PROFOUND is the disappointment which prevails at the Vatican in consequence of the failure of President Roosevelt to take any notice whatsoever of the pope’s pontifical jubilee. All of the rulers of the great powers of the world have sent special embassies to the Holy See for the purpose of presenting congratulations and good wishes to the one ruler, who, while universally acknowledged and recognized as a sovereign, has no dominions.
Even nations that are not strictly speaking in diplomatic relations with the papacy, and which do not maintain embassies or legations at the Vatican—such as, for instance, Great Britain and the Netherlands—have sent special missions—the Earl of Denbigh, with a large suite, having been despatched to Rome by King Edward, while Queen Wilhelmina has sent General Count Henry du Monceau, one of the principal dignitaries of her court and household. The Prince of Montenegro, who is the father-in-law of the King of Italy, has delegated Louis Vojnovich, while all the South American republics have commissioned special embassies for the occasion. Turkey and Japan actually are represented, and the only two powers—the one coming under the denomination of “great,” and the other of minor importance—that have taken no notice of Leo XIII.’s pontifical jubilee are the United States and Mexico.
This is all the more surprising, as there has been friendly intercourse in the past between the White House and the Vatican, and valuable gifts have been exchanged between former American presidents and the present pontiff. Some years ago Leo XIII. sent a superb volume containing reproductions and photographs of the newly restored Borghese galleries at the Vatican to the President—I think it was President McKinley—the work being identical with that which the pope was presenting to the other rulers of the great powers of the world. Some beautiful mosaics accompanied the gift. The President9responded in kind, so that there is a precedent for amicable intercourse.
The Italian Government does not take any offense at these special embassies. For Premier Crispi, in spite of his inveterate hostility to the Vatican, on the occasion of the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Leo’s Diamond Sacerdotal Jubilee, in 1897, which was recognized by the arrival of special embassies to the Vatican from all parts of the world save the United States, inserted a graceful allusion to the celebration as a “happy event” in one of the royal messages from the throne.
Of course it would not do for President Roosevelt to send any Roman Catholic prelate, since that would be contrary to etiquette, and give an altogether wrong idea with regard to the mission. All the special envoys are laymen, and if President Roosevelt sends anybody, he should despatch some prominent layman commissioned to express his good wishes, precisely in the same way that he is sending Dr. Curry to Madrid, with the identical object in view in connection with the coming of age of the King of Spain, and Mr. Whitelaw Reid to London, on the occasion of the coronation of King Edward.
It would constitute a recognition, not of the pope’s claims to temporal sovereignty, but merely of his efforts throughout the entire term of his pontificate to maintain peace between nations, to promote the respect of the masses for the duly constituted authorities, and to act in every dispute as a mediator. No one did more than Leo XIII. to induce Spain to yield to the demands of the United States in 1898, and to avert the conflict which subsequently ensued between the two countries.
THE DAY OF HIS PREPARATION.
By S.
EVENTS on every hand are indicating that we are now living in the days of the Lord's preparation. The events to which we refer have been designated by the Lord Himself as signs of the approach of that day which will close the history of this present world.
The terrible chain of disasters from Guatemala to St. Vincent and Martinique is telling us with mighty voice that we are living in the most important time this world has ever known. There have been earthquakes before; volcanoes have destroyed cities before; tidal waves have carried destruction to the dwellers by the sea in years gone by; and great storms have done execution in the past; but the ratio of increase in these direful manifestations has been fearfully rapid within the last few years.
As events that were to be to His followers signs of His second coming, Christ mentioned the following: “Great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Luke 21:11. In Haggai 2:6, 7, the Lord declares, “Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come.” Just preceding the second coming of the Lord the prophet Joel (3:16) tells us that “the heavens and the earth shall shake.” Isaiah tells us of a time when the Lord shall rise “to shake terribly the earth,” (Isa. 2:19, 21); and we learn from verse 12 that this terrible manifestation is to occur in “the day of the Lord of hosts.” We get a more vivid idea of what this means from a reading of Revelation 6:14–17, where the Lord declares that the heavens shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and every island shall be moved out of their places. But this includes the greatest of all earthquakes (Rev. 16:18), a more terrible one than has ever yet come upon the earth.
