1 rb0V7OuijoF A SERMON CHRISTMAS DISCOURSE. Theme: The Significance of the Birth of Christ. Brooklyn. N. Y. Preaching at the Irving Square Presbyterian Church j on the theme, The Significance o( the Birth of Christ," : the Rev. Ira Wemmell Henderson, pastor, took as hia text Luke 2:11: "For unto you la born this day. In the city of David, a Saviour, which Is Christ the Lord." He said: The coming of the Christ Is the axis of Western chronology and the Inspiration of uncounted souls. When, on that starry night amid the j fertile fields of Judea, the angel of the Lord stood beside the watching shepherds and the multitude of the j heavenly host sang hosanna to the i living God, the sweetest, most en- trancing soul among the sons of men i began His earthly history. The vl?3 men from afar, who laid at the feet , of the manger babe the royal, costly 1 gifts, were but the precursor of a I glad, rejoicing host who, in every i epoch and every clime, have rendered I homage to the Christ. The sudden 1 light that bathed the quiet plnln that peaceful Christmas eve beams to-day 1 with undimmed radiance into multl- tndes of hearts. The voices that sang ifrom heaven to earth still s-ing to , listening ears. The augel of the Lord . still speaks. The haba whom Mary loved is with us. The Son of Clod li I here. The birth of Christ Is historic. The presence of Christ yesterday and to- day is a fact. Nothing is more cer- tain than that Christ once lived. The Gospels attest it. Contemporaneous records recognize It. The Christian i world around us Is n consequential ' evidence of His reality and His in- : fluence. Men may uispute concern- ' Ing the exact day and month and I year of His coming Into the affairs I of men; they may speculate concern ing the exact place of His birth; they may argue, as they will, over the ; manner of His coming; but they can- not, they have not and they will not j deny His actuality. Jesus is a fact; I the most momentous fact of history. LPt us consider the significance of the birth of Jesus In the light of the I ages. I The birth of Jesus is significant as j we consider it to be the fulfillment of Hebrew prophecy; as we under- stand It to be the culmination of a ! divine self revelation; as we study its effect on humanity. The birth of Jesus was the fulfill ment of prophecy. Except we glance down the long record of the prophetic hopes of Israel we cannot understand the Christ. Christ, apart from Jew ish history, is inexplicable. Jesus is not an Isolated, but, rather, a result em fact. The Saviour is the fulfill ment of a nation's hope, though so largely unaccepted. He Is the con summation of the efforts of a na tion's saintly men to lead their peo ple near to God. The messages of Isaiah are the adumbrations of the Christ. The visions of the prophets are tho fore-gleams of the gentle Galilean. Israel looked with expect ancy and with hope unquenchable for Immanuel the presence of Je hovph in tho midst of His people. Having been kd out of physical und calking bondage they iool:ed forward with eagerness at a later day to a Jesus, a Saviour, who, clothed with divine power and enriched with a di ,vlnn commission, should lead the sin sick people of God out of the thrall jdom of spiritual slavery into the free dom and the blessedness of an eternal iand sufficient salvation from their tins. Jesus was the fulfillment of that hope and prophecy. What the fath ers had declared, He was. The chos en people of God yearned for an 'earthly king, a Messiah anointed of God, set apart to a holy leadership, divinely dedicated to the consumma tion of a national existence in right eousness and truth. And In Jesus was this other hope fulfilled, and with a nobler purpose and with a larger scope. Within the spiritual kingdom that He came to institute lay tho secret of a kingdom which should rule the world. Far grander than any prophecy and hope of Is rael was the plan that, in Jesus Christ, God unfolded to His chosen people. What a pity it is that nine teen centuries ago Israel did not see the beauty of the plan of God, that she did not recognize that broader and that grander mission of a world wide ministration and universal do minion to which God, in Jesus, called her. And how sad it is to-day tiiat ;the race to whom the principles of Jesus yj-e most easily understandable tla so opposed to the system of relig ious truth that in our times la termed distinctively Christian. The appro priation by the Jew of those princi ples of pure and central Christianity that are the glory of the truth as It has been revealed of God in Jesus Christ would be the exceeding Btory of the coming ages and the fairest possession of the chosen people of tho Lord. The birth of Jesus was the cul mination of divine self-revelation. In the personality and the message of the Christ God gave the fullness of the divine self-explication. Jesus Is the objectifying of the Godhead be fore the very eyes of humanity. In 311m Jehovah unfolds the personality of divinity. In His message Is pro claimed the mind of