Earlier text: BURDENS, A MEASURE OF STRENGTHTHE SPREAD OF SOCIALISM.
By Editor
A GREAT many well-meaning people are being deluded with the idea that the great cure-all for social evils and industrial complications is found in Socialism. There is no doubt that many Socialists have a clear view of current conditions. They can describe the evils that affect humanity, the diseases of the body politic, quite lucidly. Their diagnosis shows keen research, is socially scientific; but when it comes to the prescription, the medicine is about on a par with the disease. It is salvation by human means, and nothing more. It would save society as the only means of saving the individual—just the reverse of Christianity. On the surface it presents many beautiful theories, and these are deluding even Christian people who do not see to the end of its logic. As a brief warning to Christians who are being thus misled, we subjoin the following extract from a dissertation on the subject of "Socialism and Religion," by Bishop Matz:— As far back as 1848 the Socialists of France were flooding the country with a kind of catechism containing a condensed summary of its teachings, just as they are doing at present in Chicago and other cities of America; with this difference, however, that they are going about this business more systematically in this country, for they have started a standard system of Sunday-schools in the above-mentioned city of Chicago, which has become so popular as to require new establishments in various parts of the city. Among the queries given the children for study we find the following:—
"Is there a hell?"
"Answer.—The hell of the next world, taught by the religious to frighten the people and domineer over them, is pure fiction, but there is a hell in this world—the hell of popular misery."
Another query and answer:—
"Is there a heaven?"
"Answer.—The heaven of the next world, invented by the religious, is a pure hypothesis, created by the priests to make the people bear patiently the burden of their sufferings, but there is a paradise on earth; for one day humanity will enjoy the earth perfected by labor, and make it a veritable heaven. There is no other heaven." That this is Socialism, pure and simple, is evident from the positive party utterance of the socialistic congress of Gand [Belgium], Sept. 17, 1877, which was received with frantic applause. Even this short extract ought to be enough to set Christians to thinking a little before adopting Socialism as a remedy for human ills. IGNORING THEIR OWN RESOLUTION.
By Editor
A RESOLUTION of the National Reform Conference, held in New Concord, Ohio, a few weeks ago, reads in part as follows:— That in all reform work we will ever bear in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme Reformer, and that His church is, under Him, commissioned to regenerate and reform the world. It would be a grand thing if the National Reformers would just bear that in mind. But, instead, they have assumed that the National Reform Association "is, under Him, commissioned to regenerate and reform the world." And the association, in such assumed capacity, has ignored the methods employed by Him, under whom they profess to work. Christ operated by the Spirit, through the Word of God, and never once appealed to the civil law or to human magistrates or human legislators. He gave to His successors in the work the Word of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit, that they might be guided in its use; and the church of the first century made no effort at reform through the application of civil law. That pagan idea crept in later, and was fully recognized when Constantine adopted nominal Christianity as the State religion. The scheme grew apace until it developed the Papacy, and then—the Dark Ages, with all that the term implies. But the modern National Reformers seem to think they can work the scheme to better advantage. But in the endeavor to regenerate and reform the world in that way, they are not working under the leadership of Jesus Christ. A Great Religious Assembly
By Editor
The world is aware that the greatest financiers in this country, that is, those whose names are connected with the largest sums of money and the largest corporations, have been exposed as criminally dishonest, and their financial methods are now notoriously fraudulent. Yet one of the great dailies, apparently without fear of contradiction, openly says:— It does seem infamous, it does seem shameful, it is certainly pitiful, that in all probability nothing can or will be done to bring these men to book. They will still continue to be leaders of high finance, they will still continue to be the foremost figures in fashionable churches, they will still continue to be held up as models for young men to follow, and all because there exists some terrible canker in our national life that has destroyed the vigor of our hatred of dishonesty and sharp practise, provided the gains are sufficiently immense.
However, in spite of all the developments of financial and political corruption, and the growing worldliness in church-life, many of the preachers of "smooth things" are still telling the people that "the world is growing better." A Great Religious Assembly.