Thus we see something of the experiences that are awaiting the people of this generation, as announced by the Lord through His prophets and by His own lips. Let us look to the records and ascertain if there are any indications that we are entering upon the times to which the prophets and our Lord had reference. He declared that there would be “earthquakes in divers places,” “the sea and the waves roaring.” Earthquakes were rare phenomena before the fifteenth century; but there has been a tremendous increase since that time. Mr. Mallett, an acknowledged authority in such matters, has been able to find record of but 58 earthquakes before the birth of Christ, or about one in 29 years. From that time to the end of the 9th century they averaged one in 4 years. Up to the end of the 15th century they averaged one to the year. From the 15th to the 18th century the increase became more marked, the average being 9 to the year. For the 50 years ending 1850 the average had grown to 64 per year; and for the next 18 years the average had risen to 277 per year. At the present time so great has been the increase in the number of earthquakes that the earth's crust is in a continual tremor. We hear now only of the more severe ones; but the seismographs are busy in some part or parts of the earth at all times, writing the signatures of earthquakes. “Earthquakes in divers places”—that prophecy is fulfilling now. The burnings that are going on under the earth's crust are ramifying every country. Dangerous chemicals embedded in the earth are coming into contact with one another; and the explosions which occur in consequence are shaking up the crust of the earth, and bringing still more of these chemicals together or into proximity; and they in turn shake and rend and shatter the earth crust more, and so the work goes on increasing continually. As the crust is shattered by the explosions and the shaking, the waters of the ocean and the contents of the great oil depositories are permitted to rush or trickle through the openings made down into and among these veritable magazines of explosives, heating and setting off their contents. Each new shock is a new menace, and brings about conditions which will make many other such shocks not only possible but inevitable. The rapid rate of increase in these occurrences, as seen in the statistics given above and in the fearful prevalence of these phenomena before our own eyes, shows how the fulfilment of Christ's words is coming to pass in our day.
We are nearing the time of that greatest of all earthquakes, to which reference has been made, and toward which all the shakings of the earth's crust are tending. In connection with the recent terrible volcanic manifestations in the West Indies, volcanic or seismic activities have been reported from various parts of the earth, even in far Alaska. Volcanoes that have been apparently dead for many years show signs of renewed activity. Mount Colima, Mexico, developed a very threatening aspect, so that numbers of the inhabitants of that vicinity left their homes, fearing for their lives. Little Chinati, an extinct volcano of Texas, showed signs of uneasiness. The hot springs of Teplitz-Schoenau, in Austria, became a deep red, the water carrying large quantities of red ochre. The oil wells of Texas, which before had thrown their oil high into the air, lost their power, and pumping now has to be resorted to in order to bring the oil to the surface, according to reports from that district. Thus we can see the connection between these combustible materials and the volcanic and seismic activities that are manifest in the earth to-day. Earthquakes are increasing—there are now “earthquakes in divers places.” They will increase more and more until they culminate in that great earthquake in comparison with which all others will be as mere tremors. It is the time of the Lord's preparation, and the culmination “hasteth greatly.”
S.
Do You Plan for Self First, and God’s Cause Afterward?
“Do you plan for self first, and God’s cause afterward?”
