OFTIMES is its power manifested through little children who cannot read or write; through simple-minded youths, or persons of less than ordinary intelligence, until brought under the influence of this remarkable power. Then an intelligence is manifested which cannot be accounted for by any known laws of mental phenomena. This would surely come under the head of a new kind of "jugglery."
But there is another phase of this subject which we wish to notice as special evidence of its Satanic origin, and which distinguishes it from every other manifestation of trickery known to men. We refer to the system of doctrines it puts forth to the world. Mere trickery for the purpose of deception always gives evidence of its earthly origin. It does its work for money-making purposes, for present notoriety, and for merely the gratification of the senses.
While these reasons may be connected with spiritualism, and no doubt are often seen, yet there is a deep design manifested in connection with it to subvert the great principles of morality and religion, and to break down all fear of God, and destroy true piety from the earth. This removes it a long way from any mere slight-of-hand trickery. This shows it to be a grand system of error and Satanic cunning intended to undermine and destroy the religion of the Bible. Let us notice a few declarations of its principles by its prominent advocates.
"When spirits begin to speak with man, he must beware that he believe nothing that they say; for nearly everything they say is fabricated by them and they lie—they will tell so many lies that a man would be astonished."—Swedenborg in Banner of Light, March 20, 1869
When Pres. Mahan took a spiritualist book to the Spiritual Telegraph office and asked Mr. Brittan and Dr. Underhill concerning it, they said, "We are not responsible for the sentiments, only for its origin. We do not take the testimony of spirits as reliable. I would not rely upon the responses of any medium."
Said the Crucible, April 23, 1871: "We have learned that, do the best we can, it is impossible to find a medium that can always be made to speak the truth. We can often make them talk eloquently and sometimes logically, but no one can be always made to talk truthfully." All of them lying spirits by their own confession.
It is notorious that Spiritualists almost universally deny the Bible. Says A. J. Davis, Nature is "the true and only Bible." Says Dr. Hare, "The notions derived from the gospel are vague, disgusting, inaccurate, and difficult to believe."—Spiritualism Scientifically Demonstrated, p. 209. Says a spirit claiming to be Rev. John More, "I cannot believe one word of it is the word of God."
They deny Christ. "The miraculous conception of Christ is merely a fabulous tale."—Spiritual Telegraph, No. 372. "Do you hold that Jesus Christ was superior to any other man that ever lived? Ah no, I certainly do not."—Banner of Light, Feb. 5, 1870.
They deny God. W. F. Jamieson says, "I do not believe in a personal God. No great First Cause, NO CREATOR. Space and the worlds or the matter composing them, never were created, never needed a First Cause." Says the Crucible, April 22, 1871, "A personal God would be a monstrosity. There is not and cannot be a Supreme Spirit even."
They deny all distinction of right and wrong. Says A. B. Child, "The divine use of the ten commandments is in their violation, not in their observance." Says A. J. Davis, "Unto God there is no error; all is comparative good." "Sin, in the common acceptation of that term, does not really exist."—Nat. Div. Rev., p 5, 21. J. S. Loveland, once a Methodist minister, "With God there is no crime; with man there is. Crime does not displease God, but it does man. God is in the darkest crime as in the highest possible holiness. He is equally pleased in either case." No wonder Dr. P. B. Randolph, who had been a medium for eight years, said, I believe Spiritualism "to be the most tremendous enemy of God, morals, and religion, that ever found foothold on the earth." We could easily multiply such quotations a thousand fold.
But let no one suppose such statements are put forth at once when trying to make converts. These are the doctrines of those who have become most deeply imbued with it. They talk very eloquently upon first getting converts, and present every thing that looks attractive, till one comes fully under the influence of these "lying spirits." Then the real animus of this system of error is shown.