The Methodist General Conference, which meets but once in four years, is to convene in May next, at Los Angeles, Cal. It is announced that every Methodist Church in the world is expected to have a representative there. The business agents of the convention estimate that about thirty thousand persons will visit Los Angeles at that time on account of this convocation. Extensive preparations are being made for the entertainment of the delegates, and for the musical features of the conference. In addition to the routine work of the convention, a large number of distinguished speakers have been invited to address the assemblage. Rome is continually setting herself above God in one way or another. It is not only in thinking to change times and the law, or in setting up a Sabbath in opposition to the Sabbath of the Lord, or in assuming to forgive sins and to dispense indulgences, or in declaring the infallibility of the pope; it crops out on every side. A recent incident in that line is told in a press item from Madrid, Spain. Cardinal Herrero of that city recently died, and in his will there is a provision for $10,000 to the first Spanish general who shall land on territory of the United States with an army sufficiently strong to avenge the defeats of Spain in Cuba and the Philippines. Laying aside the absurdity of the proposition, there is in it the spirit of revenge that illy becomes a "prince of the church," one who claims to be a disciple of Him who says, "Resist not evil." "Avenge not yourselves." One who assumes to avenge wrongs, steps above God, who has declared, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." "BY THE WILD BEASTS OF THE EARTH."
ONE of the four destructive agencies which prey upon the people as predicted in both Old and New Testaments is "the wild beasts of the earth." In Eze. 14:21, God names as the "four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beasts, and the pestilence;" and to John is revealed as scourges under the fourth seal and onward, "to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death [margin, "pestilence,"], and by the wild beasts of the earth." The only reason why these should not be taken literally is the query which might rise as to the last; the number of people slain by wild beasts seems small. But a note in the New York Medical Record of December 12, 1903, presents the following:— Victims of the Jungle.—It is noted in The Times of London that in 1901 more human beings were killed by wild animals than in any year since 1875 except one, and reached a total of 3,651, while last year it was 2,836; and the number of deaths from snake bite was 23,166. Tigers killed 1,046 persons, of whom 544 perished in Bengal, 65 being in a single district. This was due to the depredations of a man-eater, for the destruction of which a special reward was offered without avail. In another district, where 43 persons were killed, most of them fell victims also to a man-eater. Wolves slew 377 persons. Eleven thousand one hundred and thirty deaths took place in Bengal alone from snake-bite, 3,258 of these being in the Patna division, while 5,110 deaths took place in the United Provinces; 80,796 cattle (an increase on the previous year) were killed by wild animals last year, and 9,019 by snakes. Tigers killed 30,555 of these; leopards, 38,211; and wolves and hyenas most of the remainder. Add to this record the many deaths known and unknown resulting from ptomain poisoning and diseases incident to flesh-eating diet. "Evil beasts" is one of death's most effective agents. MOST, if not all, the evils of this world are instigated by suggestion. So the devil began with our first parents, and he has used the same thing mightily ever since. Suggestion made and received is at the basis of Hypnotism. The Farm Stock and Home tells how it works in patent medicine nostrums:— How Nostrum Vendors Work.