Renewed Eruptions in the West Indies
The volcanoes on both Martinique and St. Vincent have been in active eruption during the past week. Mount Pelee has been literally torn asunder by great explosions which were of sufficient force to throw down buildings in Fort de France, fifteen miles away. These explosions were of much greater force than the one which destroyed St. Pierre, and many persons in Fort de France were hurt by stones crashing through the roofs of the houses. Virtual panic has reigned in Fort de France since the terrible activity of Mount Pelee has been resumed. The town of Le Carbet has been destroyed by the later eruptions, and at least 20 persons have lost their lives there. Ashes and stones and lava continue to cover over the ruins of St. Pierre. Thousands of persons have left the threatened city of Fort de France, as many feel that this city also is doomed. Those who have visited the ruins of St. Pierre and the adjacent country continue to tell of the terrible scenes witnessed there on every side. The distress on St. Vincent continues, and a great portion of both islands seems destined to complete destruction from the lava and ashes that are being poured upon them. Contributions for the stricken people have been closed, as it is felt that enough has been contributed for the necessities of the living.
The statue of General Count de Rochambeau, who brought the forces of France across the Atlantic during the Revolutionary War, was unveiled at Washington on May 24. There were present at the ceremony the President and members of the cabinet, the chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court, the lieutenant-general of the army, the admiral of the navy, senators and representatives; while France was represented by General Brugere, the highest field officer in the French army, Vice-Admiral Fournier, General Count Chalandar, the descendants of Rochambeau and Lafayette, and others distinguished in French military, literary, and official life. With them were the French ambassador, M. Cambon, and the staff of the French embassy. The diplomatic representatives of other nations also were in attendance. Brief addresses were delivered by President Roosevelt, the French ambassador, M. Cambon, Gen. Horace Porter, and Senator Lodge of Massachusetts.
At noon on May 20 the government of Cuba was turned over to the officials elected by the Cuban people, the American flag came down from the staff of the palace and from Moro Castle, and General Wood, who had acted so long as governor-general, sailed away from Havana on a warship of the United States. The booming of cannon from vessels in the harbor and from the forts, with the ringing of all the bells in the city, declared that a new republic had come into being. The enthusiasm in the city was boundless. The people were fairly mad with joy over the fact that after so many years of anxiety and struggle, they were at last a free people. The streets were full of surging, cheering men and women, as many as 100,000 outsiders having come to Havana to take part in the demonstration. In the evening the city was gaily illuminated, and a gorgeous display of fireworks was given from the walls of the old Spanish fort, Moro Castle.
A report from Vienna states that an attempt has been made to take the life of the emperor. A bomb was found hidden in the railway coach on which he was to make a journey from Vienna to Budapest.
On May 22 Senator Hoar of Massachusetts occupied the attention of the Senate for two and one-half hours in a strong speech against the policy of the government in the Philippines, contrasting the treatment of the Cubans with that of the Filipinos. He declared that the attitude of our government toward the Filipinos was one of the most wicked and foolish chapters in American history, and urged that the policy be abandoned before it was too late. He was listened to with marked attention by the Senate body as well as by a crowded gallery, and was interrupted by frequent bursts of applause. At the conclusion of the speech the demonstration was so pronounced that the presiding officer had to remind the senators of the rule prohibiting any expression of approval or disapproval.
A report from St. Petersburg, Russia, states that an attempt has been made on the life of Prince Obolensky, governor of Kharkoff, who was recently commended by the czar for his work in suppressing the rioting among the peasants of that district. A few days previous to this an attempt was made on the life of General von Wahl, governor of Vilna, for ordering the flogging of political prisoners, many of whom are educated, and were therefore, according to Russian custom, exempt from flogging. The governor received two wounds, neither of which was serious. The whipping of such prisoners is creating much bitterness among the populace.
Naval experts have freely testified before the House Committee on Naval Affairs to the efficiency of the new type of submarine boats, known as the Holland type. Captain Caldwell of the Holland states that he has been under the water in that vessel four hundred times; that every trip was successful; that the craft is almost perfect; and that she is capable of discharging a torpedo with ten times the accuracy of a surface boat, with much better chance of getting away after accomplishing her purpose. This report will doubtless be followed by a large increase in the construction of such vessels.
