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Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 15.

THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Earlier text: LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN

The Nation’s Drink Bill in 1900

The amount paid out for liquors in the United States during the year 1900 exceeds that of any previous year in the history of the nation. According to the Statistical Abstract of the United States, the drink bill amounted during that year to the enormous sum of $1,172,493,445. The New Voice in commenting on these figures makes the following striking statements: “During the year we spent almost as much money for drink as the total value of all our exports of merchandise to all the world. We spent for liquor $320,000,000 more than for all imported goods. The sum spent by us for liquor last year, together with cash in the Treasury, would wipe out the whole public debt and leave $65,000,000 besides. We spent for liquor last year $400,000,000 more than the value of the entire coal output of the country at $5 per ton. We spent above $400,000,000 more for liquor than the entire valuation of the corn crop of the whole country. We spent more for liquor than the entire gold coin of the United States in circulation and in the Treasury. We spent almost as much for liquor as the entire receipts of all the railroads from all sources. We spent six times as much for liquor as for the public schools of the nation. Our drink bill was about nine times as much as our pension bill.” The Voice brings out the further fact that the drink bill for the year was nearly six times as much as the amount spent during the same time for carrying on the war in the Philippines. Lovers of humanity must stand aghast at the terrible conditions for which these figures stand. It is not so much the mass of money spent as the desolation, misery, squalor, murders, crimes of every kind, and the wrecking of manhood, womanhood, and home, which we read behind the figures, that should make the nation weep.
The unrest in Russia has become intensified during the past week. The demonstrations and demands of the students and laborers have been more striking and menacing, and the government is beginning to realize that the situation is a critical one. There has been more leniency displayed during the last few days toward those who are demanding liberty, and the Cossacks and regular soldiers have shown a spirit of restiveness under the orders of the government. Following closely the assassination of the minister of public instruction came an attempt on the life of the procurator of the holy synod, who is regarded as the real bulwark of the old order of things in Russia. A serious riot occurred at St. Petersburg on March 20, in which several lives were lost, and many were injured. Wholesale arrests of both men and women followed. On the 24th another and more determined riot occurred. The police and Cossacks charged the crowd and many lives were lost, the exact number being kept secret by the government. Threatening letters are being received by various Russian officials, and as the disturbances are caused by the educated classes, it is quite generally believed that a crisis is at hand in Russia.
After a diplomatic contest of over three years, the British director-general of the customs of Korea has been dismissed from that position on demand of Russia. England is protesting against the dismissal. Russia formally demanded his removal in 1898, and his position was made secure to him only after England had sent a fleet of her warships to the principal port of Korea. The Russian minister to Korea has been protesting against the employment of any foreigners save Russians in the service of Korea, and it is due to the continued pressure of Russia that the Englishman has been dismissed. Russia’s plan is that no other nation shall gain a foothold or even political influence in Korea or North China, and all her powers of force and persuasion are directed to this one end. Japan also has her eyes on Korea, and is laying her plans to become the dominant power there if Russia keeps Manchuria. Japanese officials declare that Japan is ready now to go to war for that object.
English and Scotch steel manufacturers are reported to be forming a combination for the purpose of competing with the great American steel trust. American manufacturers of steel have been securing many contracts which formerly went to England, and have thus been cutting seriously into the receipts of the English manufacturers, who will now combine their interests for self-protection. But in this combination we can see the final victory of the general trust. Combinations for the purpose of opposing the trust are almost invariably brought into harmony with the trust sooner or later. The formation of the opposition is simply a step toward a greater consolidation, and makes the final rule of the trust more sure. It will work this way in the present case, and we will have an international steel trust as the forerunner of other international trusts.
The German census which was recently completed shows a total population of 56,000,000 in the empire, which is an increase of about 35 per cent. since 1871. This is considered as a remarkable showing when it is remembered that many thousands of Germans have been leaving the fatherland to find homes in the Western Hemisphere and other parts of the world.
