AMONG the barbarous tribes children are sacrificed to deities of lust and passion, and it is called religion. In this country we do worse. On altars of indifference and carelessness we sacrifice our youth, and our cities tolerate and license it under the name of recreation.
The case in point, which needs no eloquence to drive it home, is found in the busiest thoroughfare of Chicago. It has a counterpart in every large city in the land. A keen-eyed woman reporter for a Chicago paper discovered it, and sounded a note of warning. It is nothing more than a "moving picture" parlor. Its innocence of name and exterior makes it doubly dangerous. Music from a rich-toned organ, and scores of really fine views of natural scenery, provide an atmosphere of respectability. The newspaper woman was attracted by the remark of a young boy to his companions: "Come up-stairs; there's a dandy there." She followed, and as the lads each deposited a penny in the picture slot machine, she observed their faces—"a study in curious animalism—in each boy was the possibility of a first-class levee wonder." They were first shocked, then guiltily curious, finally shamelessly inquisitive for more of the unthinkable, unspeakable vision.
These enterprises for the expenditure of a cent, and a few minutes of time, guarantee to fill the innocent mind with the concentrated impurity and immorality of a life-long roué. What does it all mean? The correspondent logically and courageously traced it out to its tragic conclusion. It means that the levee, the saloon, the gambling houses, and unmentionable resorts are being filled by such material faster than any city police force can clean them out.
There is one law of chemistry that no student in the laboratory dare overlook. To ignore it is to fail. It is the law of purity. In this branch of natural science purity is power. The elements will refuse to combine if an impure acid be used in the experiment, and the care and skill of the chemist are of no avail. Not otherwise is it in the laboratory of life. In homes, in schools, in institutions of reform, men and women are working night and day, spending thousands of dollars trying to secure a combination of wisdom and righteousness as shall produce strong, true men and women. Yet through the medium of these abominable places of so-called entertainment in an idle five minutes is precipitated into those characters in process of formation an element of impurity. In that little space of time the love and devoted efforts of fathers, mothers, and friends are defeated.
Impurity of thought seeks expression in impurity of speech, and impurity of speech hastens on to immorality of action, and power and virtue have gone forever.
To permit this crusade of vice among our children is to insure moral paralysis for the society of the future.—Union Signal.
A FAITH-KILLING COMBINATION.
JESUS likened a certain class of teachers to whited sepulchres which were filled with dead men's bones. The similarity was appropriate, for those teachers professed to be speaking the words of life, and setting forth the character of God, when they had stripped the flesh from every living truth they sought to teach, by their traditions and their own inconsistent lives. Outwardly they appeared as the representatives of God Himself; inwardly they were filled with the husks of death, and they had nothing but husks of death to give out to hungry souls.
To-day the land is filled with churches; but in many pulpits dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the doubtings of the agnostic, the scoffings of the skeptic, the revilings of the infidel, have greater place than the worship of God and the truth of God. In a beautiful church, with the finest of church appointments, the writer listened not long ago to a scoffing arraignment of the Bible from one who bore the name of pastor. It was the doubtings of Paine, and not the verities of the Gospel, that this pastor poured out to his people.
A few days ago in San Francisco a "pastor" of a great church devoted his whole sermon to extolling the infidel Ingersoll and the work he had done for the church. He thus placed himself on the same ground as that occupied by Ingersoll. Not only that, but this lecture was only one of a series of three on "The World's Great Infidels," preached by this pulpit infidel to the congregation entrusted to his care. It is true now, as it was in the days of Jeremiah, that the "people love to have it so," else would they not sit under such teachings from week to week and pay a princely salary to the expounder of such doctrines.
The rapidity with which this kind of teaching has monopolized the fashionable pulpits of the land has startled and astonished many honest souls, and such are asking what is the cause of this growing infidelity in clerical cloth. President Harper, of the University of Chicago, has essayed to answer the query, and lays the blame upon the lack of purely religious instruction in the colleges that prepare young men for the ministry. He says: "Many college men, who might otherwise enter the ministry, turn aside to teaching, to business, or perhaps to some other work, because of the influence of the purely technical instruction given in the colleges. It is certainly a fact that many young men and women who enter college as Christian workers in their home churches take little or no active part in church life after they have completed their college work." He would have come much nearer the truth if he had stated that the teaching of the belief-destroying doctrine of evolution, coupled with the agnostic-breeding theories of the Higher Criticism, have done this sad work of which true Christians are complaining.
