"LIFE'S ASSETS"
A Bright Sunday Sermon tty Rev. Dr.
Arthur H. Goodeoough.
Tils lostructlvtly th lallolli Potilblllllcf
Tbtl Art la Mia.
BhibtoL. Con. The Kev. Dr. Arthur
pephas, or the world, or life, or death, or
(lungs present, or things to come; all are
fmii p. and ye are Christ' and Christ ia
goo's." Dr. Ooodcnouvh Mid:
Jinn aspires. H i eye ia on the ky.
ian wan made to walk erect. Hia impulse
n to climb. This fact indicatea hia de
, finv. The earth beneath u and the world
(bout us contribute to our flight, but they
jffcr us no home. The world, ao near to
I and no essential to our present life, ha
Ha limitations and titters. Man ia impa
tient nf limitations: he aspires to the in
jnite and the infinite is always above ua.
the noliler man'a nature the more rest
less and determined is he to ascend. No
philosophy of life is true that fails to rec
ognize this instinct of the soul. Man dp
lire more room, more room ia above, and
ilwve is something that attracts and
rane. That fa t is man's salvation.
i is frenerally believed that man had hia
sriiin in Uod. Clod ia the root from
irhieh all men have sprung. It is equally
true that (tod is the complement of man
luil hia goal. How noble is man. What
ihnite possibilities are in him. Man is not
I waif, aimlessly wandering through a
trackless wilderness., nor an orphan minus
parent's guiiing hand and tender voice.
Mnn'a origin and destiny are one. It is
Bod. If your five-year-old boy is in need
te instinctively cries, "My father." If he ia
(n trouble he as naturally cries, "My
dot her." Instantly the complement of hia
seedy nature ia at hand. Father and
giother are to him all that he needs. We
Ire only larger children, with larger and
more imperative needs. Ia there any help
lor us? We have outgrown the ability
f our earthly parents to help ua. What
ihall we do? As the thirsty ox turns to
he babbling brook, we turn our eyes to
he heavens and say, "My FatherGod,
elp me." And quicker than thought the
pip cuines. Here we have the philosophy
f happiness and the secret of success. As
witnesses to this fact we call to the stand
Augustine, Bernard. John Howe, Isaac
Watts and Charles Wesley. The upward
look wins. The man who aspires to Uod,
Ind holiness, and immortality ia the one
to whom this text ia spoken. "All things
tre yours: for ye are Christ's and Christ
b Cod's.''
The thing that wise men are thinking
bout is life. Bread and acres and dollars
fre only incidental, (iod made the acres.
Sod's sunshine and showers crew the grain
Irom which the bread is made. God fur
nished the material to make the dollar,
therefore, acres and bread and dollars are
food because God had something to do
with producing them. These are valuable
contributions 10 life, some of our life
values. Life itself is worth more than all 1
af them, put together. The man who cul
tivates your farm is worth more (than the
(arm. The man who builds your home is
worth more than the house. We are not
paupers. No man, woman or child in this
world need be poor. There are other values
beside dollars. We are heirs to untold
riches. Our heavenly Father, the unseen
fcapitalist, has invested largely in us, and
fie is no spendthrift. He has put the
value where it may multiply. Life is a
feeble thing at the beginning; ao is the
acorn, but in the acorn is the massive
ak; so is the bulb, but the bulb contains
the tint and perfume of the lily. So life
as we see it in the babe, it contains a
Kepler, a Newton, a Gladstone, a Me
Kinley. , Charade, is a result, a product. Charac
ter tells the story of our conduct and in-
fustry. Character is the fruitage of our
hinking, our willing, our loving, our doing.
And character is the man. Character de
termines one's value to himself and to so
ciety. This is what makes biography the
popular literature of our day. People in
terest people. Biography is death to pes-
tiniism. Thousands of men and women
ave succeeded in life. They have feasted
ftn the universe and enjoyed the infinite,
Ind the books tell us how they did it.
My young friends, the one thing in this
world for you to do, is to follow their
example. You may. Character is no ready
kiade thing; it is made to order. It means
8Un and purpose and persistence. You
o not have to make the machinery nor
the material; these are furnished. The se
lection of the web, the feeding of the loom,
the weaving of the cloth is ours. The re
sult ia character, and character ia destiny.
Ihis is the work of life. Human chances
Ire not equal. Circumstances favor some
more than others. No doubt of it. But
then every man has a chance, aye, more,
every man has a probability of success..
There are possibilities of failure, and many
teem to fail, but there is no excuse for
failure. Ob, horrible, heartbreaking word
Is failure. May none of you ever know
what it 'means. There ia a way of escape
from it. Make a right, not to say, best,
we of what is in you, wisely appropriate
what is about you, give reason the rein.
Enthrone conscience. Be religious. And
every step will be an ascent, every act the
advance of the soul, and the enrichment
pf being. All things are yours to do with.
It was never easier to be good than
how.' Perhaps it is never easy to be good.
What mokes it easier to be good to-day
than it was yesterday? The multiplicity of
helps at hand. To read some newspapers
ana to hear some speakers, one would
tuppose that nobody was good. The fact is,
the world is full of good people. What is
goodness? Not the muttering of a creed
Dor the repeating of a prayer; not the
reading of the Bible nor going to church.
