Earlier text: The Teachings of St. Peter's CathedralThe Work in Australia.
By E. J. Burnham
SINCE the quarterly meeting, the work in Melbourne has seemed to receive a new impetus. Two tract-society meetings are held each week: one at Prahran in connection with the Sunday afternoon Bible-readings conducted by Brother Scott, and one in North Fitzroy in connection with the Wednesday evening prayer-meeting. A large proportion of the church-members have undertaken to dispose of a certain number of papers each week, either selling or loaning them. In this way a large number of papers is used, the truth is brought before many minds, and the workers receive the fulfillment of the promise, "He that watereth shall be watered also himself." Our prayer-meetings were excellent before; but there has been a larger attendance, and new interest and life, since this movement commenced. Elder M. C. Israel was with us last Sabbath, and conducted an interesting Bible-reading. Some church matters also received attention. The next day we had a Sabbath-school picnic. A ride on the cars of about an hour brought us to Mentone, and from there it was but a short walk to the beach, where the picnic was held. The exercises were very enjoyable. Short speeches were made by Brother Scott, the superintendent, by Brother Israel, and by Brother Shepard, one of the Australian Sabbath-keepers, and two interesting recitations were given. Music was liberally interspersed, the singers being accompanied by an organ and other instruments. After dinner the time was given up to recreation until about half past five, when we came together for a little more music. Then followed a short walk through pleasant fields back to the station, and we returned to Melbourne with pleasant memories of our picnic at Mentone by the sea. The church at Ballarat is rapidly developing into an active, working church. The members not only distribute reading matter, but they go out and hold Bible-readings also. Several are engaging in the canvassing work. One man who belongs to the Salvation Army is canvassing for one of Dr. Kellogg's works. The church at Ballarat, like that in Melbourne, takes a great interest in Sister White's writings. In several families selections from the Testimonies are read at the hour of family worship. At Majorca, where Brother Israel has spent some time since the quarterly meetings, two have commenced to keep the Sabbath. Brethren Arnold and Wainman are now canvassing in Tasmania. They report good success. Thirty-five have signed the covenant in Adelaide, and others are keeping the Sabbath. The extremely stormy weather that we had about a week ago interfered with the tent-meetings to some extent; but the weather is excellent now, and Elder Corliss reports that the work goes on smoothly, and the Lord blesses. E. J. BURNHAM.
Melbourne, Nov. 3. It was my privilege to attend the late European Council at Grimsby, England. Never was I more deeply impressed with the great importance of such yearly gatherings in securing the advantages of different gifts and different experiences, in inspiring faith, hope, and courage in the laborers, and in giving a general mould of unity to the work in its various branches. On my way to the Council I visited the church of Branges. I had not been at Branges since organizing this church, two years ago last September. It was a refreshing season both to the writer and to the church. This company are manifesting a missionary spirit, not only in laboring in their vicinity, but also in sending out two of their ablest men as colporters. Upon my return to Nimes, Brother Ertzenberger, who had faithfully stood by the effort both in my presence and in my absence, left to join Brother Conradi in the work in German Switzerland. Sister White and Brother and Sister Ings soon joined us at Nimes, and remained over two weeks, during which time I interpreted twelve times for Sister White and eight times for Brother Ings, whose instructions in the tract and missionary work were appreciated. A tract society of eighteen members was organized, each paying five francs for membership. The society is now being set at work with a club of twenty Signes des Temps, and small packages of tracts with bands on which are printed instructions that will help the workers, as well as those who receive the tracts. One encouraging feature of Sister White's labors, with the blessing of God, has been the restoration of a young man for whom we had felt deeply, who is now preparing to labor in the gospel field for the French and the German people. We had done all we could to help the young man, but the faithful and merciful testimony, which has so often proved successful in such cases, proved to be effectual in this case, greatly relieving us, and leaving us another clear evidence in favor of the timeliness and importance of the gift of prophecy. I accompanied Sister White and Brother and Sister Ings on their way to Italy as far as Valence, France, where is still a small company of believers, and where the same good work of building up and restoring was carried on. We hope that as one result of this brief effort another young man will be saved to the cause. If we take into account the magnitude of the work to be accomplished