President Jordan, of the Stanford University, in a lecture before a large audience in the Unitarian church of Oakland some weeks ago said, among other things:—
Evolution is the theory that plants and animals are descended from a lower form of life; that man has been developed from a lower form of animal. This theory is better established than the doctrine of gravitation. The most elaborate system of the philosophy of evolution is that of Spencer, and will last longer than many others, because it is founded on a solid basis. There is no source of life excepting life. We do not know anything about the way in which life came upon this earth. At one time it was not. Now it is. Evolution is not a creed. It is only so far as may be, of force. It is not a religion, but simply a matter of fact.
If evolution be a matter of fact, then the Bible is a matter of fancy. If "we do not know anything about the way in which life came upon this earth," then we certainly do not believe what the Bible says of it. Evolution may not be a religion, but it is certainly used as a club, both consciously and unconsciously, to beat down religion and religious belief in the9lives of the thousands of young men and women who patronize the colleges of the land. When Darwin and Huxley and Spencer are held up before every young person that enters college as the great exponents of a great truth, and they find that "truth" in direct opposition to the Word of God, they are at first astounded. They hear it from day to day, and, looking to their teachers as men of wisdom, they gradually come to believe the teaching, and lose faith in the Word of God, which their college work causes them to neglect. President Harper would have more teaching of a purely religious type in the colleges to remedy the faith-killing work which they are doing now; but the men who would probably do that teaching would be men of the Higher Critic type, whose work is as destructive to true faith as is that of the teachers of evolution. "When the Son of Man cometh, will He find faith on the earth?"—Not if those who are teaching such theories can accomplish all they are trying to do.
France and the Vatican
France has taken another step toward the denunciation of the concordat with the Vatican, in recalling her ambassador from the Vatican. This is due to the form of the pope's protest against the visit of the French president to Rome. It has developed that the note sent out by the Vatican, notifying foreign governments of its protest, contained a sentence which the note to the French Government did not contain, and this sentence has offended France. It is stated that the whole tone of the note of protest was that of an overlord rebuking a refractory vassal. The entire French press, with the exception of the clerical organization, congratulates France on the energy shown in protesting against what it calls the "insolent attitude of the Vatican." The pope does not desire the denunciation of the concordat, as such action would mean for the French clergy a loss of $10,000,000 annually which the government now spends for the church. The pope is said to be greatly worried over the situation. It is expected that the complete separation of church and state in France will follow this action.
The ninth annual convention of the National Association of Manufacturers met at Pittsburg, Pa., on May 17. President D. M. Parry stated that the association had gained a thousand members during the past year, giving the association at the present time a membership of 3,000 manufacturers. He declared the policy of the association to be against the "closed shop," which he declared to be unamerican and illegal, and that the association was opposed to any oppression of labor either organized or unorganized.
Fighting continues in San Domingo between the government troops and rebels. Two engagements are reported recently, in one of which the government troops lost 30 killed and wounded, and in the other 54 men killed and a large number wounded. The insurgents lost heavily, but the figures have not been given. Trade is at a standstill in the country, and there is much distress among the inhabitants.
General Miles, in a speech at St. Louis, on May 17, declared that the present war in the Orient would be a long and desperate one, and that other nations are bound to be involved. It is significant that there is at the present time great activity in the Krupp gun works, both in the construction of cannon and shipbuilding material, and in the manufacture of lighter field guns and shells.
An attempt on the life of the czar is reported to have been made at St. Petersburg on May 11, while he was reviewing troops to be sent to Manchuria. A girl had been chosen to take the life of the czar, and was in good position to have done it, but her actions were regarded suspiciously by the police, who searched her and found the bomb which she was to have thrown.
An order has gone out from the Western Union Telegraph Company for all wires connected with pool rooms to be cut out at once. This action is the result of severe criticisms of the company for furnishing information to the gambling pool men. The order goes into effect at once, and affects all parts of the country.
A great earthquake is reported to have occurred recently in eastern Roumelia in the vicinity of Jamboli. Two thousand houses were destroyed, and 10,000 persons rendered homeless. Sulphur-laden waters are ruining the crops, and the debris of wrecked buildings strews the ground.
