"GREATNESS"
Sooday Sermon By the Rev. Dr. C II.
Farkhurst.
A Ttrton May Ilco en Immense Amount ol
Vlrme m ' Yet It Mix Nvjr Arc-st
the World's Attention.
Fv YonK ('prr.-Dr. CharVs It. l'ark
Virst. pastor of the Madison .Nipiare l'res
jytenan Church, preached a sermon Sun
ny morr.ing on a subject which might he
armed "Inconspicuous (.reatness." He
those as his text Mark xii: 41 44: "Ami
Jesus sat over against the treasury and be
ieM Inn the irople cast money into the
jrcasury, and many that were rich cast in
aiiK'h. And there owe a certain poor
vidow. and she tlirc- in two mites which
Ijake a farthing. And lie called unto Him
His di'iiplcs and sailh unto them, Yelilv
I y unto yon tint thin poor widow hull
nt m ire in than all thev whi'-h have rat
Tito the treasury; for all they did ra t ill nf
:heir abundance, hut 'lie of her want did
..is', in all that she hid. even nil lie:- liy
V.a !)r. I'orhhursi said:
Which undo :i':p d!y wax nn Imprudent
thins for t lie woman to do. for nrrliiips a.,
n later hour r: ti'p mine d,iv she h i I to
liorrow. beg or s'.r.il in order to nn-et the
rpiTitiM hf hr subsistence hut a hciii:i
lul nit.'tition ir. iv siill he h'aiilinil -vcn
if it i a liil'e '-ire'e-s .-mi 1 n-u ,i t mg :
indeed, we l,,r i. ? i : 1 better it it is not to i
careful nnd ton rah-ulaur". The c.i-e i
l'k that related lv M. Mitlhrw of th.
woman with h-jr a '..i'ia-iei- box .' nintmc-it.
who spent in me sense of the word
s-astrd n prodlg.i' uiiiomit of r,io:ic on
Jests' nnninti".: i: was rxli-.ii.iguit and
re. k'css. hut the lveklrssrc-s nf it v.r.4 .in-?
if its charms, fir it male on!v more evi
dent the sweet sln"r,ty of her infection,
nnd if she had heen move erotiotnic.il with
the smlicnnrd Ii-s of toe frar-nue iiuiit
Jir.ve floated dov n t our own tl.iv.
desus pTcs-.inuMv w.m the only person in
the temple that d iv that took any .mount
f the worn in with tli" two mite. .Vie w.m
aimtilv one of a r i .-wi pnd as unintei e-: iii.
nnd tiniiromisin;.' olnhli as are t;ic mom
lirrs of any m i I. hut 'the firr tha. sin'
was. outwardly at leat. uninteivliiu
make it interest ng that Cliri-: was i-itei--tcd
in her. and it is one st tit i.'itirn
of our Lord' In r ' r thar lie wn im
jircsscd l.v u."pvoo.iira pioo'e, Wno.o-er
It might he tha' He v.a dealing wrii He
seemed to feel tin: lie had a gold deal ta
So noon. Xo one. ve should s.:v, .";ip" i'e l
to Him to he otiloii.ry. We were Miealiiii.;
Iiere ftami1 time si-ire aliaut the liatdi i.'"d
svav. oie iiii:ht almost i.-iv. jo v. Inch He
ep'pcted Ii. d;':o'"'. a th 'ii.h arry o-ie
He ran nrio t!--1' da-. v- hen He ": m' v!;.
inn along the cd.o' of the .e,i of CaMee.
vould answer n .-;i enouh lor a li i-io!e,
nnd mo for it" a:ii-tie tin to he uo-h-r-vtood
not e di n:'rii;.meiit of the pi-'dori
lie e'.erteil tin mi to till, hut a : ero.;!i: 'in
1hat even roinn on p-en were o iin'.-omoiori
n to he inhrentlv able to nil the position.
He eo'ild do-i'tle ha'e roiuiniied
walk nlon? th? r.iside and have velerre.l
nnother twelve i it a eornoetent n-t t !f
lift twelve, if lie had cared at tin t ine
to have to maiv. And. certainly, it is r.o:
-vrnturinff miieh to prenimn that He eiu'd
fiave eoir into tlii' city. ven. and into th.i
ennstroatrnn. and have found a doen peo
ide with natural qualitieatioiM that woaid
tiap 'y.ic them a e.pah' a l'eter. .I iukm
nnd John and the rrt to lav. in eo-onera
tion with Hinrelf, the foundations of tiu
Christian ehuridi.
IVohihlv tne not ardent Welor in the
4'orld woold rot claim t'lat all men are fun
lamenallv alilce. and fundamentally e pi.il.
pnd thii i not the place, ccrtainlv, t he
lrawn of! into anv nice speculation noon
that matter, hut apoarrjif dilfetences !;e
tween people are rot at all to he tiken ni
j"nt rneaure o: their actual ililf -ren "e;
(.'hriat'a tu'oie are con-tpicuoiu for heitnr
(ror,oimced upon the inconspicuous, and
1'nat is a fact to he thouelit tinon a tend
ing to charue the attitude of our ieel.nm
toward the ml r.ierired ninety-nine tier cent,
of the race. And I am ureinj thu point
rot fo. the puroose of pstahlishiirj a the
ory, bat in order that tiioe of yon who
re evidently of a tond deal oi accsunt
may sre more reison for respectinz and
honoring thoe w'co-e claiiiM to yoar re
nne.t and adn.iration are of an undernon
.rative type. Oii-e let them have an on.oi
fle'd anrl a fair cha"'" and i crhai s loey
will thanne p'"es with you. This n iv have
Riern a nart i what the Lord Ind in mind
when lie aid tint "uiarv t"t are first
uhall l e last, ami the hint tirst."
The idea has hreri rather h.arl ridden
overridden that if the pos.duhtie o; "f
feet ere in a man or woman, tho.e pos-ehili-ties
are bound to come to their rea.'7.ttio:i.
liowcv'.'r untoward mac he the ciccim
tancct that i-tird in tlit-ir way. It im
once e'cL'antly stated hv o'e who-e elo
fluent foe i s'lll frc.-h i" the memory of
rmv of ii- "How mauv Miltotis mav hava
clid! in their mother' an: ve cannot
t i!e. hut the -rv.vn-up Mi'tons have Veen
heard frcm." ll.'sv Jo -iv. dili'ca't to tic-ive
nod e-ninetulv noli; ol;a'.ile. Of a h -i ired
l;erpels of whfa it iree one ever fuiiiin
th di 'inv n'ailc. I tor it in t' own co::tl.
tutio i. hut the n.nci y-nii-.c that are eroitcd
nn in tiie mi'l n-e cr h as full of the ios-
ihihties of ''oladc. e.ir and f ill com in the
rir." a the o:ie that hanpeni t be
i'ootcd into V " f ir-ow. A trofiinl pc!m
viil -tj he notiiir.z h-s tiian a na'ri even
honih zrown n a northern l.itit nie, lint
liowevcr nhoundii tvv 1-e its native fe.er
iriesj nd vital for.es It will he unefiual to
IIib diseoir.i-cir.i:-,: o: -hort davi and early
frosti.