Who can suppose for a moment that such a gigantic system of error, as this has shown itself to be, deeply affecting society at large, reaching thousands of those in the higher walks of life, reaching ministers of the gospel and breaking down their faith in the Bible, and all they had held dear, believed in by men of great mental powers, and working its way everywhere among the great of the earth, was originated by a few slight-of-hand performances? It is no doubt true that multitudes who have become believers as well as those who have merely become interested in it, do not realize the atheistic tendency of this monster delusion. This tendency is kept in the back ground, and will be till the masses are beyond the reach of God's Spirit. But any one who cares to investigate the matter can easily perceive the effect of this doctrine. Who can fail to see here a gigantic scheme on the part of Satan to ruin the human family? Its teachings are most cunningly contrived to lull the conscience to sleep, flatter the poor victim that he is in no danger of retribution if he sins ever so wickedly, and gives full run to unlawful desire till probation is forever past. How great is the danger then of those who think this is merely a matter of jugglery. Such need to examine this matter more thoroughly. Here is a sign of the last days already largely developed, and about ready to do its great work of ruin. Let us read and understand the sure word of prophecy, and be prepared for what is coming on the earth.
THIS is a psalm or hymn of praise to "the law of the Lord," "his testimonies," "his ways," "precepts," "statutes," "commands," "judgments," and "word." There can be no reasonable doubt that it has direct reference to the words of the moral law given by the voice of God, the ten commandments. It is the same law which in Ps. 19:7 is declared by the Spirit to be perfect. It is "the law of thy mouth," "the testimony of thy mouth," and "the judgments of thy mouth," clearly pointing to that which was uttered by the mouth of God at Sinai.
It is not the word of David simply that speaks in praise of this law; but it is the Spirit of God itself that so highly exalts it. Listen to the words of Inspiration: "I delight in thy law;" "The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver;" "thy word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it;" "I love thy commandments above gold; yea, even fine gold." Is it reasonable to suppose that a law thus exalted by the Spirit of God would ever need to be abolished? Does it need any improvement? is it not sufficiently broad? "Thy commandment is exceeding broad." Does it not reach to the very thoughts and intents of the heart? See Matt. 5:22, 28. 1 Jno. 3:15. Is it a new thing—was it not always true—that 'he that hateth his brother is a murderer'?
Every man's good sense would tell him, that a law thus lauded and exalted by God himself is good for all time; that it is perpetual and eternal. But He has spoken to this very point; so that those who would have this law abolished or changed, are left without excuse. Hear the testimony: "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting. "All thy commandments are truth." "Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever." "Thy word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."
Does any one desire more evidence of the perpetuity of this ancient and ever-enduring law? Let him hear Jesus: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law." "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:17, 18.
All those commandments are truth. What effect would it have upon truth to change it in a few jots and tittles? An apostle said of those who broke this same law, worshiping and serving the creature more than the Creator, that they "changed the truth of God into a lie." Again, the testimony is, "All thy commandments are righteousness." All includes no less than ten. Has God's everlasting righteousness been abolished? Is such a thing possible while God's word remains true? Hear his answer: "My righteousness shall not be abolished." Isa. 51:6.
Who will have the blind temerity to say that the righteousness of those ancient moral precepts, the ten commandments, has been abolished, being superceded by a better code?
"Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jer. 2:11-13.
It is a sad and lamentable fact, and one which constitutes one of the signs of our times, that there are multitudes, including hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of professed ministers of the gospel, who "cast away the law of the Lord," and, instead of coming to the fountain of living waters, are endeavoring to patch up broken cisterns that can hold no water. A false tradition says that the law of God has been changed; and, instead of learning the truth concerning this, they try to sustain this tradition by various contradictory arguments. And it is not uncommon for them to hold that the whole moral code, which is everywhere so highly exalted by Inspiration, has been utterly abolished.
But the word of God will stand, though all men stand against it. No weapon formed against His law shall prosper. The saddest of it is, that in contending against the law of God, it will be found at last that they are sinning against their own souls. Oh! how sad to discover, too late, their fatal mistake! Would that they might discover it now, and avert so awful a fate!