Turkey has a small rebellion on her hands in the island of Samoa, off the west coast of Asia Minor; and has sent forces there for its suppression. She has recently made a demand on the government of Bulgaria for the dissolution of the Macedonian Revolutionary Committee. This demand at the present time places Bulgaria in a difficult position.
The English Government has made public its decision in regard to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and the proposed Hay-Pauncefote treaty concerning the Nicaragua Canal. It is in the form of a communication from the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Lansdowne, to Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassador at Washington. England holds that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty is still a valid document; that it cannot be abrogated without the consent of both the signatory powers; that if it were abrogated England would regain whatever rights she surrendered when the treaty was entered into; and that the fortification of the canal when it should be built would be a violation of the principle of neutrality.
A dispatch from Washington declares that the Isle of Pines is to be held by the United States because of the great commercial value of some of its natural products. That was the reason given for our holding the Philippines in spite of the prior rights and claims of the Filipinos. Russia, England, Germany, and France have natural products of great value. Why does not America make seizure there?—Because they are able to protect their rights. The Filipinos and Cubans are not; therefore we harass them and spoil their possessions. The greed for gold has supplanted the sense of moral obligation.
The Turkish troops who are “restoring order” in the province of Macedonia are reported to have massacred the inhabitants of whole villages. A priest declares that at one place over 600 persons were burned alive in their homes or cut to pieces by the soldiers after setting fire to the houses. Men, women, and children perished in the flames. Others corroborate the tale of the priest, and give most harrowing details of these latest massacres. Christians are fleeing from the regions occupied by the Turkish troops.
A serious strike of laborers and street-car men is reported from Marseilles, France. The riotous strikers are held in check only by the mounted gendarmes, who have had difficulty in suppressing the demonstrations of the rioters. So serious has the situation become that vessels usually docking at Marseilles have made arrangements for discharging their cargoes and passengers at other ports.
General Botha has formally rejected the peace propositions of Lord Kitchener, and there has been renewed activity during the week among the Boer forces. A few small engagements have been reported. At Ventersdorp the Boers were defeated and followed up so closely that they lost 9 guns, 77 wagons, and 140 prisoners, with a considerable amount of ammunition.
A destructive cyclone swept through the city of Birmingham, Alabama, on the morning of March 25. The cyclone cut a path 150 feet wide, smashing or carrying away stores and dwellings. Seventeen persons are reported dead, and a much larger number are more or less seriously injured as a result of its work. The property loss in the city is placed at $250,000.
There will be no negroes in the legislative halls of the Capitol at Washington during the next session. The last Congress contained only one, George E. White, of North Carolina; and owing to the movement which is now spreading in the South for the disfranchisement of colored voters, it seems probable that he is the last of his race to be elected to that position.
The Spanish minister at Washington received from Secretary Hay, on March 23, a treasury warrant for $100,000. This is to pay for the islands belonging to the Philippine group which were not included in the treaty of peace signed between America and Spain on December 19, 1898.
The Chicago Great Western Railroad has issued a sweeping order to its employees prohibiting them from using intoxicating liquor in any form or at any time. They must not enter saloons whether on or off duty, under penalty of dismissal.
A woman and her two sons, of Seattle, Wash., claim to have discovered the long-lost secret of tempering copper. They have made copper knives and other utensils which seem to be as hard as tempered steel.
The latest advices from the republic of Colombia state that there is renewed activity on the part of the rebels in the vicinity of Panama, and that the government is hard pressed to keep the rebels out of the city.
For several days the middle western States have been in the grip of a most severe snow storm, which has caused considerable suffering and materially interfered with railway traffic.
The Oregon and Oriental Steamship Company has decided to establish a monthly steamship service between the ports of San Francisco and Manila.
A big furniture trust is in process of organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to be capitalized at between seven and eight million dollars.
The latest news from Venezuela is to the effect that the western part of the little republic is in a state of practical anarchy.
There is to be a congress of American republics held in the city of Mexico in October next.
Attorney-General Briggs has resigned from the cabinet of President McKinley.