'file njiostle T'cter Ins hfcarae a sreat
rower in the hist uv of tiie c'nui h anil of
hnsiian e:vi!ia'.io:i. h.u ii on the day
that deiun wen; -U .Vilit'K aloni: the b.-a- h.
Catherine: u:i il . inles, IVter had hem out
nt ne.1 tiiiiinf instead of iniliore ; Inn
hi. nr'.i it is n'.i p' di able he would evif
luve been heard fvo.n. Ir is ra'tt-r minor
tnt to he o!in-vi lu-re o ar th" tra--!; - hr:i
the triio of n;.;j. :;;' tv t:ors b- Th'I.'
1 lit! I i-ll.tr llv i ptoMih r, i- in thic.s. , .it
nt the name tone there is acidc'i'. in
thiujs in the ,. -i-e in ulii h thu nor I a
cnieiit r.m he : iper'.,- .e. 1,.- .
ivill recall th" inini-iit wliH-h -loou
l-e'.atet s oc -urnn r.t the i,o ,1 , Ih-th-"da.
Tin re wis mn: nodi-m il pripertv
in the watert of tiie pool peihaps, at anv
rite t certain torei nn e.'uel desc. n led
into the pool and tro'ih'cd the water a'-d
tne one who ins fortunate cno'u.'i to Im
the lirt to get. t, . water after il v. is
trouble,! was hca'cd ot -in- inhruiitv from
which he pir.-ht he miff, i in . 'lh,,Ti,. to.
man who ihancul to ba r'.o-ci- to ihe trai l;
when the train oi oiui-u tunny -.-nt bv
couhl iro aboard and arrive.
A a'riady aid. t'ncnc are rr.at.crf to
V.vell Lron because the (ouiilu im on of
them enhance o.-.r rtv.icet for those about
n and treneliien far coohdeace ,n the
linal outivcrkilis oi tiiinsi. It uu te a. any- s
out attit ti! Imvaid what we tal;e hts' off
o lie an i rdimur man, even to usiect that
there are in him the tmkincs o nometlunx
o-iiderah'.v nmre than firditi.it v, even
tliouli i ireu"nta nee are -o unniopit ous
8 to prevent hit beroiiiimr at pr--s-nt
what the good f.or.l lad in rut 1
whrn He made bun and wlia'. there
14 a 'a"'r rhance of hi becotnio-; Ik;
fore, the Lord U entirely throanh witii I op
If you -eupect no more than siispe -t that
a it-rtain niece of mound i r.ch in miner il
ore, yoj are willing to p-iy a good t: i.-e ba
il eien before it Im hm e-p'oited. In
iic'i propert ei poiuihiiit.rii have a lare
sra-ih value. Kor oine rranue re4"- rer
nonal poiiibilit i t wc are more ieeredH'ous
nhit and tirefr to we the mial-tr'-ie,
nnd rant into ioot belore j reckon it as
1' ia for thit reason we e.iti elbow
onr wav thrini'n a crowd of couiiu m;i,no'
r-ei vnmci or throu"li a "".irm ol
sj'ir'r chcilien. oh'ivion-i of the diamonds
that ra if I'Ve'v would l-eain fo jrow iui
tro'i the dirt wera iuM d i.IT.
In Mi--i ''a' etij- nn fc'siorv there or
cur thl-i illustration, which, w it hoot any
traininc. lend-i iuelf to the luattir we nre
now considering. "At Lincoln t'athe Ira!
there ia beautiful painted win-low winch
vu made ty an apprentice out of the
piece a( ! which bad been rejected and
thrown away by hia matter. It u so fni
superior to every other in the church that.
ecord;n( to tradition, the vamiuitheil art
it kilhal himself front niortihration.'
Which meant that the finest window hi th
sen tire eclitire was nisdn out of 1sm that tc
Ma inappreriatir and unsympathetic ey
was good for no-lung and cat but at theet
refute. The oiiraele of the feeding id tin
&M) lets o tee among other thing toil
C'liriat hsd a very dislm-t resard (or what
the aliairple probably thought were inert
odds and em a, and at the end of I lie re
at gatheree up mo: a thati enojyli i-r.utt
nd as-rape to f'vd the whole coinpajy over
This acconrta for the anrpritet o often
rerurriiKt whin men who have never been
credited with ability, either intellectual or
moral, are aeeidentally puhed into placet
if retpontibihty nnd in that way have ri
preure put v.pon them that crowd thuit
ntcnt notsihiht iet into ne'.ivc powert ol of
(ect. It baa often heen to tne a matter of
im.ucnirnt th? heavy tond that n nernon
with secininaiy no draft power, will null
when once he bat been caught nnd liar
nested nnd properiy driven, nnd probably
no one to much surprised at the mnn hin:
self. The difficulty U not in linduu men
that nre competent to' do what it needed,
but in Bettinx men to do enough to beeonif
themtelvcs pertunded that they nre cotnpe
tent.
.Tntt at there are pcon'.e that nte to in
the habit of thinking they nre tick that
they never ret well, nnd nothing lest than
fright or nn earthquake will convulse
them into eouvnlc tcence. to tociely nnd the
;liurrh end the Stite nre lull of competent
ineapanlet who are good for nothing iinpl
because they have never commenced tr
tnaginc that liny are food for almost any
:hing. nr.ir have never been to 'n um
it im ed or have never to had v-p lo-ih 'itv
-oiled upon thrm as to shake tliein out of
:heir imnpaeity. )sct it a cae in pome,
vho, lift to the time he wot eighty, in ' er
lid anything noteworthv. so far as w- cm
earn, except to hill m llgyptian - find a
ltentaily the t ime man. of co ir-e. :! it he
Ait duriti'j 1'ie crowniiii'. dt!.fc-.ii-liiM2
vriod of hit hie. '.tit not having happened
luring hit first four t. ore years to he so
hcuillstt'icc 1 or to be so plucked t bv
;he pull of events as to di-iovcr that be
:.as nit a nonentity, and v-!"-n s'ln-tnonrd
,o action hv d-liovah, pleading nil', a- so
nany l:he hlni hii'e done siir e. by alleging
lim-'-lf to be constitutionally uneipral te
:lie ta-li that w.it sit h;m. ff von a-l n
nan to do s mieiliiiig who thiol.-s hitesi.-II
.ticompetent end he savs "No." you havt
:o take his "No." The n dva ill .'.a? the l.onl
lat ii tluit He docs liot h'e tri tahe a
nan't "No." did not ta'ie M iscs' "No.''
jut clung to him. stood hi o up and put ti e
load on him a"d told him to it a along willi
,t, and just the vci'jht of the load made
1 i in ah'e to go along with it. pressure loit'td
:he limn muscles tint had been waiting for
ihno-t a ciniuiy to be ettndie.l into ccr
lion, and eircitnistancct not rpade hit"
rre.it. imt tave him a chance to be whc.l
te and milliont of other ?icop!e or? in con
lition to he when the chance conie., whep
:lie attattin't bullet .strikes, when nt the
i ino'i une moment a alrivc it given into
'.he To il of llethcsda.