"The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Ps. 111:7, 8.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Love Measured by Obedience
Our love for God is exactly proportioned to our obedience to him. Obedience to his law is the standard by which we can measure our love.
Christiana, Norway.
By John G. Matteson
THE preaching of the truth is still calling forth opposition sermons from all sides. Wednesday evening we secured a large hall in the theater in order to get a reply before many. About eighteen hundred crowded in, and many went away for want of room.
I have since paid no more attention to the attacks (which are still falling on us like hail-storms), but have preached for the edification of souls. Sunday evening the gymnasium was filled with attentive hearers. I spoke about Christ stilling the tempest. The Lord blessed our feeble efforts, and it was good to be there.
Next Sunday is the last time we can have this hall. It is a continual strife to get rooms for meetings, because our opposers are trying to drive us out every where. For this reason our friends have formed a society to purchase property for the use of the S. D. A. church. Each member pays 50 Ore per week (13 1-3 cents). Then we solicit donations besides. The members have to earn their living by hard work, and the times are exceedingly hard. The English Puritan Sunday reigns here, and Sabbath-keepers meet a great deal of opposition. Yet all feel willing to make an effort to secure a place for meeting.
A rare chance has been offered to us, and all thought best to accept it before others should take it from us, so we have bought a house and lot situated in a central place, high and healthy, opposite to the Catholic church, and near a large Lutheran church, fronting a business street. It can be divided into two lots—one a corner lot 70x70 feet, suitable for a printing office, and another 70x150 feet, for a chapel. At present a two story building with basement occupies a part of both lots. The upper story of this we intend to turn into a hall for meetings. That will make room for eight hundred to one thousand people. The rest of the house we rent to families. We shall occupy the house by the 15th of April. We are to pay 54,000 Kroner (about $15,000) for the property, with 5 per cent interest, and thirty-three years in which to pay the whole. The use of the building will pay the interest and taxes. The first five years we are to pay 1000 Kroner ($266) annually on the capital, and after this time twice that amount.
Our paper, Tidenes Tegn, pays its own way; but it is printed by those who do not love the truth. I desire to give this paper into the hands of the General Conference as soon as they can undertake it. Our earnest prayer is that the truth may be published, and blessed from above. JOHN G. MATTESON.
Christiana, Norway, Feb. 5.
How Boys May Succeed.
A poor boy inquires what occupation it is best for him to follow, and how can he best succeed in life?
The choice of an occupation depends partly upon the individual preference, and partly upon circumstances. It may be that you are debarred from entering upon that business for which you are best adapted. In that case make the best choice in your power. Apply yourself faithfully and earnestly to whatever you undertake, and you cannot well help achieving a moderate success. Patient application sometimes leads to great results.
You emphasize the fact of your being a poor boy, but this affords no grounds of discouragement. Not only many but most of our successful business and professional men were trained in the hard school of penury. Stewart, Vanderbilt, and John Jacob Astor struggled upward from a youth of poverty. A well known member of congress assured the writer that at the age of nineteen he was a flatboatman on the Mississippi river. The obscure beginnings of Abraham Lincoln are familiar to all Americans. Yet more remarkable was the rise of President Andrew Johnson, who did not learn to read and write till after he was twenty-one. So numerous are similar cases that it almost seems as if poverty, instead of being a hindrance, was a positive help. Rich boys are often spoiled, and their energies sapped and undermined by luxurious habits, the too free use of money, and the lack of that discipline which comes from indigence.
As an element of success, great stress must be laid upon incorruptible integrity, which of late years is unfortunately too rarely found. A business man once said to the writer:--
"I can find plenty of smart young men to work for me. What I want is an honest clerk, whom I can implicitly trust."
Scarcely a day passes in which some defalcation is not brought to light. Widespread misery often results from the lax principles of some young man placed in a position of trust. Let our correspondent resolve that he will live on bread and water rather than appropriate a penny that is not his own. Let him imitate the stern integrity of John Quincy Adams, who would not write a private letter upon Government paper, but provided a separate stock of stationery for such use. A boy or man who establishes a reputation for strict honesty will not remain out of employment.
