FEW people in this country imagine what terrible work a volcano of the regulation size can do when it once gets fully aroused. In 1838 Cotopaxi threw its fiery rockets more than 3,000 feet above the crater, and in 1797, when the blazing mass confined in the same mountain was struggling for an outlet, it roared so loud that the awful noise was heard for a distance of 600 miles.
In 1797 the crater of Tunguragua, one of the great peaks of the Andes, threw out torrents of mud and lava, which dammed up the great river, opened up new lakes, besides making a deposit of seething mud, ashes, and lava 600 feet deep over the whole area of a valley which was 20 miles long and averaged 1,000 feet in width. The stream of lava which flowed from Vesuvius in 1837 and passed through the Valley of Terra del Greco is estimated to have contained 333,000,000 cubic feet of solid matter. In 1760 Etna poured out a flood of melted stones and ashes which covered 84 square miles of fertile country to a depth of from 10 to 40 feet. On this occasion the sand, scoria, lava, etc., from the burning mountain formed Mount Rosina, a peak 2 miles in circumference and over 4,000 feet high.
In the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D., the time of the destruction of Pompeii, the scoria, ashes, sand, and lava vomited forth far exceeded the dimensions of the volcano itself, while in 1660 Etna disgorged over twenty times its own mass. Vesuvius has sent its ashes into Syria, Egypt, and Turkey. It hurled stones of 800 pounds weight to Pompeii, a distance of 6 English miles, during the eruption of 79 A.D. Cotopaxi once projected a block of stone containing over 100 cubic yards a distance of 9 1/2 miles. —Philadelphia Press.
HOW HE LEARNED TO KEEP HIS TEMPER.
By Eleanor A. Hunter
BY ELEANOR A. HUNTER.
JACK'S temper was the family terror. He was one of the nicest, kindest, pleasantest boys in the world when his temper was not roused. He was honest, clever, quick at his lessons, ready to run on an errand for his father, or to help his mother, and if it had not been for that temper, he would have been a very satisfactory boy; as it was, everybody lived in fear of crossing him. His mother never left home for the afternoon without anxiety, for she knew that if Jack had a tantrum while she was not there, the consequence might be serious.
Jack was always sorry after every explosion, and ashamed of himself, too, when his mother talked it over with him.
"I wish I could lose it and never find it again, the villainous old thing!" said he to her after a very hard time. "I don't want to keep that kind of a temper; it's worse than a torpedo; why, mother, it goes off quicker than a flash, almost before I know it, and I can't help it."
"That is true, Jack," his mother answered sadly. "You have let it go so long, now, that you cannot help it, and I know that if you continue in this way you will never make a good or useful man. As you grow older, you grow worse instead of better, and I am afraid that in a fit of passion some day you may do some dreadful thing, perhaps even committing murder. That is the end which I fear for my boy."
Jack looked very sober. He had never heard his mother talk quite like this before.
"What can I do, mother?" said he.
"You know there is one way in which you can gain the victory, Jack," she answered. "With God's help you can conquer your temper, but you never will without it."
"Mother," said Jack, "I get mad so quick that I don't have time to ask him to help me."
"Of course you do not," his mother returned, "but you can ask him when you are quiet and at peace, for help in time of need."
"I did," said Jack in a low voice, "only last night, and this morning I got angry just the same as ever."
"But," said his mother, "God cannot help you unless you try to help yourself also. Instead of staying and bandying words this morning with Harry, you should have run away and left him. Then you would have been saved. Instead of that you courted danger."
"I would not like to run away," objected Jack. "I would feel ashamed to."
"I should feel more ashamed of speaking such words as you spoke this morning, than I should of running away until I could regain my self-control," his mother replied.
"Mother," said Jack, "I will try harder than ever; see if I don't."
His mother smiled a little sadly. She saw Jack's weakness more plainly than he did, but she only said, "I hope you will, my son," and rose and left the room.
