A Russian political exile who is stationed in the district of Tobolsk, Siberia, writes thus of the sufferings of this unfortunate class of prisoners:—
The condition of the exiles is indeed horrible. The great majority of them are peasants and workmen, and the government allows them only one ruble and fifty kopeks (seventy-five cents) a month for maintenance (the nobles receive six rubles a month), or five kopeks a day (two and a half cents). In the majority of cases they have not money enough even for a room, and there is absolutely no work in prospect. From all villages where political exiles are stationed there come cries against the hunger and horrible need which reign there. There have been petitions from exiles asking to be put again into prison to avoid death from starvation.
No other animal on the face of the earth can be so cruel as man. Sin is responsible for this. By it man, made in the image of God, is transformed into a heartless demon. Such treatment as is here described is what fills the ranks of socialism and anarchy.
Note and Comment
In his recent book entitled “The Prophets and the Promise,” Prof. W. J. Beecher, of Auburn Theological Seminary, defines a prophet as “a citizen with a message.” Professor Beecher does not believe in the gift of the spirit of prophecy in the church to-day, but his definition of a prophet justifies the claim that one who has a message from God to bear to the people is a prophet.
Russia’s Revolutionary Struggle
It is difficult for us at this distance to realize the real situation in Russia. It is declared that “with the dissolution of the Douma the Russian revolutionary struggle enters upon its second phase—that of irrepressible conflict.” Some idea of the disturbed condition of affairs may be obtained from the following paragraph taken from an editorial in the Outlook:—
The records of the Russian ministry of the interior show that there were eighteen thousand political offenders in provincial prisons on the day when the Douma assembled, and that in the first month thereafter nine hundred and ninety-seven were exiled, two hundred and twenty-three of them to Siberia. This is at the rate of twelve thousand exiles a year. In a speech in opposition to capital punishment, Representative Kuzmin Karavaiyef told the Douma, on the sixteenth of last May, that the government had put to death six hundred persons—mostly politicals—in the preceding five months. All these arrests, banishments, and executions took place after the czar issued his famous liberal manifesto of Oct. 30, 1905, guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and inviolability of personal rights. If the government found it necessary to imprison eighteen thousand persons, exile nine hundred and ninety-seven, and put six hundred to death, while preparations for a national assembly were in progress, or while that assembly was actually in session, we may imagine what its task will be when the people learn that the Douma has been forcibly dispersed, and that there is no longer any prospect of radical reform. The prisons of the empire will not be large enough to hold the active enemies of the czar, much less the millions who will give them encouragement and aid.
Just what the outcome of this terrible condition of affairs will be we do not know, but we do know that there are abundant evidences in all parts of the world that we have come to the perilous times which indicate that the end of all things is at hand, and that the coming of the Lord is near. More than one nation will be in distress before all these things are accomplished.
I Shall Not Pass This Way Again
I SHALL not pass this way again!
The thought is full of sorrow;
The good I ought to do to-day
I may not do to-morrow.
If I this moment shall withhold
The help I might be giving,
Some soul may die, and I shall lose
The sweetest joy of living.
Only the present hour is mine —
I may not have another
In which to speak a kindly word,
Or help a fallen brother.
The path of life leads straight ahead;
I can retrace it never;
The daily record which I make
Will stand unchanged forever.
To cheer and comfort other souls,
And make their pathways brighter;
To lift the load from other hearts,
And make their burdens lighter,
This is the work we have to do —
It must not be neglected,
That we improve each passing hour,
Is of us all expected.
I shall not pass this way again!
O! then with high endeavor
May I my life and service give
To Him who reigns forever.
Then will the failures of the past
No longer bring me sadness,
And his approving smile will fill
My heart with joy and gladness.
— Mission Bulletin.
Teachers as Examples of Christian Integrity
By Ellen G. White
MRS. E. G. WHITE
I HAVE a message for those standing at the head of our educational institutions. I am instructed to call the attention of every one occupying a position of responsibility, to the divine law as the basis of all right conduct. I am to begin by calling attention to the law given in Eden, and to the reward of obedience and the penalty of disobedience.