RESPECT FOR LAW.

By C. M. S.

The condition of this world being such as it is, God recognizes the necessity for the existence of human law. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.” I Peter 2: 13, 14. “Honor the king,” is another injunction from the Lord. Again: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Rom. 13: 1, 2. “Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Verse 7.
God never instituted nor recognizes the necessity for anarchy. That condition, however, began in heaven, and is now being culminated in this earth. But right at the time when that work of discord is being finished, when riot and wrath are revelling in the earth and justice standeth afar off, God sounds the warning to His children to resist temptation to anarchism. The remainder of the thirteenth chapter of Romans shows to what particular period of this world the warning above quoted has application. It is in that time when it is “high time to wake out of sleep;” it is in that period when our salvation is “nearer than when we believed;” it is at that time when it can be said that “the night is far spent,” and “the day is at hand.”
Why was such a warning given for this particular time? The answer is given in unmistakable language in every daily paper that comes to our table; for rioting and wantonness are now abroad in the land; murders and suicides are piling up at a fearful rate; the murderer or the suspected murderer is tried in the darkness by men whose brains are heated with passion, and guilty or not guilty, pays with his life for his or his executioners’ disregard for the law. Hangings and burnings at the stake in the presence of men, women, and children have been multiplying of late. The crimes with which the victims were charged were cruel crimes, malignant, fiendish crimes; but the popular disrespect for law is equally deplorable, because of its terrible influence upon those who witness such things. Crime is never cured by crime; arsenic is no antidote for arsenic; and the punishment of crime with crime is breeding criminals. Children who look upon these summary executions soon learn to imitate their elders in breaking law themselves or executing individual vengeance upon others, and hatred for the law-breaker thus becomes hatred for the law itself. The fearful prevalence of crime, as God knew it would be in these last days, was ample reason for God’s warning to the people in this generation. This admonition and the prevalence of crime now are indications both of the infallibility of God’s Word and of His loving forethought for His children. When God admonishes us, it is because admonition is necessary to our safety; and at this time when anarchy is abroad in the land, He would have His children to “walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying;” because “The night is far spent,” and “the day is at hand.”
And let us remember one thing, that while we are counseling respect for law, we do not teach that worst of all anarchy, disrespect for the law of the Infinite, by claiming the abolition of the law of God. Satan tried it in heaven, and brought discord into the whole universe of God. He is still trying it on earth, and has many valiant supporters in the pulpits of the land to-day. It is a sad thing that it is so; but it is so nevertheless. He who teaches the abrogation of God’s law is teaching the very root of all anarchy, the anarchy that brought sin into the world. Christ, speaking thru the psalmist, declares, “All Thy commandments are righteousness” (Ps. 119: 172), and, “The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting” (Ps. 119: 144). “Let God be true,” and let all His followers honor His law, setting an example to all the world in loving obedience to Him.
C. M. S.

A New Mohammedan Prophet in Central Africa

A new Mohammedan prophet, or Mahdi, has arisen in Central Africa, and has proclaimed himself leader of the Islamites.

IF IT WERE ONLY TRUE.

A POOR student who starved and studied himself into insanity at Harvard is taken as a text by a San Francisco daily for a sermon against “Vegetarianism.” It says:—
“There is no doubt that vegetarianism would be an ideal dietetic condition. There is something repulsive in eating huge pieces of meat, murdering our fellow-animals to obtain them. But, constituted as at present, meat-eating is an absolute necessity, especially when hard mental effort is required.
“Our teeth are arranged for meat-eating, as well as for the eating of vegetables. Our stomachs are arranged for meat-eating. Our nerves crave meat, and this craving increases enormously with increase of mental activity.”
Now, the greater part of this is superlative nonsense. Not only man’s ideal diet, but man’s original diet, is anti-flesh. “Vegetarian” is not the proper term, because it carries with it the idea of vegetables instead of the vegetable kingdom. Man is graminivorous and frugivorous in his diet. It was fruits and grains that God gave him as his original bill of fare. Gen. 1:29.
It certainly is not good from a purely physical view-point to eat that which is repulsive. The mind has much to do with digestion. That which is repellant to a refined taste must, in the very nature of the case, have a disturbing effect upon the stomach.
There is a kind of vegetarian diet which is unwholesome. The commingling of fruits and grains and vegetables, often illy-prepared and half-cooked, with perhaps the addition of sugar, milk, and pastry, would be too much for the stomach of a horse. But we know from years of experience,—hundreds of others know from experience,—that a properly-cooked, properly-combined diet of fruit and grains is not only a wholesome diet, but one favorable to “hard mental effort.” In fact, mental workers who have found only trouble and sickness in a meat diet, have been completely cured and rejuvenated by the adoption of a diet of fruits and grains, or fruits, grains, and vegetables. They have had pleasurable satisfaction in knowing that no life has been sacrificed for their appetite, and that the food is clean and free from disease.
There may be old people for whom it is difficult to change from a mixed to an anti-flesh diet; but such cases are few indeed, if the mind is convinced, and the heart is in the effort. If there is still a craving for the flesh-pots of Egypt, while feeding on the better ideal diet, it can not be expected that that diet will do the most good. It will not “set well” on the stomach. The mind will not let it.
As to animals, the purely vegetarian rank as high mentally as the flesh-eating ones; as, for instance, the elephant and the horse.
It may be well to say, that one of the great desiderata in the preparation of grains and vegetables is thoro cooking, and cooking so as to retain the native sweetness of the article, unsoaked with grease. Baking in almost all cases is to be preferred.
Fruits and vegetables should not be eaten at the same meal. It is a bad combination. Some can not eat the legumes—peas, beans, and lentils—with fruit. Starch foods should be thoroly masticated, and mixed with saliva; not washed down with drink of any sort. Taking time to eat a simple, well-cooked, properly-combined diet, and the “vegetarian” will hold his own with physical or mental workers among the “eaters of flesh.”
In conclusion, remember the old proverb: “Eat ye that which is good; custom will render it most delightful.” The flesh-eater admits that grains and fruits and vegetables are good.