in France and its colonies, we can truly say that but comparatively little labor and a small amount of means have been bestowed in this field until the present season. If God gave so encouraging a measure of success at different points during the fifteen weeks that we labored in France all alone and in great feebleness, what will he not now do for France if we bring into service faithful and devoted young men who have the cause at heart and are willing to labor at a sacrifice and with a commendable missionary spirit? Brethren Comte and Badaut, who have labored faithfully at Nimes, are now working in adjacent villages, and report success in ripening other fields for more public efforts. Yesterday a woman of property and respectability came to our hall, a distance of fifteen miles, and urged us to pitch our tent in her village, offering us the use of ground on which to place the tent. Dear brethren in America, with grateful hearts in view of past blessings, we still solicit your prayers and financial support, that France may stand on her own feet and walk alone at the earliest possible date. I find myself quite feeble of late, especially since my return from England. We have had more rain this fall than has been witnessed in any one season for thirty years. The unexpected extremes in the climate are unfavorable to my lungs. But I trust in God, casting my burdens upon him, and asking to be remembered in your prayers.
D. T. Bourdeau.
5 Rue Frères Mineurs 5, Nimes, France, Nov. 11. NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON.
THE declaration of verse 11 marks the close of probation, which is the close of Christ's work as mediator. But we are taught by the subject of the sanctuary that this work closes with the examination of the cases of the living in the investigative Judgment. When this is accomplished, the irrevocable fiat can go forth. But when the cases of the living are reached in the work of Judgment, we apprehend that what remains to be done will be so speedily accomplished that all these cases may almost be said to be decided simultaneously. We have therefore no occasion to speculate as to the order of work among the living, that is, whose cases will be decided first and whose last, nor whether it will be known that any are decided before all is finished.11 CHRIST here applies to himself the appellation of Alpha and Omega. As applied to him the expression must be taken in a more limited sense than when applied to the Father, as in chap. 1:8. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, of the great plan of salvation. Verse 14, as before noticed, is the language of Christ. The commandments of which he speaks are his Father's. Reference can be had only to the ten commandments as delivered on Mount Sinai. He pronounces a blessing upon those who keep them. Thus, in the closing chapter of the word of God, and near the very close of the last testimony which the faithful and true Witness there left for his people, he solemnly pronounces a blessing upon those who keep the commandments of God. Let those who believe in the abolition of the law, weigh well this fact. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Verse 17. Thus are all invited to come. The Lord's love for mankind would not be satisfied in merely preparing the blessings of eternal life, opening the way to them, and announcing that all might come who would; but he sends out an earnest invitation to come. He sets it forth as a favor done to himself, if persons will come and partake of the infinite blessings provided by his infinite love. His invitation, how gracious! how full! how free! None of those who are finally lost will ever have occasion to find fault with the provisions that have been made for their salvation. They can never find fault with the light that has been granted to show them the way of life. They can never find fault with the invitations and entreaties that Mercy has given them to turn and live. From the very beginning there has been a power exerted, as strong as could be and still leave man his own free agent—a power to draw him heavenward and raise him from the abyss into which he had fallen. Come! has been the entreaty of the Spirit, from the lips of God himself, from the lips of his prophets, from the lips of his apostles, and from the lips of his Son, even while in his infinite compassion and humility he was paying the debt of our transgression. THE last message of mercy that is now going forth, is another and final utterance of divine long-suffering and compassion. Come, is the invitation it gives. Come, for all things are ready. And the last sound that will fall from Mercy's lips on the ear of the sinner, ere the thunders of vengeance burst upon him, will be the heavenly invitation, Come. So great is the loving-kindness of a merciful God to rebellious man. Yet they will not come. Acting independently and deliberately, they refuse to come. So when they shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and themselves thrust out, they will have no one to accuse, no one to blame but their own selves. THE bride also says, Come. But the bride is the city, and how does that say, Come? If we could be strengthened to behold the living glories of that city, and