God for the wel fare and sanctifying of the world. Jesus Is the declaration of the divin ity, the humanity, the fatherhood of God. And in the person of the Christ Is completed the long endeavor of a loving nul patient Father to impress Himself upon the minds, the hearts, the lives of Hia wayward, errant chil dren. Throughout all tho ages and In the lives of all His people God had been revealing God to man. Here and there, as Israel heard the voice of Jehovah, there arose men of pre vision, men of insight, men of Intense spiritual discernment to declare to the duller and leas spiritually acute' multitude the meaning and the im port of God's self-revealment.' Throughout all tht blstory of tbi chosen people of God Divinity strove In diverse and Incessant fashion to Impart to the consciousness of man kind a true understanding of Him self. And as man, from time to time, has understood the truth that God has delivered to him by His Spirit and through the prophets, we have had varied Interpretations of the character and of the personality ot God. The changeless God has con stantly revealed the truth concern ing Himself, Hit plans, His purposes, to men. Men have oftentimes been heedless ot tho divine Instruction, they hare oftentimes been Ignorant of the full Import of the self-revela-ons of Jehovah, tbey have often times misinterpreted the messages that God has delivered to their lives. But whethev or no men have been needless, Ignorant or dull. God hat always revealed the truth concerning Himself. His has been a constant and cumulative effort to lead men to a satisfying and correct vision ol Himself. Jesus is the finality of the divine self-rcvelatlon. The work of the Spirit before the days of Christ was preparative, in order to human com prehension of the Christ. And the struggle of the 8plrlt since the as cension of our Lord has' been to lead men to hear, to heed, to' understand and to accept' the truth which, so richly, CnriBt communicates from God. Jesus is the consummation ot tho effort of the Spirit of the old dls pensrtlon; He Is the Inspiration ot the labors of the Holy Spirit of the Inter covenant between Ood and men. The photograph of Ood that Jesus livlngly Imparts to men is the ripest product of divine self-lmpartatlon. He Is the culmination ot divine self revelation. But it is In its effect on humanity that the birth of Christ is most sig nificant and of widest and most ro bust Influence. The birthday of Jesus Is the birthday of the larger liberty of man. The coming of Jesus is the heirimilnff nf mnn'R nnhlor niro. The nativity of Jesus Is the nativity of the transceiuiant. Inspiration of the human soul. Mary's child is the hope j of all the children of men. The birth of Christ Is effectual for humanity individually, socially, eth ically, religiously. The birth of Christ marks the dawn of the mnst glorious epoch in the his tory of the human unit. In the face of a faith and of a civilization that too strongly emphasized the social aspect of human society Jesus de clared the dignity, the Integrity, the Incalculable importance of the Indi vidual. He placed the common mnn on the plane upon which God In His providence intended him to move. But while the Lord dignified the ; individual ana proclaimed mo eternal worth of the human unit apart from the mass. He in no wise lowered the high position of the social system In the scheme of God for the ordering of this world's affairs. Rather did He ?nnoble society as a whole. Emphasiz ing the Importance of the Individual, He insisted on the value of that Indi vidual onlyas. representing an integer in the sum ot the sorial lite, he re mained true to the finest principles of the kingdom of God and labored unremittingly foY the advancement I and purifying of society as a whole. Jesus taught the eternal preciousness of the separate personality, with the one d Poire to indicate to the indi vidual man his personal responsibility to God and society in the face of the limitless and unnumbered opportuni ties that a loving Father placed with in his reach. Profound philosopher as He was, Jeans perceived with un erring vision, that the secret of a re deemed society lay in redeemed indi viduals. And. although He had a lively Interest in the single man. He was concerned with him in greatest measure because of his fundamental necessity to and central Importance in a redeemed and sanctified society. Jesus crowned individuality as none other before Him had dared to do; but He Invested Individuality with a peculiar and novel dignity in order that with the realization of Its sur passing consequence individuality should strive hardest to be counted worthy of a place In a social order regenerated and redeemed of God. The birth of Jesus was effective to the betterment of the ethics that is to say the la wo of conduct of hu manity. Prea(iing no Gospel of pre cise and detailed ruins and regula tions, our Lord yet, with such Insist ency, taught the larger principles upon which all sound morals and so cial conduct are based that with two