Don't give up all of your time to business. Reserve a part, if only an hour daily, for reading and mental improvement. If Abbott Lawrence had been familiar with the details of his business, he would never have received the appointment of Minister to England, a place which he filled with credit to himself and his country. Some men prominent in business have found time also for a wide and varied course of reading, which made them agreeable and instructive companions.
Once at a dinner party an eminent clergyman made an incorrect historical allusion, and was at once set right by a quiet merchant who sat beside him.
Last of all, remember that you owe a debt to humanity. Try to live and labor so that the world may be richer and mankind the happier for your having lived. A great inventor, a great philanthropist, leaves a legacy to his race. Who can estimate the incalculable debt of the world to the inventor of printing, of the steam engine, or the telegraph? Who will deny that Washington, Franklin, or John Howard, helped to make the world better than ever they found it? All cannot attain their celebrity or emulate their great achievements, but no one is so humble that he cannot promote in some degree the happiness of those around him.
A good mother, when her son was leaving the home of his childhood and going out into the great world, knowing that he was ambitious, gave him this parting injunction:
"My son, remember that though it is a good thing to be a great man, it is a great thing to be a good man."
No sounder or truer words were ever spoken. A great man may dazzle, but a good man is a beacon shining afar, by whose beneficent light a multitude are enabled to walk in safety. The best success is often achieved by the humblest, and an obscure life, well-spent, is better than a wicked renown.—Sel.
The Home Circle.
By B. C. Leech
IS IT RIGHT?
To every uttered word or thought,
What e'er thou mayest indite,
Apply this golden, beauteous test,
The question—"Is it right?"
When thoughts arise and tempt us on,
Alluring us away—
Pause! ask the conscience "Is it right?"
And be not led astray.
When angry passions rise within,
Reflect! and ask "If right?"
And thou shalt prove the conquerer,
And put the foe to flight!
The tempter meets us every where,
Offering us delight;
Beware, seductive influence!
Ask conscience, "Is it right?"
Two paths there are before us all,
The right way, and the wrong—
Look well! and guard thy every step;
Reflection makes us strong!
—B. C. Leech.
A Cure for Slander.
The following very homely but singular instructive lesson is by St. Phillip Neri:--
A lady presented herself to him one day accusing herself of being given to slander. "Do you frequently fall into this fault?" inquired the Saint. "Yes, father, very often," replied the penitent. "My dear child," said the Saint, "your fault is great, but the mercy of God is still greater; for your penance do as follows: Go to the nearest market, purchase a chicken just killed and still covered with feathers; you will then walk to a certain distance, plucking the bird as you go along; your walk finished, you will return to me."
Great was the astonishment of the lady in receiving so strange a penance; but silencing all human reasoning, she replied, "I will obey you, Father, I will obey." Accordingly she repaired to the market, bought the fowl and set out on her journey, plucking it as she went along, as she had been ordered.
In a short time she returned, anxious to tell of her exactness in accomplishing her penance, and desirous to receive some explanation of one so singular.
"Ah!" said the Saint, "you have been very faithful to the first part of my orders; now do the second part, and you will be cured. Retrace your steps; pass through all the places you have already traversed, and gather up one by one all the feathers you have scattered."
"But, Father," exclaimed the poor woman, "that is impossible. I cast the feathers carelessly on every side; the wind carried them in different directions; how can I recover them?"
"Well, my child," replied the Saint, "so it is with your words of slander, like the feathers which the wind has scattered, they have been wafted in many directions; call them back if you can. Go and sin no more."
History does not tell if the lady was converted; but it is probable. It required a Saint to give the lesson; one should be a fool not to profit by it.
The Difference.