should be permitted to gaze upon its dazzling beauty, and be assured that we had a perfect right to enter therein, and bathe in that ocean of bliss and blessedness, and revel in its glory forever and ever, would it not then say to us, Come, with a persuasion which no power could resist? Who of us in view of this could turn away and say, I have no desire for an inheritance there? BUT though we cannot now look upon that city, the unfailing word of God has promised it, and that is sufficient to inspire in us an implicit and living faith; and through the channel of that faith it says to us, Come. Come, if you would inherit mansions where sickness, sorrow, pain, and death can never enter; if you would have a right to the tree of life, and pluck its immortal fruit, and eat and live; if you would drink of the water of the river of life, that flows from the throne of God, clear as crystal. Come, if you would obtain through those glittering gates of pearl an abundant entrance into the eternal city; if you would walk its streets of transparent gold; if you would behold its glowing foundation stones; if you would see the King in his beauty on his azure throne. "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Verses 20, 21. The word of God is given to instruct us in reference to the plan of salvation. The second coming of Christ is to be the climax and completion of that great scheme; it is most appropriate, therefore, that the book should close with the solemn announcement, Behold, I come quickly. Be it ours to join with fervent hearts in the response of the apostle, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." THUS closes the volume of inspiration—closes with that which constitutes the best of all promises, and the substance of the Christian's hope, the return of Christ. Then shall the elect be gathered and bid a long farewell to all the ills of this mortal life. How rich in all that is precious to the Christian is this promise. Wandering an exile in this evil world, separated from the few of like precious faith, he longs for the companionship of the righteous, the communion of saints. Here he shall obtain it; for all the good shall be gathered, not from one land only, but from all lands; not from one age only, but from all ages,—the great harvest of all the good, coming up in long and glorious procession, while angels shout the harvest home, and the timbrels of Heaven sound forth in joyous concert,—and a song before unheard, unknown, in the universe, the song of the redeemed, shall add its marvelous notes of rapture and melody to the universal jubilee. So shall the saints be gathered, to be joyful in each other's presence forever and ever. "While the glory of God, like a molten sea, Bathes the immortal company." —Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. (Sabbath, December 11.)
1. How did some of the followers of Jesus feel as he was on his last journey to Jerusalem?
“And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them; and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him.” Mark 10:32. 2. What cause had they for fear?
“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence; for Herod will kill thee.” Luke 13:31. 3. When Jesus had taken the twelve apart, what did he tell them? Mark 10:32, last part of the verse. 4. Unto whom did he say he should be delivered when he arrived at Jerusalem?
“Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.” Verse 33. 5. How would they treat him? Same verse. What did he say the Gentiles would do after the Jews had delivered him into their hands?
“And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him; and the third day he shall rise again.” Verse 34. 7. Did the disciples comprehend what Jesus told them?
“And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” Luke 18:34. 8. Why could they not understand such plain statements? Same verse. 9. What did they seem to be expecting that Jesus would do when he arrived at Jerusalem?
—They evidently thought he was about to set up his kingdom upon the earth. 10. In view of this, what request was made by the sons of Zebedee?
“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” Mark 10:35-37. 11. Because of these false notions, what did Jesus do?
“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” Luke 19:11. 12. What did he say the kingdom of heaven was like?
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” Matt. 25:14. 13. How did the nobleman dispose of his goods before starting on his journey? Same verse. 14. How did he distribute them?
“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Verse 15. 15. Why did he thus give unequal portions to different ones? Same verse. 16. What course was pursued by the servant who received five talents?
“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.” Verse 16. 17. What by the one who received two talents?
“And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.” Verse 17. 18. What did the servant do who received but one talent?
“But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.” Verse 18. 19. After a long time what did the lord of the servants do?
“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” Verse 19. 20. What report was made by the man who had received the five talents?