sentences He laid the emphasis where eternally It had belonged in the mind ot God and from which it had, by casuistry and the insincerity ot moral jugglers, been displaced. Jesus re juvenated and invigorated the ethical judgments ot His day and age. And He not only bettered the moral standards of His own time but He augmented the appeal and the scope of moral law for all time. The birth of Jesus marks the dawn of a new and surpassing era in the religious career of humanity. Jesus released religion from the bondage of sheer legalism and infused It with a new purpose. He found religion, very largely, a matter of eccleslaa ticism and of legal regulation and of formality nnd cant. He left It with the inspiration of an enlarged mission and of an increased opportunity. He found a system. He left a life. Be fore Hia coming religion was largely mint, cummin, anise, tithes, phylac teries, burnt offerings, prayer in the market place. After Jesus religion was humility, righteousness, purity, sacrifice it was a life; a life in dwelt, inspired, sanctified of God. I'nsutisficd, Hut Contented. Contentment is a Christian duty; satisfaction is uot. Being contented i9 accepting one's present assigned place ot toil and influence as in the order ing of God's providence. Being sat isfied is taking it for granted that God has nothing better In store for one in the opening future. It is proper to be contented for the moment, but not to be satisfied for ail time to come. As Robertson says, "Man's destiny is not to be dissatisfied, but forever unsatisfied." Let us, there fore, be ever unsatisfied while ever contented. Henry C. Trumbull. Moments That Stand Out. You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things in the spirit ot love. I Henry 'Drunuuond. Did the Dog Reason? The late Duke of Beaufort, who was an excellent observer, notes In his diary how (he was hunting the hounds himself) the pack drove down to a wall and flashed over all but Bachelor. This hound missed the scent as he reached the top of the wall, and standing there waved bis stern as if In thought. Then it seemed to flash across him, "If the fox bas not crossed he must have turned short under the wall." So Bachelor dropped back into tho road, and racing along, picked up the line. The Outing Magazine. Dark Outlook. "How was the proposal 1" "Oh, it was a gereral turn-down." "That so?" "Yea; when Dick started to tell Uie old, old story, Katharine turned down the parlor shade." "Yes?" "And Dick turned down the gas." "Well?" "Then the old gentleman rushed In and turned down Dick." Chicago Daily New. DECEMBER TWENTY-THIRD. How Can We Carry the Christmas Spirit Through 1907? Luke 2: 8-20. Christ's birth seen from afar. Isa. 9:1-6. Its cheer foretold. Ps. 98:1-9. "Good tidings." Isa. 40:9-11. Out ot Bethlehem. MIc. 6:1-7. Son of David. Ps. 89:20-37. Sweet story of old. Matt. 1:18-25. The shepherds "were sore afraid." Christ came to bring heaven's glories near, and take away our fear of them (v. 9). The Christmas joy would not be a Joy to any people If it were not "to all people" (v. 10). First comes "glory to God"; not tin til we seek thnt with all our hearts may we expect "peace on earth" (v. 14). The shepherds had the true Christ mas Idea. What they had seen, they made a Christmas gift to all that would listen (v. 17). Our year will be a success if we write on every day: Give! a failure, If we write Get! If wo can carry the Chrlstmna spir it, it will carry us, over all obstacles and to all happy goals. As It Is not what you give at Christmas, so much as how you give it, so It is less what you do In Ilfo than how you do It. Tho Christmas spirit is greatly pro moted by the merry greetings. With changed words, prolong them through the year. The Christmas tree must hnve Its roots In the heart, or it will bear no sound fruit on its branches. Christmas centres around the flre- nlaeo hepntlHO therp the fnmllv father. and no solitary enjoyment is Christ- mas Joy. If Christmas gifts weighed accord ing to the love in them, some pianos would be,llght as feathers, and some pen-wipers would weigh tons. "I wi3h you a merry Christmas!" goes halfway to the goal; "I'll make you a merry Christmas!" touches the goal-post. To Think About. Have mv past ChrlstniasseB been full of Christ? Do my Christmas thoughts centre about myself? Is giving the best part of my Christmas? EPWORTH LEAGUE LESSONS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23. Lessons of the Manger. Luke Z 7-20. Daily Readings. The world's exclusion ot Je3iis. v. 7. The lowly sign ot the Clirlst-clilld. v. 12. The manifestation of tho Child Christ. v. 10. The recognition of the wise men. Matt. 2. 1-12. The recognition by two Illuminated, lingering souls. Luke 2. -25-:tS. Heavenly watch-care. Matt. 2. 