God v world: money invested
in a home which yos may abide in, or em
ployed in filling that home with whatever
may sweeten and enrich home life; money
so u;ed that it neips me community in
which you live, or helps anybody in it, or
brings genuine and healthful pleasure into
any human life, your own or your friend's
such money is used religiously. I can
think of circumstances wherein a dollar
used to buy roses with would be used more
religiously than if it had been put upon the
altar of a church. The books or ail tho
treasurersff churches wilf be examined at
the day of judgment, and the sums noted
which'are set down opposite your name, but
so will the ledgers of all the grocers
be examined, and all the tailors. We need
not put it off so long as that. God sees
them every day. And He is justasmuch
interested in one kind of account as in an
other, and takes them all into account when
He looks to see what you are doing with the
gold and silver that are His.
The Bible has a gooefdeal to sayaboutthe
dangers of money. Because whoever has
money is under constant temptation to use
that money for other than religious pur
poses. The Bible tells about a rich man,
who wore elegant clothes and gave elabo
rate and fashionable entertainments, and
who, when he died, waked up in torments.
It describes another rich man who had made
so much money that he bad to tear down his
barns and build greater; who had settled
himself down to a long enjoyment of
HIS SELFISH PLEASURES,
and when God called him suddenly, he de
parted poor and miserable, all his treasure
being on the eartb. The Bible has a good
strong name for that sort of man. It calls
him a fool. We are warned in the Bible
about the deceitlulness of riches. Eiches
tempt men into traps. Money is called tbe
"unrighteous Mammou," which implies
that it persuades men to be both heathen
and wicked, to forsake God and to forsake
goodness. We are told that "they who will
be rich" they whoarestrainingeverynerva
in the race which has a golden goal "fall
into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men
in destruction and perdition." We are for
bidden to lay np for ourselves treasures upon
earth. A woe is pronounced upon the rich.
The love of money is bluntly declared to be
the root of all evil.
"We are able to interpret some of these
hard sayings when we read how w.ealth and
vice walked arm in arm through the streets
of the Boman cities of t the time of Christ.
Wealth to-day is very widely. Christian. In
parish after parish of the Christian church
to-day, wealth means spiritual energy and
wisdom and strength and splendid charity
and consecration. Nevertheless, wealth
means temptation still, and always. Wealth
means spiritual danger, if it were only in
the truth that the more will be required of
him to vrhom God has given much. God
cares for no man's lank account; asks the
sum of no man's tr a nre, except the treas
ure tnat ne nas in flcven; jooes straight at
the heart of man, and pays no heed whether
the man wears cloth of frieze over his heart
or cloth of gold. God does notlove the poor
more than He loves the rich. But God sees
what everybody needs. He sees that the
poor need consolation, and the book of God
is full of that; full of kind words lor the
poor. And He sees that
THE EICH NEED "WABNING
and He gives them warning. That is the
meaning of that seeming preference in Holy
Scripture of the poor above the rich. The
Bible gives warnius plentifully, and his
tory emphasizes the Bible. When you read
historj you read the lesson of the peril of
prosperity. It is written there in big cap
ital letters. Again and again has the same
tragic story repeated itself, chapter after
chapter, act after act, in the biography of
nations poverty, thrilt and honesty at the
beginning; wealth, corruption, disaster at
the close. So fell the Kingdom of Israel
after the splendid reign of Solomon. So
fell Borne. So will fall every nation, this
republic not excepted, which walks over the '
same path toward the same precipice.
The fnture of this nation is to-day men
aced by money. It seems as if there were
no limit to the debasing things that men
will do for money. Pile the scales of
righteousness as high as heaven, put in per
sonal character, conscience, honesty, honor,
our duty toward oar neighbor; put in the
good ot onr common country, put in the
souls of onr fellnr men, yes, qjrf a man-' .
own soul upon the tup of tne pile, a"hd"in
the other balance put anything yon please y'
any mean, dishonorable, unclean, cruel,
wicked thing you will, and write this label
on it, :There is money in it," and there
will be no lack of men in whose presence
up will go the side of duty like a feather,
down will go the side of dollars.