Good people do these things, but these
things are not essentially goodness. Bad
people may do them, too. Goodness is
consideration for the other fellow, sweet
ness of temper, gentleness of conduct, noble
ness of purpose, love to God and man. It
is to live kindly and truly and well. It is
like the Christ doing good every day and
everywhere, "his is the goodness that
counts in our day. And we rejoice to be
lieve that it is constantly on the increase
Goodness is true religion, and true religior
is goodness. The two are inseparable. I)
is a culturing, refining, elevating process
It is ever making for the best that life ii
capable of. What God wants lor His chit
drcn is ue best. The desire of God ii
human ba-wiincs. To this end He is pa
tient and indulgent. He is prodigal id
gifts. He is ever lavishing His love upon
us. God is neither mean nor little. He it
the great Father, giving Himself for t lie
salvation, the'enrichment, the perfect hap
piness of His children. God is not the au
thor of pain. He take no delight in
tears. The blessed Saviour cease not in
His age-long effort to make the sons of
earth nappy. The law of the universe, the
design of everything is happiness. Happi
ness is everywhere. Wander in the woods,
walk in the meadow, meander by the
stream, rest in the valley and climu to the
hilltop, and in everything and everywhere
you will find happiness. It springs up like
a well of life, filling the sir with its
music, flooding the earth with its joys.
How much more does our heavenly Father
desire you, His children, to be happy. The
only condition of happiness is to be good.
''Blessed are the poor in heart, for they
hall see God." Holiness of life aasketb
rich and tsndeth not to poverty.
To th untutored, this look like an im
BOMbl thing, and many ask; "How can
X do this?" fcay enough. All hint i
needed is th disposition, snd the effort.
First of all, look at your bank account.
Did you know you had a bairfc account.
-Well, you have. Bee, please, what standb
to your credit, the gift of another. The
a.-tt are ours because w live in th
twentieth century, and because w ar
' Anglo Saxons. "All things ar your.
Whether Paul or Apollo, or Oiiha. or
the world, or things present, or things to
come; all are yours; and y ar Christ
and Christ ia God's." That is a wonder
fu) statement. It places us under tremen
dous obligation. What an incentive to
attempt something, what an inspiration t
noble achievement. Th great persona ities
of history Paul, Cephas, Apollo.' Post,
Urcacut. future. Til world.. Uod- and
H. (lonrlenougli precncu Minuay morning
n "Life's Assets." The text was from I
Jnrinthinr iii:21. 33. 23: For all thing
.r vours: whether Paul, or Annllos. or
Christ, ftiryonrs, to" make tile goal and
win. Then there can be no excuse foi
failure.
A practical qurtion which meets us is.
"How may I utilize these many itifts oi
God for my own advancement and better
ment?" The answer is, "By right appro
printion." Just as the parched earth
drinks in the gentle rain drops, making the
jrass to grow; just a the bee sips the
honey from tne fragrant flower, so we mint
learn to appropriate the good in every
thing, to our own growth and refinement.
Life everywhere is sustained bv appropriat
ing the outward to itself. The great in
tellects which teach and bless the world
to-day are great and capable because of this
appropriation of knowledge. To the good
belongs the best of two world. It was
once thought that the Christian's world
was exceedingly limited. The Bible,
hymnal, a long sermon and a dreary prayer
meeting were all that the Christian had
any right to. Anything else would chill
his fervor and narrow his vision and
tarnish his soul. Thank Gnd, that day ii
to far behind us. To-day we know that
everything within reach and everything
within sight is ours, if we love God, to be
used in the advancement and enrichment
of our lives.
Look at it a moment. Take an inventory.
Try to itemize the blessings of the good
God. Explore the world of art, the product
of the centuries, it is ours, for God made
the beautiful. What a store house of les
son and inspirations and soul delights are
the art galleries of the world! The win
dows in cathedrals and churches have fot
age been telling the story of Christ. "The
Nativity," by Burne-Jones, i the pride ol
England; "The Transfiguration," by Raph
ael, the glory of Italy. These are but sam
ple of the beautiful in art, which are ours
for the delight and culture of the soul.
All sciences and literatures belong to us,
for God is the Author of all truth. Shakes
peare and Booth and De Keszke, these
and the host of other like them, are nurs
to charm away our carea and rest of mind.
The marketplace crowded with the yield of
the field, the wealth of the mine, the prod
uct of the factorv, is ours, for God is immi
nent in nature and industry and human
skill. The advance in surgery and medi
cine, the limitless pleasures in travel all
this is ours, available and usable assets
to make life rich and happy and good.
All this is the product of the post, the
gift of the good God. Its presence should
shame badness out of existence. How can
people be bad when they think of the
f oodness of God? What are we doing with
ife's assets? They are the raw material
out of which we may weave the soul's ser
aphic robe; they are the steps by which
we ascend to the home of perfect day.
They are to our spirits what nir and dew
and sunlight are to the seed. Plants
grow by appropriating things ab extra to
their use; souls grow by doing the same
way. The business of life is to convert
all these forces and gifts into life and
character. The soul must drink in its
full of (iod and rise to the perfect life id
the endless day beyond the tars.
What we need to know to-day is the
proper use of things. That means study,
the exercise of the mind. Others have
studied and thought for us. The result is
the locomotive, carrying us sixty miles an
hour; the electric wire, by which we tails
to a friend 1000 miles away. If wealth
is to benefit the owner of it, he must use
it and use it wisely. So, if we are to feel
the stimulus and reap the benefit of the
accumulations of the ages, as life's assets;
if these are to answer their need, in the
making of a man we must studv and
think and pray. In the right use ol these
is the making of a holy character.
All that has been said is, we believe,
true. But it is not the whole truth. We
must go a step further. Man has heart
conditions and soul needs, which neither
nature, nor science, nor Scripture, can
meet. Man needs a God. God is every
where. God is in the sunlight which
bathes us every day with its warmth and
glory. He is in the bread which we eat;
He is in the music which conies floating
through the air, making the heart to dance
for joy. But this God is too vague, too
vast, too impersonal. Can this God be
personalized? It is God's eternal purpose
to adapt Himself to the limitations and
needs of His children. We do not think
of God merely as Power, or Majesty, oi
Holiness. God is Love. Love is the win
ning thing. Love conquers. Love is bent
on drawing home to the Father's heart all
His wayward and lost ones. The human
heart cries for God. What kind of a God?