Xo matter what n person it in native
! Icatencss or in inward moral and Christian
; Jieauty, we Rive him credit for only tc
j liuch at hat externalied itself and us has
' ivrought itself into a kind of encompassing
i lialo, and we base estimate on the sipiare
?ontctitt of the ha'o. You have many n
j 'nre seen a locomotive looming out ot the
.iukness mith its flashing, headlight, nnd
I ih.it light has ntitieareil to you to brilliant
I n the dense night it hat teemed to you ill
i aio.st at though the front of the engine
I Acre frescoed with n tection of the tun I
ind the ground for a hundred rodt in ad
i mre of the train white:iei with almost
I ;he brilliancy of daytime. I!ut if you have
1 had an oiiiiorlunitv to intneet thuL head
''glit and to nnrrow all this illumination
iown to its fountnin toitrce you have ver
ikelv discovered thcra a tmall glast lamp
:ii' nisli-il witli a wick and a little kerosene
i i!. This it not to find fault with the light
, -jut only to call attention to the fact
iviiich you are likelv to forget, thnt in e.t
timating it you reckoned in the refltror
that wat framed to enconiiiatt the light
ind which made you tuppn.se there wa a
jreat deal more luminoutnett than wat act
ually the cate. Thnt it the wav in which
3ur estimate generally nre arrived at
original light with the ciicunii icenl retlee
tor added in central flame plan the an
reole.
Now the Lord in Hit rstimatet dis
pontes with aureole which it what Scrip
ture meent when it tayt that He looketh
not on the outward appearance. lie i
never mitled by reflectors or by the all
enee of lelltetom. A man may have very
little virtue and yet put that virtue into
tome ahow-y achievement with n large u
perficial area, whereupon men pet out
their measuring, rodt, figure up the area,
consult the multiplication table nnd decide
that he bat a great deal of virtue; that is
what I mean by computu s on a b.atit ol
aureole, adding reflector to the little kern
tene lamp. 'On the other hii-.d, a person
may have an immense annum; of virtue,
but circumstances be such that it never
becomes manifested ill a way to nrrest at
tention a very beautiful light it may he,
but not thiiiing under conditions that ling
it with a halo.
Now that wat the ease with the woman
in the temple. '1 he halo bun.ort taw
nothing but a eommonphice widow travel
ing past the contribution box. The Lord,
with whom nimbus dots not count, tan
nnd fe't what the woman herself meant
and w-.it. To Him she was the tame at
though she had dropped in a thousand
shekels, lint not to others who were pres
ent, for others would have reasoned just a?
people do now, and would have looued ta
the size of her gift to djurniir.e the size
of her litnrt and would have concluded
therefore that the had a two penny heart
Already nineteen hundred years ago tliut
poor widow had been become convinced
that "nobody bus a right to die rich."
She acted on the princip.e when she threw
in her two mites. No one made anything
of it but .leans, because there wat not gild
ing enough upon her advertisement of the
principle to make the air bright about it
Nineteen hundred years later the tame
principle that "nohody hat a right to d.;
die rich" w-as announced by one quite dif
ferently rituated from the widow with twe
mites; and the principle and the man win
announced it were published and heralded
clear around the globe. In thu lirtt in
ttanee there was onlv a two -penny halo,
and in the other a niillion-doliiii- halo, and
tiie big halo won. It cannot he part ol
our purpose to claim that the illustrioiK
Scotchman is not jut at hm iuble at the
inconspicuous Jewess. We nre only claim
ing that the reflector that you frame
around the lamp is no part ot the lamp
and certainly no nart of the blase that the
burn I hi oil sustains.
It wouhl be interesting to tee the com
motion that would have been excited over
her there in the temple had a heart as
sweet and beautiful as the Lord saw her
heart to be, not been held under the limb
tationt ot ungenerout circumstances, and
had It been within her means to do all that
her heart prompted in other words, had
tiie conditions under which the lived been
wide and open enough to match her own
personal nobihtv. Most people live in a
very small world; they ore in it and they
have to ttav in it. Influences hereditary,
and providential if you please, have built
around them an environment close nnd im
prisoning; possessed of hearts and intelli
gence l.inter than the snhere that despotic
circumstances permit them to fill. Some
times it mav be due to physical debility;
t lmetimet it comes as the result of those
untoward conditions ill early life that pre
vented the discipline of personal powers
and graces, certainly possessed, but suf
ficiently cultivated to make them a -'ad
and tei vueah'e potency. Such ones are all
aboat us and we could giui their names.
Animal Sea Flower.
The iea has Its flower gardens, bu'
th blooms are not on plant aj the)
arit, In land gardens, It Is tne anlmalr
of tho sea that make the gardens, thy
corals of tropical waters, particularly
making a display of floral beauty that
fairly rivals the gorgnous coloring and
delicate grace prosented by land flow
on. Ho densely do tboy resemble plant
blooms that It Is bard to believo the?
are wholly animal In organization.
And these sea gardens bave their
bird and butterflies, too, darting about
In every direction. Just a land gar
Con have, only In tb sea they are
not birds and butterflies at all, but
flibes ot curious forms and flajhlcg
colors.
A Gallant Little Culprit
Bobby was kept after school for
some mlsdumeanor. It was at kinder
garten, and bis first punishment.
The teacher Inquired, "Aren't you
very sorry.JBobby, to have to stay
after schoofwhen the others go?"
"Ob, no," replied Bobby. "It was
I Just what I wanted, so a to have you
all to myelt" Little Chronicle. ,
TIIE SABBAT SCHOOL
Inlernatiomit Lesion Comments Far
May 24.
Subject: Paul Btlo.- Agrljipa, Acts xvl I9
29 (JoUcn Txt, Acts xtvl., 22 Memory
VerscJ, 27-29 Commentary on thi
Day' Lesson.
lfl. "Agrippa." TIerod Airippa II. was
king of the country east of the upper dor
dan and tiie Sea of fJalilee. Ho had a pal
sec at .'eriioalcni, nr d wat professedly s
dew, ,.rd was versed In dewish customs.
Ho was the son of the Herod Agrippa who
slew dews and imtirisoned Peter. Mitt
the distinction of .lerutaiem. A I). 70. he
wat del .ironed, but permitted to retain hia
wealth. nt:d lived at Home until A. 1). 100.
He wat immoral in life, but not unjust in
bis ride, and has been ' onsidered the best
in the Herodian family. "Not disobed
ient." This is one of the grand points ot
instruction nnd personal implication in
Paul's whole career, lie began nn tho in
slant, where he iva?. to obey. He sought
on the instant, nnd ever nfterwanl. tu
l;naw nnd do the Lord's will. "Heavenly
vision." The vision w hich appeared to me,
manifestly iron heaven. Ho wat obedient
nnd V--t it certainly coat him a hard Strug
pie to renounce nil for Christ,
U'h ' l-'int unto ').iiinscv,i." ITo began
to preach r.t Damascus immediately fAct?