In consequence of Adam's transgression, sin was introduced into the fair world that God had created, and men and women became more and still more bold in disobeying his law. The Lord looked down upon the impenitent world, and decided that he must give transgressors an exhibition of his power. He caused Noah to know his purpose, and instructed him to warn the people while building an ark in which the obedient could find shelter until God's indignation was overpast. For one hundred and twenty years Noah proclaimed the message of warning to the antediluvian world; but only a few repented. Some of the carpenters he employed in building the ark, believed the message, but died before the flood; others of Noah's converts backslided. The righteous on the earth were but few, and only eight lived to enter the ark. These were Noah and his family.
The rebellious race was swept away by the flood. Death was their portion. By the fulfilment of the prophetic warning that all who would not keep the commandments of heaven should drink the waters of the flood, the truth of God's word was exemplified.
After the flood the people once more increased on the earth, and wickedness also increased. Idolatry became well-nigh universal, and the Lord finally left the hardened transgressors to follow their evil ways, while he chose Abraham, of the line of Shem, and made him the keeper of his law for future generations. To him the message came, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee.” And by faith Abraham obeyed. “He went out, not knowing whither he went.”
Abraham's seed multiplied, and at length Jacob and his sons and their families went down into Egypt. Here they and their descendants sojourned for many years, till at last the Lord called them out, to lead them into the land of Canaan. It was his purpose to make of this nation of slaves a people who would reveal his character to the idolatrous nations of the world. Had they been obedient to his word, they would soon have entered the promised land. But they were disobedient and rebellious, and for forty years they journeyed in the wilderness. Only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan.
It was during the wilderness wandering of the Israelites that God gave them his law. He led them to Sinai, and there, amid scenes of awful grandeur, proclaimed the ten commandments.
We may with profit study the record of the preparation made by the congregation of Israel for the hearing of the law. “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.”
Who, then, is to be regarded as the Ruler of the nations?— The Lord God Omnipotent. All kings, all rulers, all nations, are his, under his rule and government.
“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.”
What was the response of the congregation , numbering more than a million people?
“And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.”
Thus the children of Israel were denominated as a special people. By a most solemn covenant they were pledged to be true to God.
Then the people were bidden to prepare themselves to hear the law. On the morning of the third day the voice of God was heard. Speaking out of the thick darkness that enshrouded him, as he stood upon the mount, surrounded by a retinue of angels, the Lord made known his law.
God accompanied the proclamation of his law with manifestations of his power and glory, that his people might be impressed with a profound veneration for the Author of the law, the Creator of heaven and earth. He would also show to all men the sacredness, the importance, and the permanence of his law.
The people of Israel were overwhelmed with terror. They shrank away from the mountain in fear and awe. The multitude cried out to Moses, “Speak thou with us, but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
The minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery, were not prepared to appreciate fully the far-reaching principles of God's ten precepts. That the obligations of the decalogue might be more fully understood and enforced, additional precepts were given, illustrating and applying the precepts of the ten commandments. Unlike the decalogue, these were delivered privately to Moses, who was to communicate them to the people.
Upon descending from the mountain, Moses “came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.”
Thus by a most solemn service the children of Israel were once more set apart as a peculiar people. The sprinkling of the blood represented the shedding of the blood of Jesus, by which human beings are cleansed from sin.
Once more the Lord has special words to speak to his people. In the thirty-first chapter of Exodus we read: —9“The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. . . . Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communicating with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”
Many other scriptures on the sacredness of God's law have been presented before me. Scene after scene, reaching down to the present time, passed before me. The word spoken by God to Israel was verified. The people disobeyed, and only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan. The rest died in the wilderness. Will not the Lord to-day vindicate his word if the leaders of his people depart from his commandments?
(To be concluded)
The New Birth
By John Norton Loughborough
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
“Is the new birth at conversion, or at the resurrection?” is a question that has been propounded to me.
It may seem strange, in view of the interesting Sabbath-school lessons of last quarter on this subject, that such a query should be raised. Still there have been, and still there are, people who teach that the new birth is not at conversion, but at the resurrection of the just.