Not the God of the atheist, not the God of
the Deist, not the God of the narrow
theologian, but the Eternal God. And
Jesus Christ has revealed Him to the
world, v This Jesus Christ and this God
are ours. This completes the list. Thero
is nothing more that can be added. Flow
ers, pictures, music, ships, railroads, tele
phones, philosophy, science, religion, hu
man fellowships, friendships, loves, plus
God and Christ. All are yours. Don't
eomp'ain of poverty any more; never be
afraid of failure; never again say "I can't.''
Goodness does not mean exemption from
the common ills of life. Every life has its
burden, every heart has its own secret
sorrow. We would not minimize the cares
which are inevitable. They are not joy
ous, hut grievous. Many tears are shed in
the private chamber. Many feet are tread
ing lonely paths. And blessed be God, out
heavenly lather knows it all. The Christ,
the Saviour of Men, is touched with the
feelings of our infirmities. All the love ol
tj Deity, all the power of the Almighty,
all the compassion of the Lover of Souls,
is for us. Look up, then. Be of good
cheer. 'Tis better further on. In com
pany with the Saviour, nothing can harm
us. The path of the good is as the shining
light, shining more and more unto the
perfect day.
"Loose me from earth's enclosure, from th
sun's
Contracted circle set my heart at large;
Eliminate my spirit, give it range
Through province of thought yet unex
plored; Teach me, by this stupendous scaffolding.
Creation's golden steps, to climb to Thee."
No Triumphal Kntry.
tt js the irory of history that Christ'
entry into Pulestine is so' often misinter
preted. To me there is hardly more bit
ter irony in the lilo of Jesus than to speak
of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The multitude came out to meet Hun,
threw their garments and palm branches
i i front of Him, and the people sang. But
what of the central figure? He saw the
treat city, and wept over it. A uat a con
trast was that with the triumphal march
it a conqueror. Kev. Dr. A. A. Berl
Salein, Mass.
The Only Standard.
Cur churchman's life has paganism in
t. Nowadays many men are saying "II
I pagan is honest, pure and true, why
ih on Id he need religion? Outside of th
Christian lite there is no standard of right,
i-'hrist is the only sttandard. Bishop Wil
liam Lawrence, Episcopi Han, Boston.
French Alligator Farms.
. Several French dealers have recent
ly visited America to purchase stock
for an alligator farm which they pro
pose starting In the south of France.
Alligator skin has become so highly
prized throughout France that the
animal dealers believe it will pay
well to raise the alligators on this
the first farm of its kind in the world
Not long ago President Loubet re
ceived a present of a bunting suit of
alligator akin. The skin Is said to be
growing scarcer each year, and ther
Is always a great demand for it foi
boots, shoes, handbags, writing pads,
portfolios and toilet articles.
Curious Guam Superstition.
In the Island of Guam a curloui
superstition Is beld by the natlvea
They beliove that on a certain night
all of the dead come forth from theli
graves and walk around, having s
good time. To facilitate the festive
occasion a candle is kept burning on
every grave through the night.
TlllS SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENT
FOR JUNE 5.
Subject: Christ's Trial It, fore friare, tfsr
l-in-riolrien Text, Luke sxlll., 4
Meinorr Verses, lg, IS Commentary
nn the liar's Lesson,
I. Jesus before the Jewish Council (v.
I). 1. "In the morning." Jesus had two
trials. The first was Tiefore the Jewish
authorities, who brought in a charge
against Him, the punishment of which
was death, .'he second trial wa before
the Unman procurator, Pilate, who had
power to inflict the death penalty. "Chief
priests." The heads of the courses and
the ex-i.igh priests. "Elders." Men chosen
from among the most influential laymen.
"Scribes." Teachers of the- law. They
were educated in the literature of the
church. "The whole council." The San
hedrin, the highest Jewish council, coin
posed of seventy-one members. It could
condemn to death, but the execution of
the sentence rested with the Koman pro
curator. II. Pilate questioning Jesus (vs. 2-5).
2. "And Pilate." Jesus was taken from
the regular meeting nf the Sanl.edrin to
the judgment hall of Pilate (John 18:28;
Luke 23:1), which was "probably in the
tower of Antonia, just outside the north
west corner of the temple area." Verse
2-4 and Matt. 27:11-14 are an account of
the first trial before the Roman procura
tor. "Art Thou," etc. This question pre
supposes that Jesus h;id treasonably
claimed to be a king. The Jews made
three principal charges against Jesus: 1.
Sedition perverting the people. 2. For
bidding to pay tribute to Caesar. 3.
Claiming to be a king. John shows (John
18:33-38) how Jesus so explained His roy
alty and His kingdom as to cause Pilate
to say, "I find in Him no fault at oil.'
"Thou sayest it." An affirmative answel
which means, "It is as thou sayest."
3. The Jews refused to enter the judg
ment hall "because their Jewish traditions
(not. the law of God) declared them cere
monially unclean if they entered the hous
of a Gentile during or just before the Pass
over feast;" Pilate, therefore, went nut
and had a conference with them (Luke
23:2; John 18:28-321. Pilate then entered
the judgment hall and held a private con
ference with Jesus (Luke 23:3; John 18:
33-38), after which he again went out to
the Jews and publicly declared to them
his belief that Jesus was innocent. Jesui
was then brought out to the Jew to heal
their accusations. "Many things." All
were mere technicalities and quibbling:
they either wholly falsified or perverted
His statements so as to make it appeal
that He was a confessed criminal. "An
swered nothing." He was conscious ol
His innocence. He knew that they could
not prove their charnes. They offered no
testimony and therefore He was silent;
there was no need of His replying. 4.