A report from London states that the Lords of the Admiralty have been witnessing experiments in gunnery in which a new kind of shell is used with great success in piercing armor. It is predicted that the results of these tests will be the partial rearmament of a large number of battle-ships. This is the shell with the soft nose, some time ago adopted in the American and other navies. Speaking of this, the London Times says, “Once more it is being made unpleasantly plain that there is no finality in naval progress. It behooves us not only to be wise, but to be wise in time.”
The official findings of the court that tried Major Waller and Lieutenant Day for the execution of natives in the Philippines have now been made public. General Chaffee, the reviewing authority, has expressed his disapproval of the courts’ findings in both cases, and declares that the acts of these officers partook more of the nature of unlawful retaliation than of a justifiable act of war. While recognizing that the marines underwent great physical suffering before their rescue in Samar, the general still holds them guilty of unwarranted actions.
At Lansing, Texas, on May 22, a negro who had assaulted a white woman was burned to death after the most terrible and revolting torture at the hands of his lynchers. His eyes were burned out with live coals; his neck and other portions of his body were burned with fire brands, while the crowd was clamoring for a slow death. When the negro had succumbed to this most savage torture, railroad ties were piled around his body and it was consumed. Pieces of his bones were carried off by those present as relics.
The House, on May 19, passed the naval bill, after so amending it that half of the vessels to be constructed must be constructed in government yards, and that all may be so constructed in case the builders combine. The five per cent differential in favor of Pacific Coast builders was stricken out, leaving the East and West on an equal footing so far as bids are concerned. Many senators are strongly opposed to government construction, and will seek to defeat it in the Senate.
The international pedestrian match over the road from Berlin to Dresden, a distance of 125 miles, was won by the vegetarian Carl Mann in the remarkable time of 27 hours, 13 minutes, and 14 seconds. The next man was 1 hour and 45 minutes behind. The vegetarian averaged a little more than 4.6 miles an hour, which is considerably better than the famous Greek’s run from Marathon to Athens.
On account of the existence of disease in the vicinity of Canton, China, the Boxer element is stirring up much feeling against the foreigners by charging that the foreigners are adulterating the salt with some dangerous drug. Blind men have a monopoly of retailing salt throughout China, and they say they cannot help it if the salt is bad.
A disastrous explosion occurred in the Crow’s Nest coal-mines at Fernie, B. C., on May 22. Of the 133 men known to have been in the mine at the time of the explosion, only 24 escaped alive. The work of recovering the mutilated bodies is progressing slowly on account of the destruction wrought in the tunnels by the explosion.
At the automobile races recently held at Nice, the winner covered one mile in a little less than 48 seconds.
According to a statement prepared by the attorney-general, 542 claims, aggregating $6,097,077.78, have been filed by American citizens for damages alleged to have been caused by the Cuban insurrection in 1895 against Spain, which the United States agreed, in the treaty of peace, to settle. Pursuant to the terms of the treaty, Congress has created a Claims Commission. The attorney-general’s statement indicates his belief that most unreasonable demands are being made by some of the claimants.
The empress dowager of China has issued an edict for the official decoration of certain missionaries. The most of those accepting the decorations were Catholic bishops. One Protestant, however, was decorated; but others for whom decorations were intended insisted that they wanted no buttons, peacock feathers, or badges.
The sultan of Turkey has issued an irade granting to Germany and Italy the right to protect their Catholic subjects in the East. This action of the sultan is a blow to France’s claim to exclusive rights to protect Catholics in the East, and ends a prolonged controversy over the matter by the powers concerned.
A report from Santiago, Chile, states that there is now good prospect of Chile and Argentina reaching an amicable understanding. An agreement is being drawn which will limit the increase of armament on the part of both countries and provide for the general arbitration of disputes.
The United States Circuit Court of appeals has decided that a person traveling on a pass on the railroad is entitled to damages in case of accident, or his relatives may collect damages in case of his death, in case carelessness or negligence can be proved against the company.
A terrible explosion of gas in the Fraterville coal-mine near Coal Creek, Tenn., on May 19, resulted in the death of over 200 of the men employed in the mine. Only one miner of those in the mine at the time was taken out alive, and he was injured beyond recovery.