In a recent periodical devoted to advertising and its preparation there was an article on medical advertising, from which the following is quoted:— "In writing medical advertising, make a forceful appeal to your prospective customers along three lines. "1. Convince him that he has the disease. "2. Convince him that you have the remedy. "3. Convince him that it is a bargain." The first suggestion is the whole secret of the patent medicine graft. They rely on the power of suggestion to convince an ailing individual that he has the symptoms described. That point once attained and correspondence opened, it is much more than an even chance that an order will be drawn from the invalid. A plausible scheme is now being worked by medicine vendors by offering to refund the purchase price if the medicine does not affect a cure. This is nearly always successful in getting the order, but the purchaser never gets any money back if the medicine fails to work; all requests for refund are ignored, and, the amount being too small to sue, the victim finally decides to save postage on further letters, and charges his loss to experience. Changing Attitudes.—It has been noticeable for a score of years that as Republicanism struggles to the front in some of the European States, the more it wanes in the United States of America. A Rome despatch of the 16th inst. says: "Italy continues greatly to worry the pope. With the sanction of the government, many provinces are abolishing all religious teaching from the public schools." The teaching of religion by the State is an out-and-out papal policy, and wherever it is in vogue it came from that source originally. So, in the United States, those who advocate State-taught religion—whether they be Roman Catholics or National Reformers—are advocating Roman policy. No State can teach religion without first defining the religion, and prescribing the religious curriculum, and, when that is done, we have a virtual union of Church and State. It is beyond a doubt that, when this government carries out the National Reform scheme of teaching religion, Rome will have a strong voice in the question of religious text-books. Were it not for the prophecies, and the history of the National Reform movement in fulfillment thereof, it would be impossible to understand how professed Protestants could be advocating a Roman principle in the United States, while the governments of Italy and France—two extreme Catholic countries—are endeavoring to throw it off, even in the face of the pope's well-known sentiments. Sunday Laws and God’s Law
By Editor
A circular of the National Reform Association says: "We are advocating a constitutional amendment declaring the law of God to be the standard of legislation on the family relation." As the association is constantly agitating legislation on the Sabbath question, we suggest that, for consistency's sake, the law of God be made the basis of that legislation also. At present, and for years in the past, they have been urging the legal enforcement of a day which the law of God never has recognized as the Sabbath. There is but one way to legislate on the Sabbath question, on the basis of the law of God, and that is (1) repeal all Sunday laws, and then (2) let the Sabbath and the Sabbath law rest as God established them. All human legislation regarding the Sabbath is an assumption that mortal man is wiser than God. To set up other reasons for the observance of the Sabbath than God has assigned; to appoint another day than the day He has sanctified; to designate other hours for the day than he has designated; to prescribe other penalties for Sabbath-breaking than those prescribed in the Word of God; to delegate human executors of the moral law (and the first four commands are moral only) is to assume a prerogative above that of God. It is blasphemy. The Death Trust and War Preparations
The death trust is the name given by the Illinois Medical Association to a combination that has increased the price of anti-toxin one hundred per cent. The medical society declares that the anti-toxin trust is nothing more nor less than a traffic in human life. Three concerns which manufacture and practically control the anti-toxin supply of almost the entire country have seen fit arbitrarily to advance the price of their product to the extent above stated. This commodity is now used extensively in the treatment of diphtheria, and there is no reason to suppose that it had been produced in the past at a loss. The increase now is but another illustration of commercial greed, irrespective of the consequences to those concerned; and whether the remedy does all that is claimed for it or not, the action of its producers has been rightly termed by the medical society a "death trust." Japan and Russia