12 14; 19-21. In view of the many precious "les sons of the manger," Christmas ought to be characterized by a kind of sol emn merriment. Let our "A Merry Christmas to You" be charged with conceptions of (he profound signifi cance of the day. The early church seized upon many a henthon festival, and stamped it with ecclesiastical authority, seeking thus to make easy the crossing over from paganism to Christianity. So Christmas came to have, among our far-back ancestors, the hour's head feast and the drinking bouts of Scandinavia and Germany. Let there be festivity, but let there be also songs of gratitude, and the bestowment of gifts to the needy. In remembrance of God's Uuspeakuble Gift to us. , THE MIDDLE AGED MAX. He Laments the Decay of the Old Time Chopping Knife and Bowl. "It rejoices me, mildly," said the middle aged man, "to hear, as I do still, coming from a bouse in the neighborhood where I dwell, the souud of a chopping knife in a bowl. Ir. these days so many things are done by machinery. Even in the household so many things that once we pored over with patient and lov ing care we do now without a thought except of the worl: involved, by the aid of mechanical appliances, "We make hash now in a machine. We put the Ingredients into a recep tacle attached and turn a crank mo notonously, and there Is the hash. What a descent Is this from the old time ways! "The scrupulously clean chopping bowl and the equally trim knife. The materials, good materials, prepared with care, and placed with care In the bowl; something worth the added work that Is now to be bestowed up on It. "The muffled Bound of tho knife, at first, as it falls In the heaped up mound; Its clear, really musical ring later, when it strikes with regular strokes on the wood. The momen tary Intervals, when the good house wife, with the flat of the knife, is sweeping the now somewhat spread out chopped up material together again, and then more regular chop ping; with little chops now and then on the side, giving finishing touches to little capes or promontories that may Jut out from the centre, bore and there around. ' Musical sounds all, telling of pro per and patient and loving care and labor. And the bash! "Alas! for the hash of the days ot old. Hall, and farewell, to the van ishing chopping nife and bowl!" New York Bun, - PLUTO'S IRON CHEEK. Pluto was proudly stroking Cer berus. " . "Yes," he remarked, "he Is very gentle; be only bites with two of bis beads. ' Herewith he chuckled to see bis daughter's beau decamp. New York Bun. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM MENTS FOR DECEMBER 23.' Subject: Jesns Ascends Into Heaven, Luke xxlv., 80-03 flolden Text, Lake xxlv., 81 Memory Verses, 4-4. I. The risen Christ (vs. 36-43). 36. "As they thus spake." The dis ciples were assembled In an upper room in Jerusalem discussing the events of the day. The two who bad walked with Jesus to Emmaus were giving an account of their interview with the risen Savior when suddenly Jesus Himself appeared. "In the midst." He evidently entered mirac ulously. "Peace be unto you." The usual salutation of the Jews. 37. "Terrified and affrighted." No one knew how He entered and they were Inclined to doubt their own sight and conclude that this was but a vision of their Master. 38. "Why troubled." Jesus now calms their fears and proves to them that He is their risen Lord. "Thoughts arise." Mark says (chapter 16:14) that He "upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart." 39. "Hands feet." The wounds were probably all perfectly healed, but the scars remained. Here was an appeal to their sense of sight. "Handle Me." This they probably did. "A spirit hath not," etc. We have here the clearest possible assertion of the in dependent existence of Bplrlt. 40. "He shewed them." He showed them the scars. 41. "Believed not for joy." They wero terrified at first. "Wondered." There was still some anxiety lest this was an illusion. "Meat." Food. 42. "Broiled fish," etc. Probably what was left from their evening meal. 43. "Did eat before them." Af terwnrd the apostles called attention to whnt now occurred as a proof of their Lord'B resurrection (Acts 10: 41). 1. That after His resurrection He bad a spiritual body, similar to what our bodies will be after our res urrection. 2. That "Ho had a body the same in substance as before the crucifixion, but endowed with new properties and powers." 3. That He had a body "the same in sub stance and attributes as He had be fore His crucifixion, and that this was changed into His glorious resurrec tion body at the ascension." II. The Scriptures opened (vs. 44-49).. These verses record not the sayings uttered on this first Easter evening; but contain rather, a gen eral outline of the teachings of the forty days between the resurrection and the ascension. 44. "These are the words." Now you will under stand what seemed so dark to you when I told you about the Son ot man being put to death and rising again (chapter 18:31-34). "The law the prophets the Psalms." The three Jewish divisions of the Old Tes tament Scriptures, here mentioned as containing, each ot them, things concerning Christ. 45. "Then opened He." Their un derstanding had been closed by prej udice and ignorance. "Understand the Scriptures." They had a measure of light before; but not sufficient. 