Lord Pauncefote, British ambassador to the United States, died at his residence in Washington on the afternoon of May 24. Lord Pauncefote came to Washington in 1889, first as minister and afterward as ambassador. He had reached the age of 74 years.
On May 22 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church adopted the report of their committee on creed revision, making changes in the confession of faith. The vote was practically unanimous, and was taken with little debate, yet many of the old men wept.
The coronation ceremonies of the new king of Spain, Alfonso XIII., ended in a grand military review in Madrid on May 19 and a reception at the palace in the evening. The king was greeted with hearty cheers as he passed down the line of soldiery.
Washington senators declare that the bill which passed the House recently for the admission of Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma into the sisterhood of States, will not be passed by the Senate at the present session of Congress.
Many lives were lost in a destructive hurricane which swept over the province of Sind, British India, on May 19. Forty miles of railway were washed away, and houses, embankments, and bridges disappeared.
Latest advices from Washington indicate the possibility of Congress passing some relief measure for the Cubans before adjourning; but the measure, if passed, will be a compromise only.
The latest reports from the scene of the recent terrible tornado at Goliad, Texas, show that 98 persons were killed and 103 more or less seriously injured.
The report from Santo Domingo that the capital and government were in the hands of the revolutionists is confirmed, and the latest reports indicate that peace again reigns in that republic.
MEXICO, MEXICO, MEXICO.
By Editor
In the Signs of May 7 there was made a special plea for a mission in Mexico for the one sole purpose of teaching the truth to those in darkness, and winning souls from the darkness of heathenism and superstition to the light of Jesus Christ. Our readers were asked to help us in this. Devoted missionaries are now preparing to go.
Every cent given will be used in Gospel work. No debts will be incurred in carrying on the work. Responses to May 14 footed up the sum of $362.21. Since then $20.00 have been received, making a total of $382.21. For every $10.00 contributed, a share of stock in the Pacific Press Publishing Association will be issued, if desired, entitling the holder to one vote in all the meetings of the association. Smaller sums will be credited as donations. The work is urgent. The field is needy. Who wishes a part in it? Send all moneys to the Signs of the Times, Oakland, Cal., specifying the purpose.
STRAWBERRIES
By Lula K. Levison
TEDDY SMITH breathed a deep sigh of relief as he put back his ledger, drew on his coat, and took his hat from the rack behind the office door, preparatory to leaving the dark, dismal office after a hard day’s work. He was all used up. The long columns of figures had a habit of dancing all over the pages, and cutting up all kinds of antics, as he tried to foot up the long rows daily. Teddy often wished the inventor of book-keeping had all the balancing to do, or had invented some other method of earning one’s daily bread.
Teddy was out of sorts. The hot office had affected his nerves. He was disgusted with life, his own in particular; and in his haste to leave the office, with its never-ceasing grind, nearly ran over his little yellow dog, that, at the sound of her master’s footsteps, crept out of her hiding-place under the steps. Now this very yellow dog was another thorn in his flesh, for he utterly despised a yellow dog; but this particular specimen was not to be shaken off. She took up with Teddy, not Teddy with her.
“Yaller Dawg” was her name, and yellow she was, of the most sickening shade,—thin, mangy, sneaky, and hang-dog in appearance, yet she showed such faithfulness to Teddy that he could not heartlessly ill-use her. Teddy called her “Yaller Dawg,” and she never seemed to object, and would follow him back and forth daily, much to his annoyance at times.
One thing “Yaller Dawg” did refuse to do, and that was to follow her master into a saloon.
On this particular afternoon, Teddy felt out of humor; and “Yaller Dawg” appeared to share his mood; for she held her head down, dropped her tail, and slid around the corner, as if almost ashamed of Teddy’s company, yet too faithful to forsake him entirely.