continue to negotiate over their differences in Manchuria and Korea, and at the same time both continue preparations for war. The tone of the press has been a little more hopeful during the past week in view of the fact that the czar is declared to be personally opposed to war. However, Japan feels that her very existence is at stake because of the continual aggressive moves of Russia, and that she might as well go to war now as in the future. She feels that Russia is growing stronger every month in the East, and that some day the deadly contest must come. It is reported that Russia has made some concessions to the Japanese demands; but that Japan is not satisfied. Turkey is again concentrating troops near the Bulgarian frontier. There have been declarations on the part of Macedonian sympathizers that the trouble would be resumed in the spring, and for this reason Turkey is keeping her troops in readiness for the expected outbreak. She also fears that Bulgaria may assist the insurgents, as that country has been advising Turkey that she did not regard Turkey's attempts to enforce better conditions in the Balkans as being carried on in good faith. A Turkish powder magazine in the Kumanova district has been blown up, and thirty Turkish troops were killed. It is reported that this was the work of Bulgarians. A new device for communication between vessels at sea, for the purpose of avoiding collisions, has recently been perfected by Prof. Elisha Gray. A telephone is located in the wheelhouse, with a receiver on each side of the ship. It has been pronounced a complete success by those who have witnessed the tests. By its use the tolling of a bell can be distinctly heard for several miles under the sea, and the direction from which the sound comes is also indicated. The British expedition in Thibet is now in a portion of the country that has never been explored. It finds great difficulty in transporting its supplies, and the cold is intense. The natives are said to be friendly, but the officials of Thibet are strongly opposed to the progress of the expedition, and it is understood that Russia is influencing them to bar its progress. There have been some preparations for armed resistance. Pneumonia is epidemic in New York City. In the past week 272 deaths from that disease were reported. During the same time 85 deaths from typhoid were reported from Butler, Pa. Pittsburg had 496 cases in 26 days. Other large eastern cities are suffering from these diseases also. Spain has decided to reorganize her navy. Her new naval program provides for the immediate construction of four cruisers and forty auxiliary vessels, and the reorganization of the entire service. Altogether about $66,000,000 is involved, of which $16,000,000 will be devoted to arsenals. Theater-goers are manifesting much nervousness as a result of the recent terrible catastrophe in the Iroquois Theater in Chicago. Theatrical attendance is falling off considerably, and many theatrical companies on the road are disbanding, leaving a large portion of their companies stranded. German posts in German Southwest Africa are being hard pressed by the warriors of a large tribe. The German forces are declared to be inadequate, and there is much apprehension over the situation. The Colombians are still threatening to give battle to Panama, and the forces of the new republic are said to be prepared for resistance. THE TRUE STANDARD.
By Josephine Weatherly
"WELL, I declare! I don't see why she need to have come into our class to spoil our good times!" exclaimed Nellie Brant irritably, with an especial emphasis upon the word, "she." "Here we were, the 'Congenial Dozen,' used to each other's ways and satisfied with each other's company, and now she must make the unlucky thirteenth and spoil it all. I wonder who she is, anyway!" "My papa says they are from the city," replied Julia Trenton, "and that they have come here to live on account of the mother's poor health. In fact, I believe he said there were but the two in the family, the invalid mother and this girl, besides an old colored 'mammy,' who, I imagine, is cook, chambermaid, and nurse combined; for I don't suppose 'my lady' turns her hand to anything!" "No, indeed, she doesn't, judging from her white, delicate fingers," broke in May Jones. "Why, last Sunday when I sat next to her in church and offered her part of the book to sing from, I was positively ashamed of my coarse, red hands next to her white ones. But that is what it means to be the oldest girl of a large family and have, besides the housework, the yard and barn chores to look after. I wish—wish"—and Mary broke off abruptly with a deep sigh that was almost a sob. "Well, I, for one, don't propose to pay any attention to this stuck-up city girl, Miss Lucille