“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredest unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.” Verse 20. 21. What did the man report who had received the two talents?748
“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredest unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.” Verse 22. 22. What did their lord say to each of them?
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Verses 21, 23. 23. When the servant to whom but one talent was entrusted was called up, what preamble did he make?
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed.” Verse 24. 24. What account did he finally give of his lord's money?
“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine.” Verse 25. 25. How did his lord condemn him from his own words?
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.” Verses 26, 27. 26. What command was given concerning the slothful servant?
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.” Verse 28. 27. What general principle did our Lord then lay down?
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Verse 29. 28. To what was the unprofitable servant doomed?
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verse 30. 29. What are the talents which the Lord of the earth has given to his servants?—Talents of health, strength, intellect, wealth, skill, and everything else by which a man may benefit others. 30. How may these talents be improved upon to divine acceptance?—By using them to the glory of God and the good of mankind. 31. What special incentive should prompt all men to faithfulness at the present time?—The Lord of the earth is about to return and reckon with his servants. Health and Ill-Health in Women.
By Lucy M. Hall
We are told that nature worships the female in all her varieties. We know that among four-footed animals the female has more endurance, often more strength and swiftness, than the male. The women of savage tribes and those of the lower orders of the peasantry dress as simply and work as hard or harder than the men, and remain as healthy as they. Statistics show that one-third more women than men reach advanced age; also that more male children die than female. It is also true that from the dawn of prenatal existence the female child has a more tenacious grasp upon life than the male. It is pretty conclusively proven that, in the great plan of creation, that portion of it destined to give birth to all its succeeding generations was endowed with a superior vitality. Does the present status of the health of woman fulfill this beneficent purpose of her Creator? That it does not is a fact so patent as scarcely to need affirmation. . . . There is no denying the fact that there are more ailing women, more women in the hands of physicians real and pretended, more women to whom the day brings suffering and the night weariness and pain, than there are men. . . . Then comes the question, Is lowered vitality in women necessarily the outcome of a high state of civilization, or is she thwarting the divine plan of her organization by needless artificialities and faulty modes of life which are entirely under her control? To the first part of this question we believe the answer should be, No. To the second, an unqualified Yes. . . . Probably there is no influence which affects so large a number of women of all classes to the injury or destruction of health as improper modes of dress. After this, lack of vigorous muscular exercise; in-door life; in the poor and middle classes, too much work and worry with too little recreation; in the wealthy, absence of suitable employment for mind or body. And we need not wonder that the doctors are overworked in trying to undo the results of these manifold evils arrayed against the health of women. . . . It is useless to say, as many have done, that women do not need to exert themselves for a livelihood, therefore they have no incentive for changing their modes of dress. There is an army of women working in our schools, another in our shops and stores, another in our manufactories, another in our kitchens, and a still greater one staggering under the double burden of maternity and household cares—all of them trammeled and made weary by this needless demand upon their strength. Worse still, there is an army of growing girls, all doomed to suffer, many of them irremediably, because of thoughtlessly conforming to established follies for which they are not responsible. The training begins with the toddling bit of feminine humanity at that interesting age when the unconditioned citizenship of babyhood has been outgrown. Then are brought to bear the many artificial distinctions which civilized woman employs to proclaim to the world that she has a being, not simply of flesh and blood, as is her boy, but one who is all sex, who must be thenceforward reared in accordance with this one predominating and all-engrossing idea. Nothing is more essential to healthy mental growth than unconsciousness of self; and yet, well aware of this fact, an intelligent mother will select and arrange the attire of her little daughter so as to attract attention and provoke comment upon all sides. The child's own mind is filled with thoughts of her clothes, because of this and of the inconvenience to herself of wearing and trying to be careful of them. Their style and becomingness are discussed in her presence, as are also her complexion, her eyes, her hair, and her prospects for beauty. If she grows vain and self-conscious—as who would not?