Teddy approached a fruit-stand, where he paused before entering the “corner” to refresh (?) the inner man. This very corner was the cause of Teddy’s ill humor generally, also of a big hole in his week’s earnings. Strange indeed a man can run a weekly beer bill, when the other fellow won’t credit him for the necessaries of life. The Cuban in charge of the fruit-stand had on this occasion arranged his tempting fruits even more attractively than usual; and in the very center were great boxes of the most delicious strawberries, the first of the season. They were such juicy berries as only Florida can produce. Teddy felt thirsty, hot, tired; and the strong perfume of the berries came to his nostrils like odors of heavenly manna. Unthinkingly he reached over and picked up one of the finest berries in the basket. O the beauty of its rosy ripeness, the juicy richness of its perfume. Unconsciously he raised it to his mouth; but alas! the Cuban was too quick for him. Catching Teddy’s arm, he cried, “No, ye don’t; berry cost money. Ye can’t eat mine; buy ye own strawberry.”
Teddy dropped the fruit almost paralyzed with astonishment. The richness was just as tempting; but the man’s words awakened something in his inmost being that brought a peculiar feeling to his sleeping senses.
“How much?” he inquired.
“Forty cents,” replied the Cuban; “rich, ripe, fine berry; want to buy?”
Alas, poor Teddy! Forty cents was too much for him just then,—forty cents, so small a sum, yet twice as much as he then possessed; yet only that very morning he had paid out many times that amount at the “corner” for his last week’s beer bill. Instinctively he put his hand into his pocket, then, remembering its emptiness, shook his head. “Ye don’t like berry maybe?” inquired the Cuban. “Ye got strawberry enough on ye nose, ha! ha!” And he laughed sneeringly, evidently enjoying his little joke.
Poor Teddy, had it really come to that? Surely not; yet even the fruit-stand man could not but notice his frequent visits at the “corner,” and the blooming bud on his once aristocratic nose.
Teddy hurriedly left the fruit-stand, too angry even to notice the enticing music at the “corner,” or to stop for his usual beer. On he rushed until he reached the river, where, utterly overcome, he sat down on the bridge. “Yaller Dawg” crept along too, as if in sympathy with her master, yet half ashamed to approach too near, and finally curled herself up in a mossy nook near the bending oaks.
Teddy felt insulted that even a common uneducated Cuban should sneer at him. He wondered if all the Cuban said could be true. Was his nose really and truly assuming a strawberry appearance? He bent down thoughtfully to catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror-like waters beneath. Alas! it was only too evident. He saw reflected not only a strawberry tint, but a full-fledged, blooming berry, and a very seedy strawberry at that. Heartily disgusted at the vision, he hastily raised his eyes. Slowly the great truth began to dawn upon him. He slipped his fingers into his pockets, and began pulling out the varied contents,—shoe strings, horn-buttons, one brass buckle, two nickels, nine pennies, a bit of tobacco, and the receipted bill for last week’s beer,—not a very inviting array, to be sure, not much to show for a man earning a fair salary. “Thank goodness,” whispered Teddy, “the beer bill is paid. It is bad enough to have a beer bill, but worse if it is not paid. It’s a bad bill at best,—good, honest, hard-earned dollars gone to enrich the other fellow. I’ll bet he buys strawberries, and I am the victim. It’s as plain as the strawberry on my nose that with these dollars, I too could buy strawberries.”
Was he to blame? Was it the fault of the saloon-keeper? Was it the crime of the government, or what? It was not often that Teddy brought himself to task in this manner. Manlike, he considered himself fully able to row his own boat, free to obey the impulses of his own heart. To-day the world appeared different; life took on another aspect; the usual events seemed changed. Yes, Teddy was surely degenerating, and he was waking up to the fact.