In the year 1851, while I was with the First-day Adventists, some of the ministers were teaching this very doctrine. Their principal proof-text, and really their starting-point, for that peculiar doctrine, is found in Isa. 66:8, which reads: “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” As the Lord’s coming is mentioned in verses 5 and 15 they claimed that this birth of a nation in a day related to the resurrection of the righteous.
Even admitting that construction of the text, and that in that case the resurrection was compared to a birth from the earth, it does not follow that the new birth spoken of by our Saviour and his apostles was simply and only the final resurrection of the righteous from their graves.
Those advocating this doctrine claimed that the work of conversion was only the begetting of the believer, and as the assurance of the final reception of the reward depended on the faithful life of the consecrated one, so the final reckoning day must decide whether he should be truly born, or whether in his case it was only an abortion. With that idea in mind they construed the words of Christ to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God,” as if he had said, “Except you have part in the first resurrection, you can not see the kingdom of God.”
To maintain the idea that conversion was only a begetting, and not the new birth, they so construed the following texts: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” James 1:18. “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” 1 Cor. 4:15. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3. “Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1.
There is no question that these texts refer to the conviction of the sinner, and the implantation in the heart, by the Holy Spirit, of the “word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1:23. But that work is spoken of also as a birth: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”
If the new birth spoken of by Christ to Nicodemus simply referred to the resurrection, it would seem strange that he, being a Pharisee, whose prominent characteristic was faith in the resurrection, should wonder “how” these things could be. The very answer of Nicodemus to Christ shows that he understood Christ to refer to a new life that was to be entered upon here in this world, else why should he make reference to the natural birth?
Let us consider a few of the texts that mention the new birth as applicable to the present state: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” 1 John 5:1. Paul speaks thus of himself: “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” 1 Cor. 15:8. Speaking further of his conversion, he says, “When it pleased God, . . . to reveal his Son in me.” Gal. 1:15, 16. Of Christ’s dwelling in the heart by faith, he speaks on this wise: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Cor. 5:17. The margin of the Revised Version has for “new creature,” “a new creation.” The apostle said of the Galatians, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” Gal. 4:19. In the same chapter, speaking of Ishmael and Isaac, he says, “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” Verse 29.
The apostle Peter, speaking of those newly come to the faith, says, “As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2. The apostle John writes: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. In this same epistle he says, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” 1 John 5:18. Surely there will be no keeping from sin and from the wicked one in the resurrection state, when Satan and sin will be forever destroyed.
The same apostle declares, “If ye know that he [Christ] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” 1 John 2:29. Again, “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
It is in this world that the overcoming is accomplished. It is here that the good fight of faith is to be fought, and not after the resurrection. It is here that the Lord accomplishes for those who yield themselves to him that which he promised through the prophet Ezekiel: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze. 36:26, 27. Those who are thus filled with the Spirit of life divine from heaven, are born by the Spirit from above, and are spoken of as “born again.”
*Mountain View, Cal.
“How Art Thou Fallen From Heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the Morning!”
By R. A. Underwood
R. A. UNDERWOOD
THE exclamatory sentence at the head of this article is one of the scriptures which was written aforetime “for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Lucifer, one of the bright stars in heaven, posed as a reformer. He set up the claim that the “administration” of God’s government was oppressive, and held its subjects in bondage. However, he professed loyalty to God, yet he proposed to bring about reformation in the government of God that would bring liberty and freedom to the angels and all created beings not enjoyed under the existing “administration.”
The preceding statements are clearly sustained in “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pages 37-42. “While claiming for himself perfect loyalty to God, he [Lucifer] urged that changes in the order and laws of heaven were necessary for the stability of the divine government. . . . He denounced them [the angels] as deluded10slaves, . . . and announced that he would no longer submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs. . . . He promised those who would enter his ranks a new and better government, under which all would enjoy freedom. . . . The only course remaining for him and his followers, he said, was to assert their liberty. . . . By artful perversion [he] cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah. . . . All evil he declared to be the result of the divine administration.”