Sir Henry M. Stanley, the famous African explorer, was buried at the little village of Pirbright, England, on May 17. Relatives of the man whom Stanley went to Africa to find were present at the funeral. Stanley's death occurred on May 15.
The Danish scientific expedition to Greenland, after experiencing great hardships, has arrived at the Danish colony of West Greenland. The expedition fitted out to locate the magnetic pole is also now in Greenland waters.
Another battle is reported between Turks and Armenians, at Chelcuzan in the district of Mush, in which the former lost 136 in killed and wounded, while the latter lost their leader and a large number of men.
Dawson despatches state that another great mastodon has been found in the Yukon Territory. This prehistoric specimen is said to be much more complete than the mastodon found recently on Quartz Creek.
American soldiers to the number of 450, under command of Gen. Leonard Wood, have been sent to the scene of the recent engagement with the Moros, to punish the band which ambushed the Americans.
The United States Government will make an attempt to rid the island of Tutuila of the scourge of elephantiasis by destroying the mosquitoes of the island, which are believed to spread the disease.
Wheat has again reached the dollar mark on the Chicago exchange, and there are predictions that it will go even higher.
Great damage has been caused by a cloudburst in Cache la Poudre Valley, Colorado. The destruction of property is placed at more than a million dollars.
THE BRASS KNUCKLES ARGUMENT AGAIN.
[From the Oakland Tribune, a union paper.]
POLICE JUDGE CABANISS, in San Francisco, fined a picket for the Stablemen's Union $25 for carrying a concealed weapon. The convicted man was arrested, with two other pickets, as he was advancing on a non-union stable employee. On his person was found a pair of brass knuckles. Another had a piece of gas-pipe on his person. The third was equipped with a monkey-wrench, a useful implement in mechanics, but decidedly irregular as an argument between union and non-union stablemen. Members of the union paid the fine of the convicted picket. On the same day this occurred a member of the Piano-movers' Union was badly beaten up by several men whose talk and actions indicated that they thought him a non-union man. The officers of the Teamsters' Union said the outrage must have been committed by "sympathizers," but there was no denunciation of the miscreants. This farcical pretense will deceive no one who does not deliberately close his eyes to facts and logical inferences. Whenever a union striker is arrested for assaulting a non-union man, the union hires an attorney to conduct the defense, furnishes bail, and puts up the fine in case of conviction. On the other hand, there is no official denunciation of the assault, no expression of sympathy for the victim. If the assailant be unknown to the victim or the police, he is dismissed as "a sympathizer." One may read the moral as he runs.
Not on the Rock
By Editor
Not on the Rock.—That the Roman Catholic religion is not based on the Rock upon which Christ said His church should be built, is shown by the proverbial ignorance of the Bible in that body. This was especially illustrated recently when a professor in the University of Brussels, in a lecture on the "Origin of Christianity," asked those of the audience who had read St. Paul's epistles to raise their hands. Three hands were raised in an audience of five hundred of the most cultured men and women in the city. And Belgium is the most intensely Catholic country in the world.
When we see the trend of professed Protestants toward Rome, and the adoption by their churches of Roman institutions and Roman methods, it is a sure sign of departure from the Word of God, upon which true Protestantism is based. The cause of Israel's apostasy in ancient times was that they made of none effect the law of God by their traditions. The same was true of the medieval church, which developed the Papacy.
The Gospel Call to Individuals
A National Reform writer argues that, because the Gospel message is to the individual and not to communities, it is no evidence that if Christ were to come back into the world to-day His message would not be a social message. These speculations as to what Christ would do if He were to come back to earth are purely assumptive. Aside from the fact that He is not coming back until He comes to execute judgment, it is quite certain that He would not, under any circumstances, change the plan of salvation. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. The call ever has been, and therefore must be, to men as individuals. Every one who trusts to being taken into the kingdom by virtue of social relations, or membership in a community—even a church community—will surely be disappointed.
Missionary Work in Utah
The consensus of missionary opinion sets Utah down as among the most barren and discouraging fields under the sun, rivaling India, China, or the south seas. The people are particularly hard to reach with the Third Angel's Message, because they are rooted and grounded in a curiously-wrought counterfeit. But there are some who are susceptible to the truth.