—we say, "Oh, she is a girl, and it is the instinct of sex which we behold in her!" I once knew a young man, a vain, unpromising fellow, whose mother had kept him in long curls until he was a well-grown lad; "and that was what spoiled me," he was wont to say. Perhaps he was right, as by being thus an object of especial attention and remark his vanity and egotism were stimulated to a most unhealthy degree. The lesson should not be lost in considering what must be the effect upon the little girl of always being made a conspicuous object. . . . Many mothers who are wise enough to see that their little girls are out-of-doors for a part, at least, of each day, are forgetful of the fact that one-half the benefit which they might derive from this is lost because of the hampering effect of their clothes. I have now in mind a fine child of four or five years, dressed in the most faultless of costumes, marching solemnly up and down the sidewalk behind baby carriage and nurse. I never saw her skip or run, or even laugh, and I have watched her for a year. I see also another upon the same walk, running, as I have seen her do a hundred times, her body bent half double to keep the wind from raking the cumbersome high-topped hat, which, with the disengaged hand, she is trying hard to hold in place upon her head, while her high-heeled little boots threaten to throw her headlong at every careless step. And still another, indulging in an occasional skip when she can long enough forget the ribbons, feathers, and laces, the bracelets, chains, clasps, and lockets, with which her small person is decked whenever she appears upon the sidewalk. Poor little maids! Always to be told that they must never make themselves conspicuous, and at the same time be tricked out with so much nonsensical finery that they are forced upon the attention of all. A strong, simple dress, one which will not keep the rapidly expanding mind of the child turned upon herself and the frivolities of her attire, is what is needed; a dress in which she can romp and play in perfect freedom of limb and muscle, with no fear of tattered edgings, crumpled frills, or tumbled feathers. In short, keep her thoughts better employed than in contemplation of her foolish little self, and let her frolic at her own sweet will. See that she has plain, sensible food, plenty of good milk included; send her to bed at seven in winter and eight in summer; do not let her go to a fashionable children's party, as you value her nerves, her freshness, her sweet childhood. The little girl will thus grow strong and healthy in body and mind. The best of this simple, active life will be that when nature stirs the first flatterings of awakening womanhood in her, there will not be the sickly response of a creature with a mind already full of morbid fancies and over-stimulated sensibilities, with nervous system asserting itself in the foreground, and a weak circulation, feeble digestion, and puny set of muscles occupying some insignificant position in the shadowy background of her physical economy. In such case the all too prominent nerves, in their influence upon newly awakened functions, are sufficient to produce conditions neurotic in the extreme, and resulting in the complete overthrow of the physical balance. With a vigorous body and healthfully trained mind there is little danger of such disturbance at this or any other period of life, and surely at no time is physical and mental activity, purposeful and wisely directed, more necessary than now.—Lucy M. Hall, M. D., in Christian Union. CHAN PONG, a young Chinaman, in a descriptive letter to the Baltimore Sun, gives the customs of school life and marriage in a manner that does credit to his command of the English language:— "I will tell you about our school, that you may see the difference from yours. You have a very easy time at school, and have only a few hours in every day, and besides you have recess to enjoy yourselves. The Chinese school is not so. All the children in China must go to school when they are between eight and nine years of age. We have as many letters in the alphabet in our language as the hairs of a cow, but only use from 3,000 to 3,500. "We do not commence to learn the alphabet first, but learn it as we go along in our reading. The first thing we study is to read Confucius, our religion. The children who first start to school take very few lessons from Confucius. They are instructed by their teachers how to behave, what they ought to do for their parents, and how to pay good respect to strangers. After the first six months they begin to study Confucius, and they study until they get through the Four Kings. Perhaps the children can get through Confucius and the Four Kings in three or four years. Then they go to college if they can afford it. "The Four Kings was written by the disciples of Confucius. He had seventy-two disciples where Christ had twelve. You can never get through college until you become an officer. If you do not want to become an officer, you