Progress in Temperance Legislation—Temperance Compromises—The Nation’s Peril—Woful Statistics—Military Matters.
THE temperance problem has been receiving rather more attention than usual during the last few weeks. As a matter of fact, drunkenness has become such a serious nuisance, especially as regards its recent inroads upon the country’s womanhood, that even moderate drinkers are quite willing that it should be a subject for restrictive legislation. Probably some of my readers will remember the child messenger act, which has now been in force for about a year. Before that time it was customary to send little children to the public houses (saloons) with tin pails, bottles, or pitchers to fetch the alcoholic drinks for family use. Naturally many children fell into the habit of imbibing a portion on the way. Then the parents complained of short measure. So it was more satisfactory all around when this practise was stopped by law.
With the beginning of the present year, a new licensing act has come into force, forbidding the sale of strong drink to habitual drunkards. A man or woman arrested three times for drunkenness, has himself or herself entered in the so-called black-list, and no publican can supply such persons with any drink for three years under pain of losing his license. Infractions of this law are punishable by heavy fines, so that it will be a very difficult thing for the habitual drunkard to satisfy his appetite for drink. Already good results of the measure are appearing. Another great boon to the temperance cause has been a court decision upholding the right of a magistrate to refuse to renew the license of a public house if in his opinion it is superfluous, i. e., is located in a neighborhood in which the public houses are more numerous than the needs of the public require. Emboldened by this decision magistrates are quite generally refusing to renew licenses where the number of public houses seems excessive, and of course the effects of such restriction are good.
Quite recently a new form of temperance has come to the front. It consists in pledging oneself to use no intoxicating liquors except in connection with the two principal meals of the day. Rev. F. S. Webster started the movement by the chance suggestion made in a public address that persons who do not see their way clear to sign the teetotal pledge might at least promise not to drink except at meals. The idea caught on with wonderful rapidity. Persons of every class eagerly joined, the newspapers took up the matter, and altogether it bid for a time to become a craze. Printed pledges were called for by thousands, and the little red button to fasten on the coat lapel became a profitable piece of merchandise which shops of all sorts eagerly sought to handle. Lord Roberts, commander-in-chief of the army, has accepted the presidency of the society, and with him are associated, as vice-presidents, other prominent personages. Dr. Robert Hutchison, a high authority on food and dietetics, recently commended the movement in a public lecture. He said that drinking between meals was doubtless a very harmful thing, but the use of a moderate amount of wine or similar alcoholic beverage at meals was not only harmless, but actually beneficial (1). So the movement is on the crest of the wave, and bids fair to become more popular than anything yet brought forward in temperance lines.
However, it is not difficult to find a reason for this. Compromise is usually popular with a large class of people. As already indicated, the drink evil has assumed such serious dimensions that almost everybody admits something must be done to stem the tide if the nation is to be saved. Sir James Crichton-Browne, F.R.S., said recently in a public lecture that the time had come for “an awakening on the subject of physical efficiency.” He said further that there was “evidence of a striking kind that the people of our large towns, at any rate, are physically degenerating.”
The Westminster Review, a magazine of considerable character and importance, remarks in a late number: “It should be common knowledge that cancer, insanity, suicide, and chronic alcoholism have seized us in an iron grip.” In support of this statement, the same magazine gives the following table which, it says, should be “intelligible to the poorest understanding.”
Annual Death-rate to a Million Persons Living in England.
Year
Cancer
Insanity
Suicide
Chronic Alcoholism
1875
470
41
67
27
1898
802
114
92
65
Truly these figures are alarming. The increase of chronic alcoholism is especially unfortunate, as it applies particularly to women, in whose hands the welfare of the race naturally rests to a very large degree. Homes for inebriates have more applications from women than from men, and the number of homes wrecked by a drinking wife and mother is estimated to be large.
These are some of the things that are occupying the minds of thoughtful people on this side the Atlantic. Such persons view the immediate future with real apprehension. It may as well be added, too, that the feeling of distrust and uncertainty as to the political outlook is becoming general. Roughly speaking, about three-fourths of the king’s speech at the recent opening of parliament, had to do with war and national defence. England fears Germany. The foremost newspapers are urging the taking of more active measures to defend the country against invasion.