War Reaction
By Editor
War Reaction.—In these days when the military spirit is rampant, when even the children in the primary schools are being imbued with it, there is need of an occasional halt to note the dread results of war. In this connection, we note some expressions of W. Spencer Walton, of Durham, South Africa, superintendent of the South African General Mission. He says:—
South Africa is at present in a deplorable condition. War reactions are always serious, and all over South Africa business is about as bad as can be imagined. Ever since the war thousands have been flocking in from England, Australia, New Zealand, and not a few from America. The result is that the streets of our large towns have many unemployed men walking about, and there is a great deal of poverty and suffering. This has been accompanied, of course, by an increase in crime, and many who have been unable to stand a reverse of fortune have become what are known as "wasters."
The Open Shop.
The Christian Work makes this reference to the growing popularity of the open-shop principle of employing skilled labor: "The action of the National Association of Clothing Manufacturers at their Philadelphia meeting in making a flat and unmistakable declaration for the open shop is extremely significant. The issue has not been raised on any question of wages or of hours, but has been precipitated by the increasing reluctance of union cutters and tailors to render a fair equivalent in work done for wages paid. This means, presumably, that because some workmen do not desire to join the unions, they shall not, when skilled and capable, find all the doors of employment closed against them. The open-shop movement is steadily gaining ground. Its complete success will be the best thing that could possibly happen to such of the unions as have for their object the promotion of the best interests of labor."
THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.
THE Japanese fleet has met with a number of disasters during the past week. In addition to the collision between two of her war vessels, in which one was sunk and the other considerably damaged, she has had one battle-ship sunk by a Russian mine, and a cruiser at least seriously damaged. When last seen she was being towed away by another vessel. This brings the Japanese forces off Port Arthur down nearly to the power of the Russians, and is causing great rejoicing in Russia. The repairs on the Baltic fleet are being hurried forward as rapidly as possible, and the fleet when ready will be sent to the East by two different routes.
It is reported that a Japanese army of 100,000 men is closing in on Liao Yang, preparatory to a general attack on that place. The investment of Port Arthur is also being pressed vigorously by the Japanese in the hope of capturing that place and capturing or destroying the Russian war-ships there before the arrival of the Baltic fleet. The loss of the Japanese war vessels has been the cause of the increased energy of the Japanese at this place.
It is reported that the Russian garrison at Port Arthur made a sortie and inflicted serious loss on the Japanese. The former lost 116 in killed and wounded, and report that the Japanese loss was more than a thousand. A detachment of 20,000 Japanese met 32,000 Russians near Feng Wang Cheng, and retreated upon that place, where they joined the remainder of their army. In the retreat the Cossacks are said to have inflicted considerable loss upon the Japanese flanks. This is reported as a Russian victory.
In Korea a serious clash has occurred between the Russian and Korean troops, and the Russians in Manchuria are suffering constantly from the attacks and depredations of Chinese bandits. In one place the latter were led by a Chinese governor. The Japanese continue to land troops on the Liao Tung peninsula, and are investing the city of New Chwang, which they were erroneously reported to have captured some time ago. An engagement is reported at Hsin Yen Cheng, in which the Russians are reported to have suffered serious loss.
GENTLENESS AND TENDERNESS IN THE HOME.
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
I REMEMBER hearing a story of a certain minister, who, for three nights during a revival, exchanged pulpits with a brother minister in a distant city. The first evening the house was crowded; for the fame of the speaker had preceded him. The text was John 3:16—
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
The discourse was eloquent and beautiful. The love of the Father was dwelt upon in such a manner as to awaken a responsive echo in the hearts of his hearers. Those who before had magnified the justice and power of the Almighty, now began to realize as never before that the name of that Being to whom angels bow, is Love. And, as they listened, their hearts grew tender, and the tear of contrition trickled down the cheek of the unconverted.
"It was a powerful sermon," many remarked at its close. "I wonder what his subject will be tomorrow evening."
The next evening came. The house was again crowded, and the people listened eagerly for the text. The eloquent preacher arose, and quietly and impressively read the same wonderful words from which he had spoken the evening before. If the first sermon had been interesting, the second was doubly so. The love which passeth understanding—the love of the Creator for His creature—the love infinite in height, in breadth, in depth, was dwelt upon and magnified.
"I am surprised to see how much there is for us in just one little verse!" remarked one after another of the listeners.
The third and last evening the seats were crowded from vestry to gallery. Ah! the preacher had chosen a theme which will fill any meeting-house quicker and keep it filled longer than any other in the world. That theme is "the Love of God."