From this quotation the inference is clear that Satan will lead men to adopt arguments and inaugurate movements against the working of God in the time of the finishing of the gospel, which were characteristic of his deceptive movement among the angels. The Scriptures show that every scheme invented to deceive, every charge made against the government of God, and every criticism of the administration of the work of God made by Satan since sin entered to mar the peace and harmony of the universe, will be used against the remnant church of Christ. Such movements are only evidences, or signs, that Christ’s coming is near. For we read, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. We are admonished at this time by the apostle, to take heed and beware lest we be led away with the error of the wicked, and fall from our own steadfastness. Position or long experience of “steadfastness” in the truth is not a guarantee of safety at this time. We can be kept only by the power of God, received through abiding faith.
Minneapolis, Minn.
GEO. O. STATES
By GEO. O. STATES
Lessons from Past Experiences —No. 3
GEO. O. STATES
In those early days, when our people met for worship, they talked about this wonderful gift which God had placed in the remnant church, and they studied the Bible statements regarding this gift. Brethren and sisters in visiting one another in their homes talked about the message, and all believed the coming of the Lord was indeed very near.
As soon as one member of a family received the truth, he was not satisfied until the rest of the family received it. The believers felt that they were living on the borders of the eternal world, and that they would be lost unless the rest of their families received the truth.
I well remember how we used to study “Experience and Views” and other early writings of Sister White, and how wonderful these things seemed to us. In our home mother used to read them to us children, and tell us that these things were what the Lord showed Sister White in vision.
As I visit our churches at the present time and find so many families with members not in the truth, I can but think that if there was that earnestness that characterized our people back there, we should see a difference in this respect. It is a sad fact that there are many families among us whose children, brought up in the truth, went out into the world as they grew up. Apparently, there was not power enough in the truth to hold them.
Why is this? I will tell you what I sincerely believe is the cause, and that is that the Testimonies are not read and heeded as they once were. In those early days as fast as the Lord gave us light through the writings of his servant, they were secured by all our people and read. When a late Testimony was out, the elder of the church would mention it, and ask how many wanted a copy. We used to have reading circles where we came together and studied them. I believe if there was more of this among us, there would not be so many children leaving the truth as soon as they become of age.
“It is a solemn and terrible truth that many who have been zealous in proclaiming the third angel’s message are now becoming listless and indifferent. The line of demarcation between worldlings and professed Christians is almost indistinguishable. Many who were once earnest Adventists are conforming to the world, to its practises, its customs, its selfishness. Instead of leading the world to render obedience to God’s law, the church is uniting more and more closely with the world in transgression. Daily the church is becoming converted to the world. How many professed Christians are slaves of mammon! Through lack of zeal for the promulgation of the third angel’s message, many others, while not apparently living in transgression, are nevertheless as verily lending their influence on the side of Satan as are those who openly sin against God. Multitudes are perishing; but how few are burdened for these souls! There is a stupor, a paralysis, upon many of the people of God, which prevents them from understanding the duty of the hour.”
It is some years since these solemn words were given to this people, and yet they are more applicable to-day than when first written. Let us ponder them, and may they sink with deep weight into all our hearts.
Cedaredge, Colo.
A Good Teacher
By Theodore L. Cuyler
God keeps a school for his children here on earth, and one of the best teachers is disappointment. My friend, when you and I reach our Father's house, we shall look back and see that the sharp-voiced, rough-visaged teacher, Disappointment, was one of the best guides to train us for it. He gave us hard lessons; he often used the rod; he often led us into thorny paths; he sometimes stripped off a load of luxuries; but that only made us travel the freer and the faster on our heavenward way. He sometimes led us down into the valley of the death shadow, but never did the promises read so sweetly as when spelled out by the eye of faith in that very valley. Nowhere did he lead us so often, or teach us such sacred lessons, as at the cross of Christ. Dear, old, rough-handed teacher! We will build a monument to thee yet, and crown it with garlands, and inscribe on it: “Blessed be the memory of disappointment.”—Theodore L. Cuyler.
Helped by Temptation
TEMPTATION is one of our greatest possibilities of blessing. God promises “every good gift” to his children, but he has never promised to free us from temptation.
There is comfort and fresh strength in this thought when we find ourselves assailed by temptations that we longed and struggled to get free from years ago, yet which seem to renew their attacks with undiminished vigor.