DO WE CATCH HEALTH OR DISEASE?

By David Paulson, M.D.

THE idea has so long dominated us that the body is all the time catching disease, that this notion has become almost natural to us. In our minds, disease has been invested with a certain kind of personality that we either catch or it catches us. This is well illustrated by the anxious mother asking how long it will be before the fever is “driven out” or “driven in,” as the case may be. Some persons think that if they can only get sufficiently strong medicines, disease can be “broken,” much as an animal’s neck might be. These are all scattering remnants of that erroneous notion that has come down to us from the ancient days when a sick man, no matter what was the form of his malady, was supposed to be “possessed of the devil.” Therefore, consistently enough, the more distressing the physical condition, the more obnoxious and distasteful was the remedy employed to drive it out. And even to-day there are many who find it much easier to rest their faith on the contents of a vile-smelling bottle than on some simple remedy which would enable nature to right its physical derangement.
As a matter of fact, from infancy to old age the body is constantly catching health. If this were not so, there could be no hope for the sick man ever again to recover health when once he had squandered it. It is the same healing, growing, and restoring power that is operating constantly in health that enables the invalid to recover health when it is lost; only the sick man becomes wonderfully enthusiastic, or else his friends or attendants do, to see that he comes in touch with healing forces, and has something done for him that gives this wonderful restorative power of nature a chance to operate. If he had taken half the care of himself before he was ill, he would have reaped a correspondingly greater degree of physical power. God certainly has no different dispensation for a sick man than He has for a well man. It is a part of His plan that we should constantly be catching health. “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health.” 3 John 2.
When God’s Word declares a certain thing to be His wish, we may be sure that there is an arrangement that represents exactly this desire; and while we are in health, we ought to show our gratitude for this arrangement by doing all in our power to come into harmony with it, thus reaching out for more and more health. In other words, like David, we should drink more and more deeply of the “cup of salvation” (Ps. 116:13), instead of doing what such a large proportion of humanity are constantly doing,—daily sipping of the cup which has in it their own physical destruction.
The body can be made to take disease, just as an unwilling animal can sometimes be made to drink. The body can be trampled upon and crushed and weakened, until the microbes and other contending forces become its master; but as soon as it has a suitable opportunity, we find it again reaching out after health.

When to Cure Disease.

To be absolutely certain that nature will make a success of curing a disease, it is best to give it an opportunity to cure before the disease begins. Instead of trifling with the question of health, continually violating nature’s laws, here and there treating this or that demand of nature with indifference, thus inviting disease, we should make it a part of our daily business to be laying up a greater and still greater store of physical energy. Every one of us can be engaged in curing diseases before they begin. It is rarely the case that typhoid fever germs, malaria germs, consumption germs, etc., can find a lodgement in the human body unless it has already begun to fall into decay. In other words, the body must be ill before the man can become sick with these diseases.
Chicago, Ill. DAVID PAULSON, M.D.

THE DANGEROUS DIET.

By C. M. S.