Again the text was announced; it was the same, twice read, with such deep earnestness and fervor that there was scarcely a dry eye in that immense throng. The far-reaching, all-embracing, all-powerful love of God was portrayed as with the tongue of an angel.
"The theme is as exhaustless as eternity, as high as heaven, as boundless as creation!" exclaimed the speaker. The audience was swayed before the burning eloquence of that humble man. The hearts of sin-hardened men and women were melted, and the powers of darkness fled before the light and liberty of that blessed One whose name and whose nature is love.
"Well," says one, "and what has all this to do with gentleness and tenderness in the home? You have written to us, in a previous article, about 'Love in the Home;' are not 'love' and 'gentleness' and 'tenderness' synonymous terms?"
Perhaps we may so consider them; but, like the subject of the "Love of God," this theme is so like it, as to be inexhaustible. And yet it really seems that it should not be a necessity to emphasize and dwell upon the beauty of a home where perfect tenderness and love reign in every act of life. Alas, that it should be necessary, that the perversity of the human heart should require line upon line, precept upon precept! Alas, that the sweetest smile and the kindest word should be reserved "for the sometime guest"! Isn't it strange that we are often more careful of the feelings of a mere acquaintance than we are of our best beloved?
I have known a man to speak such words to the wife of his bosom as he could not be hired to speak to his neighbor under any circumstances. I have known a father to treat his own son in such a manner that, if he should treat the son of his neighbor the same, he would never cease apologizing to him for it.
I have seen a young woman discourteous to her own brother, and the same hour smile her sweetest and speak her gentlest to some other girl's brother. I have known her gruffly to refuse to sing her father's favorite song for him when he came home tired out with honest toil, earning the comforts of life for his family, and the same evening sit up till twelve o'clock entertaining a few silly boys and sillier girls.
I have known a mother to scold and whine for half an hour because her own little girl broke one of the cheap vases on the mantel; but when, a few evenings later, an acquaintance accidentally dropped and broke the best china tureen, this same mother would listen to no apologies, and smilingly explained to the lady that there was "no harm done at all, I assure you!"
O, how polite, how generous, we are to others than our own!
"John, I want to know if you were heedless enough to leave the bars down for all those cattle to break through into the wheat field? You deserve a good flogging!"
"No, no, neighbor," confesses Farmer Gray, "I did that myself, and am willing to pay you damages."
"Not at all,—not at all; that's all right, I thought it was John; the boy is so heedless. There's no harm done; the cattle were not in long enough for that. I only thought it was John,—that's all!"
Ah! that's it. A flogging for poor John,—and that before his guilt is proved,—but a smile and a courteous word for the real culprit, because, forsooth, he is only an acquaintance!
But the people whom I know are not all like this. Once in a while—and let us thank God—we meet with a girl whose own brother is as precious in her sight as if he belonged to some other girl. She always writes sweet, fond, sisterly letters to him when he is away from home, and many a time her prayers and her letters form a barrier between him and sin. Once in a while we find fathers who love their own sons well enough to kiss them sometimes,—yes, actually kiss their great, big boys; and I never knew a kiss of this kind to do a bit of harm—did you?
Sometimes we find families where sweet love reigns supreme,—from the gray-haired father and grandmother, to the tiny tot upon their knees.
Such homes are blessed miniatures of the other home which He whose name is love is preparing for His family.
A KNIGHT OF THE SLUMS.
By Zelia M. Walters
For some days Joe had been wondering who lived in the garret opposite him. One frosty morning when he got up too late to sell morning papers, he determined to find out. The process was a very simple one. He got out of his window, crossed the angle of the roof, and peeped into the opposite window. A pair of startled eyes met his, and, after the first shock of surprise, he saw that they belonged to a little girl, lying on a rickety old lounge, beside the window.
"Hullo," said Joe.
The little girl said, "Hullo," too, and then they stared at each other for awhile. Then the girl smiled, and Joe smiled.
Joe was quite puzzled as to what he had better say next. Then he suddenly remembered that when little Sandy McGrow was sick, his friends bought oranges for him, so he said:—
"Do you like oranges?"
"O, yes," cried the little girl; "I had some once. A lady from the church brought them. Big, round, yellow balls, and, O, they tasted so nice and cool!"
"I'll get you one," said Joe, and he disappeared as quickly as he had come.