"Asked Him again." Pilate was convinced
that Jesus was innocent, and yet he was
not ready to face the Jews and give hi
prisoner His liberty. 8. "Marvelled."
Pilate was probably more surprised that
He bote this so meekly and did not return
railing for railing, than that He did not
set up a defense.
III. The Jews choose Barabbas (v. fi
ll). In verses 0-15 we have an account of
the second trial before Pilate. This was
the third act in the proceedings against
Christ. 6. "Released, etc. This custom
was in harmony with the nature of the
feast and, however it originated, was so
completely established that Pilate was
obliged to attend to it. See verse 8. 7.
"Barabbas." An insurrectionist, a robber
and a murderer. He was actually guilty of
much worse crimes than they had charged
against Jesus. He had a short time before
this evidently been a ringleader in an out
break in Jerusalem against the Koman
Government. "With them." The asso
ciates of Barabbas were also, like himself
under arrest and in prison. 9. "Willye,'
etc. Pilate is laboring hard to release
Jesus, and yet he does not assert his au
thority, but constantly yields to the clom
oring of the wicked Jews.
10. "He knew for envy." He could not
doubt who were the ringleaders in the tu
multous scene now being enacted, or what
was the motive that had prompted them
to bring the accused before his tribunal
nothing more or less than envy of the in
fluence he had gained and the favor he had
won throughout the land. He hoped,
therefore, by appealing directly to the peo
ple, to procure our Lord's release. 11.
"Moved the people." The word trans
lated moved onlv occurs here and in the
parallel, Luke 23:5. It denotes (1) to
shake to and fro, to brandish; (J) to make
threatening gestures; (3) to stir up. or in
stigate. Their efforts were successful, and
when Pilate put the question the cry went
up, Awav with this man the holy and un
defiled whom they had lately welcomed
with hosannas into their city and release
unto us Uarabbas. This was the deepest
human degradation to have the vilest of
mankind preferred to Him!
IV. Jesus delivered up to death (vs.
12-15).
12. "Pilate answered." It was probably
at this time, while the people were clamor
ing for His death so loudly, that the mes
senger came from Pilate's wife (Matt. 27:
191, urging the release of Jesus, and stat
ing that she had just suffered many thing
in a dream because of Him. How many
and what various persons bear testimony
to the innocence of the Holy One Pilate,
Herod, Pilate' wife. Judas Iscariot, the
thief on the cross ana the centurion at the
crucifixion. "What will ye," etc. Accord
ing to Matthew Pilate asked whot he
should do with Jesus, who was called
Christ? This is a question every person
must answer. 1. Every one must accept
or reject Him. 2. Rejecting Christ is the
great sin of the world. 3. If we reject
Him here we will be rejected by Him here
after. 13. "Crucify Him." Let Him die
the most ignominious death possible.
14. "Why." Pi'ate makes another di
rect appeal. "Criea out the more." There
were no questions to be considered by
them; they were resolved to have His life.
Nothing else would satisfy them.
15. "Wishing to content" (K.V.) What
a weak man Pilate was; a slave to the
opinions of the people. Before Pilate pro
nounced the sentence he took water and
washed his hands publicly, thus expressing
in acts what he uttered in words, "1 am
innocent of the blood of this just person:
see ve to it" (Matt. 27:24). Then answered
all the people and said : "His blood be on
us and on our children."
In less than forty year from this excla
mation the Romans came. They crucified
such numbers of Jews that, according to
Josephus, there was no more room to set
the crosses. No doubt some of these very
persons, and certainly their children, died
by this very death. "Scourged Ilim.
The scourge of leather thongs was loaded
with lead, or armed with spikes and bones,
which lacerated the back, chest and face,
Pilate hoped the scourging would salary
the Jew.
( Bedroom In Trees,
A remarkable hotel Is In California,
on the road between Canta Cruz anf
San Jose. California possesses tlx
largest trees in the world, and f
shrewd hotel-keeper has conceived the
Idea of utilizing as a wayside bostelrj
group of these mammoths, thus Bar
ing himself the cost or building or
rent. The hollow trunk of one tree
whose circumference Is about twenty
two yards, is arranged as a receptloc
room, and the surrounding space, shel
tered by a thick roof of spreading
branches, serves as dining-room and
smoking-room. A number of othet
smaller hollow trunks make comfort
able bedrooms, furnished In the most
approved style, and some trees at I
little distance are occupied by th
hotel staff.
Heavy Family.
Fear brothers and four sisters be
longing to North Bergen turn the
scale at a total weight of 139 stone.
They are all over sis feet In height
and are proportionately built.
EPillTH LEAGUE LESSONS
JUNE FIFTH
Betraying Christ by Silence. Matt. 12.
20; Luke 17. 12-19.
The wene of our lesson Is In Galilee
after the second Passover visit to
Jerusalem. This Is Christ's favorite
field of labor and chosen place of rent
dence. But the rulers of Israel, Hit
scribes and Pharisees will not let him
alone. "Thoy watched him" (Mark
3. 2), to find some occasion against
him. It was concerning the law of th
Sabbath that they were exercised
The conduct of Jesus wag revolution
ary, and the rulers conceived that her
was the point at which it would be
easiest to catch the Teacher In some
violation of their sacred lubrlcs. Jesus
nowhere violated the law of the Sab
bath as laid down by Moses, but he did
most flatly repudiate "the tradition of
the elders" by which the law In Its
beneficent purpose had been marie
void.
The scribpg had elaborated from thf
commands of Moses a vast array ol
piohibltions and Injunctions covering
every realm of life. Many of these
wete ridiculous In the extreme, and
void of any sense, or semblance ol
spiritual piety. For example: A man
must not on the Sabbath day tie a
camel-driver's knot, or a sailor's knot
or untie such, for this would be labor.