There were others, he thought,—others who had sunk much lower in the mire than he; others who wore shabbier clothes, who had lost homes through drink, who abused their wives and children, and at last sank into the gutter, perhaps to fill a dishonored pauper’s grave. What was the cause? Was it not beer, rum, whisky, cards, tobacco, evil associations and environments? Nothing could be plainer. He had not fallen beyond recall yet. Thanks to the strawberry man, he saw the road that he was traveling. He thought of home, wife, and babies. As yet they had shelter, food, and clothing, perhaps not the best, but enough; but would it continue if he imbibed the poison? Thought came with lightning rapidity; reminiscences crowded upon him. There were Brown and Jones, both boyhood chums, gone to the dogs in a really disgraceful way; and all on account of drink. And there were Judge Gray and Colonel White, other schoolmates, now leaders of the best society in town. Why?—Surely because they shunned the beer-gardens.
Teddy saw that the ruby cup was but a snare leading down to everlasting woe and destruction, bringing sorrow, suffering, hard labor, and every kind of ill, and finally disgrace. Surely Teddy was just wise enough to envy those who were making a success of life, and to make a strong resolution to escape from the clanking endless chain of drink which was threatening to wind its deadly links around his future, and drag him to eternal despair and degradation. Teddy was no fool. Now was the time to stop—to-day; to-morrow would be too late.
The question came home to Teddy. Why do men who call themselves honest vote to license the making of drunkards, the opening of rumshops, where poison is sold which undermines the very life of humanity; which breaks mother’s hearts, brings utter despair upon sisters, wives, and innocent babies, destroys happy homes, and wrecks the soul eternally? Why, after licensing so deadly an evil, provide for the arrest and punishment of the victim? Why open the trap, bait the hook, and entice through stained windows, mystic music, screened portals, and evil associations, then, at the expense of the country, operate great prisons to punish and confine the tempted, wrecked humanity? Would it not save trouble, money, heartaches, and hangings to prohibit the manufacture of this soul-polluting poison?
Careful inquiry shows that 97,000,000 gallons of spirits, 30,000,000 gallons of wine, and 1,220,000,000 gallons of malt liquors, are sold annually in this country,—a total of 347 millions of gallons of misery, crime, body-and-soul destruction poured down human throats every year. Think of it, Teddy, old fellow, seventeen gallons to each man, woman, and child in this broad land. Is it really “the land of the free and the home of the brave”?
Teddy smiled, as he said with decision, “No, sir, no more for me; not Teddy Smith’s name to add to the list of those who waste money, make blighted lives, blasted reputations, broken homes, and ruined characters.” Yes, he saw the wrong, saw the great dark precipice upon whose brink he tottered, but yet in time to evade its deepening chasm. No more beer, no more drink, no more roof-gardens, no more cards, and no more tobacco. It must be a clean sweep or nothing—no use of half-way, happy-go-lucky endeavors. It must be a stop, sure, sudden, and forever.
“Yaller Dawg,” he called, and “Yaller Dawg” lifted her ears and wagged her tail in recognition of her master’s voice. “Yaller Dawg, come here; see, old girl, smell this,” and Teddy placed before her the remnant of his pile of tobacco; but “Yaller Dawg” only sniffed, turned up her nose and dropped her tail in evident disgust, as much as to say, “Even a yellow dog has dog sense.”
“Ah, miss, you don’t like my tobacco; more brute reason than your master. Well, here goes;” and Teddy threw the poisoning weed far out into the dark waters of the rushing torrent, where even the very fishes darted away in their mad endeavor to escape from the filthy stuff; but “Yaller Dawg” joyously wagged her mangy tail in approbation of the act.
Teddy was in earnest. He was on the right track at last, the path that leads to a better life. Strawberries, or rather the want of them, had been the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Teddy knew that in human strength man can do but little. He remembered his dear old mother’s prayer, and even here he felt that the Great Ruler above was the only one to give him the needed strength to resist the tempter. He pledged himself, with God’s help, to overcome evil with good. Somehow in the lifting up of that heartfelt, silent plea to his Maker, he felt better, stronger, braver, and happier, and he rose up to hasten homeward, whistling to his dog in11merry strains, all clouds of gloom fading away, and the rosy light of a glorious future before him.