The next morning was Saturday, and Jack was out under the big apple tree, near the10kitchen door, churning for his mother. He had a blue checked apron of hers tied about his waist, and he was splashing the dasher of the old-fashioned churn up and down with great energy when his friend Tom Mallory from across the road came over. Tom had his bean slinger in his hand, and he was slowly peppering various objects as he walked along.
"Hello, Bridget!" said he, as he caught sight of Jack in his kitchen regalia.
"Hello yourself!" responded Jack cheerfully. He was not at all ashamed of either his costume or his occupation.
"Can you go fishing this afternoon?" inquired Tom, continuing his shooting, as he seated himself on an upturned pail.
"I guess so. I'll ask mother," answered Jack.
Tom began aiming his ammunition at the churn, when suddenly one bean flew wide of the mark and hit Jack with considerable force in the eye.
"Stop that," Jack cried, making a sudden, involuntary motion, which knocked the churn over and sent its contents flowing out upon the grass. Jack's foot slipped in the buttermilk, and down he went full length in the midst of it. He picked himself up dripping, and with his apron flapping about his heels. The sight was too much for Tom's boy nature.
"I'm awful sorry," said he, but he laughed. Jack, wild with passion, flew at him. Tom turned to run, but it was too late. Jack caught up with him. "I'll pay you for this!" he shrieked, and his hard brown fist sprang out like a hammer and struck Tom on the side of his head.
The boy dropped on the soft green grass without a sound, and lay quite still.
"Are you hurt, Tom?" said Jack, sobered at once; but there was no answer. Jack looked at the white face for one long, dreadful minute, then he turned and went into the house as if he was walking in some frightful dream, and found his mother.
"Mother," said he coming up to her and speaking thickly, "mother, come downstairs. I've killed Tom Mallory."
They lifted the poor, unconscious boy up in their arms, and carried him home to his mother, while Jack crept away into a remote corner of the barn, and flung himself face downward on the hay, silent and tearless, his whole being one great ache of misery.
The doctor came, and after three anxious hours Tom came to himself. It was a dangerous hurt, but there was hope of his recovery. At twilight Jack's mother came home, and her first question was, "Where is my poor boy?" But no one had seen him; indeed, no one had thought of him. They searched the house and the garden, and at last his mother thought of the barn. She stepped inside of the great doors. "Jack," she called, "Jack, dear, I want you." Listening she heard a rustling in the mow, and presently a forlorn figure came slowly down the ladder. She ran and caught him in her arms, and he hid his white face on her shoulder.
"The doctor has hope," said she. "We think Tom will live."
At these glad words and the tremendous revulsion of feeling they brought, Jack sobbed as though his heart would break.
Tom did live; youth and health triumphed; and in after days the two boys became firmer friends than ever. Better yet, through that one hard experience Jack learned the lesson of a lifetime, for never afterward did he lose control of his temper. The old evil habit did not lose its hold at once, but he made it a subject of constant prayer and watchfulness, and he was always master of himself under any provocation.—Christian Work.
SHUTTING OUR EYES.
VERY miserable people are those who go through the world seeing too much. They plume themselves upon their ability, and proclaim everywhere the wonderful secrets their sharp-sightedness has discovered. They find out small delinquencies and trifling offenses of friends, neighbors, and servants. We are not at all obliged to them for what they reveal. On the contrary, we are continually trembling lest our own pet sin be brought to light, or our friend's dear little secret weakness exposed.
It is not hard to gain much peace of mind by studying the art of judiciously shutting our eyes. Let us refuse to see too much of other people's errors and mistakes. Nay, more, let us refuse to see anything except what we wish to see. The way is clear, the circumstances are fortunate, people are well-meaning and industrious, happiness abounds, and we ourselves are on the high road to fame and fortune.
A fool's paradise, you say? Perhaps. But I doubt if a fool's paradise is not better than the heaven of people who would carry thither microscopes that they might discover its possible imperfections.—Bazar.
A TRIP TO PALEMBANG, SUMATRA.