However, a knot that might be untied
with one hand was allowable.
The quantity of food which might be
carried from one place to anqther on
the Sabbath was fixed upon as les?
than the bulk of a dried fig.
It was foi bidden to set a broken
bone, or put in plate a dislocated
Joint, though some of the rabbis were
more liberal than this In their teach
ings. "On Friday before' the beginning ot
the Sabbath," said one law, "no one
must go out of his house with a needlo
or a pen, lest he forget to lay it aside
before the Sabbath opens."
A Sabbath day'B journey was two
thousand cubits from a town or city,
but if they had carried food on Friday
to a spot that distance beyond the
walls they assumed that this made the
spot their dwelling, and so they could
go another two thousand cubits with
out violation of the Sabbath. Dr.
Edershelm gives pages of this sort of
thing and then sums up In this way:
"Such are the leading provisions by
which Rabblnlsm enlarged the simple
Sabbath law as expressed In the Bible
and, in its anxiety to rnsure its most
exact observance, changed the spirit
ual import of its rest Into a compli
cated code of external and burdensome
ordinances. Shall we then wonder at
Christ's opposition to the Sabbath or
dinances of the synagoge, or, on the
other hand, at the enmity ot its lead-
DANGER SPOTS IN A STORM.
Places One Should Avoid While the
Lightning Is Playing Pranks.
Now that the season of thunder
storms is approaching people should
understand what spots to avoid in or
der to reduce to the minimum the
chances of being struck by lightning
Out of doors trees should be avoided,
and If from the rapidity with which
the explosion follows the flash it is
evident that electric clouds are near
at hand a recumbent posture Is the
safest. It is seldom dangerous to
take shelter under sheds, carts or low
buildings or under the arch of a
bridge, and a distance of twenty or
thirty feet from tall trees or houses
Is an eligible situation, for should a
discharge take place these elevated
bodies are most likely to receive it.
It is well also to avoid water, fot
it la a good conductor, and the height
of a human being near the stream
may determine the direction of a dis
charge. Within doors we are toler
ably safe in the middle of a carpeted
room or when standing on a thick
hearth rug. The chimney should be
avoided on account of the conducting
power ot the carbon deposited In It
and gilt moldings or bell wires are
sources of risk. In bed we are tol
erably safe, since blankets and feath
ers are bad conductors.
It Is Injudicious to take refuge in
a cellar, because the discharge is
often from the earth to a cloud, and
buildings frequently sustain the great
tut Injury in their basements.
WAY OF RUSSIAN OFFICIALS.
Remarkably Proficient In the Science
of "Grafting."
A story which Illustrates the
methods of Russian officials Is told by
a traveler recently returned from the
Far East. In an Important, town In
Siberia there is a solitary member of
the Anglo-Saxon race who has estab
lished a successful business, despite
the restrictions Imposed upon him.
Periodically, however, he Is reminded
that he Is there only on suffersnce by
the receipt of a letter form the all
powerful governor, which reads some
thing like this: "Dear Sir: It Is
proposed to raise a monument to the
beloved memory of the late emperor,
and knowing how deeply interested
you are in all that affects the peo
ple among whom you live, I have ven
tured to put down your name for a
thousand rubles. Please remit the
amount as early as possible." At one
time the monument Is to an emperor,
another time to a national poet, or a
historian cr a general. Needless to
say, the proposals never get beyond
the committee stage the governoi
constituting the committee. The du
mands are simply a polite form ol
blackmail, of which the merchant Is
well aware, but they must be met
otherwise he would not be allowed to
remain In the place. Leslie's Weekly
Fast Tim Around th Horn.
I. W. Lyon of Englewood, N. J.,
writes of a voyage he made to San
Francisco in 1851 on the famous clip
per ship Flying Cloud. The ship was
commanded by Captain J. Perkins
Creesy of Marblehead, Mass., and the
voyage was made in elghty-ntne days
and twenty-throe hours. Afterward
the same captain made the trip in
eighty-nine day and thirteen hours,
which time has never been beaten.
Captain Creesy worked bis crew for
all they were worth. One squally day
he aet and took In studding sails
fourteen times. They saw land but
once on the first voyage and that was
Cape Horn, which they passod at
distance of three miles.
idey
Why Worry
Why do we worry about the nest?
e only stay for a day,
) a month or year, at the Lord' be
best.
In this habitat of clay.
i
Whv do we worry about the road,
W'ith its hill or deep ravine? i
In a dismal path or a heavy load, 1
We are helped by hands unseen.
V
Why do we worry about the years
That our feet have not yet trod?
Who labors with courage snd trust, not
fen rs,
Has fellowship with God.
The best will come in the great "To be,"
It is ours to serve and wait;
Ami the wonderful future wc soon shall
see,
For death is but the mile.
Sarah K. GoUon,
Th Prayer After HlitlJe.
Tn nne of the British -egiments engaged
in the war with the Boers was a big,
good-natured fellow named Bob. The
story of his death is one of the belated
anecdotes that have found their way
tardily into the Knulish papers.
Ikih had an .inhappy genius for falling
into difficulties. His name appeared often
among the records ot offences. Officers
men liked him for his good nature and
gtnerosity, but no one hau influence
enough tn keep hun from the breaches of
discipline which constantly marred his life
as a soldier. Religion so far from having
any personal meaning for him. was nnly a
matter for a joke. His natural good feel
ings had never flawered into the manhood
that was possible to him.
One of in chief amusements was poking
fun at a fellow private. Tim Akcrs, a
young man of gentle nature aud firm re
ligious faith.
"Tim," l.e said, one day. "I wish you'd
lend me that prnver book o' yours."