II: I'll '.'J). but rc.on went to Arabia. From
Arahii be returned nuain to Damascus
(thai. 1: 17. 1SI. where the .Tews sought to
take his life. Paul rsrnp"d bv night, being
let down by the wall in a basket (Acts 0:
So-'Jol. "At dcrusah.-m." etc. I le specifics,
es his fourfold field of labor, first, the two
ritiet of Damascus and dernsalem. then the
whole region of .India, and, le-it'iv, the
heithen wor'd. "M-o-a'd rcoent." He ir.d
po-Ujh', to win 'ren back to Cod. to reveal
('hrit and His complete work for mnn's
redemption, that they misht repent , nnd
tttrti to Cod; thai, with n divinely re
newed heart and rever-cd life thev miitht
do works ncceptalde to Cod. The doctrine
of repentance was frequently rircache l by
the apostles, ft includet both contrition
nnd reformation. The truly repentant one
ia he.irti'y sorry for nil his Nina, o sorry
that b turns nvny from sin forever, nnd
if possible would undo all be lias sinfully
done. Confessions ere made, wro-.gs nre
ri'.'hted. and tin- soul, loathing itself, crier
to Cod for mercy.
2t, 22. "l-'or these ca-tsoi." TVcause In
li.ad obeyed Cod according to Ins distinct
revelation, in a manner distdoasinp to th?
Jews, they had sought to kill him. "In the
temple." Paul was worshioin in the tem
ple when the Jews seized him. "I eon
tinue.'' If was not bv nny power of his
own he had been nreserved. but it wit be.
cause Cod had interposed and rescued him.
"Witnessing." li'-nring testimony, rt he
had been commanded. "Small." To those
in hu.nlile life, to the poor, the ignorant
and the obscure. "Cieat." The rich nnd
noble: to kings and p-inces and ecvernors.
He had thus stood on Mars' hiil nt Atlient;
he had borne testimony liefore the wis?
men of Crce-e: he had declared the same
cospel before Felix nnd Festii-', nnd l ow
before Aerippa. "Saying none other
things." He add' the supreme fact that
nil he taught was in exact etrrrment with
Moses nnd the nropbrts. This fact utterly
overthrew all the charges of his accusers,
nnd convicted them of rejecting the law
nnd the pronhets, which was the crime al
leged ngainst himself.
23. "Should suffer." Manv of the
Jews overlooked or denied the s'lffr-iu.:
character of the Messiah, and stumbled fa
tally nt the gospel becnuse it required them
to accept a crucified Iledeemer. "The
first," ete. See H. V". "Christ was not tho
first to be raised from the dead, but the
first who liy His resurrection gave the
promise of eternal life." Paul always lays
great importance on the resurrection.
"Show light." True light bhincs only
through the risen Christ.
II. An interruption bv Fet'us (v. 21).
24. "Beside thyself." The loud voice w.ai i
the effect of his surnrite and astonishment.
What Paul had said of a resurrection from !
the dead accomplished in Jesus nt tho first I
fruits of a person coming from the Jowj
w ho should enlighten not only his own peo
ple, but even the Centiles among tho rest,
the polite and learned Creeks nnd ltomans
and of the manner in which this was re
vealed to him all this would lead such .1
half-thinker and a pagan as 1'estns to con
clude roundlv that Paul was a visionary
enthutinst. "Much learning." Many writ
ing! had turned his brain, the idea beinq
suggested by Paul's many allusions to
Moses nnd tho prophets. Th? lend"ncy
of long continued and intense mental an
plication to produce mental derangement
is everywhere known.
III. 'Paul's rcplv to Foetus fv.i. 2.V20).
23. "'jim not mad." Kit'ier Paul or Fes.
tits was beside himself. They lived in dif
ferent worlds, and one or tho other was
wrong. If Festus was sane, Paul was mad;
if Paul was sane, Festus was mud. Theru
is no madness so great, no delirium so aw
ful, as to neglect the eternal interests of
the soul for the sake of the poor pleasures
nnd honors which this life can give. Tho
worldly-minded man misrepresents Chris
tians by regarding (1) their childlike faith
ns narrowness of mind; (2) their devout
life as religious melancholy; (3) their joy
ful hone as fanaticism.
20, 27. "The king lenowcth." Agrippa.
was a Jew and no doubt was acquainted
with the history of the lifo and works of
Jesus, of His death nnd resurrection, nf tho
events that occurred on the day of Pente
cost, and the preaching of tho gospel since
Jesus had been crucified. ' "A corner."
There was a wide knowledge of the facts
connected with the life, death and resurrec
tion of Christ. "Believest." Agrippa had
been instructed in the Scripture? nnd ac
cepted them intellectually, Tho writings
of the prophets foretold tho events of
which Paul had been speaking, nnd had
their fulfilment in Christ. "I know." Piuil
answers hia own question, for although
Agrippa was nn immoral man, yet incidents
in co.incction with hia life uhow that he
was a sincere Jew.
28. 2!t. "Almost." ete. Pco B. V. There
are two widely different opinions as to the
meaning of this v?rse. The first is that
Agrippa's heart was touched and thnt, no
tording to the Authorised Version he de
tlared with nil seriousness that he was nl
Host persuaded to become a Christian.
1'he other view is that the words were spo
ten sarcastically, according to tho Revised
Version, and that ho was lint in the least
Influenced by Paul's words towards Chris
tianity. Nearly all recent commentators
icccnt the latter view. "Would to Cod."
Paul's answer is sublime. Tie is so thor
oughly satisfied with tha salvation ho has
experienced that be docs not hesitate to
heartily commend it to s'l his roval hear
ers. "Except," etc. Wbst a gentle re
broof to these mints win wire keeping
dim in chains! Whit a delicate appeal tu
them for liberty '.
Stones Are Alive,
The most curious specimens of
vegetable or plant life in existence
are the so-called "living stones" ot
the Falkland Islands. Those Island
are among tbe most cheerless spots
in the world, being constantly sub
jected to a strong polar wind.
In such a climate It Is impossible
for trees to grow erect, as they do In
other countries, but nature has
made amends by furnishing a supply
of wood in the most curious shape
imaginable. The visitor to tbe Falk
lands sees scattered here and there
singular shaped block of what ap
pear to be weather beaten and moss
covered bowlders, in various size.
Attempt to turn one of these
"bowlders" over and you will meet
with a surprl, becauie the stone I
actually anchored by root of great
strength; In fact, you will find that
you are fooling with on of tha native
trees.
No other country la the world ba
such a peculiar "forest" growth, and
It Is sold to be next to Impossible to
work the odd-shaped blocks Into fuel,
because the wood I perfectly devoid
of "grain," and appear to be a
twisted dim ot woody fibre.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
May 24 "Powr and Praytr." Acts I., 13,
U; II., 1-4, 41.
Daily Readings,
Mav IS. The promise of the Fnt'jcr.
Jorl il 2S-30.
May 19. Waiting on the Lord. Psa.
xxvll.. 8-11.
May 20. Prevailing prayer. Jaa. v.,
13- 1(1.
May 21. Of one accord. Gal. v.,
19-2tl.
May 22. Tho Spirit' nils3loa. Jolin
xv.. 2fi. 27.
May 23. Coveting power. Acts vlll.,
14- 24.
May 24. Power and prayer. Act3
I., 13. 14; II., 1-4. 41.