4G. "Thus it is written." etc. Here are the two great essential facts: The atonement of Christ; His resurrection from the dead. 4 7. "Repentance." This Implies that a measure of divine wisdom is communicated to the. sinner, and that he thereby becomes wise to salvation. "Remission of sins." The forglve ness ftf sins. "In His name." As ob tained for sinful men by His atoning sufferings. "Among all nations." God wills the salvation of all. "Be ginning at Jerusalem." Because It was thus written (Isa. 2:3). 48. "Ye are witnesses." They had been with Jesus throughout His ministry. 49. "I send tho promise." The Holy Ghost which was promised to the church through Christ. "Tarry." The coming of the Spirit was to bo at the next great feast after the cruci fixion. This was the centre of Jewish Influence and at that time they would reach strangers from all parts of the world. They were, not to depart, because they were not prepared to go until they were baptized with the Spirit. They tarried In prayer, con ferring together and performing nec essary duties (Acta 1:13, 14). "En dued." Invested; clothed ' with. "With power." They were promised the power of the Holy Ghost In order to properly carry on God's work. This Included, 1. Power to lead men to Christ. 2. Power to overcome all enemies and obstacles. 3. Power to work miracles. III. The ascension (vs. 50-53). 60. "Led them out." This was forty days after the resurrection. "As far as to Bethany." Not to the village Itself, but on tbe descent to it from Mount Olivet. "Lifted up His hands." Probably to lay them on their heads, for that was tbe ordinary way In which a blessing was given (Gen. 48: 8.20). 51. "Into Heaven." The disciples did not see Him rise out of tbe grave, because His resurrection could be easily proved by their seeing Him afterward; but they saw Him return to Heaven, as there would be no other way to prove It, While they were looking "toward Heaven as He went up," two men angels In the form ot men stood by them and said He would come again (Acts 1:9-11). ,62. "They worshiped Him." In grat itude for Hia blessing upon them. The cloud that received Him out of their sight did not put them or their services out of His sight. "With great joy." Every sorrow bad been turned into joy. They were full ot love and Joy In the Holy Spirit. 63. ."Continually In the temple." They Iwent to tbe temple at the proper times, praying and waiting for the Bplrlt ot power, truth and holiness- , UNARMED, KILLS A WILDCAT. Unarmed and all alone, Thomas Dyke, a prominent young man of Mt. Curmel, Pa., was attacked by a wild cat on the Locust Mountain. Dyke had driven to Ashland, and when he had come two miles toward borne his horse trumped on a nail and was placed in a stable. He then decided to walk home, and was on tha top of the mountain when tbe cries of a wildcat caused bis balr to raise. Crouched on tbe side ot tbe road, not ten feet from Mm, was tbe cat. The animal Anally sprang at him, but he jumped aside, and as the body ot the cat struck tbe road be Jumped on It. For Beveral minutes the fight be tween the wild beast and the it an went on, when, by a quick swing, the man broke tbe animal's back. Tbe balance ot bit Journey borne was un eventful. A physician dressed nev eral deep scratches on bis face rind bands. Philadelphia Record. SUNKEN TREASURE. Rich Cargroea Recovered and others That Defy the Wrecker. -t- From Shipping Illustrated. SHSBSaSHSESESESHS2SHSHSHSa The comparative ease with which funds can always be procured to prosecute the search after hypothet ical sunken or burled treasures Is tbe best evidence which could be adduced ot the optimism of the world at large as regards the feasibility ot bringing to light again the fabulous wealth which Ilea within" the bosom of the earth. It the tradition Is to be be lieved, the sunken galleons of the Spanish Armada must have literally strewn the western shores ot Great Britain with stores of gold and silver, either In coin or plate. From Vigo to Cadiz He numerous treasure ships sunk by the prowess of the English seaflghters. Much bas been recovered from Vigo Bay, but the plate ships sunk by Blake near Cadiz have so far challenged the skill of the wreckers. The two vessels which Cromwell's Admiral captured were wealthy ships and en riched tho English Mint, in spite of a "leaknge," to the extent of about three-quarters ot a million sterling. It also forms part of tho same tra dition that Santa Cruz Bay is strewn with the treasure carried by the fleet of some ten Spanish plate ships which Blake compelled to seek shelter In the bay and which he subsequently sank. To form an accurate idea of the wealth there must lie sunken In the Spanish treasure ships one need but to refer to the wealth found in those captured afloat. In the year 1747 alone the English ships cap tured 644 prizes, among which the Vestal, a Spanish ship, alone yielded 140,000; the Hecta, another Span ish ship, 300,000, and the Concordia,- 600,000. In 1745 three Spanish vessels