"What's the joke. Hob?'' asked the
young man, quietly. He had learned to
meet Bob's clumsy scotting without quar
reling. "1 want to writ" a letter home to my
girl, and I thought I'd find some good
words in that hook o' yours."
"Yes, you will find good words in it,
snd the girl will he ad get them."
Boh burst into a loud laugh, "lio! hot
You're an easy bite, kid! You don't
really suppose I'd write religion in a love
let t"i':"
Tim started to say that religion is love
of the purest kind, but the uselessness of
it was so plain that he said nothing, and
so the matter dropped. The next day a
battie was fought. It lasted until night
hid the forms of the wounded end the
faces of the dead. When the gray dawn
broke on the dreadful scene loh was lying
between two dead comrades. A sergeant
who lay near him with a shattered foot
heard him say in a weak voce. "I'll be
away in a few shakes. Is there any reli
gious cove near ine?"
"Is that you. Bob?" answered Tim's
weary, boyish voice.
"Bad hurt, Tim?" asked the sergeant.
"Yes. 'm done for.'' answered Tim.
"Me. too, bov." said Bob. thickly. "I
say, Tim, I didii't write tnat letter. - I
'adn't the Vm. an' now I'm done for an'
she'll never get it. Can you -can you prav
for me. Tim an' for her? She don't need
it, but I do."
"We all need it, Bob." answered Tim,
gently ana raintiy.
"Give us your 'and, Ti
reach you.
I can just
Tim sire. thed out his hsnu and said.
"Now say it after me," and be repeated
the Lord's Prayer.
Bob said the words alter him. clumsily,
awkwardly, but with s thrill in his heavy,
thick voice. The sergeant joined in.
"1 can't speak any more,' whisper
ed the boy. "Shut your eyes and don't be
afraid. We go up together. It'll be all
right. You'll get in. Bob."
"Willi al! the wr igs I 'ave on me,
bov?"
The breath had left .im's body. The
sergeant glanced at Bob and saw a' look of
content spread over his face. The dawn
was full upon the field. A drowsy numb
ness came over him. and when he woke
out of it he found himself in the camp hos
pital. He told the story ?fterward to his com
rades. It was long before the tale got be
yond the regiment, for soldiers do not tell
all the stories they have lived and seen;
but every man in the regiment knew of
Bob s first and last prayer. A sermon had
been preached to them mat tney did not
foraet. Yo th' Companion,
Decline In the Ministry.
I In his Day of Prayer address nt Prince
ton, President ration denied that there
is a decline in quality of men entering the
ministry, though he conceded that there
is a falling off in numbers. The argument
that young men are more largely influenced
by mercenary motives and ilie attraction
of other professions did not impress him.
He thought the decrease in numbers more
probably due to the intellectual unrest in
our colleges. "Students go into them
with a fcoodiy measure of domestic piety
and come out not knowing where they
land." "Let your philosophers go run
ning about l ie country, reading papers on
new theories, thinking that they must
win their spurs by so doing, and your re
ligious life in their institutions grows
s eepy or becomes sadly weakened." Pres
ident Puttou declared that we need phil
osophers who are not only able to say
that they believe in God, but who say
it in a way that will muke tl eir hearers
believe also in Jesus Christ as their only
Saviour. The president concluded: "We
need to pray for the .rofestors in our
collides.'" .Advance
When Hln Cuines,
Temptation is not sir. yet much dis
tress arises from . t understanding this
fact. The very suggestion oi wro-ig
seems to bring pollution with it. The
poor, tempted soul feel as if it must
be verjr bad indeed, and very far oft
from (iod to have such thoughts and
suggestions. It is the enemy s gr ind
ruse for entrapping us. But it is no
more a sin to hear these whispers of
evil in our soul than to hear the wick'-d
talk of bad nieu as we walk along the
street. The sin comes only by our stop
ping and joining in with them. H. A.
femith.
Hands Thai Will Grow.
Fear nothing, blame nothingso miieli
ss thy vices sod thy sins. 'i'lionias s
Kempis.
(race is of s growi:: natur. , in the
way to Zion they go fro n strength to
strength. Thomas Boston.
What if. being religious but slways see
ing Ood's i linite love in everything and
loving Him all the tune. J. F. Claike.
A solid snd substantial greatness ol
soul looks down with neglect on the cen
sure snd anplause of the multitude.
Addison.
Goodness is beauty in it best jstne.
Marlowe.
Honoring th Nw Arrival.
The birth of a child among tht
working class in Cumberland, Ena
band, has been from time Immemorial,
and Is still, celebrated by the making
of a mixture called "rum-butter." Its
Ingredients ara butter, sugar, rum and
spices, and It la a really palatable
compound. Every person entering
th house where a birth has taken
place la offered a taate for aeveral
weeks after the event It la an Insult
to the child, and Its parent to refuse
the proffered dainty, and not to prof
fer it Is considered equally discourteous.
ME GREAT DESTROYER
10MS STRTL'NG FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Jne tlemnn Tvlm ffnl-ls His Own Mails-
Irs lYItlrh Show That Homo People
Are Getting More Than Their Slmr
of Until Not Nation of Drunkards,
The year em.ing June 30, 1003. shows as
(he largest in our record, not only in total
i.-iniirntion of wines and honors of all
kinds, but also in the per capita consump
tion. The total quantitv consumed was
l.tlOfi.M.VtOl gallons, on increase over the
preceding year nf about nT.Soo.Ooo gallons.
The consumption per capita stands nt 19.90
gnHnns. compared with IMS in lnoj.
While it is probable that the figures
givin by the Department of Commerce and
Labor ore indicative rithpr than absolute
Iv accurate, they stimulate speculation,
particnlnrly as to the consumption of
wines. In '.hese the figures for the last
Once years are as lollows;
T Gallons.