Scripture Verses 13a. xxxx.. 31:
I.uke xl.. 13; Mntt. vl., G; Jas. Iv.. 8;
Phb. Iv.. 22; xxxvll.. 5; Ixll.. 8; Matt,
xxl., 22; Mark xt., 21; John xv.. 7;
Hub. xl., C; James 1., 5, 0; 1 John
v.. 14.
Lesson Thoughts.
Our only source of power la God;
ChrlHt said: "All power Is given unto
me In heaven and in earth;" and wo
may have this power for the mere ask
IllK. If the wire is broken that carries
tin? eh'rtrlc current from the central
plant to tho electric motor, there will
be no power. Prayer Is our spiritual
wlrin? with God, tho central power
plant.
Selections.
:,"o nnswer comes to thc:o who pray
ami idly stand.
And wait for stones to roll away at
God's ronitnund;
Ho will not beark tho binding cords
upon us laid,
If we depend upon pleading words,
and will not aid.
The secret of power Is fire klr.dled
from above. One man. If God be with
him. stands undismayed among a
thousand foes and (an erry off the
gates of Gva and lift the pillars of
Dn:;on's temple.
When then prayest. rather let thy
heart b without words than thy
words without heart, and remember
emphatically, either prayer will make
thee ecase from sin, or sin will certain'
ly entice the? from prayer.
Prayer gives energy to life only
when energy Is put Into prayer. If
olio watUos all his strength on the
world, lie can get no strength from
heaven.
The Ftrongth of a plant Is not In II
loaves or Its brilliant flowers, but In
Its roots. A Christian's strength does
not ile on the surface.
No sense of his own sinfulness ever
made a man strong yet. It made hliu
weak, that he might become strong.
Faith Is trusting Jesus to lead us.
and going where he leads. What
avails It to mo to analyze Saratoga
water, and to believe In Its virtues? I
must drink the water, if I want ltl
Hirii'ylng power.
Suggested Hymns.
'Tin the hollowed hour of prayer.
Lord, at thy mercy-seat.
Hear us. O Savior, while we pray.
O. I love to talk with Jesus.
Swret hour of prayer.
While thou, O my God, art r heJj
and defender.
CPWORTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS.
May 21. Atteodaac on th; M;sns ol Qrace
iHcb. 12. 20-25.)
The Christian life Is represented as
If It were the birth and growth from
Infancy to maturity of the spiritual
within us. "Grace" Is the new world
Into which the soul has corco. As with
the natural life, so with the spiritual,
an absolute essential of growth is
food. Can there be any surprise, if the
spiritual life shall require "means of
grace," Just as the body requires
means of food? By a sure Impulse of
self-preservation every religious or
ganisation, as soon as it beginB to ex
ist, begins to provide agencies to
nourledi tho !'' rt Its r"-"b"rii. V
odlhm notably did so from tne begin
ning, net only by such as existed be
fore, but by special prayer and band
meetings, class meetings, watch-night
services, love feasts. Tho Epwortb
League has done so In 1U devotional
meeting and mornlnj watch and plans
for spiritual study.
Nothing is more painfully Incongru
ous than a sumptuous banquet and
richly spread table with the place of
many a guest left vacant. Only at
tendance of our members on the means
of groce with vigorous spiritual appe
tites can fill out the Ideal, and satisfy
the purpose of God and the Intention
of Church and League in making theBe
abundant provisions. Attendance on
the means of grace needs to be pre
pared for no less than does our coming
to the table. As the grime gathered
In office and shop, on flying train or
bitBy thoroughfare, In field or garden,
Is removed from hand and face, as at
tire receives some touch of attention,
so let tbe soul by thought and relig
ious habit be freshened and fitted to
como with greatest benefit to the
means of grace. Good cheer at the
table helps digestion. So a genial and
happy atmosphere of good-fellowship
and sunBhlne of soul wonderfully aids
spiritual digestion, and greatly in
creases our powf.r of assimilation of
what is heard in any meeting.
Not only will you recolve strength
yourself by attending the means of
grace, but your presence will help
others. Your presence and readiness
may greatly inspire the leader, and one
person In a devotional or testimony
meeting, having no specific part be
forehand, may turn the tide of the en
tire service. The presence of the
Christian young people in the midweek
prayer meeting or Sunday evening
public service may determine the char
acter of many a pastorate In Its power
to reach the unsaved.
"They who oeek the throne of grace
Find that throne in every place;
If we live a life of prayer,
God Is present everywhere."
Skating on Water.
It would seem that skating on water
may be successfully accomplished. 4
German Inventor has made a 100-mll
Journey with water shoes on the sur
face of tbe River Danube. The sboer
are clylndrlcal In shape, and are mad
of aluminum to give tbem extreme
lightness. They are several feet long,
and are propelled by a treading move
ment, which cause four oar-bapetf
wings to revolve. The Inventor claim
that he can travel' on water thre
time as fast a he can walk on lane
and that locomotion Is a safe oc
rough water a on smooth. He hope
to have the shoes made a part of
very well-regulated life-saving sta
tion. Mora Horseflesh Eaten.
8lnce the recent great horsaftesh
dinner to Berlin the business of tha
horse butcher ha quadrupled.
TIIE RELIGIOUS LIFE
READING FOR THE QUIET HOUR
WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF.
romi flat. mini Vulture Thorn Is No Stich
Thins; ns Being Manly Without faith
How to Tiltiuiph OTer Kvery Spir
itual, l'liyaloat and Moral Evil.
"O wnv upon the strand '.
What urjtps thee in vnin
To lift the battled hand
In suppliance again Ir
"The paion that impels
The tidal energies
In every bud that swel's,
In every soul that sighs,
"The same that on the cross
Sustained the dying Christ,
When love fur seeming loss
Alone was sacrificed."
John D. Tabb, in Sunday-School Times.
showing Courage In Faith.
Courage' is eise-ntial to manliness. Man
liness is essential to the being of a man,
young or old. l-'.iith is essential to courage
or to manliness; for no man has power tc
do his duty, or to meet Ins enemies, or to
be competent fur the encountering of hif
conflicts and' stnugles, in and of liinixelf,
without strength or skill beyond bis own.
Faith is ronlidencp in (tne stronger than
mere limn strong enoicjli to ovcrcoma
every enemy, every danger, every ditiirulty
that can oppose the weakest man, young
or old. Therefore it is that manliness and
courage and faith arc essential to a man in
his life career, with its obstacles, if he
would he a man, and no man wants to b
less than a man.
There is no such thing ns being manly
nnd eouiajoims without faith. Kven men
who have neither belief nor confidence in
our (Jod. the ono true (Ind. know that they
i-amiot of themselves endure or meet nil
that opposes them, hence they call on their
gods, or trust in siippn-ed unseen and su
perhuman powers, fur aid, and this is their
Fiihsiitiite for faith. When the idolatrous
I'hilistines of old, worshipers of Dagon,
gave battle to Israel, they cried out to ono
another, anxious'y and encouragingly:
"Woe unto u! who shall deliver us out "ol
thu hand of these mighty gods? these (the
Rtreii'itli of Israel) are the gods that smote
the Kgypti.m with a'l manner of plagues
in the wilil-rness. lie strong, and emit
yourselves like men, () ye I'hilistines, that
ye be not servants unto the Hebrews,
as thev have been to you; quit vour.
selves like men and tight." And then it
wr.s that the I'hilistines fought nnd Israel
was smitten. The Israelite ill that con
flict had not faith in their (ind, the living
Cod. hut their confidence was in the sacred
nrk, and that confidence failed them, and
the ark ivai captured and thev themselves
were vanquished, while tho Philistine wor
shipers of IJion were triumphant.