have to leave college. After breakfast we practice writing two hours. We all study out loud at the same time and on different lessons. You will notice the Chinese when they pass along the street; they go quietly and mind their own business. It is because they were brought up in that way. "We have no way to become an officer except749 through school. We have no voting business or buying votes at all. "The girls are not allowed to go to school since our Emperor Lee-Si-Man's reign, about 1,200 or 1,300 years ago—because they associate with men and write to each other secretly. They would not have a drunkard for a husband, but they would drink a glass of wine with a fast young man. They would not be irreligious, but they smile upon the most irreligious and even immoral men, and show that they love to be wooed by them. This is the virtue of too many women—a virtue scarcely worth the name—really no virtue at all; a hypocritical, hollow pretension to virtue as unwomanly as it is disgraceful. "Now, only the daughters of the officers receive private instructions in their own home, and would not have the old custom any more for young ladies and young gentlemen to associate together before marriage, as in this country. The wives and husbands are selected by their parents. We do not marry to any one that belongs to the same descendants or the same town. It may seem strange to you that we have no choice in the selection of our wives. Yet we have confidence in our parents that they will choose those who are pure and good for us. The Chinese are happy in their married life, and divorces are not known." A WORRYING woman will always, no doubt,
Find something or other to worry about;
She worries at this, and she worries at that,
And nobody knows what she's worrying at. If she sees a small cloud she will worry for fear
A terrible cyclone is hovering near;
If she hears any noise in the night she's in dread,
And fancies a burglar is under her bed. If the children are out she is on the alert
To worry because they may chance to get hurt;
And if they're at home and unusually still,
She's sure to imagine they're dreadfully ill. If a window is open she'll worry and scold
Because she's in danger of getting a cold;
If the windows are closed then she can't get her breath,
And worries for fear she'll be stifled to death. If she travels by boat she imagines the worst
That can happen—is certain the boiler will burst;
And if by the cars she decides to come back,
She is sure that the engine will run off the track. If there's work to be done she is in a great stew,
For fear that the workmen will never get through;
And when they have finished and gone out of sight,
She worries for fear they've not done the work right. If she goes out to shop she is worried for fear
The goods she buys cheap will turn out to be dear;
And if little or much of her money is spent,
She never is happy, and never content. She worries if she remains single too long;
And if she is married she thinks she did wrong;
She worries if she is not treated just right;
And in this way she worries from morning till night. A worrying woman you never can please;
She's always unhappy, and never at ease;
And with nothing to vex her, she'll worry, no doubt,
Because she has nothing to worry about.
—Sel. THE infant son of a well-known citizen of Westfield, N. J., though but just large enough to walk and talk, appears and acts like an intoxicated person. A local physician, in conversation with a World reporter, gave a history of the case. It seems that the parents were very exemplary young people, and began their married life without a cloud to dim their future. No one in the town had better habits than the young husband, but some months after his marriage he lapsed a little from the path of strict temperance. One winter evening the man went from his home ostensibly "to watch with a sick member of the village lodge." He really visited Sam Goschalk's tavern. The trusting wife discovered at 9 o'clock that her husband had forgotten to purchase meat for breakfast and she went to the market. A stormy wind was blowing and the snow was falling, but as she passed the hotel the sound of a man's voice in song came to her ears. She listened but a moment. There was no mistaking her husband's voice, and, scarcely knowing what she did, she looked in at the bar-room window and saw her husband there in a state of beastly intoxication. Some time after this little episode, a son was born to the parents—a fine, healthy infant, bright and comely. Several months later, when the child began to walk and talk, they took him to a physician. The little one could not walk without staggering in a most unseemly and ludicrous manner, and could not lisp baby words without a strange hiccough and hesitation. The doctor, averring that if he had seen such symptoms in an adult he should have pronounced them due to intoxication and nothing else, with little difficulty obtained an account of the unfortunate maternal impression that provoked the peculiar malady with which the child is afflicted. No line of medical treatment could be of use in such a case, and reluctantly the physician gave up the infant boy to his strangely miserable life. There is nothing like catalepsy about the hands, the doctor