Haskins," declared Jennie Long. "She can't snub me, even if she does come from a big city and wear tailor-made gowns, and fancy Gibson waists, and sport rings upon dainty fingers; while my best garment is a twenty-cent lawn, and my only ring mama's wedding ring that got too small for her, for like every one else in this village, my mother has to work, and that means rough hands and big knuckles." "Girls, I don't believe Lucille means to be stuck-up," came in a kindly tone from little Lucy Stone. "I think she has a very sweet face and gentle manners; and as for her nice clothes—well I think none of us would object to wearing such if we could afford it. I am sure we are misjudging her." "There you go, Lucy Stone; always making excuses for people and seeing beauty where none exists! I actually believe you'd be willing to do the Sir Walter Raleigh act and spread your best Sunday-go-to-meetin' cloak down in the street for this newcomer to walk over, lest she soil her dainty patent-leathers!" "Now, Jennie Long, for shame," broke in Julia Trenton, who already repented, in her secret heart, at her share in this conversation. "You know as well as I do that there is nothing toadyish about Lucy. She is just a living embodiment of that charity that 'thinketh no evil.'" "Now, what did I tell you girls," said Nellie Brant, "that this girl being the thirteenth is going to prove unlucky for our class; for here we are about to have a quarrel on her account. O dear, O dear, why did she ever come here to disturb 'the even tenor of our way,' as the poet puts it." The foregoing conversation took place one Friday afternoon as the girls of the sixth grade in the village school were on their way home. It will be seen that they were very much excited over the advent of this girl from the city, who, as they said, had broken into their erstwhile congenial circle. Lucille Haskins burst into the sitting-room where her semi-invalid mother was lying on the couch, with a toss of her pretty curls and a flash of her bright eyes that were wholly foreign to her; insomuch that her mother exclaimed in surprise, "Why, Lucille Haskins! What is the matter with you?" "Matter enough," said Lucille, beginning to cry. "I'm never going—back to that—school again. Here—I've been going in the class over two weeks—and not one of the girls—has even spoken to me beyond a stiff 'how-d'ye-do.' They let me sit at the end of the recitation bench—and when school is out—they all lock arms and go laughing and whispering. And from the way they glance at me—I know that I am the subject under discussion. O dear—I can't stand it any longer—even if I never get any education!" "Well, well, dear. I am sorry," replied her mother. "But perhaps you have been to blame. Perhaps you have put on airs before these simple, kindly village girls; and yet that is not like my little daughter. Have you forgotten, dear, that I was born on the farm, and lived there until I was married?" "No, mama, I have not forgotten; neither have I put on airs. I tried to make friends with the girls, but from the very start they seemed to have taken a dislike to me. What ever shall I do? I am so lonesome, and do so long for girl company and girl friends," sobbed Lucille. "Well, let the matter drop for the present, dear, and go and help mammy get the tea ready. Her rheumatism is quite troublesome to-day," replied Mrs. Haskins gently. How the "Congenial Dozen" would have stared could they have seen that "stuck-up city girl" setting the tea-table, pumping the water, going down the cellar for butter and cream, and then after tea wiping the dishes. The next Wednesday morning the Long home was the scene of unusual activity. Mrs. Long was busy at the sewing machine upon a dress for Jennie that must be finished by nine o'clock, for Mr. Long was going to take Jennie to the city with him for a day's sight-seeing. Jennie was all excitement; for it was seldom that such a treat came into her busy, and as she called it, commonplace life. "Now, there is Lucille Haskins. She goes to the city once a week to take music lessons, besides having lived there all the fourteen years of her life. I suppose she'd call me a 'greenhorn' and a 'country-jake' for being so excited over this trip," mused Jennie, as she flew about to get herself ready. "But I don't care. I am not going to let the thought of what she might think spoil the day for me." The train did not leave the city until six o'clock, so that Jennie was thoroughly tired out with sight-seeing and was glad to lean her head against her11 father's shoulder on the way home. She was just about to take a little nap when the loud crying of a baby in the rear of the car aroused her. Indeed, it aroused and annoyed everybody, for the crying was kept up for about fifteen minutes. Several