It is a sad fact that woman is assumed to be able to keep her household with judgment and success without the smallest training for it. With the other sex, in their spheres, no such rule obtains. No man is given the command of a boat or a squad until he has proven himself master of at least the technicalities of his command. But a girl of eighteen passes from the school-room, where she has been in the position of a subordinate, at all times under control, to the management of a household where she is supreme and the dispenser of frowns or favors, the arranger of tasks and times, and without previous training in the care of herself expects to come to a good result in the management of a family.
Spent, but Charged
“SPENT, BUT CHARGED.”—Upon a sun-dial, two hundred years old, in All Souls’ College, Oxford, England, is the Latin motto, Pereunt et Imputantur of which the English is, Spent, but charged. The shadow glides over the face of the dial silently; there is no pendulum beat or whir of wheels; the hours have been spent, but they are recorded, charged, in the books of everlasting remembrance. That record which God keeps must one day be faced. Young man, you spend your hours carelessly, as the spendthrift flings away his money. You make no account of them. But God does. He charges every one of them, down to their last golden moment. What will you have to say when you face that record on the last day? Young woman, life to you seems a life of gayety, of wild enjoyment. The hours go by you on winged feet. Day follows day, and your thought is of nothing but the pleasure that can be got from a passing hour. Ah! these hours are all charged to your account. You will meet them one day.—Christian Herald.
WISDOM does not show itself so much in precept as in life.
Reports from the Field.
By John Norton Loughborough
Southampton, Eng.
I HAVE now given seven discourses in Shirley Hall. We have also held three Sabbath meetings at our own home, which have strengthened the Sabbath-keepers here. The numbers and interest have steadily increased at the hall. The people have placed in our contribution box about one-third enough to pay the expense of the meetings.
While laboring here, we are by correspondence gaining access to people elsewhere. We have already been solicited to place the Signs in one reading room at a seaport in Lincolnshire, and to furnish publications for distribution. We have to-day placed publications on a ship sailing to the West Indies.
The Lord has raised us up a friend, a near neighbor, a man in authority at the docks. Although not a Sabbath-keeper he has volunteered to place our publications in the hands of responsible parties on ships sailing to the East and West Indies, intervening ports, and all parts of the world.
The principles of health reform are gaining ground in Great Britain. The secular papers of Southampton have of late admitted into their columns several articles on this topic from the editor of the Dietetic Reformer, and other parties. We have already opened correspondence with advocates of these principles, calling their attention to Good Health and our health publications. January 31. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Grangeville and Lemoore.
By J. L. Wood
HAVE given twenty-four discourses in Grangeville; four took a decided stand for the truth, and united with the Lemoore church. Others are satisfied we have the truth, some of whom we hope will conclude it is better to obey God, than to follow the traditions of men.
Sabbath, March first, was a good day for the Lemoore church; at the close of their Sabbath meeting, we buried five happy souls in a watery grave, who came forth with an expression of the love of God upon their countenances. It was a precious season; the angels of God seemed very near.
The Lemoore church is in a good growing condition. They commence the erection of their house of worship next week.
J. L. Wood.
Meetings Close in Damascus
By Alonzo T. Jones
Damascus, Clackamas Co., Oregon.
Meetings closed here on the evening of February 10, with twenty-four Sabbath-keepers, eighteen of whom signed the covenant.
Salem, Feb. 14. Alonzo T. Jones.
St. Clair, Nevada.
By J. W. Allen
THERE are nine families keeping the Sabbath in this place; each family distributes from two to six copies of the SIGNS, in different parts of Nevada and the East.
Including children we have about thirty Sabbath-keepers. Our Sabbath school, with Bro. Wm. Harmon, Superintendent, Bro. J. W. Bond, Secretary, and Bro. J. B. Ferguson, Librarian, is very interesting. We use the question books.
J. W. ALLEN.
[Do you have the Instructor in your school? — ED. SIGNS.]
Lansing, Mich.