returning from Peru,, having been captured by some three prlvateersmen, the owners of the lat ter received as their share the' sum of 700,000 and every common sea man 850. Another Spanish galleon was taken by a British man-of-war with a million sterling in bullion on board. In 1657 it took thirty-eight wagons to carry from Portsmouth to London the gold and jewels found In two Spanish galleons returning from Mexico. In 1702 the fifteen huge galleons captured In Vigo Bay yielded no less than 2,000,000, while the great galleon captured by Anson In 1743 contained treasure worth 500,000. The niOBt remarkable capture was. that of the Hermlone, off Cadiz, on May 17, 1762, by the English men-of-war Active and Favorite. After all charges bad been deducted prize money was distributed as follows: To the Admiral and Commodore, 64,963 3s.9d.; to the captain of the Active, 66,053 3s. 9d.; to each of the three commissioned officers, 13, 004 14s. lid.; to each of the eight warrant officers, 4336 3s. 2d.; to' each of the twenty petty officers, 1806 10s. 10d.; to each of the 150 seamen and marines, 485 5s. 4d.; total Active's share, 248,668 8s.; to the captain of the Favo.rlte. 64, 872 13s. 9d.; to each of tha two com missioned officers, 12,974 10s. 3d.; to each of tho seven warrant officers, 4324 10s. lid.; to each of the six teen petty officers, 1892 0b. 4d.; to each of the 100 seamen and marines, 484 2s. 4d.; total Favorite's share. 203,179 2s. lOd. To come nearer home, it Is stated the whole eastern seaboard ot Central America teems with burled treasure, Bome ashore and much upon the sea bed. Captain Kldd and his merry compeers are all reputed to have hid den 111 gotten wealth, both by land ana sea, and many are the expedl- i tlons which have engaged in its at tempted recovery. Most of the mod ern expeditions which enlisted capital to hunt these pirates' treasures be longed to the "fake" order. They were promoted by adventurers who aspired only to make an easy living for some time at the expense ot the credulous, but there are records ex tant of expeditions of this nature which resulted in considerable profit. One of these was carried on more than 200 yeara ago by a youth named William Phipps, Bon of a New Eng land carpenter, who had beard of a treasure ship Bunk off Hlsiianiola. It 1s said In the more or less authentic story of Captain Kldd that not a few old pirates and buccaneers were re tired comfortably in this part of the country, respected citizens and adored by the children. It Is certain that Kidd was held In high regard In New Yorki it was In deed bis excellent reputation which Induced the Government to give him a commission as Pirate Catcher to bis Majesty. Therefore It may be con sidered Quite probable that young Phipps, who was then a shephord, heard of the prize from one of these veterans. It is not known by which means, though certain it appears, that he managed to visit Hlspanlola, whence be proceeded to London. Once there the carpenter's son min gled with very high flown personages, among whom the Duke of Albemarle, who not only subscribed himself to the proposed venture, but persuaded a number of bis friends to advance 100 each, this, it will be noted, bears a strong resemblance to the bls tory of tho Collls Diamond Syndicate. His Grace ot Albemarle also secured the appointment of Governor, of Ja maica, In order to be near the scene of operations, and give assistance. If necessary, without further taxing his noble pocket. At all events, Phipps raised money enough to charter a vobbuI and sailed. The Information upon which be was working must have been very precise, for tbe story goes that tbe wreck, then about fifty yeara old, was found among the growing coral and seaweeds ot the reef. Divers were sent down who located big guns and at the same time the sought after treasure. After paying expeuses, Phipps managed to land in England with 300,000, of which 90,000 went to the Duke ot Albemarle as bis share, and 10,000 was returned for every 100 share. Tbe Crown' received 10,000 and young Phipps 16,000, which seems ltntueaiureably dispro portionate. But It is not unlikely that, following the custom of the period, due allowance had been made for the sum to which Phipps was sup posed to have helped himself. As to the King, he was certainly "had" In proper fashion. If only 10,000 ac crued to him as his share, but the writer to whom the story Is due wrote before the facts were fully known. That his Britannic Majesty was fully satisfied with the results of tbe expe dition Is apparent from the honors which were subsequently bestowed upon young Phipps. The King made him a knight and presently Governor ot the New England colonies, which are said never to have had a better down to the time they found it more fitting to govern themselves without the benevolent aid of the Defender of the Faith. The foregoing shows the openings In store now for thesuccessful search ers of burled or sunken treasures. Certain It Is that the chances ot suc cess are far greater to-day than