of the passengers offered the child candy and oranges, but to no avail. The poor mother was either too used to its spells, or too worn out to be able to do much to quiet it. The soiled dresses of the little family—for there were two other little children besides the baby—and their tired looks and empty lunch-basket showed that they must have been on the road for several days. The passengers were just about to resign themselves to the continued crying, when all of a sudden it stopped. Everybody, Jennie included, looked around, and this is what they saw: A young girl with bright eyes and pretty curls had taken the baby and holding it up against her dainty shirt-waist was patting it lovingly upon the back, while, like a sentinel on duty, she began marching up and down the aisle with it, wholly oblivious to the surprised, as well as admiring, glances cast upon her. "Well, I do declare!" whispered Jennie to herself. "Who would have believed it? To handle that dirty, rumpled-up baby, and in those lovely clothes, too. Why, I wouldn't do it, even with only this wash gingham on." When the porter called the station where Jennie lived, she again looked back toward the family group, and saw the baby asleep upon the lap of the likewise sleeping mother; while the young girl who had brought about this peaceful state of affairs was quietly gathering her bundles together preparatory to alighting. Again Jennie whispered to herself, "Who would have thought it!" The next day, after school, the "Congenial Dozen" were holding an animated conversation on the way home. "Now, girls, I saw it with my own eyes, or I'd never have believed it," Jennie was saying. "There she was with that lovely tan skirt and white shirt-waist, nursing a soiled, sticky, crying baby. The family looked wretchedly poor, too. Emigrants, I imagine, because the mother only shook her head at the various questions that people asked. Those who gave the child candy and fruit gave—gave—O, I hardly know how to tell it. They gave things that, while they cost money, were not the real things; while this girl gave—herself! I'm afraid I've not made myself plain; but I do hope you will understand. I'm sure you would have understood had you seen, as I did, the spirit of the act." "Yes, Jennie, we understand," replied gentle Lucy Stone, who took it upon herself to be spokesman, the rest being too surprised to be able to do more than stare at Jennie. "And I think," again resumed Jennie, "that the right thing for us to do is to go in a body and call on Lucille Haskins, and atone as far as possible for our unkind judgment and cold treatment." The girls now found their voices and cried: "O, we're not dressed good enough to go a-visiting—especially on her!" "Yes, we are," exclaimed Jennie. "Lucille has seen us in these clothes at school to-day; besides, now I know that she cares nothing for fine clothes, but just for people. So come along, girls. No time like the present for undoing the past." Lucille herself answered the door and cordially invited them in and introduced them to her mother, who immediately proceeded to make all feel at home by her tactful remarks and kindly manner. Not a word was said about the incident of the coach; but Lucille felt that for some reason or other the girls were differently disposed toward her than they had ever been before. "And to think," she whispered to herself that evening as she reviewed the pleasant afternoon she had spent with the girls, "to think that I imagined they disliked me. Why, they were only backward at first." "And to think," said Nellie Brant, as the crowd wended their way homeward, "to think we thought she was stuck-up!" Go FORTH to the battle of life, my boy,
Go while it is called to-day;
For the years go out, and the years come in,
Regardless of those who may lose or win;
Of those who may work or play. There's a place for you in the ranks, my boy,
And duty, too, assigned,
Step into the front with a cheerful face,
Be quick, or another may take your place,
And you may be left behind. There is work to be done by the way, my boy,
That you never can tread again—
Work for the loftiest, lowliest men—
Work for the plow, plane, spindle, and pen—
Work for the hands and the brain. Temptation will wait by the way, my boy,
Temptations without and within;
And spirits of evil, with robes as fair
As those which the angels in heaven wear,
Will lure you to deadly sin. Then put on the armor of God, my boy,
In the beautiful days of youth;
Put on the helmet and breastplate and shield,
And the sword the feeblest hand may wield
In the cause of right and truth. And go to the battle of life, my boy,
With the peace of the Gospel shod,
And before high heaven do all you can
For the great reward and the good of man,
For the kingdom and crown of God.