In short, the situation is exactly that which God’s Word informs us would prevail in the last days. Men’s hearts are “failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” M. ELLSWORTH OLSEN.
London, Feb. 27, 1903.
The Bible in the Public Schools of Nebraska.
Some months ago the Supreme Court of Nebraska rendered a decision which was construed to mean the exclusion of the Bible from the public schools. The decision, as summarized by the court, was as follows:—
Exercises by a teacher in a public school, in a school building in school hours and in the presence of the pupils, consisting of the reading of passages from the Bible, and singing of songs and hymns, and offering prayer to the Deity, in accordance with the doctrines, beliefs, customs, or usages of sectarian churches or religious organizations, is forbidden by the constitution of this State.
Upon a petition for a rehearing, the court considered the arguments filed in support of the motion, and adhered to the original decision, but added:—
This decision does not, however, go to the extent of entirely excluding the Bible from the public schools. It only goes to the extent of denying the right to use it for the purpose of imparting sectarian instruction.
The gist of the later decision is found in the following paragraphs from a syllabus prepared by the court:—
The law does not forbid the use of the Bible in the public schools; it is not prescribed either by the constitution or the statutes, and the courts have no right to declare its use to be unlawful because it is possible or probable that those who are privileged to use it will misuse the privilege by attempting to propagate their own peculiar theological or ecclesiastical views and opinions.
The point where the courts may rightfully interfere to prevent the use of the Bible in a public school is where legitimate use has degenerated into abuse; where a teacher employed to give secular instruction has violated the constitution by becoming a sectarian propagandist.
Whether it is prudent or politic to permit Bible reading in the public schools is a question for the school authorities; but whether the practice of Bible reading has taken the form of sectarian instruction is a question for the courts to determine in each instance, upon evidence.
Here is an excerpt from the testimony of the lady teacher of whom complaint had been made of sectarian teaching:—
Q. You read that book because you think it is the Word of God?
A. Yes, sir; I do.
Q. And you believe that sincerely?
A. Yes, sir; I do.
Q. And why do you consider it necessary to offer a prayer?
A. I think we are taught to.
Q. Yes, you think it is done as an act of worship, the whole thing?
A. We think it is, sir.
Q. Intended to worship God?
A. Yes, sir.
The court decides that this constitutes sectarian instruction. But that it is not designed to rule out the Bible entirely from the schools, the chief justice says:—
Certainly the Iliad may be read in the schools without inculcating a belief in the Olympic divinities, and the Koran may be read without inculcating the Moslem faith. Why may not the Bible be read without indoctrinating children in the creed or dogma of any sect? Its contents are largely historical and moral; its language is unequalled in purity and elegance; its style has never been surpassed; among the classics of our literature it stands preeminent.
There is, therefore, an alternative left to the teacher, if the school authorities permit the reading of the Bible: He can pray earnestly in his closet; then he can read the Bible in the schoolroom, live its principles in the presence of his pupils, and then trust the Holy Spirit to impress the truth upon the hearts of those who are susceptible to its influence.
PREPARING FOR TROUBLE.
It was announced recently that the War Department had notified the governors of all the States that it had prepared a new bullet, called a “riot bullet,” and was prepared to supply all the State arsenals with them. It has also been announced that the general government was ready to supply the regular army rifle to the State troops to replace the Springfield rifles with which they have hitherto been armed.
Many are asking the question, What is portended in this ominous move of the military branch of this government? One labor journal, evidently scenting trouble from afar, asks, “Where are the riots that these bullets are to suppress, and who are the rioters? We have not heard of any disturbance anywhere requiring the wholesale murder of Americans to quell it. We have supposed that our patriotism was of too real and too sturdy a quality to make it necessary to overawe any of us with troops. Garrisons and ‘riot guns’ and overpowering force we9have always supposed to belong chiefly to the monarchical countries of Europe. This being a popular government, it has never been supposed that it was necessary for the people to turn their power against themselves.”