There was five cents in his ragged pocket, left from yesterday's earnings, and Joe darted away to the nearest Italian fruit stand. In a few minutes he was back at the window, and gave the orange to the little invalid.
"O, thank you," she said, "but won't you eat half of it, please?"
"Naw," said Joe, very gruffly, "I don't want it." He was so abashed at being thanked that he didn't know what to say. But he watched her until she had eaten the last morsel. Then saying, "I'll bring you 'nuther one to-morrow," he again abruptly disappeared.
After that Joe made it a rule to take an orange to his invalid neighbor each day. If sales were poor, Joe cut short his own supply of goodies rather than disappoint her. If any one had asked him why he did this, he probably would have answered, "Aw, gwan," for he was a rough little newsboy, who had never been taught anything better.
He learned that the little girl's name was May, and secretly he thought that the prettiest name in the world. He used to look at the nicely-dressed little girls on the street, and think how fine May would look if she could go out walking dressed that way. But, alas! it was three years since poor little May had walked, and in the poisonous air of the crowded tenement she was not likely ever to get any better. Her mother went out to work every day, and May lay on her couch, with only a few old picture papers to amuse her.
"Joe," said May one day, when they were having their talk through the window, "do you ever go to Sunday-school?"
"No," said Joe, "but they've got one down here around the corner. Jim Pike goes."
"I thought maybe you did," said May, with a shade of disappointment in her voice. "I was telling11mother about you last night, and she said she hoped you were a good boy, and I told her I knew you were, because you are so kind."
Not a word did Joe say. It was the first time any one had ever expressed confidence in him. In his heart he knew he wasn't good, and for the first time he wished that he were.
The next Sunday he went to the mission school. To tell the truth, he didn't like it at all, tho the teachers were kind, and the surroundings pleasant. The active street boy found it very hard to sit still, and listen to the lessons and songs that he didn't understand. But he had his reward when he told May about it.
"O," she cried, "did you go to Sunday-school? Tell me what they said, and what songs they sang. I used to go when I was a little girl, and I can remember pretty nearly everything about it."
So Joe continued to go to Sunday-school, and he tried to understand the lessons so that he could tell May about them.
One day in early June, Joe made a call; not by the way of the window, but he came to the door when May's mother was at home, and rapped.
"I say," he began breathlessly, for he felt very queer and awkward, "I've got a chance for May. She kin go to the country and stay two weeks. Our Sunday-school's going to take a lot of kids; and say, sometimes sick folks get well in the country. Our teacher said so."
"But," said Mrs. Abbott, "I thought that outing was for the pupils only."
Then Joe got very red, and looked at the toes of his ragged shoes, and finally stammered out:—
"Aw! Well, they say I could go; but what's the use? I ain't sick. So I asked if May could go, and our teacher, she said, 'Yes.' She's coming to-morrow to tell you when to get ready, and all about it." And then Joe hurried off as fast as he could.
May was wild with delight at the idea of going to the country, where she could see flowers, and hear the birds sing. She felt very sorry, however, to think that Joe had given up his chance for her. But the next day her cup of joy was full, for when the Sunday-school teacher came she said they were going to take Joe, too, tho they hadn't told him about it yet.
What a delightful two weeks that! People who go to the country every year, can not imagine what it means to these poor children who have never before been beyond the hot, dusty city streets. Joe ran about in the meadows, got acquainted with the horses and cows, helped Farmer Watson with the chores, and ended by declaring to the other children that he meant to be a farmer when he grew up.
May lay on a couch on the shady porch, and a beautiful pink color began to steal into her pale cheeks as she breathed in the health-giving air. When it was time for the others to go home, good Mrs. Watson declared that the little sick girl must stay all summer. When she did come home, Joe's generous hopes were realized, and she was able to walk again.—Zelia M. Walters.
GOD'S WORLD.
By Eliza A. Otis
[Eliza A. Otis, in Los Angeles Times.]
God's hand is on the mounts, 'twas His own power
That touched their lofty crests, and lifted high
Their rock-hewn foreheads to the bending sky.
These mounts, which far above the valleys tow'r,
Are glorious in majesty. O, how grand!
As sweeping the high stars they seem to lean
Above the beauteous summer vales so green
With the fresh grasses covering all the land.
The winds are whispering 'mid the leafy trees,
And bird-song floods the deeps of sunny air;
Bright blossoms pour their perfume ev'rywhere,
The world is full of sweetest harmonies.