IPOt 2s.71.14tl
V.m Q7r.4.4H3
IfltW 30.41:1,201
In noting this strange fluctuation there
is a disiiosition to wonder why it was that
Ill's nation indulged so freely in wines in
I'.tiri. and why it experienced such a reform
in 190H. Our wine bill has always been a
fluctuating item in our national expendi
tures. The years 1HW). 1S97 and 1SBS are
even more erratic than lftul, 19o2 and l!Hi:f.
In the drinking of malt lnpiors we de
velop steadily nnd with . notable regular
ity, both in total quantity consumed nnd
in per capita consumption, fit distilled
spirits we consumed a lamer quantity Inst
vear than ever before, a total of 117.2-iJ.l4S
gallons, but the per capita consumption
has been several times equalled or exceed
ed in earlier years.
The inference from the record is that
Hie demon holds his own fairly well, but
does not score any remarkable success in
converting us into n nation of drunkards.
A contemplation of the record of twenty
gallons per capita for 100.1 will surely con
vince some nf our people that some of the
others are getting more than their share.
New York Sun.
Abstain or Go to Jail.
Judge Pollard, of the Second District
Police Court. St. Louis, is not only a man
who thinks but a man who acts. He re
cently had a printed form of oath to be
subscribed to by men who have been con
victed nf drunkenness in his court.
Say the defendant's name is John Jones,
snd he has been convicted of disturbing
the peace of Mehitabel Jones, and the
judge has fined him $50. The Court says:
Mr. Jones, I appreciate the fact that it
would be a hardship on your family for
you to pay this tine or go to the work
house, yet I feel that you deserve to be
punished. It appears clear to mv mind
that you have violated the law, because
yon were drunk. Your being drunk was
a result of your fondness for intoxicating
liquors. The proper punishment for you,
therefore, is to enforce your abstinence
for a certain period. Are you willing to quit
drinking for a specified term on your own
accord or woulil you prefer to go to the
workhouse and quit because you cannot
get it?"
The prisoner naturally says Clin' he had
rather do without his glass and be free
than be a prisoner and oK-tain. then the
judge produces a form, and he signs it.
The form is simply an oath that the
signer will "touch not, take not," fur a
specified term.
Statistics From Kansas.
When prohibition went into oneration In
Kansas that State had a population of
IW6,oie. Out of the population she had
917 convicts. After twenty-one years ol
prohibition the population is 1.470.495. an
increase of nearly fifty per cent., but she
now has only 788 prisoners; while the pop
ulation has increased titty per cent, crime
has decreased in proportion to the present
population sixty-hve per cent. During the
same period the criminal population of li
cense Nebraska has outrun the general
growth of the population forty-seven pel
cent. Crime is the most expensive item in
the State' expenses. Liquor is the great
cause of crime. Chaplain McBrian, of the
Kansas State prison, practiced law twenty
live years before becoming chaplain. H
says seventy-five per cent, of all crime is
.1 1: I.- I
out? iu uiuur. rvansas nas joo counties.
Five of these are notorious for the viola
tion of the prohibitory law. These coun
ties with seventeen per cent, of the State's
population furnish over thirty per cent, of
its crime.
Self. Com pi nrent ' Moderates.'
The self-complacency with which drink
ers plume themselves on their "modera
tion" is based on the assumption that alco
hol in small quantities is not hurtful. Thu
answer to this is twofold. First, there
is a growing concensus of medical opinion
to the same effect as that of Dr. i.Iicrorie:
"After having treated more than 3)0fl
cases in the town hospital, Liverpool, I
gave it as my decided opinion that the con
stant moderate use of stimulating drinks
is more injurious than the now and then
excessive indulgence in them." Second,
the vagueness of the limits of moderation,
the risk of running into excess, the paral
ysis of the will which is the physical,
irresistible effect of alcohol, and com
menccs with the first glass. If a man falls
over a precipice, the first few feet of his
descent do not injure him, but they are
the necessary antecedents of Ins destruc
tion." Sohrlety Mesne Abstinence.
The Indianapolis News in setting forth
the modern attitude of business, science
and medicine, with regard to the drink
evil, say wisely: "in this day sobriety
has come pretty nearly to mean total ab
stinence. As a cold business projiosition,
great corporations and private firms are
enforcing practical abstinence. They de
mand such a condition oi their employes
that practically any drink at all becomes
too much dunk. Science has come from
Htiother direction to support the same end.
'The old idea of the efficacy of moderate
drinking finds no support in modern
niedical science. 'A man is as old as hi
arteries,' u a saying well known in med
icine. When the arteries take on the os
sified character the end is at hand. Now,
modern science says that frequent indul
gence in alcohol tends to produce arterial
ossification."
Fosters I'sed In lows,
I'nder the leadership of Superintendent
I. N. MeCssh, of Iowa, every county in
the Slate has been organized, and Anti
Saloon League workers have inaugurated
their tight against saloons in earnest. Post
ers have been distributed throughout th
State bearing the pictures of the Bible snd
a barrel of whisky, asking voters wUj"h
they will choose for Government.
More Beer, Leas Whisky.
In sixty years the annual per capita con
sumption of whisky has gradually de
creased from two and a half to one and a
fourth gallons. In forty years the con
sumption of beer has increased from less
than two to more than aeventeen gallous
per capita.
Soldier Should Rs Sober.
If a city will not permit its policemen to
be drunkards, or a railroad its employe,
why should a nation allow its soldiers to
drink, break down their health, be unfit
for duty, and then become pensioner fot
lift as a consequence?
Prohlhltlos Mora IatBresjaable. '
the recent North Dakota Legislature, ia
order to make prohibition roor impregna
ble in that but than ver, passed a bill
making it increasingly difficult for drug
gist to secure permit to sell intoxicstuif
liquor for medicinal, scicotitie sod mechan
ical purpose.