For in that continued fight, which God intends shall bring continued victory, lies our hope of growth in strength and power and character. The arm that lies unused through the years must atrophy and die.
The arm that spends itself in striking blows for life and freedom must grow in ever-increasing power. So out of the mystery of the powers of evil, in their attacks upon God’s children, comes the blessing of victory over evil, and the daily adding of fresh strength from above through our daily need of such strength.
It is better to grow strong through conquered temptation than to lose power through lack of exercise.—Exchange.
Hide Your Woes Under Your Mercies
HIDE your woes under your mercies, and right soon they will disappear.
Preaching
An Englishman once complained to the minister of his parish that he was preached on the same subjects over and over again. He admitted that the lessons taught were of the most serious and important nature, but he said that there was not enough variety.
“My friend,” said the clergyman, “for what purpose do you imagine the precepts are given you?”
“That we may obey them, I suppose,” said the man.
“You are right,” was the reply; “and have you, then, learned to practise all the duties which I have already put before you?”
The man was obliged to admit that he had not as yet.
“When you have,” said the minister, “I will either put before you some new duties to attend to, or else I will keep silence, for practise is the end of preaching, and when your life entirely conforms to the life of Christ, you will need no more sermons.”—Selected.
When Mother Is Away
THE house is such a dreary place when mother is away;
There isn't fun in anything, no matter what you play.
The dolls just sit as stupid, and act so still and queer—
They always say such funny things when mother's by to hear.
The little china tea set looks so lonesome waiting there;
There's no fun playing party and eating only air!
It isn't like the lovely things you most believe you see
Upon the plates and saucers, when mother comes to tea.
There's no use doing up your hair and dressing up in style,
You know it's just pretending, and you're Betty all the while;
You never hear a whisper from the chairs against the wall:
“Dear me, what splendid lady now is coming here to call!”
The pictures in the picture-books are never half so fine;
The stories won't come out and talk for any pains of mine;
An hour goes so slowly, it's almost like a day—
The house is such a lonesome place when mother is away.
— Good Housekeeping.
How to Get Sleep in Hot Weather
By Kate Lindsay
KATE LINDSAY, M. D.
THE day’s overheating, while depressing and disagreeable to endure, can be borne without serious health damage if only the night’s rest is undisturbed, and the sleeping-room kept cool enough to insure at least seven hours’ sound sleep for adults, eight or nine for youths between twelve and fifteen, and for children between five and twelve from nine to twelve hours. The infant a month old needs eighteen or twenty hours’ sleep, while up to one year, fifteen hours is needed to keep the baby good-natured and growing normally. In the hot weather it is often the want of proper, restful sleep which predisposes to the diarrhea or cholera infantum, which proves fatal to so many infants. The victim of sunstroke or heat exhaustion is often a worn-out, anemic, sleep-curtailed, indoor worker who goes to bed near midnight to toss about for hours in a hot, unaired bedroom, only to be called to arise and take up the never-ending daily tasks in the early morning. Often these unrelieved, unceasing toilers are nursing mothers, either in homes on the farm, or wives and mothers where the bread-winner’s income will not admit of household help, and one pair of hands must do all the housework and look after all the domestic needs of a growing family of little ones, besides furnishing the needed nutrition to sustain an infant life.