THE movement toward a reform in diet is a most commendable one, and it is a pleasure to note the fact that the movement is growing in strength and influence. Vegetarian restaurants are increasing in our large cities, and vegetarian societies are increasing in membership.
With the multiplication of diseases in all the animal kingdom, and the liability of their transmission to the human body by eating the diseased food, this growing influence in favor of the no-meat diet is positively refreshing. Like all good things, it is occasionally injured in the fold of its friends by those who do not know how to temper zeal with knowledge. The extremist is bound to get into trouble, no matter with what good movement he may associate himself.
The recent death of a college student who had practically starved himself on a very meager diet, has been made much of by certain newspapers unfriendly to the rational diet, and these have taken occasion to show the necessity for an unstinted meat diet where intellectual activity is required. As a matter of fact there is a class of literature being produced at the present time which does require a strong meat diet with liquor and tobacco adjuncts; but it is a meat-liquor-tobacco literature, as unwholesome to the mind as the diet is to the body; and the flagging imagination is whipped up to its sensational task by these health- and mind-destroying stimulants. Good, plain, wholesome food is not relished by the one who continually flavors his food with hot spices or tobacco sauce; and good, wholesome, elevating reading is insipid to the mind fed on a literature which such a diet begets. The blood of a human being loaded down with the impurities contained in the meat he has eaten, can not generate the highest, purest thoughts in the brain to which it is sent. If we saturate the system with intoxicants, the brain registers the fact at once. Inhale coal gas, and the head “swims.” The influence of the epicurean diet is not so rapid or noticeable, but it is none the less certain. Poisoned blood can not make a healthy brain; an unhealthy brain can not produce the purest and most elevating thoughts. The alcoholic stomach does not crave pure water, the tobacco, liquor, and meat-poisoned brain does not crave solid, serious, helpful literature. The food of Eden was a pure food with no suggestion of flesh of any kind; and the food of Eden restored will be as pure as that of the Eden lost. Nowhere in the Bible is there a hint that man shall live upon the flesh of other creatures when sin has been purged from the universe of God. Flesh-eating is one of the results of sin. It will not be found when sin is no more; and they who are wise, who are seeking to put away sinful tendencies, will not cling to this sin-breeding child of sin.
On the other hand, we are told something of what will be the food of man when redemption is complete. First and most important, they shall “eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7. “They shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.” Amos 9:14. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.” Isa. 65:25. Flesh shall not feed upon flesh there, nor life be taken to sustain other life; but all will be peace and joy and satisfaction. For the good of His people there, God will feed them upon the fruits of the earth. If such a diet is good for man when sin has run its course, it certainly is good for man when suffering from the effects of sin. There never was a time in the history of the world when we needed purer food than right now; and there never was a time when much of the food eaten by man in general was more impure than it is now. He who would have health now can not afford to load down his system thru the food he eats, with the impurities and diseases of other creatures. C. M. S.

LET SOMETHING GOOD BE SAID.

By James Whitcomb Riley

WHEN over the fair fame of friend or foe The shadow of disgrace shall fall, instead Of words of blame, or proof of thus and so, Let something good be said.
Forget not that no fellow-being yet May fall so low but love may lift his head; Even the cheek of shame with tears is wet If something good be said.
No generous heart may vainly turn aside In ways of sympathy; no soul so dead But may awaken strong and glorified If something good be said.
And so I charge ye; by the thorny crown, And by the cross on which the Saviour bled, And by your own soul’s hope of fair renown, Let something good be said.
—James Whitcomb Riley

HOW MEG TOOK THE TIRED OFF AUNT ROXY.