Long r i tiff this the prophet called on
the Israelites t.) have laitli in the living
God in their conflicts and be strong in His
strength. "Strengthen ye the weal: hands,
end confirm the feeble knees," he said
ay to them that nre of a fearful heart,
Le strong fear not; behold, vour Ciod will
come with vengeance, with tfie recompense
if (iod; lie will come and save you." And
I 'if. Apostle says to Christian believers,
'Watcii ye, stand fast in the faith, quit
you like men, be strong." The call is the
sure in the olden time and in the new,
for tho need and the duty of those who
wou.d show themselves men nre ever tha
fame. We must realize this if we would
nil our place and do our work.
The iioostle sounds his eill in view of the
lite we have to live and of the foes we have
to ti;ht: '-Finally, be strong in the Lord,
and in the strength of His might. Fut on
the whole armor of (iod, that ve mav he
nhle to stand against the wiles of the devil,
for our wrestling is not against flesh and
b.ood, but against the principalities,
against the powers, njninst the world-rulers
of this darkness, against the spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
herefore take up the whole armor of
(jod that ye may be able to withstand in
tho evil day. and, having done all, to
stand. In our own strength we can do
nothing: in (iod's strength we can do all
things that we have to do or ought to do.
It is a sad thing for a young man to hnvs
ill the" phvsical mid spiritual enemies in the
universe to face and combat unaided. It is
n comfort for a young man to feel that he
has on his side, ready at his call to give
him protection and assistance, all the limit
less und infinite spiritual forces of the uni.
verse, capable of triumphing over every
physical, moral and spiritual evil. Kverv
young man has the choice between these
two conditions.
Soon after our Civil War. while General
(miit was still at Washington in com
mand of the armies of the United States, a
young officer on enlisting dutv was sta
tioned in one of the northern cities. This
young otlicer was not only a soldier of the
iirirry of his (iovernment, but he was a sol
dier of the (Jreat Captain of his salvation,
and he was active in winning recruits for
his spiritual Commander. lie sought out
young me.n in places of cvil-cioiiig nnd of
moral danger in o-der to win them from
their evil ways. Hearing of a vile den of
special peril,, where young men were led
astray, and where it was diflicult for nn
honest man, even a policeman, to obtain
entrance, because it was so closely watched
nnd guarded, he set himself to find nccess
to the p. ace and its endangered young
men. At length he obtained entrance, and
he was quicklv recognized ns the onlv well
doer in the piaee, and as there for the ex
priMs purpose of aiding to break up the
vi.h biisinesi of the establishment.
As lie was describing to a friend his ef
forts to obtain an entrance to that den,
nnd his experiences among those desperato
evil-doers, his friend asked him:
"Were von not nfraid. all bv yourself?"
Afraid! renli,.rl ilm ..o:AH-
'Why should I be afraid? Sampose I had
s'lecial orders from Ceiiernl (irant to do
this work, should I feel afraid? Why, if
nny one attempted to stop nie, I should
taip my hand on my orders nnd say to
linn, 'lon'd better not interfere with me.
Ceneral (irant and the whole I'nited States
Army nre back of me. ready to give me
support. You'd understand that then I'd
feel Ktrong and confident. Ilut I've more
than that support back of mo now. All
the spiritual powers of the universe are
ready to give me aid. I've no right to feel
afraid while in (iod's service, doing Ilia
work for those whom Ho loves."
That is the way for a young man to feel,
whi.e he is where lie ouyht to lie, doing
what he ought to do. In (iod's service we
have no right to fear or fly. We nre 4o
stand courageously, having boldness in
taith, whoever is out- eneinv, or whatever
forces our enemy brings against us. There
are only two great powers in the universe,
(iod and the devil. Being with God. God
will 1 with us, und all other foes or forces
are as naught to us. "Be subject therefore
unto (iod, but resist the devil, nnd he will
flee from you. Draw nigh to (iod and He
w ill draw nigh to- you." Near to (iod, there
is our safety; there is strength; there is
the place to have courage through faith.
R is Oar Strsnath,
The liev. Alexander Mae'.urcn says: "AH
Work now done in fellowship with God
tends to become either too heavy to ba
tackled successfully, or too trivial to call
out our best energies, and in either case
to become a grir.d or a plod. But if He is
our strength, nothing will be too formid
able to undertake, nor too small to bo
worth effort. Nothing will be unwelcome;
the rough places will be made plain and
tha crooked things straight, and we shall
run and not ba weary when there come
momenta requiring siiecial energy, and
walk and not faint through th else te
dious hours of comuiouolsca duty."
Hard Rul to Follow.
Here 1 a characteristic eipresslo
of view from Prof. Huxley, tbe em.
neat English scientist: "It Is an excet
lent rule always to erase anything that
strikes one as particularly smart when
writing."
Answer to Hidden Rivers.
The names of the fourteen hidden
rivers given In last week' article are
as follows: Lena, Nile, Orange, Indus,
Don, Congo, Ganges, Niger, Obi, Ma
deira, Rhone, Danube, ArkaiJ".
Amoor.
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOWS STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
If Yam WonM Save ilia floats of Tons
Clillilrsn From Ilestraeilnn I'.anlsti
Hint "Acenrsed Thins" Horn From
Your Home Power of This Dsinnn.
If war Ins slain its thousands, intemper
ance hss slain its tens of thousand'. Ani
where is the father who would not prefei
ti se his son shot down before his fact
than to behold him noisoned to a degrading
death bv the foul harpies whom legiop
has employed?
And who ire the men whose fate har
been thus sealed in lin-ieless ruin?
They rre young. They were sci7ed anil
hon-id while yn-ing. Hardlv one in linn
dre-ls Ins msd the maturity of his earth
)v d.ivs. Did thr-i- biein as purposed, will
ing drunkards? Nothimr was fi)i-her from
thi-lr thoughts or their desires. The linvt
waded out most praduallv, almost iiner
I'cplihly. into th dcen. Thev oiee looked
down upon the inebriate sot with sorion
and contempt, as others now lon't down
iMio-i i hem. They started vltb the dron
Ihcir fathers rive them, or with lb offered
y'ass of fri""dshin. nt noon'o - nigh!. w..nn
thev Inched the courage to refuse. The de
wo" seized thm when thry were sheltered.
i' thv ihni -'-t. far from bis nhodes. and
led them nn. 'lis purpose fiyed. t.linngh yet
ur'mnwn to tt'S'ti, for (heir final ruin.