*
A week passed. Again Teddy and “Yaller Dawg” came down the street and stopped at the fruit-stand. The Cuban thought he knew his customer, but he didn’t. Teddy was not a looker-on this time; the jingle of silver in his pocket bespoke his ability to pay for what he wanted. Again the delicious odor of the strawberries was wafted on the air, again Teddy pointed to the tempting boxes and inquired, “How much?”
“Forty-five cents,” replied the man; “berry gone up; cool spell; berry no ripen; berry scarce.”
“Never mind,” Teddy said; “give me two of your finest baskets. They come in nicely when one intends to celebrate. We are going to eat strawberries with powdered sugar and whipped cream at our house for breakfast to-morrow.”
The man only grunted out a reply; nevertheless he quickly tied up the berries, and handed them to Teddy, who hurried homeward, not even looking in at the sound of music that was wafted out on the evening air from the saloon at the corner. Suddenly a hand was placed upon his arm and a voice said thickly, “Say, Teddy, old pard, what’s the matter? You never come round here with the boys any more; got the croup up at your house?”
“O, no!” and Teddy smiled; “nothing so fatal as that; but I’ve got the dearest little wife in the world and five little tots who like strawberries. A man can’t buy beer and buy berries; I’ve found that out, and I’ve decided on the berries—see?” And Teddy laughed merrily, and passed on whistling “There’s no place like home,” to the utter astonishment of his fellow.
It is only too true, reader; berries and beer won’t mix, any more than oil and sulphur water; try it and see.
O the sweet kisses that met Teddy on his return home. O, heaven’s best gift to man—wife, the twin half of self! O, the innocent hands of little children, the joyous peeping into papa’s purchases, and the happy dreams of berries, rich, ripe, sweet, and juicy, that would grace the table at breakfast time. And after five pair of tired hands were quiet, the eyelids kissed down by fond parents, and five weary forms were tucked in safe for the night, Teddy drew his dear little wife down beside the pine-knot fire in their cozy sitting-room, and together they talked of what the future would bring to them since beer had been discarded, and reveled in visions of happiness yet to come into their lives and those of their children.
*
Several years have passed away. Smith is called “Teddy” only by a few. To the general public he is known as Honorable Theodore Smith, a title he well deserves, and he gives many a falling man a lesson in life, and aids humanity in the effort to do better.
His home is in a beautiful part of the city, surrounded with a tastily-kept lawn. Near by is the strawberry patch, the joy and pride of Mr. Smith’s heart. Many a basket of his rich, juicy berries is sent to the sick, the needy, and the aged. “Verily it is better to give than to receive.”
Mr. Smith is now a gentleman in the broadest sense, kind, loving, and generous. His wife has grown younger as the years have rolled by, the atmosphere of love bringing all happiness to her heart and life. Gay, laughing children scamper over the lawn, while under the tall oaks beside the babbling brook a festival is being held, and Theodore Smith’s ripest berries are being served with the richest of Jersey cream from his own dairy. The “colonel,” as he is called, is there, the very picture of health, happiness, and prosperity. No strawberry seedy nose is visible now, but the flush upon his smooth cheek is caused by romping with the children, as he is led here and there by the gay bands, who are bent upon making “papa” enjoy himself.
And “Yaller Dawg” has also improved. She is no longer sneaky and mangy and dirty yellow, but sleek, clean, fat, and a fine golden brown in color. The gospel in strawberries can elevate dogs as well as men.
Tampa, Fla.
MRS. LULA K. LEVISON.
PERPETUAL YOUTH.
By Oliver Wendell Holmes
'Tis yet high day, thy staff resume,
And fight fresh battles for the truth;
For what is age but youth's full bloom,
A riper, more transcendent youth?
A weight of gold
Is never old;
Streams broader grow as downward rolled.
At sixty-two life has begun;
At seventy-three begin once more:
Fly swifter as thou near'st the sun,
And brighter shine at eighty-four;
At ninety-five,
Should'st thou arrive,
Still wait on God, and work and thrive.