Preparations for the Night’s Rest
The first thing needful to secure sound sleep is to cultivate a sleep habit in the young and all others. Regular hours for rest should be observed by all, and when the retiring hour arrives, nothing avoidable should be allowed to interfere with its observance. In hot weather it is important to have the sleeping apartments as cool as possible. The upper rooms of a two-story house often become heat-storage apartments, and are hot and stifling for many hours after sunset, when all out of doors has become cool and invigorating. Why not spend the hot, sultry nights out in the cool night air? Why not devise out-of-door sleeping apartments for use in dog-day weather? It is sad to see the little ones tossing about in a hot bed in a Turkish-bath-temperature box of a room, when all nature outside is being revived by the cooling night winds. The drooping trees, grass, and all the vegetable world are reanimated during the night’s coolness. Why should mankind prolong the agonies of the day’s overheating by shutting themselves in from the night air? Next to coolness as a sleep-producing influence in hot weather, is freedom from insect annoyance. The locust, cankerworm, weevil, and a host of other vegetable-devouring insects often cause all the horrors of famine by destroying the crops. Knowledge to cope with and restrain the insect ravages on the plant world has increased. Men, by wisdom and experience, have learned how to fight and conquer the enemies of wheat, corn, potatoes, and peaches and apples. It is only lately, however, that the damage done the human body by biting, disease-transmitting insects has been fully appreciated. For centuries malaria and yellow fever have ravaged our Southern States, and hindered the development of many tropical lands suitable for the abode of the white man. It is doubtful if the Panama Canal could ever have been built had it not been for the fact that the malaria and yellow fever mosquitoes can be successfully exterminated, and these infections prevented from spreading by proper screening of both the sick and the uninfected. The same care about keeping these biting, disease-propagating insects out of the home will prevent disease and promote sound sleep. How often is the baby’s daily nap disturbed by flies! The writer has been frequently pained to see the little ones in the parks left by the careless nurses to the tender mercies of the flies and the fierce glow of a midsummer sun often shining directly in their faces. Often the poor little martyrs to hireling and maternal indifference had cried themselves hoarse, and could only sob out their woes. A long midday nap, under a cool, shady tree, or on some breezy, shaded veranda, would have made them vigorous and able to resist midsummer heat depression. Deprived of the needed quiet noonday nap, it is not surprising to read the long list of deaths under one year old in July and August. Few mothers and ordinary housekeepers realize how much can be done to promote the rest of the family and lessen nerve wear and tear by taking pains to keep out the searching noonday heat by closing the shutters on the sunny side of the house during the day, and then opening up all in the evening coolness. A wet sheet hung in the room over a screen or clothes-horse, or an electric fan, if it is available, is a good air cooler. The house roof should be thick, and the verandas broad, and all screened in. There will then be no dread of night air, for, with the shutting out of disease-inoculating insects, the phantom of night-air malaria will cease to haunt the household’s imagination.
Daytime Hints
All children under five years old should be trained to take a fore-dinner nap, and it would be well if their older brothers and sisters had the same habit. Cots and hammocks are not costly, and trees and verandas furnish the needed shade. The improved health and freedom from languor would enable them to do more work and be a means of saving instead of losing time. This sleep had best be taken before dinner, so that the meal shall be eaten by a rested, not fatigued, family. Fireless cooking apparatus would seem to offer a chance for even the house mother, with all the domestic work on her hands, to thus get a noonday nap. As little fire as possible should be used in doing the housework. The oil-stove or gas-range are much less heating than the coal or wood cookstove. Undress the baby and give it a tepid bath, then feed it, and put it away to rest in a cool room, and see how peacefully it will sleep, if its food agrees with it.
The Value of Bathing
It is more restful and hygienic at all times for every person, whether child or adult, to sleep alone. Certainly in hot weather every one should have his own couch. No one could expect the baby to sleep well in bed with its father and mother, and one has only to notice the children tossing in a bed which is overheated by two or three persons to understand the need of plenty of bed space to keep cool in warm weather. No one should go to bed without a bath in hot weather. This is not hard to take under any circumstances. In the house with plumbing and a bath tub it will not consume more than fifteen minutes to12fill the tub and take a plunge. Where there is only a wash-bowl and pitcher and but a single room, a screen, which can be improvised with a piece of stout cord and a pair of sheets or a shawl or blanket, will form a bath-room, where the skin can be cleansed and cooled before going to bed.
All disagreeable or exciting news, or any exciting play, or anything calculated to stimulate mental activity should be avoided, if possible, in the evening. We read that “godliness with contentment is great gain,” and that “a contented mind is a continual feast,” and nothing tends to promote sleep more than cultivating repose of mind and body in daily life. Children should never be rudely awakened from sound sleep; neither should they be indulged to spend time listlessly in bed. An early retiring hour, a bed for each child in a cool place in hot weather, a clean skin and clean linen, freedom from insect irritation, and a light evening meal will tend to keep the children’s sleep record normal. Why should not man obey the invitation by going out into the coolness and freshness of the night and sleeping with all other animate nature? — Good Housekeeping.