By E. B. Lane
THREE or four families, with as many single members, constitute the little company of Sabbath-keepers at Lansing. They met on New Year's day, and donated and pledged over twelve dollars to the Oakland church and Dime Tabernacle, and about nine dollars to the T. and M. work. At our business meeting they heartily indorsed the tithing system, and took a club of thirty-seven copies of the SIGNS. The subscription for the SIGNS in Dist. No. 10 was raised from 68 to 207; that of Dist. No. 14, from 64 copies to 178. Who can tell the good these papers will do, if judiciously circulated?
E. B. LANE.
Wrightstown, Minn.
By N. Battin; A. Mead
We have been laboring with the Wrightstown church for the past three weeks. The outside interest has been good. Six have taken hold of the Sabbath, and the church has been much strengthened and encouraged. When we came, regular Sabbath meetings had been discontinued, as well as prayer-meetings and Sabbath-school. Besides this, but one family in the whole church took any of our papers. Regular prayer and Sabbath meetings have now been appointed, a club of the Instructor has been ordered, and a Sabbath-school will be organized.
N. Battin.
A. Mead.
Maple Plain, Minn.
By D. P. Curtis; W. Walker
WE held our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. Six signed the covenant, and at least one more is keeping the Sabbath. Have held one meeting three miles from here, with a good attendance. To-night we go to a school-house a mile beyond. There is some interest there, and we hope for more; but prejudice is very strong. We hope to be remembered by the praying ones, that the Lord may give us humility and patience, and may bring light to those who are in darkness.
D. P. CURTIS. W. WALKER.
Birchdale, Minn.
By James S. Brower
FIVE have decided that the seventh day is the Sabbath. A United Brethren preacher came here and engaged the school house I am using; but on being informed that I intended to go to the next neighborhood, where he has a church of forty-two members, he left me in possession of the field. JAMES S. BROWER.
Corsica, Ohio.
By A. O. Burrill
NOTWITHSTANDING the hard times, our subscription for the meeting-house is large enough to warrant us in taking steps to hold it legally, and the brethren are gathering the material with a commendable zeal; and, no providence preventing, in a few months we shall have a house in which to preach the third message. Our last Sabbath meeting was very encouraging. We organized a class of thirty members, and there are ten or twelve more to come in. Yesterday the Sabbath-school was organized. Everything bids fair for a strong church here. Bro. Mann has been absent nearly a week, on account of sickness. Ohio presents very interesting and promising fields of labor. Everywhere we go the people are ripe for this truth. Thus far we have obtained thirty-nine subscribers for our periodicals.
A. O. BURRILL.
Peninsula, Summit Co., Ohio.
By R. A. Underwood; E. H. Gates
WE closed our meetings in Solon and commenced here a week ago. We occupy the town hall, and find a home with a S. D. Baptist family that have embraced the truth. Last Sabbath an old gentleman and his wife kept the day for the first time. Last night the hall was crowded.
In Solon six persons signed the covenant; and others will do so hereafter. We organized a Sabbath-school of twenty-five members. They are discarding tobacco, pork, tea, and coffee, and a desire to work is manifested.
R. A. UNDERWOOD.
E. H. GATES.
Georgia.
By C. O. Taylor
ON my way to Reynolds, Taylor Co., I spent a few days in the northern part of Brooks Co. One family commenced to keep the Sabbath, and three persons were baptized.
I also visited Worth and Dodge counties. In Worth Co. some have been keeping the Sabbath for a year; others have promised to keep it. In Dodge Co. I found a welcome in the home of J. H. Whitsett. He takes the SIGNS and Good Health, and his wife is keeping the Sabbath. He cleared and seated a new gin-house [A house for cotton gins, where the seed is separated from the fibre.—Ed. SIGNS.] for me to preach in. He also told his hired help (six in number) that they need not work on Saturday. Mr. W. has never made a profession of religion, but he indorses our views on the Sabbath and some other subjects. C. O. TAYLOR.
Page Co., Virginia.