they were then, thanks to the mechanical nppliances which can be profitably utilized nowadays as contrasted with the crude methods of 200 years ago. However, the Duke of Argyll appears to have had less success with the treasure hunting operations on his es tate at Tobermory than the other peer who so profitably patronized young Phipps. It Is announced thnt the divers employed by the Scottish Duke have suspended the operations for the season, but are confident that next year they will raise from the deep the treasures carried by the Spanish galleon Duque do Florencia. HOW HE MISSED A BEAT. A Reporter Tells an Interesting Story About Henry Ward Beecher. Not long ago the writer, while ex changing experiences with a well- known Brooklyn newspaper man. heard a very Interesting story In con nection With the last lllneqs of tha famous pastor of Plymouth Church, Henry Ward Beecher. "I had a regular assignment," be gan my friend, "to cover the Friday night prayer meetings at Plymouth Church. They were of mora than ordinary interest ' and many a good story I got for my paper. "On the particular Friday In ques tion, several men were sick or 'off' or something, a big story broke loose In the Eastern District and the city editor told me that be guessed I'd have to let the Plymouth nrflver meeting go and take the assignment referred to. "Well, I took It, and by doing so missed the chance to score a beat for my paper that should have added at least $10 'per' to my salary. "That night Mr. Beecher did not appear at the prayer meeting, It be ing announced that he was 111. . Now there were reporters there, but they failed to grasp the Importance of this Information and It was passed by practically unnoticed. "As a matter of fact the ereat preacher had a paralytic Btroke and it was not till late the following night that an outside newspaper man picked un the Information, hustled himself Into a cnb and hurried to the office of one of the big New York papers and sold bis storv. the naner In question scoring a clean beat. 'Mr. Beecher never again left his bed. It seemed to be the working of fate thut I should cover that nraver meeting month after month without missing a session, and then wind up by being beaten by an outside re porter. f' "This simply goeB to show that It Is a very risky thing to leave an as slgnment uncovered. Since I have given up the reporting act myself to direct the work of others, I always keep in mind the chance I had for a big scoop and -lost it. I could name other instances thnt have come under my observation, hut they are of minor Importance. It Is not a safe thing, however, to pass up assignments because they do not look promising. We can never tell what Is going to break loose In department work, and the only safe thing to do is to be always on the spot." Rifle-Shooting. . It is not only the muscles of th arm which are tested by properly or ganized rifle-shooting. It supplies an excellent exercise for the chest ahd lungs. One of the first thin tbe young rifle-shot has to learn is how to take a deep breath, to fLU the lungs with air, and then to hold the breath while the rifle is kent. nhno. lutely steady and the finger la grad ually tlgntening on the trigger. A glance at any successful rifle-shot will show you a man with a Hoe,. chest and full powers ot breathing. Any form of recreation which trains the muscles of the arm and exercises the chest and lungs would seem likely to be beneficial to health; but it that Is not enough, there is the unequalled training which rifle shooting gives to the eye and to tho hand working with the eyfe. The writer remembers hearing a mus ketry instructor boast that be bad lengthened not only his own sight, but the sight of scores ot boys whom be bad taught how to use their eyes In aiming at a target, by two or three hundred yards, simply by continued practice at long-distance shooting. It is astonishing what results can ba obtalued la this way by placing a' rifle on a sandbag raised on a tripod and making the pupil aim as accur ately us he can at any distant ob ject. The eye can be- trained, of course, equally well, though the sight will nut necessarily be length ened, by aiming at objects close at hand. London Spectator, Knglaud Gallicized. It Is curious bow, glace tbe "en tente cordlale" set In with severity, Franco and England have, been ex changing national qualities. - The English Sunday has crossed the Chan nel; the craze for light French wines, such as clarets, makes further pro gress In this country every month, und while tbe Bishop ot Castlenaud ery Is protesting against an undraped statue in his diocese, we in London have two muslo balls crowded night ly by the exhibition ot shapely wom en clad In uotblng but white paint and classical atmosphere. London Opinion. I T 1 r- I"" SI" For National Rock Roads. "Why don't the States build trunk roads ot macadam so solidly con structed that trains of automobile freight wagons might be operated upon themT" said T. A. Wltten. Mr. Wltten is an attorney. He Is inter ested