Whe-e did this work of rn;n begin? rr
rnc tel' -9 nt the tnvern or in l-vnts liks
that. Whit gave to nure nnd innocent
-iHths flint teste for taverns? Where ibd
'hev get the nnpetite which so -hi its nh
-?ts aid its plec-us there? You wi'l h
romel'"d to look b,nk far lievond their
p"blie limit, nnd ti feel and to acknowl
"dge the 'csronsihility often coming nearet
t-orce. The moderate drinker is but nn in
dentnred nnnrentiee fo the drunVni-H. A
f-r-ininin divine providence may eripnle hi
ability in his -o-ith. rnd h mnv rot thor
nnyhly lenrn his trade. But th" ra1iit"nl
s. hi'- cvc- pntnrpntly refined, signs hi
indentu-e. .An t no o-e who starts as nn
nn'iren'ice nf the "rrft, or who lea 's nn
other tak" a single stei in its c'-nrly
mi'-kcd linn, has power to define5 (he limits
sf fh eo-.trsi?,
God frant I '"it we may never live o scs.
en nns ind 'tmaht-'-i. so nre"'ous in nnr
siirht, r-ist oi i r.p,-'sh -ndrtr th" deat'-nv-ing
rs rr o" t'-! le-in- 'Vmnnl But if we
woM -void this tcn-'b'c so-m. let "
svo:d all Connection with th" ha'dt o the
rad-. T.er us rarc--or t,!"t he phicks
Ii" lnbs f--c-i ilm ni. home, nnd se-
'"cti th" i-Vtiin fr.- bis ho'ienusts when
ttiev and theirs l-ist r-necf his npn-""cii.
rf vn- wi'l pave h.- so'ils of yiur ehildrei
fror" the Hesfct 'on. o- vo-'-'e-es frnn- nil
mrtirhi't ion in the ruin, himish the "n"
cursed thing" fnvn. vn-u- hnhiteiinn; to-k
no the rni"tiig bott'"s from tbeic s'ht
ind neither hive ri" offer unon vc-r tab'-?
this minppe--ry inducement to vice, t'ds
r1ireef pro'-i-on foi- im-O'-eihmnni- of the
l-alth. prison to th bodies, and destruc
tion r.f the souls o" vonrsel-es n-d vour
ehiblren "n-i vour friends. Rev. Stephen
II. Tyng, D. D!
A nrnnknril's Poily After Death.
A post-mortem r-f-nin'-tien of nearly
s'ventv pc'sons v)in h"d died fr"m si-i.
rive use 'of nrdent spirits showed the fo!
loninrr 'acts.
1. Congrfi"o. nf Ihc s-s'o nnd of the
cemhrrmo nf the br-'n. with piti"'n s-re'is
fwpterv rffas;"-. The "tistp-ic" nf the
brain, white and Crm. as if it had lain in
alcoh"' fo- nn or two hours.
2. Th" Iiip-s not "Iways, but frequently
"o"ges"d n- ipft-i-e t.
1. T'-p hee- "nob". enl.T-jpd. pV"tpd
ind Imdcd wi'h f i outshle: the blood in it
of a che-rv red color and with no tendency
to coa-Vnte.
. Th" sto-narh r-r.'-'tly white and
thickened m some c"'': n others t-nvna
patches nf clr-onie inP-nsm-tinn, In th
worst c".c . brge notion nf tte stoipech
covered with the sope'es nf inflanrnption
n-Iiich pvtes 'hp b'.ood to be poured from
th n-iniit" veins.
8. The liver enlnryed in old drunkards
iypigl'i"7 from six to twelve pounds.
rt. The omentum a sort of apron which
imp'c'tip"1-.- covers the nV'onien in front-io-
IH .v;ih s cr.iv sh'hv f it
7. T'-e kidneys enlarged, fish' n--'
nitrated in numerous spots with whitish
mattf
8. The srrn'1 intestines fil'cd with bile,
ind peited with p. tenacio-is m""us.
9. The b norf in a very fl'iid no-d'l'o-i,
having W little fibrine,' but much u'.bu
7ipn anH fat.
10. le who.c boC". except tho brain,
lecotnpojing verr ranldiv.
Js it ii'iv wondc- that a drunkard r.eeds
medical treatment?
I'eiten by Barleycorn.
The naners sn'v that John L. Sullivan.
the once invincible pugilist, is a bankrupt.
:eierri:ig. oi course, to ins nnaneiai nt
luirs. as his account in the bank of morals
was overdrawn some t;me no. John
amassed a fortune, it is said, of more than
i million dollars, most of which he has
squandered in riotous living. We very
much doubt if nny man, since the days of
damson, had the physical nrowesa of John
U, Sullivan. Xo man cou'd withstand the
force of his fists. But SI:-. Sullivan en-.
reived the foolish notion that be cuuM
down oat John Barleycorn. Well, he
got him down, all right,' but it is onlv a
oue.uion of time, in all such cases, when
this greatest of all pugilists will win. Just
previous to Mr. Sullivan's final encounter
with James C'orhctt he had freuuent bouts
with o'd John Barleycorn, thirkmg ss so
manv do, that n ''stimulant" of thnt Ifbi I
would strengthen him. As a result of this
erroneous notion when John met James his
brain was sluggish and it took too long for
his nsts to get or lei j troni licail luartcrs.
That's what the d'snatches meant at tiie
time when thev said he was "uroi-All
of Vhieh goes to move what we've asserted
that old John Bar.eveorn ii thu greatest
of all pugilists, and that be will ultimately
knock out every fellow who tacklti him.
Marion l'ccord.
Drink Increase to Europe.
The rapid increase of drlnl: conaumptlon
in Kur.ipe.in countries is commented upon
by an ICr.glish newspaper which quotes the
follow ing startling statistics:
In l&'rt there were drinking places
In France; in ISHt) there were S00.OW, or
ono for every thirty adults. In Belgium,
where fin is the popular intoxicant, the
consumption of alcohol has increased 125
Ker cent, since ISM. There is one public
ouse to every thirty-six inhabitants. In
Holland there is one tavern to every 303 ot
tbe population. In Norway there ia only
one licensed house to every 7812 inhabit
ants. In Kngland where there is a "gin
palace" to every 145 inhabitants, the sta
tics show a rise from 072.SjO.OIK) gallons of
beer US2) to 1,282.470,000 ( 1895). and of
;l4,a79,'XMJ gallons of spirits to 42.42,0oC
during the same period (31.9 galloas ol
beer per head, 1.03 of spirits).
Th CrosaiU la llrler.
Ths beer adulterants said to be most fr--quently
used are iducose, decayed rice,
mouldy corn, Irish moss and rosin.
Pure food agents all o.-er l'ennsviva.iio
have been instructed by Commisoiiu.er
Cope to collect samples ot beer for ni '
sis. Tha sellers of those containing inju
rious adulterants will be prosecuted.
The most notorious liquor firm in Cm
faifo. wluca runs half a doxeu or niorr
"high class saloons," where young men ar
ruined aiuid elegant surroundings, has jusl
started store for women. It is pra
emiuently an establishment, fur supplying
home trade," they advertise.
Is ths province of Ontario, Canada, a
vigoroua campaign bearing on the Uiyioc
trsfiic ia now well under way. Entire pro
hibition of the traffic ia not aimed at, but
the purpose is to abolish ..he barroom, and
with it the treating custom.