By Julia H. Johnson

[By Julia H. Johnson, in Union Signal.]
MEG sat thoughtfully reading her Sunday-school paper in the back yard under the maple tree. The birds were making merry above her in the branches, but she was too deeply interested in what she read to listen now.
It was a simple little story enough; but Meg thought it very sweet, and so it was. It told of Rosamond’s Rest, a home established for sick and poor people in memory of a little girl who said she “loved to take the tired off people.”
“Why, that’s what I’d love to do,” said little Meg with tender thoughts in her eyes and hovering about her lips in the dimples. A heartsome, merry little soul she was, always happy and longing to make others so. It is one good way to help others, to be happy one’s self—do you know it? Happiness is often “catching,” and so are the dolefuls, too, more’s the pity.
Meg began to think of the tired people she knew. They were not very many in number, but there was one who came into her mind. Poor Aunt Roxy, who lived in the tiny house around the corner, and stayed by herself so much. That wasn’t so bad, being by herself, if she had been happy; but she seemed to be anxious and tired all the time. She had to work hard, it is true, and that made her tired; but Meg thought that was a small part of it, and she was right.
“It makes Aunt Roxy feel all tired out to watch for her boy to come home nights, I know that,” said wise little Meg to herself. “She never seems to get rested one bit. I wish I could take the tired off a little.”
The very first thing that came to her mind to do was to make Aunt Roxy a little visit, and with mother’s leave Meg started off to the wee brown house.
Aunt Roxy did look more tired than ever, it seemed. But Meg looked her brightest as she said, “I’ve come to see you a little while, Aunt Roxy.” Everybody called her this for some reason. Perhaps because, as Meg said, “she seemed so sort of unfaintified and good to every one.”
How it happened can not be told; but somehow Meg seemed so sweet and full of sympathy, that as Aunt Roxy went on with the ironing that must not stop, for she made her living by her work, she found herself telling her trouble to the listener perched by her table. This was the first time she had owned up that she had a trouble, tho others knew it, for Meg had heard her mother speak of it. Aunt Roxy’s boy, Ned, had not been going wrong so very long; but it seemed as if it would break his mother’s heart in a short time.
“That saloon he passes every day just seems too much for him. He can’t go by without stopping, since the boys got him to go in.” And Aunt Roxy dropped a tear that proved to be an extra sprinkle on the handkerchief she was ironing, for it was damp enough already.
“Well, I guess he’ll learn by and by, not to go in,” said Meg hopefully. “You just pray about it hard, Aunt Roxy, and I will, too.”
“Bless you, child,” said the poor mother, looking brighter. “Nobody ever offered to do that afore. I tell you, that helps. You’ve cheered me up a lot just by that.”
When Meg went home, she felt as if she had taken a little of the tired off one person, and it made her glad. It seemed such a sweet thing to do that she wanted to keep on.
So it came about that Meg made frequent visits to brighten up Aunt Roxy with her cheery, hopeful talk, and the assurance that she kept on praying for Ned.
But this did not seem enough to do. If only she could help Ned to go by the saloon, that would rest his mother altogether. She thought and thought, but she prayed and prayed, and no wonder a plan came to her. If she could get Ned to take the way past her house, he would not go by the saloon at all. The only chance she had was at noon; but she used that, and began to go down to the corner so that she could see Ned coming, and walk up with him. They used to be great friends; and when Ned saw the rosy face, he smiled; and when Meg trotted along beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he could not bear to turn off the other way and go by Schneider’s. So once in the day for several days, Meg took Ned home the safe way.
As Ned had not been going wrong very long, it was easier to turn him, so what a good thing that Meg began in time, dear child. He would not for anything have this little friend know that he went to Schneider’s.
But one day, at the Band of Hope, Meg got some pretty pledge cards made by the leader. Keepsake cards, they were called, two fastened by a ribbon, and when one signed the pledge, he was to sign both and keep one card, while the one giving the card kept the other, and part of the ribbon.
The cards were beautiful, and Meg said to herself, “O, they are so pretty. Surely Ned will sign a keepsake card for me.”
And one day, walking beside him, she asked him in the prettiest way, “just for a keepsake,” she said.
In a moment it rushed into Ned’s mind, what it would be to make his little friend ashamed of him because he was unfit to walk with her. Then he thought of his mother’s anxious face. “I’ll do it,” he said, and he looked at the words, “God helping me.”
“You blessed child!” cried Aunt Roxy, the next time Meg went over. “I never was so happy in all my life, and you’ve helped to make me feel so.” And looking up, Meg saw that the tired was all gone from her face. But Ned’s taking the pledge was, in itself, worth even more than this.

JUDGE NOT.