—Selected. THERE is usually a period in every young man's life when his idea of having a good time means being away from home. He forgets what the father of the young man in this story from the New York Times took pains to have his son remember. The young man had to work till six o'clock, and had got in the habit of staying down-town to dinner and spending his evenings at the theater or in calling on friends. One afternoon his father came to him and asked him if he had any engagement for the evening. The young man had not. "Well, I'd like to have you go somewhere with me." The young man himself tells what happened. "All right," I said. "Where shall I meet you?" "He suggested the Columbia Hotel at half-past seven; and I was there, prepared for the theater and a lecture on late hours. He had combined the two on several previous occasions; but when he appeared, he said he wanted me to call with him on a lady. 'One I knew quite well when I was a young man,' he explained. "We went out and straight for home. 'She is staying at our house,' he said. "I thought it strange that he should have made the appointment for the Columbia under those circumstances, but I said nothing. "Well, we went in, and I was introduced with all due formality to my mother and my sister. "The situation struck me as funny, and I started to laugh, but the laugh died away. None of the three even smiled. My mother and sister shook hands with me, and my mother said she remembered me as a boy, but hadn't seen much of me lately. Then she invited me to be seated. "It wasn't a bit funny then, altho I can laugh over it now. I sat down, and she told me one or two anecdotes of my boyhood, at which we all laughed for a little. Then we four played games for awhile. When I finally retired, I was invited to call again. I went upstairs feeling pretty small, and doing a good deal of thinking." "And then?" asked his companion. "Then I made up my mind that my mother was an entertaining woman, and my sister a bright girl. "I'm going to call again. I enjoy their company and intend to cultivate their acquaintance."—Brotherhood Star. A NOTED infidel was once traveling in a car in which a minister was seated, with whom he commenced an argument in a loud tone so as to be heard by the other passengers, among whom was a blind man who listened attentively. Turning suddenly to him the infidel said:— "Do you, sir, believe in a God who has made this beautiful earth and the sun to shine upon it, and who has adorned the heavens with myriads of stars, and yet, without any offense on your part, has deprived you forever of the power of beholding them?" "I am surprised, my dear sir," replied the man, "that you should ask me such a question. I believe in the existence of a God as firmly as I do in my own, and I could doubt the one as easily as the other. There is one thing which strikes me as peculiar in what you have said. When you reason of God you don't seem to be governed by the same principles as when reasoning about men and the common affairs of every-day life." The infidel denied the inference, and the blind man continued: "Suppose, sir, on reaching your home, and on entering your room, you find a lighted lamp upon the table, what would be your conclusion?". "Why," answered the infidel, with one of his accustomed stock-in-trade sneers, "I should conclude that some one placed it there." "Well, then," said the blind man, "when you look into the heavens and see what I can not, those innumerable lights of which you have spoken, why do you not come to the same conclusion—that some intelligent being placed them there?" The discomfited skeptic declined to talk any more on the subject, but it was evident to the passengers that he felt thoroughly humbled and uncomfortable. WHY HIS MARRIAGE WAS A FAILURE.
By Orison Swett Marden
[Orison Swett Marden, in the October Success.] He regarded children as a nuisance.
He did all his courting before marriage.
He never talked over his affairs with his wife.
He never had time to go anywhere with his wife.
He doled out money to his wife as if to a beggar.
He looked down upon his wife as an inferior being.
He never took time to get acquainted with his family.
He thought of his wife only for what she could bring to him.
He never dreamed there were two sides to marriage.
He never dreamed that a wife needs praise or compliments.
He had one set of manners for home and another for society.
He paid no attention to his personal appearance after marriage.
He married an ideal, and was disappointed to find it had flaws.
He thought his wife should spend all her time doing housework. He treated his wife as he would not have dared to treat another woman.
He never dreamed that his wife needed a vacation, recreation, or change.
He never made concessions to his wife's judgment, even in unimportant matters.
He thought the marriage vow had made him his wife's master, instead of her partner.
He took all the little attentions lavished on him by his wife as his by "divine right," and not as favors.
He always carried his business troubles home with him, instead of locking them in his store or office when he closed. "HE liveth long who liveth well.
All other life is short and vain;
He liveth longest who can tell
Of living most for heavenly gain.
"He liveth long who liveth well,
All else is being flung away;
He liveth longest who can tell
Of true things truly done each day." A THOUGHT FOR MOTHERS.