The National Anti-Saloon league, with
about 130 delegates, representing twenty
four States, receutly uiet in convention 10
one of the large churches in Washiugton'
i. C, to discuss the most effective means
for aggressive work along temperance lines.
1 The managers of the public school y
tern in Belgium some years ago ael apart a
certain day each year, known us "pledg
day" in the schoo.s, when the parents sre
requested to attend, aud each ubolhv win
has readied twelv years of age is lovnoi
to take a pledge of total abititiruer fioif
iutoxicauts lor eight years.
SOME CLD THEATRE!
riayhonees Thnt Flourished Many Years
lletore Christ.
Yon niny wonder whnt tlii're could
be Injurious to public morality in ji
Uientre innde of stoue. Coiisr.l 1 ('or.
aellusi Selplo Nnseln knew, but history
loesn't tell. The llm nttempt to build
i stone theatre In Home wns imidp a
iliort lime before be wns elevated tc
als ofllcp. It wns an u-t lulled by the ceu
ors nnd wn ncnrlnj: completion when
Selplo persuaded the sennte to com
nmnd It to be pulled down, ndvniicln;
s bis reason solicitude for public
iiornllty.
The Komntis ilhl not possess n resit
inr stoue theatre until n very hits
period, nnd nlthotisli driiinntle repre
scutntlon were very popular In ent-lj
times. It nppenrs that n wooden tn
wns created when necessary .nnd wns
nftenvnnls pulled down naln, and the
plnys of riautus nnd Terence were
aerfoimeil on sitcli temporary scaffold
inpis. In the meanwhile many of the
nelKhlioriiiK towns of Home bad tbelt
stone theatres, ns th" Introduction of
l.'reel; customs nnd milliners was less
strongly opposed In them than In the
:Hy ot Itnme Itself. Wooden theatres,
ndorned with the most profuse mug
iillleence. were erected nt Koine eve:i
JurhiK the last period of the republic.
A magnificent wooden theatre pin lined
by M. Aemlllus Scnurr.s was built In
bis acdllpslilp, rS it. C. Its Bceiia con
sisted of three stories, nnd tho lower of
I hem wns made of white marble, the
middle one of jtlass; nnd the upper one
Jf gilt wood. The envea contained 8i,
J00 spectators. In 55 U. C. Ci). I'oinppy
.illllt the llrst stoue t.ieatre nt Home,
aear the Campus Martins. It was of
treat beauty nnd Is said to have been
Imllt nfter the mode! of that of Myth
'.one. It contained 40.000 spectators.
C. Curio bult la 50 B. C. two nuigulil
;ent wooden theatres close by one nu
rther, which might be changed Into
me nmplthenttv. After the tltnp of
I'ompey, however, other stone theatres
ivere erected, ns the Theatre of Mar
?ellus, which wns built by Augustus
Hid called nfter his nephew Marcc'.lus,
mil that of I5:il')ii, whence Suetonius
used the expression "Per trinn thea
tru." Cinciniintl Commercial.
Peacocks' Feathers.
The Biiperstitloiis regard peacocks'
feathers with suspicion and forbid the
lilmlsslon of these beuutirully colored
v.-naments Into their rooms; but. sa-.vs
Hie Court Circulator, there nre those
who derySuperstition nnd will poslbly
lie plensed with the new fashion that
lias Introduced peacocks' feathers for
personal wear. Not only nre they Im
itated lu pallletes nnd beads on satin
gowns, or works-d Into the design of a
pink nnd white brocade, but the real
feather Itself is now seen on millinery
3f the moment. A hat composed of
3at folds of black net nud bands oiT
treea velvet Is decorcted on the brim
ivith nn aigrette of peacocks' feather?,
:wo feathers, the short cut steins cross
ing one nnother, being used for the
omposltlon of this novel aigrette. which
' decidedly nn innovation oil past
fashions. It cannot be snld, on tho
.vhole. that peacocks' feathers nre very
ivedl chosen us personal adornments,
out ns an aigrette on n black or Tuscan
:oqtte these symbols of the lUHlred
'ved Argus, who, according to niythcl
Jgy. was charged by Juno to watch
to, but. being slain liy Mercury, was
hanged by the revengeful goddess Into
i peacock, will pass. Superstitions die
hard, aud I doubt If the Argus-eyed
feathers will be seen more than here
ind there on frocks nnd millinery;
touiewhere they may be, but surely
not "many-where," to used the newly
:oliicd phruse.
Washing-ton Business Methoils.
Two business men were walking
iloug n, South Washington street one
ifternoon when the nppearnuce of a
smnll colored boy caused one of them
o remark:
'.'That boy has bee:) sold nnd paid for
is many times as he has lingers nnd
'.OPS."
"You don't mean It?" Inquired tho
it her.
"I do. Indeed," came tha nnswer, "and
:an prove It."
He explained that the boy had been
in tho employ of n huckster for many
rears nnd that the li'.d's employer made
l specialty ot handling potatoes.
"It was not an ttnusunl thing-for him
:o sell fifty or more sacks of potatoes
t day," said the man who had started
:he con versa t Ion, "and that boy occu
pied several of those sacks each day."
The merchant told his friend that tho
nu-listers had a habit of carrying tho
my Into cellars at business houses and
lumping him the same as they did the
potatoes. Each time he wns carried
ip counted for as many potatoes ns the
lacks hold and each time the dealer
paid for him, bdt wns not privileged
'o keep him. Washington Star.
Tha Waiarelail.
A St. retersburg dispatch to the ton
Ion Express says: "The new typo of
dilp the Russian naval engineers have
oen engaged lu. perfecting for Borne
nonths past, the ro-called 'vodobraulii.'
r wnterclud. Is making progress.
"Instead of upper deck It has two
ellliigs, Inciudlug a layer of cork, and
nstead of the lower deck, an armored
lour. The space between ceilings and
loor can be automatically HI led with
ffnter (hence tho term 'waterelud'l
vheu tbe ship sinks a foot tinder water.
L'nder the armored flour Is the space
'or men, machinery and torpedo gear.
"This ingenious craft, her Inventor
lolds, will soon render the ordinary
ronclud as obsolete as the wooden
:hree-decker. Invisibility, speed, large
lAlllug radius, sea-going qualities nud
uvuluerablllty are some of the charac
teristics which make the new type nl
logether superior to the nbove-weter
fessel. They do not roll, nud therefore
iffer a good basis for accurato firing
f their tocpcdoeJ.
"Their coat Is about t300.hV apiece.
They are manned by ten oflicera and
100 men In two shifts."
Kins Who Merer Smiled Aaala.
"One of the questions asked at a re
ent teachers' examination,'' says Ir.
rlowlaud of Columbia, "was, 'Can you
lnute the monarch, referred to lu Eng
lish history, as the King who never
milled again?'
Th reply oi one of ths' fair candl
dates for a license to teach, was, 'Kin
William Uufus after he was shot In tb
forent.' ')
"History recordi thnt ths shot ra
fatal." Nw York Mall nnd Expr. .
i I