The simple fact is that the government sees coming an inevitable conflict between organized labor on the one side and capital demanding government protection on the other side. It is the duty of governments to maintain order however individual sympathies may run. It has been found necessary again and again to call out the State troops to quell riotous demonstrations of strikers against their employers. Troops were quartered for weeks in the Pennsylvania coal regions, and, notwithstanding their presence, murders and other crimes were of frequent occurrence. Colorado now has troops on duty to prevent strikers committing deeds of violence, and other States have found it necessary also in the very recent past to rely on the military to preserve order where strikes were in progress. These are becoming more and more frequent. Strikes are being ordered on less and less provocation, as is the case in the street-car strike soon to be ordered in San Francisco. The organizations are becoming larger in membership, more insistent in their demands, and the government expects it will be necessary to use the “riot bullets” and the “riot guns” to keep them in check. It is true also that the government is becoming more monarchical in its tendencies, is drifting farther and farther away from its proper anchoring ground in the Declaration of Independence. And this, too, makes the conflict more certain. The prospect is not a peaceful one, but this is the situation which this generation has to face. The tide toward conflict is a strong one, is becoming stronger every day, and there is no prospect of the growth of an influence sufficiently strong to stem the tide and speak peace to the turbulent stream. But of this condition the Word has warned us, and the Father has provided a safe shelter for His children through the coming storm.
BIBLES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Catholic Truth Society recently asked the New York State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Skinner, if the Roman Catholic Version of the Bible might be read by Catholic teachers in the public schools where the reading of the Bible was required, and was told that it might. Of course Superintendent Skinner was right, but this illustrates the blundering policy of those strict Protestant religionists, who insist that the Bible be read in the schools as a daily religious service. It can breed nothing but quarrels. If the Protestant Version is read, it will be regarded as a Protestant service, which Catholics will object to, and conversely if the Catholic Version is read. It is better to have no religious service than to have a quarrelsome one. In an institution for all the people, like the public schools, there is no right or justice in imposing the religion of one fraction of the people, no matter how large, on the other fraction. There have been cases in which, in a school where the children were mostly Jews, they were required to learn and sing Christmas carols. The true rule is: No religious service of any sort in the public school. To say that reading the Bible or repeating the Lord's prayer is not a religious service is to say what is not true. Give over the care of religion to the church. —Independent.
The Coal Strike Award
The commission appointed to arbitrate the differences between the coal companies and the miners has completed its work and reported its decisions. Both parties to the controversy are claiming the victory. The simple fact is that, while the union has not been recognized (which was one of the demands of the miners), some of their demands have been granted, and some of the contentions of the employers also have been upheld. The following summary of the findings will give an idea of the work done by the commission:—
General increase in wages of about ten per cent.
Present methods of payment for coal mined to be adhered to, unless changed by mutual agreement.
Board of conciliation to be chosen for settlement of disputes and disagreements.
No strikes or lockouts to be permitted pending such adjustment.
No concerted action by mine owners or miners to limit the output of mines or detract from the quality of the coal mined, except by mutual understanding.
No discrimination for or against any workman on account of membership or non-membership in a union.
Unions must not undertake to assume or to interfere with the management of the business of the employer.
Persons who associate themselves into a union do not acquire authority over those who do not so associate themselves.
The miners have the privilege of having a check weighman of their own appointment.
Decision of the commission to be in force until March 31, 1906.
Recommends that coal and iron police not be employed in preference to regular peace officers.
The commission estimates the losses sustained during the strike to have been as follows: Losses to mine owners, $46,100,000; losses to employees, $25,000,000; losses to transportation companies, $28,000,000—a grand total of $99,100,000. During the week a number of railroads and some other concerns have increased the pay of their men materially; there have also been about the usual number of strikes.
Among the Mounds
During the excavations of the site of ancient Susa (Shushan) a column of stone has been found on which the laws governing Babylon in the time of King Ahasuerus are set forth in 300 paragraphs. We see by this that the codification of laws is not a modern thing. The many excavations now going on in ancient lands, bringing again to the attention of the world those people and events of which the Bible speaks so plainly, are serving an important purpose in God’s work. More and more minutely are the mounds corroborating the writings of the inspired men of old. A despatch from Egypt dated March 2 states that Mr. Davis, an American explorer who has been excavating the ruins of ancient Thebes, has found a splendid war-chariot in the tomb of Thothmes IV. The chariot was made of bronze and gilded wood. Other chambers were found in the tomb, the doors to which were sealed with the seal of the king. The floor was strewn with vases, dishes, and other objects. The walls were hung with paintings, and in the room were found pieces of textile fabric in which hieroglyphics of various colors are woven with such wonderful skill as to present the appearance of painting on linen. John Hayes Hammond of Yale University, until recently a mining expert in South Africa, stated, in a lecture in New York on March 6, that inscriptions had been found in South Africa which proved that Rhodesia is the land of Ophir referred to in the Scriptures.