No chance is here, but God's creative hand
Formed all the wonders that about us lie,
And He unrolled the blue and boundless sky,
Set firm the mountains where they moveless stand,
And spread the seas and all the shining vales,
Lifted the hills as footstools for His feet,
Scattered the flow'rs which our glad eyes do greet,
And lit the sun whose glory never pales,
The countless stars which light the evening sky
He placed within the endless deeps of air,
And, circling their vast orbits ev'rywhere,
They hear the voice of His infinity.
O, God is here, the winds do hear His voice,
And, unseen, run on messages of love,
The flow'rs do hear His whisper from above,
And silently to growing life are stirred,
The trees His loving messages do bring,
Each leaf hath whisper of His tender care,
In the hot noontide it is like a prayer
For balm of coolness which they round us fling.
The many birds their happy voices ring,
And glad are they as in the golden light
Of summer's morn, and all the rivers white
With crystal waters full te deums sing
Along their way as swiftly to the sea,
Like blessed messengers, they onward go,
Singing the harvest psalms so full and low,
With richest, untranslated melody.
God's world! And we may find Him everywhere,
If we but look, and faith doth give us sight,
And for our staff we have the blessed right.
He fills the sea and highest deeps of air,
His hand is on the stars and on the sun,
On the lowly grasses as they upward spring,
On trees and flowers, hills, vales and ev'rything,
As near to-day as when the world began.
A WONDERFUL LIGHT.
A FAST-FLASHING beacon light that can be seen in favorable weather for more than forty miles has just been installed by the German Government upon the island of Helgoland, in the German Ocean. It is the most wonderful in the world.
The light used equals 30,000,000 candle-power. The light lasts one-fifth of a second and repeats itself in five seconds. It illumines the entire horizon in that period. At forty miles' distance the pencil of light flashes over the sea at the rate of 186,000 miles a second.
The German parabolic mirror reflector is used.
About the middle of the nineties, says Ueber Land und Meer, German experts were sent to France by the German Imperial Government to study flash-lights. They were convinced that by means of two or more reflectors, erected upon a reflector with Schuckert's glass parabolic mirror, results equal to those of France could be produced.
Experiments were made in Nuremberg. The revolving reflector of the German apparatus was found equal to the Frenchman's revolving light. As soon as the experts had demonstrated their point, work was begun on a light-reflector equal to the largest ever used.
In normal weather the light may be seen twenty-three sea miles (twenty-three knots). When the weather is favorable the beams go far beyond the central fires or light rays. On the first night that the new light was used its peculiar, flashing beams were seen by people standing on the mole at Busum—a distance of sixty-five kilometres, or a trifle over forty miles.
The watchers in the lighthouse at Amrum, about the same distance, were able in unfavorable weather to see the same beams as they rapidly appeared and disappeared. It was noted that the otherwise bluish white light of the electric arc appeared red.
THE ORIGIN OF NAMES.
The names of fabrics are often derived from the place where they were first manufactured; or the name is given in honor of the place where it first became known to commerce, or from the materials composing its texture. Muslin is derived from Mosul, in Asia; cambric from Cambrai; gauze from Gaza; baize from Bajac; dimity from Damietta; and jeans from Jean; damask is an abbreviation of Damascus; satin is a corruption of Zaytown, in China.
Velvet is the Italian "vellute," woolly, and is traceable farther back to the Latin "vellus," a hide or pelt; serge comes from "xerga," the Spanish for a certain sort of blanket; bandanna is derived from an Indian word signifying to bind or tie; alpaca is the name of a species of llama from whose wool the genuine fabric is woven; and calico is named for Calicut, a town in India, where it was first printed.
Shawl is from the Sanskrit "sala," which means floor, shawls having been first used as carpet tapestry.
Blanket bears the name of Thomas Blanket, a famous English clothier, who aided the introduction of woolens into England in the fourteenth century. —Chicago News.
The Popular Line
EAST OF CHICAGO
The INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ROUTE
SCENERY UNSURPASSED
St. Clair Tunnel, Niagara Falls, Muskok Lakes, River St. Lawrence, White Mountains and the Atlantic Seacoast. : : : : : :
City Ticket Office cor. Clark Street and Jackson Boulevard
G. W. VAUX
A. G. P. & T. A. Chicago
G. T. BELL
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