By Mary F. Butts
HERE and there the success of eminent women in literature, art, charity, the story of the lives of what might be called great mothers, who trained from infancy the valuable workers of the world, brings to our mind anew the conviction that no hand is so potent as the one that "rocks the cradle." Often my thoughts go back of the eloquent word, the noble deed, to the old hearthstones, to the mothers waiting, trusting, working, enduring amid discouragements, difficulties, and perhaps hardships. They could see but the one step directly before them, the duty of each moment, and with earnest faith in the divine help took that step, fulfilled that duty, pressing on through the hours, the days, the years, doing their utmost to make the home a place from which their children should go forth as noble, self-forgetful, loving workers in the great hive of humanity. To them the issue was unknown; from their eyes was hidden what we see,—the children for whom they gave their lives changed to faithful soldiers in the army of the Lord. Tired, discouraged mother, go on hopefully, bravely, bringing up children for the great world's work. From among your little brood may go forth one who will lead, lift, encourage. Your son, or your son's son, or one still farther down the line, may be the color-bearer in some great cause. Your daughter, or your daughter's daughter, may help to ennoble womanhood forever, may pour into thousands of hearts the sacred wine of enthusiasm for the weak and the suffering. Go on making the bread, sewing the seam, teaching the lesson, nursing, guiding, developing the young life. Do not forget that in the divine heart is fullness of strength for the mother's heart, strength sorely needed, strength that can not be neglected without loss, failure, sorrow. Believe in God; believe in your children as the children of God; reverence yourself as one to whom has been committed a great charge; reverence your little ones as the heirs of a king, princes by right of their sonship to the King and Lord of all.—Mary F. Butts. Worry is a disease, so is impatience; but they are curable. The same thing that produces rheumatism or gout, produces worry or impatience. They are due to irritants circulating in the blood. If the poisons formed by improper combinations of food are deposited in the joints, gout is produced, or if deposited in the muscle sheath, they produce rheumatism, or if in the brain, in contact with the sensitive brain cells, they produce depression. The thing to do is to correct the habits of eating and drinking, and thus get rid of the poisons, and worry and impatience will then disappear. The Bible says, "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience," etc. It then adds, "If you do these things, ye shall never fail." So many of us wish to get rid of impatience or worry without gaining knowledge, without temperance. The Creator points out the causes of worry and impatience, and then calls upon us to gain knowledge. To our knowledge we are to add temperance, and then the other step—patience, will not be very difficult. As long as we try to climb up some other way, we shall be recognized as a thief and a robber. We will not meet with success. But when we enter by the right way, our efforts will be crowned with success. In the endeavor to get rid of rheumatism we recognize that there are certain things we have to do. We go about the thing in an intelligent manner. We must go about the worry disease in the same manner. Most of our ills, whether physical or mental, can be traced to some physical cause. God's ways are ways of pleasantness, and when we come in harmony with the Creator and His laws, we will find that it will not be long before our health shall spring forth speedily, and worrying will cease. It was the mixed multitude who first refused the food prepared by angel hands that was constantly worrying and complaining. Why should we fear or worry? God lives, and works everything after the counsel of His own will and for our good. David said, "Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, and tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." David also says, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." "Before I was afflicted I went astray." God allows afflictions to come to warn us. When we are on the wrong track, it is a mercy to have a red light held up. Perfect health depends upon perfect knowledge, and none of us have perfect knowledge; but we can say we are striving after it; and the one who does that is a perfect man. "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." We can throw aside a great deal of worry by a little effort. We may also cultivate worry and a feeling of depression. Some people seem really to enjoy their poor health. They talk about it all the time. In this way they dig about, and cultivate this useless and harmful plant. This we should not do. We must talk courage, and faith, and good cheer, "against hope believe in hope," and make a desperate effort to put down every dark feeling. When a little depressed, begin to sing with the little birds. After all, there are many-things to be thankful for. The rosebush is not all thorns. Let us admire the roses which are in the midst of the thorns. "Forget not all His benefits." "Is thy cruse of comfort failing?
Rise, and share it with another;
And, through all the years of famine,
It shall serve thee and thy brother." "Give, and it shall be given unto you." This is a divine law. As we give, God imparts. That is the way to receive. Giving is living; denying is dying. If we would each make up our minds to create sunshine for those about us, it would surprise many a poor invalid how much he would gain in health.—Australasian Good Health.