'.
Llqaor Ma Alarmed.
Th men engaged in th manufacture
sad sal of liquor ia Michigan, who con
duct th business along Iswfui and legili
mat lines, ar viewing with more or lea
alarm th growth of pubho disfavor to
ward the business and seeking for mesa
te combat iu
DECAY OF SPEECa
Bserbotim Tree an lh Art and Fowsr
Vocal Kaprassloa.
Apeaklng on the English lsngusg
at a supper given in his honor by tbtf
Edlnburg Ten and Pencil Club tb
other night in London, B-erbohni Tre
said that in connection with his school
of dramatic art and of oratory in Lon
don he desired to establish u elussla
repertory which would give to th
provinces the works of 8bkespear
which he had given to the London pnb
He, and which bud not only been a dis
tinguished artistic Joy, but Lad proved
so remunerative that they had inor
than once saved him from those quick
sands toward which the waters oi
modernity were fast sweeping him
Acting was an art and speech was ara
art, and the school would endeavor to
encourage a t'eeper appreciation of th
beauty of the British language, tb
Scottish tongue and the Irish tongue.
He was told that the American lan
guage was not without It. 4 merlin, anutt
It was remflrkable that the Americau'
speech has a certnln virility of utter
a nee often lucking in Kugllsb speak
ers. It was astonishing how compara
tively few people were acquainted1
with the scope, the variety and tbv
beauty of the speech wrought andr
tmildcd tip with such infinite jialn by;
those forefathers whom we regards'
as barbarians. We fall to realize wha
a superb legacy they had left behiuuV
them. The power of speech, the ex
act appreciation of words and the pro
per employment of the rifjlit and flt
ting phrase appeared to well null buv
tiled out anion; us, even in I'ai'lia
nient. The general form is lo be care
less and slipshod, though he could nol
help thinking thai If some (.Teat orator
of the old school were to arise In th
House of Commons he miiiht onc
more bring into vogue the grand styls
so splendidly employed by Pitt ami
Burke and Gladstone, for the olif
school, if right, Is ever the new. Lone
dou Telegraph.
WORDS OF WISDOM.
It is a foolish fruit that kicks against
its root.
Some creed Is the backbone of every
character.
A coward never forgives; it is not
in his nature.
Maimers are the shadows of virtue,
Sydney Smith.
Nothing is so pleasing or so horrid)
as the music of your own harp.
Life is not so short, but there Is al
ways time for courtesy. Emerson.
Eternal life is the only thing worth.'
living for In which there is no conipe
tition.
The existence of a few weds Is nn
argument for the rejection of the who!
garden.
fJod Is dark to some people becaussi
they lire ou tht wroug side of the pillar
of tire.
If the pearls of the virtues become a
common us pebbles they would be les
valuable.
The private car may carry a heavy;
heart while the day coach carries a
light one.
There Is any quantity of gold In the
land, but we enjoy it most when the
othr fellow digs for it.
Misunderstanding goes on like a
fallen stitch in a stocking, which la
the beginning may have been tukeu
up by a needle.
If education be a preparation for lif
then should every child, from the be
gliiiiiiii;, have daily experience of that
fact. Htvbert Speucer.
The truth of nature Is a part of th
truth of tlod. To him who does nol
search It out, darkness, as It is to hitn
who does, Infinity. John Ruskln.
Let your religion make you mor
considerate, more loving and attract
five, more able to think of and entee
Into the pleasure and interest of others,
(Ireut, ever fruitful, profitable foe
reproof, for encouragement, for build
iug up in manful purposes and works,
are the words of those that In tbeiB
day were men.
The habit of blaming others when,
things go wrong is an inslduous audi
dangerous one. Far more is it the:
purpose to inquire within whether th
fault, or much of it, may nut lie a
home.
As the lights of heaven are put out
one by one, heaven makes plainer and
plainer revelations; for, "though noth
ing Is farther than eurtii from heaven,
uotbing is nearer than heaven tn
eurthl" The heavens beckon us on
ward, not away from earthly things
but through them Into spiritual reall
lies. Lucy Lareoni.
Th Htory Was Worth ths fries.
A decidedly seedy looking Individual
who had called to see U. Wesley;
Thomas, Collector of the Tort, was ad,
mltted to the latter' office after a Ions
wait.
"I called In reference to Mr, Blank'
account," abruptly began the visitor.
"I guess you remember bim. He paid
$4.50 into the conscience fund about
sis mouths ago. I'm Mr. Blank'f
brother, and upon investigation I learn
that the goods he smuggled into this)
country were only worth $4.40. So yoo
see be paid the Government ten cents
too much. Now I thought that lnas
much as be was so honest and I am hl
brother, you" i
"That's enough," interposed th
amused. Collector; "here' your tea'
rents. That yarn Is certainly worUi
the price." Philadelphia Press.
Villa; r Vmtan altla.
The strangest village in the world la
undoubtedly the little bamlet of Jatte
near Culoa, ia France, not far from th
Italian frontier, where dwell abouCj
l!00 deformed men, women and chilsl
dren, who ia Parla go by the name e
"Culs-de-Jatte." They are deprived oC
the nse of their lega and thighs, the
being withered and stunted, and puaftf,
themselves aloug in primitive woodeai
carta, with wooden wheels, which tbj
propel by means of a Sat lron-ahaseda
Mock of wood in either hand,
i
God u Bad Ta.
At a meeting of tea merchants Ua
London recently, the statement was)
made that only good tea ever did th
drinkers harm. It might be used to u
cess. But the poor tea was made el
"harmless rubbish" that could Injur
ao one a nerve. .