By I. Sanborn
I AM still laboring in this county. Twelve have signed the covenant, and steps have been taken toward church organization. A great many others are keeping the Sabbath, who will, I think, unite with us as soon as they overcome the tobacco habit. Some are waiting for their friends to unite with them. I expect to organize a Sabbath-school, if the people can raise money to take a club of the Instructor. It requires a great deal of patient labor to accomplish much, as the people are slow to move. This makes the labor wearing. But there are precious souls all around us who will follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
I. SANBORN.
Dartmouth, Mass.
By T. Cottle.
This little church has been enjoying a refreshing season for the past two weeks. Bro. S. S. Mocney has been holding meetings here; four or five have taken a decided stand to keep all God's commandments, and many others are deeply interested.
T. Cottle.
Good Health.
By Editor
Pork;
OR THE DANGERS OF PORK EATING EXPOSED.
1. JUST at present, there is a great deal of interest manifested in the subject of pork-eating as connected with health. So numerous have been the cases of sudden death occurring during the past winter, the immediate cause of which was unmistakably traceable to the eating of pork, that the most observing people begin to entertain many very serious doubts as to the propriety of using as an article of diet that which is so liable to produce such direful consequences.
While the attention of the public is thus very wisely turned toward this subject in one of its most obviously dangerous aspects, we would invite a more careful investigation of the matter in some of its less apparent, but, possibly, quite as momentous bearings, as well as a proper consideration of the more threatening evils.
THE GENERAL USE OF PORK.
In this country, pork-raising is one of the great industries, and one of the most prolific sources of wealth. And since the supply is wholly regulated by the demand, it may be taken as a proper index of the prodigious quantities of swine's flesh which are daily required to satisfy the gustatory demands of the American people. No other kind of animal food is so largely used as is pork in its various forms of preparation. The Yankee always makes his Sunday breakfast of pork and beans, besides making the same article a prominent constituent of at least two meals each day during the rest of the week. Pork and hominy is almost the sole aliment of the Texan farmer; while in other Western States, pork and potatoes constitute the most substantial portion of the farmer's bill of fare. The accompanying dish may be hominy, beans, or potatoes; but the main reliance is pork in each case.
In the case of no other animal is so large a portion of the dead carcass utilized as food. Pork seems to be considered such a delicacy that not a particle should be wasted. The fat and lean portions are eaten fresh, or carefully preserved by salting or smoking, or both. The tail is roasted, the snout, ears, and feet, are pickled and eaten as souse; the intestines and lungs are eaten as tripe or made into sausages; black pudding is made of the blood; the liver, spleen, and kidneys, are also prized; the pancreas and other glands are considered great delicacies; while even the skin is made into jelly. In fact, nothing is left of the beast but its bristles, which the shoemaker claims. Surely, it must be quite an important matter, and one well-deserving attention, if it can be shown that an animal which is thus literally devoured, and that in such immense quantities, is not only unfit for food, but one of the prime causes of many loathsome and painful maladies. Let us examine the hog a little, and see what can be determined respecting his real nature, and his office in the economy of nature, if he has any.
A LIVE HOG EXAMINED.
Look at that object in a filthy mud hole by the roadside. At first you distinguish nothing but a pile of black, slimy mud. The dirty mass moves! You think of a reptile, a turtle, some uncouth monster reveling in his Stygian filth. A grunt? The mystery is solved. The sound betrays a hog. You hasten by, avert your face, and sicken with disgust. Stop, friend, admire your savory ham, your souse, your tripe, your toothsome sausage, in its native element. A dainty beast, isn't he?
Gaze over into that sty, our pork-eating friend. Have you done so before? And would you prefer to be excused? Quite likely; but we will show you a dozen things you did not observe before. See that contented brute quietly reposing in the augmented filth of his own ordure. He seems to feel quite at home doesn't he. Look at a little sharper and scrutinize his skin. Is it smooth and healthy? Not exactly so. So obscured is it with tetter, and scurf, and mange, that you almost expect to see the rotten mass drop off, as the grunting creature rubs it against any projecting corner which may furnish him a convenient scratching-place. As you glance around the pen, you observe that all such conveniences have been utilized until they are worn so smooth as to become almost inefficient.