HOW MANY are there who can not find in the following colloquy between Jack and his mother a lesson for themselves? Jack charges his brother with sin, and is surprised to find that he himself is the sinner instead of his brother.
“O mama!” cried Jack, running into the sitting-room where his mother was sewing, “Sidney is breaking a commandment, he is—‘Thou shalt not steal,’—and I should think he would be ashamed of himself.”
“Why, Jack,” said his mother in surprise, “what can you mean?”
“He is, truly, mama,” said Jack, hopping about on one foot, and seeming rather to enjoy the fact. “I saw him getting sugar out of the sugar-bowl, and you know you told us not to.”
“O—h,” said mama, in a tone of relief, “that’s it, is it? Come here, Jack,” and taking her little boy’s hand she drew him to her side. “Do you think it such a dreadful thing to break a commandment, dear?”
“Why, yes, mama, of course,” answered Jack, astonished that his mother should ask such a question.
“You would not do it?”
“No, indeed, mama.”
“Then you think you are very much better than Sidney?”
Jack hung his head at that question, but did not say so.
“Now, Jack, I want you to see how mistaken you are. You think you would not break a commandment; but because you are so able to believe evil of your brother, you are really breaking the command which says, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness.’ Do you know what that means, Jack?”
“Yes, mama, you said it meant saying what was not true about any one; but Sidney was stealing, for I saw him.”
“He was taking sugar, Jack, but are you sure he was stealing?”
“Yes,” answered Jack, “and now I s’pose he’s going away to eat it.”
At that moment the door opened, and Sidney came into the room, his bright, manly little face not looking at all as tho he were ashamed of himself.
“Here is the sugar for Dickie, mama,” he said, slipping the lump between the wires of the cage, “and here is a letter for you. I saw the postman coming and waited a minute for him.”
“Thank you, dear,” said mama, smiling at him, and then she turned and looked at Jack.—Sunbeam.

SECOND-HAND FOODS.

There is nothing of worth in flesh foods that is not also to be found existing in vegetable foodstuffs. Flesh meat is, in fact, only costly second-hand vegetable food. Not only is that true but the production of flesh meats occupies an area enormously disproportionate to its nutritive value as tested by cost. Half an acre of land would suffice for the maintenance of an adult man sustained on grain, while twenty-two acres would be necessary to feed him on meats.—Vegetarian Messenger.

The Best Thing Is Being Good

“The best thing we can do, infinitely the best, indeed the only thing that men may receive the truth, is to be true ourselves. Beyond all doing of good is the being good.”

FLY SHUTTLE CARPET LOOM

The best, handiest, easiest running, cheapest, and most durable

FLY SHUTTLE CARPET LOOM

In the world,—100 yards a day. Catalogue free. EUREKA LOOM CO. 5018 Main St., Battle Creek, Mich.
When you write, please mention the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Wanted: Sabbath-Keeping Companion

Wanted.—An intelligent woman, preferably 35 or 40 years of age, who is a Sabbath-keeper, to assist in light housework and as a companion to my wife. Address, R. T. Harrod, M. D., Checotah, I. T.

Salesmen Wanted for Paints and Varnishes

Wanted.—Salesmen to travel with most complete line of Paints, Colors, and Varnishes on the market. Jewel Refining Co., Paint Department, Cleveland, Ohio.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF HEALDSBURG COLLEGE.

By Clarence Santee; N. C. McClure; M. E. Cady; G. W. Rine; M. C. Wilcox; Truman Sterling; M. H. Brown; Jas. Peoples

NOTICE is hereby given that the 20th annual meeting of the stockholders of the Healdsburg College will be held on Monday, April 15, 1901, at 11 o’clock A.M. in South College building, Healdsburg, Cal., for the purpose of electing a board of seven directors and transacting any other business that shall lawfully come before the stockholders.
By order of trustees, Clarence Santee.　　N. C. McClure. M. E. Cady.　　　　G. W. Rine. M. C. Wilcox.　　　Truman Sterling. M. H. Brown.　　　Jas. Peoples, Sec’y.

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING COMPANY.

By C. H. Jones; T. A. Kilgore

THE annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California, will be held at the office of the company, corner of Twelfth and Castro Streets, in the city of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, on Monday, the 22d day of April, A.D. 1901, at 9:30 A.M., for the purpose of electing a board of seven directors, and transacting any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
By order of C. H. Jones,
President of Pacific Press Publishing Company.
T. A. KILGORE,
Secretary of Pacific Press Publishing Company.
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