explained. "There is no healthier child in town. As near as I can explain, the child has muscles and nerves in that condition of action which its father showed when the mother's impression of his intoxication was received. There are no fits or convulsions, though a tremor is always present. In spite of this fact there is no mental weakness. There is no co-ordination in the movements of the lower limbs, and the hands are almost as bad off. His gait is heavy and insecure, a regular drunken reel or stagger. As to his speech, it is not only incoherent and rambling, but he has all the phenomena of exhilaration or excitement characteristic of the earlier stages of intoxication. His ideas seem to flow rapidly, and all of the senses are wonderfully acute; but there are the muscular tremblings and the actual shambling gait of the drunkard." "Is recovery to be hoped for?" the reporter asked. "No," the doctor answered, "it is a hopeless case; impossible to cure. That boy, if he lives, will have the continued appearance of drunkenness, and it cannot be helped. He is drunk, naturally drunk, and though he may become a great scholar, he will never outgrow this malady." The parents of the unfortunate child are very sensitive about his condition, and do not permit visits from strangers. It has, however, been arranged that the parents shall take him before a specialist in nervous diseases that there may be a localization of the malady if possible. It is a very rare case, and among its features is the odd fact that alcohol in any form and in any quantity acts on the child like a poison.—New York World. WHILE talking once with a lady who had passed her fourscore years, she said:— "As I look back over my life, there is one thing that fills me with deep regret; that is, I never had the pleasure with my family that I should. I was always busy, my days were spent in sewing and housework, and my evenings in piecing quilts, and making rugs, and rag carpets. I never realized, until too late, how much the companionship of a mother is worth to her children. No sacrifice that I could make would be considered too great could I only have the privilege now, as I had then, of gathering them around me in pleasant companionship." While living in England I once attended a funeral at a private house in a country neighborhood. I arrived early, and the only occupants of the room were two women who were strangers to me. This is the whispered conversation I heard about the deceased. "Yes," said one, "Maria was a master housekeeper. I never so much as see a speck of dirt about this house in my life." "Well," replied the other, "there ought not to be, for she was eternally a-cleaning. She never took no comfort in anything; no, and not a member of the family had any comfort. She worked till she got awful nervous and broken down; and, just 'twixt you and me, I believe that's what killed Maria."—Western Farmer. An investigator into the mysteries of animal life asserts that a bee's working tools comprise a variety equal to that of the average mechanic. He says that the feet of the common working bee exhibit the combination of a basket, a brush, and a pair of pincers. The brush, the hairs of which are arranged in symmetrical rows, is only to be seen with the microscope. With this brush of fairy delicacy the bee brushes its velvet robe to remove the pollen dust with which it becomes loaded while sucking up the nectar. Another article, hollowed like a spoon, receives all the gleanings which the insect carries to the hive. Finally, by opening them one upon another by means of a hinge, these two pieces become a pair of pincers which render important service in the construction of the comb.—Sel. Fallibility of Drug Clerks.
THE result of experiments made by the health officers of an English city to test the accuracy of prescription clerks in drug stores is not likely to increase public confidence in the mixers of medicine. The officers had prescriptions made out by competent men, so arranged that each should include a full dose of some expensive remedy capable of ready and accurate estimation in a mixture. A series of these samples, in which 120 grains of iodide of potassium were prescribed, were found on analysis to contain 122, 120, and 76 grains respectively; the last was, therefore, made up with hardly two-thirds of the active ingredient ordered. Of three samples which should have contained 16 grains of sulphate of quinine, one contained 9 1/2 grains, or less than two-thirds of the prescribed amount; another sample, which should have contained 40 grains of sulphate of quinine, had but 30 grains. As the quantity in most of the samples fell below the amount prescribed the chief fault with the prescriptions was not so much the risk incurred in administering them to patients as that they defrauded the applicants out of a part of their just dues. Drug clerks are not infallible, and if they err sometimes it is better, no doubt, that they should err on the safe side. The public, however, has a right to expect absolute accuracy in the matter of prescriptions, and no other standard than that should be thought of for a moment by those who deal in drug mixtures. The terrible results of carelessness in this regard are too common to need further comment.—Sel.