Stir up the beast and make him show his gait. See how he rolls along, a mountain of fat. If he were human, he would be advised to chew tobacco for his obesity, and would be expected to drop off any day of heart disease. And so he will do, unless the butcher forestalls nature by a day or two. Indeed, only a few days ago a stout neighbor of his was quietly taking his breakfast from his trough, and grunting his infinite satisfaction, when, without a moment's warning, or a single premonitory symptom, his swinish heart ceased to beat, and he instantly expired without finishing his meal, much to the disappointment of the butcher who was anticipating the pleasure of quietly executing him a few hours later and serving him up to his pork-loving patrons. Suppose his death had been delayed a few hours, as is the case with the majority of hogs? or rather, suppose the butcher had got the start of nature a little, as he generally contrives to do?
But we have not half examined our hog yet. If you can possibly prevail upon yourself to sacrifice your taste in the cause of science, pork-loving friend, just clamber over into the reeking sty, and take a nearer view of the animal that is destined to delight the palate of some of your friends, perhaps your own. Make him straighten out his fore leg. Now observe closely. Do you see an open sore or issue a few inches above his foot, on the inner side? and do you say it is a mere accidental abrasion? Find the same on the other leg; it is a wise and wonderful provision of nature. But what are they? Grasp the leg high up, and press downward. Now you see, a mass of corruption pours out. That opening is an outlet of a sewer; and hence the offensive, scrofulous matter which discharges from it. Should you fill a syringe with mercury or some colored injecting-fluid, and drive the contents into this same opening, you would be able to trace all through the body of the animal little pipes communicating with it.
What must be the condition of the body of an animal so foul as to require a regular system of drainage to convey away its teeming filth? Sometimes the outlets get closed by the accumulation of external filth. Then the scrofulous, ichorous stream ceases to flow, and the animal quickly sickens and dies unless the owner speedily cleanses the parts, and so opens anew the feculent fountain, and allows the festering poison to escape.
What dainty morsels these same feet and legs make! What a delicate flavor they have, as every epicure asserts! Do you suppose the corruption with which they are saturated has any influence upon their taste and healthfulness?
Perhaps you are thoroughly disgusted now, and would like to leave the scene. Pause a moment. Now let us look at the inside of this wonderfully delicious beast!
(To be Continued.)
What Rum Will Do.
SOME years ago, in one of the counties of New York, a worthy man was tempted to drink until he was drunk. In the delirium of drunkenness, he went home and murdered his wife in the most barbarous manner. He was carried to the jail while drunk, and kept through the night. Awakening in the morning, and looking around upon the walls, and seeing the bars upon the windows, he exclaimed:—
"Is this a jail?"
"Yes, you are in jail," answered some one.
"What am I here for?" was the earnest inquiry.
"For murder," was the answer.
"Does my wife know it?"
"Your wife know it?" said some one.
"Why, it was your wife you have killed."
On this announcement he dropped suddenly, as if he had been struck dead. Let it be remembered that the constable who carried him to jail, sold him the liquor which caused his drunkenness, the justice who issued the warrant was one of those who signed his license; and the sheriff who hung him also sold liquor, and kept a ten-pin alley.—Sel.
Benefit of Walking.
EVERY muscle in the body is greatly and uniformly brought into action by the swing of the legs and arms, and, consequently, of the trunk in a vertical direction. The undulations made by the head, chest, and abdomen in a vertical plane are thus not only according to Hogarth's line of beauty, but also in that tending to perfect health. Every internal organ is gently stimulated to more robust action. Never in a common walk does a person breathe the same air twice, because he is constantly changing his position. This fact alone is of incalculable advantage. Some writers contend that the rebreathing of air once partially used is one of the most fertile causes of consumption. The most favorable time for walking is about midday in the winter, and in the morning and toward evening in the summer.