.Money is degrading the sanctity and
stealing the genuine help and happiness of
tbe Christian Sunday. Money is writing
unworthy and debasing books, editing sen
sational newspapers and getting them
printed. Money is setting snares for chil
dren. Moneyis putting thatinto the months
of men which steals their brains, makes
them pitiable, good for nothing,
BEINGS POVEBTY INTO THEIB HOMES
and misery into the hearts of all who care
for them.' Moneyis making the municipal
government ot many large cities a byword.
The love of money is depraving public sen
tiniest. It undervalues whatever cannot be
added up and marked with the sign for dol
lars. It settles the question of a man's
worth by asking: "How much is he worth?"
By its emphasis upon tbe material side of
liie; by its uplifting of money over morals,
by its upholding of wealth as the measure of
human bappmess. the love ot money is pour
ing oil upon the flame of a trouble in the in
dustrial world, which will end God alone
knows when or where or how.
Now, amid these perils, personal and na
tional, amid these temptations which money
brings to bear upon our generation, there is
one defense. It is that every man and every
woman, in their place, and for their part,
keep this eternal principle in mind, that
whoever handles money acts as agent of
the Lord God. "The silver is mine and the
gold is mine, saith the Lord." Bemember
that. Write that on the pages of ledgers,
'and over tire gates of Chambers' of Com
mers and upon the doors of safes.
Test your life by that. Try the standards
of honesty in politics and commerce by that
standard. Money will never harm you, nor
will yonr money ever harm anybody else, if
you realize to whom it belongs. Bemember
that you are but stewards of the Lord's
money. You are to have but one purpose in
getting and but one purpose in spending;
money and that purpose a religious one,
absolutely for the glory of God, interpreted
as I said. We, at least, must learn what
money is, and whose it is, and upon what
terms we bold it. Money hurts character,
personal and national, because it persuades
men into
TWO GRIEVOUS SINS,
worldliness and selfishness. Worldlinesa
makes us forget God, selfishness makes ns
forget our neighbor. And so we break all
the commandments. I can think of few sins
so hopeless, so fatal, as those which are
caught from the touch of money. They are
diseases wherein the patient refuses to see a
doctor, denies that he needs one.
But keep the divine truth about money
in mind, and money making becomes a
help rather than a hindrance to the reli
gious life. You are thus employed every
hour of your working day in doing some
thing which is not limited in its meaning
to this world, and which, is not lor yourself
alone. You are working among men for
God. You are one of the Lord's stewards,
superintendents, managers. If wealth in
crease, you have so much the more to use
lor Him. Money means opportunity. With
out money yonmay be workmgsinglebanded.
Bnt money gives you hands till you have
more arms and fingers than Briareus. You are
preaching the gospel in Western Africa;
you are nursing the sick in the wards of
Pittsburg hospitals; you are visiting the
needy and comforting the afflicted: you are
serving as assistant minister in 50 parishes
at once. Money will do that. Jloney will
put books into tbe hands of eager readers,
and educate and refine a whole population
through the voice oi music and the sight of
art. Money will stop tears, and put smiles
In the" place of them. Money will give
strength to the struggling. Money may be
made to mean encouragement and uplifting
and hope. Yon can make it carry messages
of sympathy. Yon can change it into the
pure gold of brotherly love. There is no
end to what you can do with it, it yon will,
if yon try. Gxoegs Hodoe4
J?
Vl w jj tt, -it. . J mj A j- ,f itoqjiri s i
PBMJPUJBBIIPMWBI PnfWWgJ!1 f - WWW? sJ.tt '' t- - sffc.-.Ti mill w Mn.in.Mrnj '""" '. - - - ' - P" ' .,..-- - - ' i !