Prevalence of Fraud.
The large number of frauds reported by the daily press during the past few weeks has been a source of astonishment to the general reader. They do not seem to be restricted to one line of business or to one class of individuals. It is a striking sign of these times in which we live, showing the great prevalence of the desire for riches without regard to the manner in which they are obtained. There has been a run on the imperial bank of Shanghai due to the circulation of forged or fraudulent bank notes to the amount of $300,000. The president of a mining company at Los Angeles, Cal., is made defendant in a suit to recover damages for the fraudulent sale of stock of the company. The vice-president and manager of the Bank of South Pennsylvania is arrested, charged with numerous fraudulent transactions. The bank was closed by the examiner. A great many insurance frauds also have been reported, in some of which murder has been resorted to for the purpose of securing the insurance money. A million-dollar insurance fraud is now under investigation in the city of Pittsburg, Penn. A company has been operating in Mexico, defrauding the insurance companies of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even our Post-office Department at Washington has been smirched by this greed for gold on the part of some of its employees, who have, through a kind of blackmail, exacted money from fraudulent concerns before permitting their matter to go through the mails; and other concerns have been excluded because of refusal to pay. The Scripture statement that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” was never more strikingly verified than it is being verified in these days. No crimes are too dark or cruel to deter men and women from committing them, if money is the object involved.
Increasing Travel.
The prophecy of Daniel says that at the time of the end many shall run to and fro (Ch. 12:4). We are now living in just such a time, tho the application of this prophecy to the fact is doubtful. Mr. Kruttschnitt, of the Southern Pacific Company, gives a very lucid idea of the condition, in a recent interview:—
The problem of the most importance just now before the big railroad companies is how on earth to handle the railroad business that is being offered, both freight and passenger. It is almost impossible to get the necessary extra equipment. We are getting some locomotives that were contracted for a long while ago, and we expect the rest of the order to be filled in April, May, or June. Then we should have a total of 106 new locomotives with which to begin the fall campaign of 1903. The trouble is a lack of structural material. The big car factories and locomotive works are all overcrowded with work, and they are unable to get all the structural steel they need. We have built 4,000 cars at our Sacramento shops during the last three years. But in all the new-style cars the frame is of steel, and we have not the facilities for building such cars. We have made a contract for 125 first-class passenger coaches, which are promised before the 1st of August, so we may use them for the Grand Army of the Republic Encampment travel to San Francisco. We are putting up very large and extensive car shops at Los Angeles. They will be thoroughly modern in every respect.
Burning the Bible Again.
News comes from Fiji that on one of the islands in that part of the South Pacific considerable excitement has been caused by the public burning of 300 Bibles by the Catholics. This sacrilegious act in the presence of converted and unconverted inhabitants of these islands is said to have caused much friction between the Catholics and Protestants. How can it be proved that Rome’s seeming encouragement of the reading of the Bible in America is more than a subterfuge when in the islands of the sea, in the presence of the heathen, the Bible is being burned as a dangerous book?
Alaskan Boundary Commissioners Appointed
England has appointed her three commissioners who are to confer with three American commissioners over the matter of the settlement of the Alaskan boundary dispute. England's commissioners are Lord Chief Justice Alverstone of England, John Douglas Armour of the Supreme Court of Canada, and Sir Louis Jette, retired judge of the Supreme Court of Quebec.
Hurricane Devastates the Tuamotu Islands
The hurricane which visited the Tuamotu group of islands in the South Pacific, caused the death of 515 of the natives. Previous reports had placed the number of dead all the way from 400 to 1,000. The suffering of the survivors during and following the hurricane was most distressing, many, especially children, having died from sheer exposure.
Uprising of the Boxers in China
Reports from China indicate that the threatened uprising of the Boxers is creating widespread alarm among those who would be most affected by it. Some of the Roman Catholic missionaries in the north of China are reported to be arming their missions because of the fear of further uprisings and massacres. Native papers at Nanking report that the rebels are massing their forces along the Yang-tse-Kiang, preparatory to an uprising, and a telegram from Kukiang states that the situation there is critical. The governor of Kwangsi has asked the governor of Kwang Tung for troops to help in suppressing the rebels, but none can be spared from that province. The western powers are taking the precaution to fortify their legations at Peking. Marshal Su is reported to have committed suicide because of his inability to quell the rebellion in Kwangsi, a large body of his personal troops having gone over to the enemy. It is reported that France will send troops into the last named province if the Chinese Government is unable to suppress the rebellion.
In the Balkans
In the Balkans.—Reports from the Balkans indicate that there are constant conflicts between the Macedonians and the Turks, tho generally of small bodies of men, in which few lives are lost. It is stated, however, that the insurgents have decided to postpone a general movement and await developments; but that it is the settled purpose of the revolutionists eventually to drag Europe into an interference in the affairs of Macedonia. The Turks seem to be controlling themselves better than formerly; but the revolutionist leaders believe that as soon as Europe has turned its eyes to another portion of the globe, the old tactics will be employed again. The Macedonian committee does not intend to be idle. So while war in the Balkans is no longer regarded as imminent, no one dreams that peace is assured.
Notable Inventions
Two remarkable inventions which have just come to public attention are an apparatus for enabling the totally deaf to hear, and an apparatus for enabling the totally blind to see. In the former a small apparatus is attached to the ears, by which, through the instrumentality of electricity, sound waves are conveyed directly to the inner ear. The mechanism for enabling the blind to see has not yet been described by the inventor; but has been satisfactorily tested, according to reports from Paris. The hearing apparatus has been tested in public, and the deaf mutes who heard for the first time were in ecstasy.
To Test Pennsylvania’s Blue Laws
To Test Pennsylvania’s Blue Laws.—To force an issue on the blue laws in Pennsylvania, the prominent and responsible members of the Sabbath Observance Association have sworn out warrants for the arrest of several publishers of morning newspapers, and the executive officers of a certain news company, a locomotive works, and an ice-cream company. Such acts as the accused are charged with doing are forbidden by the law of 1794, which also prohibits kissing on Sunday.
Government Study of Criminality
A systematic study of criminals and criminality is to be taken up in both Russia and the United States at government expense. The increase of crime is something that governments have found it necessary to take cognizance of, in an endeavor to find some new way of dealing with it, some method that will turn the tide. But God's Word tells us that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,” and that this will go on and on until the King of kings shall come.
Honesty in This Generation
A colored porter on a New York ferry-boat found a one-thousand dollar gold certificate on the floor of the ladies’ cabin, and turned it over to the proper officials. The negro’s act of honesty was considered a thing so uncommon as to be worthy of note and comment all over the country. He ought to have done it, to be sure, but it is a fact that the people of this generation did not expect it—not because it was a colored man at all, but because it is this generation.
Imitating Crime.
At Findlay, Ohio, recently an example was given of the alacrity with which children imitate the crimes of which they read or hear. A number of youth had witnessed the play, “Tracy, the Outlaw,” and, enthused with the exploits of the bandit, seized a youth of their own age, carried him to a lonely spot, and had about completed preparations for burning him at the stake when workmen heard his cries and rescued him.
Grave of Attila the Hun Found
The grave of Attila the Hun is reported to have been found by a peasant of St. Johann, in the Drave Valley, Austria. Antiquarians had made repeated unsuccessful attempts to find the grave of this Hunnish chief; but were convinced that it would one day be found. The remains were inclosed in a bronze coffin, beside which were several instruments of bronze. Underneath the coffin was a stone bearing the name of Attila.
Allahabad Offers Rewards for Live Rats
The city officials of Allahabad, India, in taking precautions against the spread of the plague, undertook to exterminate the rats, which are known to carry the infection. The people would not allow this, as it involved the taking of life. So the city authorities are offering rewards for live rats, and these are to be fed and housed at the public expense until the plague subsides, when the rats will be turned loose again.
THE HOME.
By Mary Wood-Allen
BY MARY WOOD-ALLEN, M. D.
Companionship.
The ideal social life should be in the home, for here there is no line of demarcation between old and young, no separation of the sexes, but all meet together in a community of interests which should insure a community of pleasures.
Young peoples' organizations have done some good in teaching the younger folks how to conduct meetings, and in giving them a certain amount of self-reliance; but they are not an unmixed good because they have made boundaries between old and young, and have set these periods of life off in distinct classes as if they were in no way connected with each other. This condition is not limited to societies, but maintains in what we call society as well.
It is a mistake to separate the old and young in social life. The old need the vivacity and enthusiasm which the young possess as a stimulus, and the young need the wisdom and experience of the older people as ballast.
In the home we find the ideal conditions, both sexes and all ages meeting on a common plane, but unless there is a sympathetic unity of feeling and of desires there will be no real companionship.
To sleep under the same roof and eat at the same table does not of necessity make people companions. We can not expect that the children will come spontaneously into sympathy with the parents. They have not had the experience necessary to do this, but the parents having been children ought to be able to sympathize with their children.
It is only by remembering their own childhood that they can come into harmonious relations with the young people in their home.
Christ's words, “Except ye become as little children ye can not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” seem to me to be applicable here. Unless you can enter into that state of mind that understands the heart of the little child you can not bring into your home life the harmony which is in itself heavenly. It seems easier for many parents to enter into the life of the little child than into the life of the growing boy or girl. The father can get down on all fours and “play bear” with the two-year-old, but does not know how to enter into the mind and heart of the boy of ten, twelve, or fourteen. Instead of making the lad feel that he knows the delights of boyhood and sympathizes with them, he stands in the boy's mind as the arbitrary power that is forever interfering with his plans of enjoyment. If he could feel the father's sympathy he would more cheerfully accept his father's decisions even when they interfere with his own wishes. Fathers and mothers should as far as possible be in the pleasures of their children of all ages, in them in spirit and interest, if not in fact.
The young people should be made to feel that home is the best place for fun, and that father and mother can laugh at their innocent pranks even if not taking part in them.
I know a family where “mother” is always a part of all the frolics. “Come on, mother, we're going to have some fun,” is always the invitation, and mother goes, approves when she can, and if she must interfere does it with a manner that makes everyone feel that her's is the best way.
“Let's have a circus in our barn,” said one boy to another. “O no, let's have it in our house; mother can help us and tell us what to do.” So the troupe of boys ran to mother and she counselled and planned and turned the “circus” into a harmless entertainment where good manners ruled and only proper language was heard. “Isn't she bully!” was the enthusiastic, if not elegant compliment of the boys.
A truer valuation of the character of companions is obtained if they are seen under the eye of father and mother. It is wonderful what a difference this makes in the judgment. “I thought he was a real nice boy until I took him home with me, then I felt that he was rude and coarse as soon as he came where mother was.”
“How different her conversation sounds to me when I know mother is hearing what she says, even tho mother makes no comment. I seem to hear through her ears and that changes things.”
The greatest safeguard for youth is that its friends shall be entertained in the home circle. Alas! too often young women receive in the home parlor young men whom the parents do not even know by sight.
An idea sometimes maintains that home is the place where one may be careless in dress or in manners. “I want to be comfortable at home,” is the excuse. But if we were brought up to personal neatness, to courtesy and careful behaviour in the home, we should feel only comfortable when conforming to these conditions. Then we should find ourselves comfortable in the best of society. I know a young woman of twenty-five who is never at ease because she was not trained to good manners in youth. She does not know how to perform an introduction easily, to leave a room gracefully, to receive a kindness courteously, altho a girl of good sense, yet, not knowing how to conduct a conversation, she always giggles when spoken to in society. She talks slang at home, consequently she has no elegant vocabulary to use in social life. She is careless of her person at home; therefore is ill at ease when “dressed up.” She can can not readily say “please” and “thank you,” or “good morning” or “good night,” for her tongue was not trained to those formulas of courtesy in youth.
Home, then, should be the center of social life, the foundation of social joys, the school of social virtues.
SOME MISTAKES WE MAKE.
By Anon.
It is a mistake to work when you are not in a fit condition to do so.
To take off heavy underclothing because you have become overheated.
To go to bed late at night and rise at daybreak, and imagine that every hour taken from sleep is an hour gained.
To imagine that if a little work or exercise is good, violent or prolonged exercise is better.
To conclude that the smallest room in the house is large enough to sleep in.
To sleep exposed to a direct draught at any season.
To imagine that whatever remedy causes one to feel immediately better, as alcoholic stimulants, for example, is good for the system, without regard to the after effects.
To eat as if you had only a minute in which to finish the meal, or to eat without an appetite, or to continue after it has been satisfied to gratify the taste.
To give unnecessary time to a certain established routine of housekeeping when it could be more profitably spent in rest or recreation.—Anon.
CHILD-TRAINING
By Ellen G. White
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Men and women are generally designed for the home life, and from an early age they should be taught to perform the duties of this life. They should be taught to see and improve opportunities for helping others.
Such a training is of untold value to a child, and it can be so given that the child will find pleasure and happiness in learning to be helpful. This is the mother's work,—patiently to train her children for usefulness. In doing this work, she will gain an invaluable experience.
Children are as easily interested in useful employment as in play. Each child should have his given duties, and should be taught to perform them with thoughtfulness and care. And when he does well, let the mother express her thanks. This will fill his heart with joy. Let her show her children that she appreciates their efforts to help. A word of praise will encourage them in well-doing. Thus teaching her children, the mother becomes their companion, and they are bound together by ties of love and helpfulness.
In the training of a child, there are times when the firm, matured will of the mother meets the unreasoning, undisciplined will of the child. At such times there is need of great wisdom on the part of the mother. By unwise management, by stern compulsion, she may do her child great harm.
Whenever possible, this crisis should be avoided; for it means a severe struggle for both mother and child. But once such a crisis is entered into, the child must be led to yield its will to the wiser will of the parent.
The mother should keep herself under perfect control, doing nothing that will arouse in the child a spirit of defiance. She is to give no loud-voiced commands. She will gain much by keeping the voice low and gentle. She is to deal with the child in a way that will draw him to Jesus. She is to realize that God is her Helper; love, her power. If she is a wise Christian, she will not attempt to force the child to submit. She prays earnestly, and as she prays, she is conscious of a renewal of spiritual power. She sees that the same power that is working in her is working also in the child. He becomes more gentle, more submissive. The battle is won. The mother's patience, her words of wise restraint, have done their work. There is peace after the storm, like the shining of the sun after rain. And the angels, who have been watching the scene, break forth into songs of joy.
My brother, my sister, are you living in close connection with God, so that you represent Him in the home? Do your children see in your daily life that which strengthens them in every right purpose? Your words and actions, yes, and the tones of your voice and the expression of your countenance, are leaving on their minds impressions that can never be effaced. The influence that you exert in the home mingles with the first conceptions of your children, and it should be to them a savor of life unto life. If your heart is sanctified by Christ's grace, you will stand in the home as an oracle of the cross. Christ will teach you to speak right words. He will speak through you, revealing the power of His grace.11
Let not your hearts grow faint or your hands weary. By and by the portals of the heavenly city will open to you and your children, and you may bring them to God, saying, “Here am I, and the children whom Thou hast given me.” What a reward will then be yours!—to see your children crowned with immortal life in the city of God.
THE WELCOME BACK.
By Eliza Cook
SWEET is the hour that brings us home,
Where all will spring to meet us;
Where hands are striving as we come,
To be the first to greet us.
When the world hath spent its frowns and wrath,
And care hath been sorely pressing;
'Tis sweet to turn from our roving path,
And find a fireside blessing.
O, joyfully dear is the homeward track,
If we are but sure of a welcome back.
What do we reck on a dreary way
Tho lonely and benighted,
If we know there are lips to chide our stay
And eyes that will beam love-lighted?
What is the worth of your diamond ray,
To the glance that flashes pleasure;
When the words that welcome back betray,
We form a heart's chief treasure?
O, joyfully dear is our homeward track,
If we are but sure of a welcome back.