By Sophia Blackmore
SOPHIA BLACKMORE, a deaconess of the missionary society of the M. E. Church, writes the following interesting letter, under date of Singapore, September 17, 1894, to the Gospel in All Lands:—
"After our Malay quarterly conference was over, its pastor conducted the first love feast that has ever been held in the Malay language. All stayed to it, and men and women spoke freely. One woman told us of how she had to go to Palembang on business. While there she talked to the women of Christ Jesus; they listened eagerly, and asked her to bring Christian books with her next time. Lim Neo afterward told me she had to return to Sumatra, and asked me if I would get books for her to sell there. I asked her if she would take me with her, and she was so pleased because I would go. When it was talked over at our Deaconesses' Home, Miss Ferris found she could go too.
"Palembang is only thirty-six hours' voyage from Singapore. We had to go on the deck of a native boat. We did not mind it, for the journey was not long. We took with us one hundred and seventy Scripture portions and about seven hundred books and tracts. We questioned Lim Neo as to where we were to stay during our visit to Palembang; she was rather oracular about it. Soon after our arrival we were introduced to a Chinese gentleman named Lim Chip Hiang, then to his Malay wife. The former had such a kind, benevolent face we felt we could trust him, and he kindly invited us to be his guests.
"Palembang is under Dutch rule, so it was one of our first duties to visit the resident, to acquaint him with our plans and to ask his permission to sell our books. This was very readily given.
"The town of Palembang is situated on a fine, broad river, fifty miles from the sea. The river forms the principal street of the town. For four miles on either side of it houses extend. These houses are built on strong bamboo rafts and securely fastened to stakes that are driven into the bed of the river. Here is a description of the house in which we were entertained: Immediately from the boat one steps into the receiving room and goes from there into the main room, off which are four tiny sleeping apartments, one of which we occupied. At the rear is the large kitchen, which is detached and rises and falls with the current of the river. A table is in the center, a cooking range at the side, but what amuses us most is the bathing hole. Two or three boards have been removed from the flooring, and there flows the river. A woman goes down to bathe here. Up she comes, gives the fire a poke, or stirs some food that always seems to be simmering. In this same hole clothes are washed, cooking utensils cleansed, etc., etc. Could anything be more convenient, for the river washes all away.
"Many boats ply up and down the river. Those for hire are beautifully clean. They are shaped like a fish, and glide swiftly over the water, propelled by one oar, used by a man who sits at the tail-like end.
"Other boats contain merchandise. Some have an awning over them, from which hung down tinware, pottery, fruit, or whatever the owner wishes to sell. It is his floating shop, and he comes to whatever door he is called and sells his ware. In other boats whole families live. It is their only home. All seem quite happy in their narrow quarters.
"I am glad to write that our kind entertainer was not averse to our gospel. He was most interested in our books, and bought a quantity of them, some of which he gave away. Each night I would talk to the wife. The tokay would come in, stay and listen awhile, or ask to be told over again what I had been talking about. After we had gone to bed, we would hear the wife for hours reading the Bible aloud.
"Tokay Chip Hiang's life reminded us of old patriarchal times. He lives in the midst of his children and grandchildren. Besides the river house his family occupies three large houses on the land just behind. An old lady has lately died. She was over ninety years of age, and was a great-great-grandmother to some of the little ones.
"One evening Chip Hiang gathered all the children of the household and bade them sit on the floor while I told them a story. I had gained some repute in his eyes for storytelling. How glad I was to tell these children the very first Bible story they had ever listened to. I pray it may not be the last. They listened well. All this time Miss Ferris was entertaining the women. We changed places. She had a merry time with the children, and I sat on the floor, surrounded by a group of women, and told them of the Good Shepherd.
"We spent a good part of our days visiting and bookselling. We were received so kindly. Crowds of children would follow us from one house to another. From one house we would be invited elsewhere. Sometimes we had several invitations, and hardly knew where to go first. We would have to walk on banked-up roads, then come to houses connected together by rude plank bridges or logs not always easy to walk on. To dispose of the last of our books we went to the market. Soon all our gospels and larger tracts were939disposed of. Then Miss Ferris went in one direction and I in another with the smaller tracts. 'One writing, one cent,' we said, as we passed the little stall where the women sat. Some bought. Children came round with their one cent asking for 'one writing.' Some of the women bought wholesale. They spent five or six cents in tracts, and retailed them at a small profit. It was not very long before every sheet was finished. The people are so glad to have something to read. Still buyers came up asking for more hikayats (histories), but the stock we had brought with us was exhausted.
"We spent eight days in Palembang. We want to go again, and we trust that permanent work will erelong be established among these seventy thousand people who have no one to tell them of the Saviour of the world."
"THROUGH TRIBULATION."
By Alex.
A PEBBLE lay on the mountain side,
High up above the rolling tide,
A waif from the drifting floods of old,
A fragment rough, uncouth to behold,
Seeming not to worth or beauty allied.
Some chance this luckless pebble bore
Where the drifting storm dashed o'er and o'er,
Till, borne in the path of the torrent's sweep,
It found a home 'neath the billows deep
That forever break on the wild seashore.
Unknown it seemed to nature, save
To the ceaseless beat of the troubled wave,
But its homely form, the restless flow
Of the drifting tides that come and go,
Each hour new worth and beauty gave.
Its splendor grew 'neath the magic hand
Of the washing waves and the grinding sand,
Till by each lift of the pulsing tide
It came at last to the water's side,
And lay a gem upon the strand.
An eye that precious jewels sought
A glimpse of its lustrous beauty caught,
And it shone from thence the brightest gem
That graced the royal diadem,
With wondrous skill and fancy wrought.
There are souls, perchance of humble birth,
Unknown to fame, disowned by earth,
By fortune left in the wild storm path
Of cruel hate and godless wrath,
That yet may shine with matchless worth.
Misfortune's waves but wash and wear
The dross that hides their virtue fair.
Each sweeping tide of sorrow's flood
But lifts them nearer to their God,
Where heaven sees their beauty rare.
When the King his diadem shall make,
Of priceless gems, those shall he take,
As brightest jewels in his crown,
Who came through trials to the throne,
Who suffered much for his dear sake.
—Alex.
Sunshine in the Heart
"NOTHING will do more to improve the looks than sunshine in the heart."
"MOUNTAIN WORK IN TENNESSEE."
By Editor
At the annual meeting of the American Missionary Association, Rev. W. G. Olinger delivered an address on the above topic, from which we take the following:—
"My people are not a progressive people. Too many of them are satisfied to live as their fathers and grandfathers lived, in the same little old log cabin, where they and their fathers were born, cooking by the fireplace, with 'hog and hominy,' and the veritable 'corn dodger' as staple articles of diet. Fruit, which grows so luxuriantly for the planting and some care, is but little cultivated, they being satisfied with that which grows wild.
They are slow to accept innovations upon the ordinary ways of doing things, any proposed advancement being styled 'Yankee notions.' Attempts at public improvements in the way of bridges, good roads, and railways are strongly resisted, and the only way to break these inherited prejudices is for good, earnest, progressive men from the North to come down and settle among us, and show by practical demonstration the advantages of good farming, fruit growing, improved stock, better roads, and bridges. When they see with their natural eyes, the more progressive ones will swing into line and begin to do likewise.
"But I must turn to another and sadder phase of my subject. In many localities the methods of teaching—if, indeed, we may call them methods—are still in use which we employed fifty years ago. There is yet to be found the windowless schoolhouse, with its crude furnishings of slab seats, boards fastened to the wall for a writing desk, heated by means of a fireplace or a stove with pipe through an opening between the logs. This association has done much to better the condition of things along these lines, by establishing schools in various localities.
"But I come to you to-day, and plead with all the earnestness I can command, and ask you to help us erase from the map the deep coloring which throws its dark shade upon us, and in its stead bring the light of prosperity, piety, and peace. I know of no field where the use of consecrated money, consecrated hearts, heads, and hands, will bring more speedy and grander results for good than the field that I have the high honor of representing before the American Missionary Association. Do not let the fact pass from your minds that we are in America, not Africa.
"What I have told you is but a small part of the work which you, by your means, under God, are doing in this, my native land. I am asked to report every month new openings for churches and Sunday schools. I cannot do it, except to say that the whole country is open. What we want is consecrated men to come down and go in and out among the people, teaching them the way more perfectly. We want consecrated money to support these workers and to build schools and churches. Whenever money is ready to help support a missionary and build a church, I will guarantee the 'opening.'"
HOT WATER BOTTLES
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There are cheaper goods than these, but the cheap ones will not be found durable or satisfactory.
PRICES: 3 Quarts—In a Box, - $1.25, Postpaid. 4 Quarts—In a Box, - $1.50, Postpaid.
THE demon of persecution is again showing its head in Arkansas. After the outburst a few years ago, the Legislature put a temporary quietus on the enthusiasm of the intolerant Sunday-law champions by enacting an exemption clause. But the dragonic enemy of religious liberty did not go to sleep, nor give up his determination to make war upon the "remnant" of the church "which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17.
A private letter from Van Buren, Ark., to a brother in this office, tells of a brutal assault upon one of our book agents in the town of Waldo, in that State. Brother E. A. Jenkins, of College View, Neb., began canvassing November 13, and immediately met opposition from the Methodists. The minister told him that his book had been condemned by the Arkansas Methodist, which was admitted by the agent. An effort was then made to stop his work, but the city clerk told him they could not stop him by law.12Soon afterward he was met by the town marshal and others, who told him he had just fifteen minutes to leave town. Brother Jenkins asked, "Why so hasty?" when the marshal caught him and kicked him, and then drew a revolver and threatened to shoot him if he did not leave immediately. As the agent turned to go away, the marshal followed him and kicked him for a distance of three blocks. Then the officer ordered his victim to stop and give him his name, which was done, and the injured man went to his boarding house. Later in the evening the marshal and another man armed with a shotgun appeared again, and asked the agent why he had not left town. He replied that as a citizen he had a right to go when he pleased. The officer began his abuse again, when another citizen came to the agent's relief, and the matter was stopped for the night.
When the action of the marshal became more generally known, there was considerable indignation among the sober-minded, unprejudiced citizens, and the officer realized that he must in some way pacify the adverse feeling. So he went before the police judge and confessed assault and battery, his fine and costs amounting to $35.
It is said that the State senator of that district has pledged himself to work for the repeal of the exemption clause in the Sunday law, and there are indications of a strong effort to accomplish that end during the next session of the Legislature. The whole unchristian move is, as usual, at the behest of those who profess to be Christians, and Protestant Christians at that. When the spirit of persecution is given loose rein, it is no milder or more merciful in professed Protestants than in any other class of religious bigots. It is the same spirit to-day that was manifested at the crucifixion, or in the Dark Ages.
A WOMAN'S WORK IN TURKEY.
By Miss C. H. Pratt
Illie, the Bible woman in Midyat, is a woman of very ordinary abilities, but she has surely had divine help in her work; and, with tact, sympathy, and devotion to souls, she has labored against opposition greater than has been met in such work in any other place in our field. She went to Midyat thirteen years ago, before there was a church there, and before there were any really Protestant women. There were a few Protestant men, but their wives, on one occasion, after being induced to start for the chapel where they were to have a meeting, slipped away when their leader's eyes were turned, and on reaching the door she looked back to find herself alone. The Jacobite women in Midyat are strongly opposed to Protestantism, as are Catholic women in Mardin, and in those early days they were much more vigorous in their opposition than now. After Illie had been at work there a few years, the missionary was one day calling with her, when a tall, fierce woman meeting them said:—
"You are the ones that have spoiled Midyat," and answered one of the lady's remarks with, "I would wring your neck; I would throw you down from the roof." And only three years ago, when a prominent Jacobite joined the Protestant church, there was a mob of women in the chapel yard the first time he attended the Protestant service.
Illie has given lessons in reading to more than a hundred women, but her most valuable work has been her faithful religious teaching. She knows the religious condition of every woman in the Protestant community, and of almost every other Christian woman in the village. All the women in the Protestant church and community were brought in mainly through her efforts, and through her instructions a large number of other women know the truth perfectly, though they do not yet acknowledge it. Many men confess that her expositions of the truth in the house first shook the foundations of their faith in the old church, and that she was the means of bringing them over to Protestantism.—Miss C. H. Pratt, Missionary of the American Board.
WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT?
By William D. Howells
If I lay waste and wither up with doubt
The blessed fields of heaven where once my faith
Possessed itself serenely safe from death,
If I deny the things past finding out,
Or if I orphan my own soul of One
That seemed a Father, and make void the place
Within me where he dwelt in power and grace,
What do I gain, that am myself undone?
— William D. Howells.
ROME IN GUATEMALA.
Brother F. Bishop, one of the book agents who recently went from California to Chile, notes a few days' stop at the port of Guatemala. Here is an extract from his letter to the Missionary Echo:—
A number of Indians came on board the vessel, and I showed them some of our books. They took them and looked at them, and began reading, as they are able to read and speak English. I had told them they were for sale, and soon I saw them in a crowd, and a black-robed priest in their midst. I was surprised, not knowing there was one on board. The priest soon sent one of them back with the books, which was the end of my prospect for making a sale, and showed that Rome rules in small as well as in great affairs.
The priest, I was informed, speaks eleven different languages, and has lived for ten years in the country of Guatemala, and among the Indians a part of the time. While there he gathered about 8,000 plants and flowers which have no names, also thousands of butterflies, and insects of various kinds. He brought with him as he came on board five Indians and two other men. He had also in his train two monkeys with immense tails, several different kinds of birds, and a Japanese pug dog, besides plants and curios of many kinds. It puts me in mind of a traveling show. This priest is on a pilgrimage to Rome, and on the way expects to give scientific lectures. The menagerie is, no doubt, to attract the crowds.
When he found out our business, and where we were going, he waxed very warm, telling us we would not earn our salt. He said he burned $30 worth of books sold by a man in Guatemala, and of course he would do the same with ours if he found any. He lost his good frame of mind and railed on us, comparing our few numbers with his multitudes. This was a little foretaste of what we expect to meet farther on.
FIELD NOTES.
THE brethren at Delmar Junction, Iowa, are building a house of worship.
ELDER C. W. OLDS reports the addition of five members to the church at Madison, Wis.
A CONFERENCE workers' school is to be held at Oshkosh, Wis., beginning January 9, and to continue about fourteen weeks.
FOUR persons were baptized in the Oakland church, after the missionary meeting on the 12th inst., by Elder H. F. Courter.
ELDER L. D. SANTEE reports the baptism of six persons at Ottawa, Ill., during his recent labors with the church in that place.
THE secretary of the Iowa Tract Society reports the organization of three new local societies—Nanson, Alexander, and Cedar Falls.
ON the 3d inst. twenty-four diplomas were issued to graduates from the medical missionary class at the Sanitarium, Battle Creek, Mich.
ON the 13th inst. Elder J. E. Fulton, of the North Pacific Conference, sailed from San Francisco for New Zealand, to which field he goes on call of the General Conference Committee.
AS A result of meetings held in St. Louis by Brother A. P. Heacock, nine persons have been added to the church in that city. The erection of a house of worship is now in contemplation.
AT Bloomville, Wis., where Brethren S. Swinson and E. McIntosh held meetings during the autumn, a church of twenty-eight members has been organized and a new church building erected.
THE December 8 issue of Harper's Weekly contains an interesting article and several illustrations descriptive of Pitcairn Island, making complimentary mention of our missionaries and their work. The illustrations are by Captain Davis, the same artist who took the views for the new book, "Story of Pitcairn Island," published at this office.
THE placing of the students at Mount Vernon (Ohio) Academy on vegetarian diet is reported to be working so well that there is no sickness among them. The winter term began December 19.
UNDER the labors of Elders G. B. Starr and A. S. Hickox, at Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, a church of twenty-eight members was organized October 20, and eight days afterward seventeen more were added.
A YOUNG lady canvasser in the State of Missouri sold books to the value of about $1,000 during the past summer and fall. She had been a student at Union College, and now returns to her studies for a season.
ELDER R. S. WEBBER reports an addition of six members to the church at St. John, N. B. He also reports encouragingly of the Sabbath schools in the provinces, five of which are in Nova Scotia and two in New Brunswick.
THE Review notes the information that Brethren Whaley and Curlett, undergoing a ninety days' sentence in Centerville, Md., jail for working on Sunday, were released after thirty days of service, by order of the judge who sentenced them.
AT the close of the camp meeting held last month at Ashfield, N. S. W., Australia, Dr. M. G. Kellogg was ordained to the gospel ministry. The camp meeting was followed by a series of tent meetings, conducted by Elders J. O. Corliss and S. McCullagh.
AT the recent session of the Atlantic Conference, the following officers were elected: H. E. Robinson, President; S. B. Horton, Secretary; T. A. Kilgore, Treasurer; Executive Committee—H. E. Robinson, R. D. Hottel, C. P. Bollman, Allen Moon, John F. Jones.
AT the late session of the Australian Conference the following officers were chosen: President, A. G. Daniells; Vice President, M. C. Israel; Secretary, S. McCullagh; Treasurer, N. D. Faulkland. Executive Committee—A. G. Daniells, M. C. Israel, S. McCullagh, W. C. White, J. Smith, L. J. Rousseau, T. Whittle.
PEOPLE who labor under difficulties which to others would seem insurmountable often accomplish the greatest results. Sister Marian Klaiber tells of a brother in Ontario who devotes all his time to the work of visiting, distributing literature, and selling what he can to pay his way. She says "he is very deaf, but he labors with a simple trust in God, and accomplishes a good work. A number of people have been fully converted to the truth through his efforts."
A SISTER engaged in Bible work in Davenport, Iowa, in a letter to the Workers' Bulletin, relates the following encouraging incident:—
Some time ago a canvasser in Illinois sold a gentleman "Bible Readings," taking oats for his pay. When the man discovered that the book was a Seventh-day Adventist publication, he wanted to burn it; but his wife prevented him, and placed it in the spare room upstairs. Later a niece from Davenport visited them, and, finding the book in her room, became interested in it. Her aunt made her a present of it. Now she, with her sister and husband, are keeping the Sabbath. We have held readings with them. The canvasser sowed the seed; the Lord gave the increase.
LITERARY NOTICES.
By Editor
[The SIGNS OF THE TIMES holds itself under no obligation to notice any publications sent it by publishers. Those considered worthy of notice, or which are deemed profitable to its subscribers, will receive such notice as time, space, and value will permit.]
FOR ten years the desk calendar issued by the Pope Manufacturing Company has held a unique place among business helpers. Each daily leaf during that time has taught its quiet lesson of the value of better roads and outdoor exercise. Its sentiments are generally trite and well chosen. The calendar for 1895, which is just issued, is even brighter than its predecessors in appearance, as clever artists have added dainty silhouette and sketch to the usual wise and witty contributions that have heretofore given this popular calendar its charm. It can be had for five 2-cent stamps from the Pope Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., or from any Columbia bicycle agency.
LEE & SHEPARD, publishers, Boston, Mass., have given us, as usual, something unique and beautiful for the new year. Among their novelties are the "Jerome Banners," by Irene Jerome, who has a gift of arranging and interpreting beautiful thoughts by grouping, coloring, and illumination. The selections of thought, as well as the decorations for each Banner, are appropriate to the title given. "The Joy Banner" is a wealth of nasturtiums artistically woven in and out through the design. "The Everyday Banner" contains thoughts for every day, brightened by the favorite bachelor's button in delicate tints. "The Rest Banner" is rich in coloring, having the sweet pea in its many tints. "What Will the Violets Be?" (words by Dr. Gannett), is decorated most appropriately with clusters of violets, finely grouped. The mechanical work is beautifully executed, and the Banners must be seen to be fully appreciated. This unique set of publications consists of four designs in color and gold, which are called Banners, each being composed of four separate panels, or cards, 5x7½ inches, connected by colored ribbon, so that it can be displayed on the wall, or folded into an ornamental envelope which accompanies it, in book form. The price of each Banner is 50 cents. Sold separately if desired, or $2.00 for the entire set. Each Banner, when hung, is about 21 inches long by 7½ wide. Complete catalogue of Lee & Shepard's publications sent free.
"BARON KINATAS, A TALE OF THE ANTICHRIST," is the title of a book that has just come to our table. The author is Isaac S. Dement. Published by M. T. Reed, Chicago.
In the form of a story the author discusses the state of the dead, the immortality of the soul, and the manifestations of antichrist in miracles and wonders. The dead are unconscious, man receives immortality at the resurrection or coming of Christ, and a personal devil is responsible for false doctrine and wonders designed to lead away from the Bible. The overmastering delusion spreads rapidly, and through one of his principal agents, Satan leads the whole world after him. At the supreme moment Christ comes. The scene is located in Chicago. The work shows that the author's mind is stirred over the "signs of the times," and that he sees in them portentous things. A closer study of God's word will lead him nearer to the truth. The price of the book is 50 cents.
Pitcairn Island
By Rosalind Amelia Young
.:. The Story of .:.
Pitcairn Island
BY ROSALIND AMELIA YOUNG, A Native Daughter.
PITCAIRN ISLAND, one of the volcanic gems of the Pacific, has been heard of wherever the English language has been spoken. The story of the working out of the problem of human life on its limited territory
Reads stranger and more thrillingly
in many respects than a romance. But most if not all of the tales told and books printed have either been too fragmentary, or incorrect and misleading. It will be interesting to the friends of that miniature world to know that
An Authentic History
has been written, and that by a native of the island, one to the manor born. The title of the new work appears above. It is written by Miss Rosa Young, one of the direct descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty. The book, of 256 pages, is a plain, unvarnished tale of Pitcairn and its inhabitants from its settlement to the year 1894. It is written with a941
Charming Simplicity of Style
which refreshes the reader and invites a continued perusal. This work is illustrated with 26 engravings by the half-tone process, and its 23 chapters have each a neatly engraved heading.
PRICE $1.00, POSTPAID.
Thousands can be sold by those who will canvass their neighborhood. Address any State Tract Society, or
Pacific Press Publishing Company,
Kansas City, Mo. Oakland, Cal. New York City.
TAKE THE
"SUNSET LIMITED"
THE NEW TRANSCONTINENTAL FLYER
OF THE
SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY
COMMENCING
Thursday, Nov. 1, 1894
AND
Running Every Thursday Until Further Notice
BETWEEN
SAN FRANCISCO AND
79 HOURS NEW ORLEANS
OVER THE POPULAR
SUNSET ROUTE
The Favorite Route of America for Winter Travel.
A SUPERBLY EQUIPPED
Solid Vestibuled Train
CONSISTING OF
Pullman Palace Double Drawing-room Sleeping Cars, Dining Cars and Composite Cars, with Buffet, Smoking-room, Bath-room and Barber Shop.
BRILLIANTLY LIGHTED BY PINTSCH GAS.
NO EXTRA CHARGE
All First-class Tickets, Local and Through, Honored for Passage. Sleeping Car Berths at Regular Rates.
Dining Car Service Best Obtainable.
Meals a la Carte.
Immediate Connections at New Orleans with trains for Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville and Memphis; also with
LIMITED TRAINS of the
Piedmont Air Line
FOR
Atlanta, Charlotte, Danville, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other Eastern Points.
THROUGH SCHEDULE:
Leave SAN FRANCISCO, 10:30 a. m. - Thursday
" LOS ANGELES, 4:00 " - Friday
Arrive EL PASO, 5:30 " - Saturday
" NEW ORLEANS 7:40 p. m. - Sunday
" NEW YORK, 1:25 " - Tuesday
Through time to NEW YORK CITY, 119 Hours. Passengers from Los Angeles will take Berths in Special Sleeping Car Thursday Evening.
For Further Information, Inquire of any Agent of the
SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY
RICHARD GRAY
Gen. Traffic Manager.
T. H. GOODMAN
Gen. Pass. Agent.