In good roads, and has made a study of the subject, "A system of rock roads owned by the State, and connecting the big cities, would do much toward solving the railroad rate problem," he con tinued. "These roads would be as straight and as level as possible, and broad, and would be kept In perfect repair. The State would build, own, and maintain them, but any Individ ual would have tbe right to use them free for any purpose. Now suppose we bad such a road from Kansas City to St. Louis. It would be used by private and public automobiles, some carrying passengers for pay. But Its greatest use would be by freight au tomobiles. The day of the automo bile is Just dawning. In twenty years from now aemall family automobiles will be so low in price that any fam ily oi moaeraie means mat can 01- i ford a horse and carriage can own one. And the freight automobile will be so developed within a tew years that they will be UBed exten sively for handling freight. "In London a few weeks ago I saw many trains of motor cars upon the streets. They were composed of four or five heavy iron cars loaded with sand, rock, bricks and other ' building materials, bitched to a heavy motor car which hauled the train with ease and at a speed, I woud judge, of about ten miles an hour. "If we had a solid, level rock road between KanBas City and St. Louis you would see in a few years hun dreds of these motor trains haulling Blow freight between the two cites. I believe it would go far toward the regulation of the freight rate upon a fair basis. The freighting business upon such a road would require no franchise and create no monopoly. You must bear in mind when think ing over this plan ot mine that these motor freight trains upon macadam highways would travel almost as fast as the average local freight trains. "If the Government wishes to enter- into competition with the rail roads ia the carrying ot interstate commerce why should it pot con struct national highways of macadam but instead of carrying the commerce it should allow any one to do so who wishes to operate his own vehicles upon these roads, the Government simply maintaining the road and keeping it in repair. "Compare the cost of building a system of governmental rock roads with the cost ot building all the rail roads and their rolling stock, and you will see that for one-half the money It would take to buy the railroads the Government could build a system of rock roads that would reach al most every town and city in the land. "The Government has a precedent for doing the very thing. Between 1820 and 1840 tho United States built a national highway of macadam from Cumberland, Md., westward, terminating Bomewhere in Indiana. This road was fathered by Henry Clay. ' "The automobile and the perfected public highway is the ultimate solu tion of tbe railway and rate ques tion." Kansas City Star. Views of a '''Globe Glrdler." 'Charles J. Gltdden, the "globe gird ling" automoblllst, wrote to some Boston friends as follows concerning his impressions of tbe first part ot his Journey from Boston to Mexico by road and railroad tracks:, "Six years ago I drove over the road from Bos-' ton to New York, and considerable Improvement waa noticed on this trip, but on the average the road can be considered only fair, In comparison with the good roads around Boston and the excellent roads ot Frauce. Closed roads necessitated detours In Connecticut, increasing the distance twenty miles, and the roads we were obliged to take were wretched. The trouble and expense we have been put to In arranging for our permits and numbers for New Jersey, Pennsyl vania and Maryland give tbe Impres sion that we are not In a united coun try, but driving through small coun tries in Europe. Special numbers, I am Informed, are not required In other States. Motoring can be made Ideal between New York and Boston by improving the roads In Connecti cut and Massachusetts east ot Palmer and south of Sprlugfleld to the State line." New York Sun. Could Take His Choice. At a recent inquest in a Pennsyl vania town, one ot the jurors, after the uet.al swearing In, arose and with much dignity protested against ser vice, alleging that he was the general manager of an Important concern and was wasting valuable time by sit ting as a juror at an Inquest. The coroner, turning to his clerk, said: "Mr. Morgan, kindly hand me 'Jervla' (the authority on juries)." Then, after consulting tbe book, the coroner observed . to tbe unwilling Juror: "Upon reference to 'Jervls,' I find, sir, that no persons are exempt from service as Jurors except idiots. Im beciles and lunatics. Now, under which heading do you claim exemp tion?": Success. Worked Other Way. The City Federation ot Women's Clubs, at Cblcksha, I. T., recently gave a Wild West show considerable and rather extensive advertising by, filing a protest with the city council. The protest was turned down, and the "wild, and woolly" aggregation showed to a paccked hou. Kansas, City Journal.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers