It is becoming more and more evident that merely human schemes for peace between man and man never can produce more than a temporary cessation of active hostilities. Respect for the law of God, as comprehended in the Golden Rule, is the only preventive of selfishness in deal. Great stress has been laid on arbitration as a settler of all troubles; but while arbitration is better than open war between individuals, or classes, or nations, it never can fully satisfy both parties. Its first test as a government scheme between capital and labor is far from satisfactory to either of the contracting parties, or to the people at large. Neither of the principals enter into the spirit of the compromise enforced upon them by the arbitration commission; and it is evident that if the anthracite coal barons could make as much profit out of another strike as they have gained through the last one, they would not hesitate to provoke a repetition of that terrible event. The consumers of coal, both of anthracite and bituminous, have far more than paid, in increased price, for all the temporary loss to the companies, caused by the strike. The reckless disregard of the prophetic Word is sure to precipitate the inevitable crisis set forth as a precursor of the coming of the Lord. The Herald, of this city, gives the following pertinent statement of the situation and the prospect:—
Accounts which come from the anthracite district of Pennsylvania are not reassuring. The temper of the miners is not satisfactory. A year and a half has gone by since the settlement of the strike by an arbitration that it was hoped would not only bring permanent peace to the distracted district, but afford an object lesson for the rest of the labor world that would contribute to its lasting satisfaction.
These roseate anticipations seem to be poorly warranted. There is time before the contracts expire for the establishment of better relations, but if they are established, a different spirit from that now manifested will have to characterize both operators and miners. There is little or no reciprocity of sentiment or interest between them. Both sides have knives up their sleeves, and the likelihood seems to be that they will use them without mercy at the first opportunity.
The basic trouble appears to be that the operators have not lived up in good faith to the terms of the arbitration findings. They have kept the letter of the contract, while outraging its spirit. They have not only been exacting with the men, but provokingly so, and the men have not found their condition improved by the terms of settlement of the strike.
The spirit manifested by the operators has begotten in the minds of the men a kindred spirit of reprisal and retaliation. This prompts them to do as little work as will pass for the money, and do that in a surly humor that makes them difficult of discipline. The feeling on both sides is that when the three-year contract is up the war will be renewed, and that arbitration will not be submitted to next time. The fight will be to that bitter end, which those engaged in industrial warfare appear to look upon as a goal greatly to be desired.
A second conflict is made all the more probable because the last one proved a source of great profit to the mine operators. They not only made an advance on all the coal they had out of the mines, or could get out during the strike, but ever since the settlement of the strike they have netted a profit of $2.72 per ton, instead of $1.60, as before the strike. These profits have been estimated to be as high as $75,000,000 in the aggregate. The innocent public has paid all the bills which the operators incurred by reason of the half-year of warfare, and also a part of the money which the men lost.
Nearly all of our labor troubles arise not out of a clashing of interest or any other thing that should tend to make the strife between labor and capital an irrepressible conflict, but in the main from a spirit of bad faith, and a disposition to be unfair rather than fair, or to apply the pressure of force where there is no moral justification for its application. So long as this spirit remains in the industrial world will there be strikes and lockouts, destruction of property and suffering of privation. The whole industrial problem is involved in the single issue of fair play and good faith. Like all other public issues, this one also resolves itself into a question of good morals.
THE CONFLICT UPON US.
By John Aubrey Jones
“From among the many letters which have come to us anent capital and labor, called out by our special issue, we present the following candid expression of opinion, breathing peace and good will. The solution of the great question, the climax of the great struggle, is set forth in ‘the more sure word of prophecy.’”—ED. S. OF T.”
EDITOR SIGNS OF THE TIMES—Sir: No cartoon that ever I saw, even during the days of Nast and Boss Tweed, struck me so forcibly, as being the whole truth in a picture, as did the title-page cartoon in the recent “Capital and Labor” issue of the SIGNS.
The writer is not a regular reader of the SIGNS, but not infrequently he gets a copy, prompted by something in the “Table of Contents,” that promises “a feast of reason.”
During the past ten years the writer has by pen and voice, in a feeble but earnest way, warned his countrymen of the culmination that would surely come, from the “irrepressible conflict” between the “toiling masses” and the “privileged class,” if the spirit, the precept of the gentle Jesus, the meek and lowly Nazarene, the “carpenter’s son,” did not enter the hearts of men as the dominating influence, acting as a solvent of the world’s greatest, most vexed, and vexing problem.
What is that spirit by that precept?—“Love one another.”
This is the sum and substance of Christianity; the highest human ideal; the acme of civilization; the ne plus ultra of social organism.
Let the cruel, barbarous, unenlightened selfishness of the human heart be incinerated to dead ashes in the white heat of the glowing fire of brotherhood, and there will be averted the awful climax foreshadowed by that terror-inspiring cartoon.
Then, instead of the two great forces and factors of civilization, of industrial and commercial life, labor and capital, being two mighty giants panoplied for war, grappling with each other in a battle to the death to determine the question of supremacy, the right to rule, while the great majority, the consumers not identified with either camp, are crushed by the whirlwind of the mighty combat, they would meet as two great, strong brothers, robed in the habiliments of peace and industry, clasping hands in harmony and love neath the cloudless skies of progress, from which the life-giving sun of posterity radiates its beams of cheer upon the happy millions gathered around, making the vault of heaven to reverberate with their diapason of joy and thanksgiving for the blessed exemplification of the truth, that civilization is civilized; that humanity is humanized, made so by the all-conquering power of love, the outward expression of the Christ spirit; the practical exemplification of His divinely-inspired maxim as the highest rule of human conduct, “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
But O, the momentous question is, Will the Christ spirit dominate? or will the spirit of the devil, the spirit of selfishness, or greed, rule?
If the latter shall be, then woes untold and untellable are to be upon us, and civilization must needs have a new birth in the blood of revolution and be christened with the waters of tribulation, heated hot by the fires of anarchy.
But, if the former shall prevail, then civilization will peacefully emerge out of the wilderness of contention and advance to the heights of human excellence, whence can be looked upon a world that was like unto a hell transformed into the similitude of heaven.9
Let us continue doing all we can to aid in bringing about such a blessed consummation.
Panama has put itself in touch with the progressive nations of the earth by adopting a policy of religious freedom. By the concordat between Colombia and Pope Leo XIII., the state might even declare null and void the marriages of Protestants and other non-Roman Catholics. Panama has repudiated the intolerant policy of Colombia, and has adopted the following: "The profession of all religions, as also the exercise of all forms of worship, shall be free without other limitations than respect for Christian morality and public order."
But this hardly reaches the mark. It would be very easy for Roman Catholic judges and executive officers so to construe the law that Protestant worship and Protestant preaching would be considered contrary to "Christian morality and public order." Something more emphatic than that is needed.
Christian Union
"Christian Union."—Amory H. Bradford, D. D., moderator of the Congregational National Council, makes a "Proposition for Christian Union," in the Independent of February 4. His proposition in general is for union between those bodies nearest together, and his special plea is for a union of Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists. Between the first two he finds but little difference, save in the matter of church government, but this difference is largely passing away, the Presbyterians recognizing more and more the autonomy of the individual church. But he thinks the difference is still less between Congregationalists and Baptists, as both are congregational in government. The matter of baptism and its mode Dr. Bradford deems a small thing. Simply leave that to the individual conscience. Immerse, pour, sprinkle, sprinkle children or not, as parents desire.
Such a union would tell nothing for truth. It might be easy for Congregationalists, who hold only a counterfeit baptism, but we do not see how the Bible Baptist could acquiesce. And yet, Baptists must do one thing or the other: they must yield to the claims of the Bible Sabbath, or give up Bible baptism; and not a few of them have already become so "liberal" that baptism is with them a matter of little consequence. Yielding that, they are practically Congregationalists, pure and, simple.
Left with a trust, will they abandon it? Baptism means more than mere immersion. The very mode stands for stalwart regeneration by faith and loyalty to the Bible. But if Baptists hold to baptism, why will they not accept the Bible Sabbath? The only true union is union in truth.
What the Masses Read
What the Masses Read.—The Booklovers' Library is a library of books issued within the year. It aims to furnish only what is wanted. It declares that nowhere can a better list be found. It lists in the Booklovers' Magazine 3 books on Science and Nature Study; 5 on Religion; 6 on Economics and Sociology; 10 on Politics and History; 31 on Biography and Memoirs, many of them indifferent; 6 on Domestic Economy and Recreation; 16 on Criticism, Anecdote, and Essays; 2 on Poetry and Drama; 9 on Travel and Description; and on Fiction, 156. It goes without saying, and the titles and books bear out the fact, that fully one-half of the above, outside of the fiction, are light, ephemeral, designed merely for entertainment; and yet there are nearly twice as many books on fiction as in all other classes—good, bad, indifferent—put together. The effect of such mental fodder on the minds of a people is certainly weakening, cheapening, deteriorating.
Liquor Sales at Soldiers’ Homes
A bill before Congress, aiming to prohibit the sale of liquors in soldiers' homes, is meeting strong opposition by the liquor traffic. At a committee hearing recently, an attorney for the liquor dealers named a number of preachers of national and international repute who, he said, were opposed to the measure.
Arkansas Fight Leaves Three Dead
In a fight between a party of negroes and a posse of deputy sheriffs, at St. Charles, Ark., March 23, three of the negroes were killed.
Strange as It May Seem
Strange as it may seem, those sects of professed Christians that make the most ado about "apostolic succession" have the least in common with the apostles, either in doctrine or practise. Of all, they are the most governed by the traditions of men. The best evidence of apostolic succession is the apostolic spirit of self-denial and devotion to the plain Word of God. The apostles recognized "all scripture" as "profitable for doctrine" (2 Tim. 3: 16); therefore they saw no light in anything that was not according to the law and the testimony (Isa. 8: 20). Only those who stand on this ground can claim apostolic succession.
War News from the Orient
Very little that can be called news from the war in the Orient is to be said. There are many loud headlines in the newspapers, but they do not give much reliable news. Evidently, Japan has pretty well crippled Port Arthur, in fact, well-nigh destroyed it and several Russian war-ships. But that is not the end of the conflict. Russia is not depending on her navy, nor on Port Arthur. Her dependence is on her immense land force, which is being placed in a position of her own choosing, well back from the coast. All supplies and reinforcements reach the army from the interior, from a home source, practically unassailable by the Japanese. This army is fortifying and waiting to be attacked on her own chosen ground. The conflict will be decided on land, out of reach of the guns of any navy. Russia is waiting, and is preparing for at least a two years' war, and it may be more. If there be no interference by other nations, the resources of Japan will be tested to the utmost before she wins, if she wins at all.
A press despatch, dated Washington, March 23, says: "President Roosevelt soundly lectured a party of Ogalalla and Sioux Indians, who called on him to-day, about the evils of horse-racing and gambling. The President endeavored to impress upon his visitors his ideas of industry and thrift. The Indians listened in solemn silence, and as they emerged from the executive offices their faces beamed with smiles." It is little wonder they smiled at the idea of the chief of the white tribe lecturing Indians about gambling and horse-racing. If, when the President was touring out West, some Indian chief had lectured him about the evils of gambling and horse-racing among his people, perhaps he would have smiled. It is a question, however, which lecture would be the more appropriate, especially as the Indian learned much in these lines from the white man.
Martial law has been declared over the county of Las Animas, Colo., and about four hundred members of the National Guard have been stationed at the various mines in order to protect non-union workmen. Saloons and dance halls have been ordered to close at 9 o'clock P. M. Such places are almost invariably an adjunct, if not a prime cause, of the disorder of any given locality. It would be a wonderful saving of property, of life, and of health, besides adding much to the peace and comfort of the people everywhere, if such institutions could be abolished altogether.
A great treasure find in Bolivia is reported by the newspapers of that country and Peru. It is said to have been buried by Peruvians five centuries ago, and has been an object of search at different periods ever since. The amount is said to be $16,000,000. British and American engineers were the finders, but the Bolivian Government took charge of the treasure.
An earthquake shock occurred in the extreme western part of Washington, between the Olympic Mountains and the coast, on the 16th ult., and severe rains and floods followed the quake. On the 20th ult. the Atlantic coast, from New Brunswick to Massachusetts, was visited by quite a severe temblor.
Queen Alexandra recently surprised and delighted the factory children of the East End, London, by going in where between three and four thousand of them take their daily meal, and partaking of a nine-cent dinner with them. There were eight in her company.
Macario Sakay, who has been posing as president of the Filipino Republic, has been killed, together with fifteen of his followers. His party was encountered by detachments of constabulary and scouts, and all who were not killed were taken as prisoners.
The largest searchlight in the world, manufactured in Germany, is now in St. Louis, for use at the coming exposition. The lens is seven feet across, and is to make a light that can be seen 200 miles. Its light will equal that of 6,000,000 candles.
Germany is said to have found a pretext to "safeguard her interests" in the province of Shantung, China. That means more or less of armed occupation. "The powers" seem to be prospecting for "pretexts" in the Far East.
Eighteen flour-mills in Minneapolis, Minn., have been closed because of the poor condition of the flour trade, and about a thousand employees are out of work.
Bubonic plague is reported as spreading at an alarming rate in Johannesburg, in South Africa. The deaths up to March 24 were fifty-five.
A fierceblizzard, according to press despatches, raged through Manitoba on the 24th ult., blocking the railway tracks with snow.
THE BIBLE FIRST OF ALL.
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
"This little Book I'd rather own
Than all the gold and gems
That e'er in monarchs' coffers shone—
Than all their diadems."
WE have heard the Bible compared to a perfect cube; and it is a good comparison.
Let the infidel and agnostic vainly attempt to overthrow it; let the hosts of hell and the red waves of the pit beat upon it with relentless rage; behold it rises in as majestic proportions as ever. It can not be overthrown. It has stood the assaults of its boasting foe, whom the Almighty cast out of the gardens of God, for many a century; and still it throws its cheering rays of Gospel light over the dark places of earth.
There is no other book an understanding of which is so necessary, and there is none other so majestic in its simplicity. It is the message of the Infinite to the finite. It is the letter of our Father to His children. Is it not strange that so many neglect the reading of their letter?
Go with me to any one of our large post-offices on a day when there is a public delivery. It is the hour for distribution, and, as we are expecting letters of importance, we join the eager-faced throng. Such is our hurry that we step up in front among the first arrivals; but we are quickly asked to fall in line. We don't mean to be selfish, but we are so anxious for the letter from our absent loved ones that we forget that others are just as anxious.
"Are there letters for us?" we ask of the busy clerk.
"Nothing to-day."
How disappointed we are!
"Wait a moment. Ah, yes; here are your letters!"
How eagerly we grasp them, and as eagerly peruse them. No waiting to read the newspaper first; no conversing with acquaintances. "Good morning," says a friend. But we scarcely hear him. We are reading our letters from our absent loved ones.
Now, our Elder Brother has written us a letter. He has been away nearly two thousand years, and He is preparing a place for us to live with Him in [[FIGURE]] the country where He has gone. His letter is filled with glowing descriptions of the country, and He has even taken the pains to describe the city very minutely in which He is preparing such palaces for us that the most wonderful mansions of the kings of earth sink into insignificance in comparison.
"O, I have read my Bible through!" some one exclaims. Yes; but how often have you read that last letter from daughter Mary, or son John, or lover, or husband?
We all remember about the poor man who once undertook a long and dangerous journey, and who became bewildered and almost lost his life because he neglected to study his guide-book.
My friends, we are all a long way from home. We sometimes think of its glories and its beauties, and at such moments, O, how we long to be there, but we are lost upon the mountains of sin!
Dangers are upon every side. A mighty foe is ever seeking our destruction, and legions of his agents are planning our overthrow. We shall become bewildered and lost unless we study our Guide-book. In this we may read the experience of those who have gone over the same road we are traveling. We may read of their mistakes, of their trials, and of their glorious victories; and, as we read, our own faith grows stronger, and our hope brighter. Then, as we surrender ourselves to the guardianship of the pure angels, they will encompass our footsteps round about, for "the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him," as about Elisha on the hills of Dothan.
"Yes," says one, "the Bible is good, but I must confess I love better to read Shakespeare and Milton and Tennyson and Dickens. You see, I love eloquence and majesty of expression."
Do you? Listen then to the words of the Most High:—
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" And before the astonished patriarch could frame an answer, a second question is thundered by the Almighty, from the breathless vortex of the whirlwind: "Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner-stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
My friend, can you show me anything in all the writings of the wisest and most gifted poets or philosophers, which can compare with this wonderful passage? And this is only one among many.
Then, do you love simplicity and comprehensiveness of expression? Where can it be found in such completeness and perfection as in the Book of books? Read the story of creation.
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." What majesty! what simplicity of expression!
Read a description of the miracles performed by Jesus of Nazareth. Take, for an instance, the raising of Lazarus. The whole wonderful story, with all the attendant circumstances, is told in a very few words. Suppose such an amazing miracle should be performed to-day. With what startling headlines would it be heralded by the newspapers! Column after column would be written about it. Everything would be discussed,—from the color of the hair of Lazarus, to the price of the coat worn by the Healer. But in dignified majesty and comprehensive simplicity, Inspiration relates the wonderful tale in a few words. Do we admire poetry and beauty of expression? Let us read the book of Job, and the Psalms of David. The11103d and 104th psalms are strikingly beautiful and poetical.
Perhaps pathos appeals more especially to you. You do not need to search for it in the popular fiction of the day, if you would find it in its perfect beauty of expression. Can you read the pathetic utterances of the aged king of Israel over his lost and misguided son, with dry eyes?
"O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
Or who can but read with dim eyes the mournful appeal of the beloved Master over Jerusalem—the city of His love: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" What pathos! what touching sublimity! It is the language of Deity voicing the sorrow of Omnipotence.
But perhaps you are more interested in tragedy. You will find the twenty-fifth chapter of Numbers, the tenth chapter of Joshua, and the entire book of Esther abounding in tragedy. But if you would read the saddest of all the tragedies ever written since the creation of the world, you will find it in the inspired narrative of the crucifixion of the Man of Galilee, by a blood-thirsty and sin-hardened mob.
"But," says one, "I don't care so very much for tragedy or eloquence or beauty of expression or poetic utterance,—that is all well and good,—but I must confess to a great liking for love stories. Take a real good love story, now, and let it be well told, and I never tire of reading it."
Well, then, my dear friend, again I bring forward the Book of books. "What! you don't tell me that there are love stories in the Bible?"
Why, that Book is simply and wholly the most wonderful, the most beautiful, the most passionate, the most thrilling, and the most captivating love story which was ever written or read. It tells of a love which is deeper than the deepest depth, and higher than the highest heaven; of a love which is tenderer than that of lover or husband or mother; of a sympathy and companionship which is infinite, and of a jealous watchcare which never ceases. Ah, it is the best love story of the Infinite.
O the Bible, the Bible! it has a word of cheer for the discouraged, a tear of sympathy for the bereaved, a smile of encouragement for the faithful worker, and infinite LOVE for every fallen son and daughter of Adam.
"Then were the seas one chrysolite,
The earth one golden ball,
And diamonds all the stars of night,
This Book were worth them all."
THE FAME OF THE CITY.
By John Boyle O'Reilly
A GREAT rich city of power and pride,
With streets full of traders, and ships on the tide,
With rich men and workmen, and judges and preachers,
The shops full of skill, and the schools full of teachers.
The people were proud of their opulent town.
The rich men spent millions to bring it renown;
The strong men built, and the tradesmen planned;
The shipmen sailed to every land;
The lawyers argued, the teachers taught,
And a poor shy poet his verses brought,
And cast them into the splendid store.
The tradesmen stared at his useless craft,
The rich men sneered, and the strong men laughed;
The preachers said it was worthless quite,
The school-men said it was theirs to write,
But the songs were spared, tho they added naught
To the profit and praise the people sought,
That was wafted at last from distant climes;
And the townsmen said, "To remotest times
We shall send our name and our greatness down."
The boast came true; but the famous town
Had a lesson to learn when all was told.
The nations that honored cared naught for its gold;
Its skill they exceeded a hundredfold;
It had only been one of a thousand more
Had the songs of the poet been lost to its store.
Then the rich men and tradesmen and school-men said
They had never derided, but praised instead;
And they boast of the poet their town had bred.
—John Boyle O'Reilly.
HOW THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE PARDON.
By Eugene Field
[By Eugene Field, in Chicago News.]
EVERYBODY was afraid of the old governor, because he was so cross and surly. And one morning he was crosser and surlier than ever, because he had been troubled several days with a matter which he had already decided, but which many people wished to have reversed. A man, found guilty of a crime, had been imprisoned, and there were those who, convinced of his penitence, and knowing that his family needed his support, earnestly sought his pardon. To all these solicitations the old governor replied, "No," and having made up his mind, the old governor had no patience with those who persisted. So the old governor was in high dudgeon one morning, and when he came to his office he said to his secretary: "Admit no one. I am weary of these senseless importunities."
Now, the secretary had a discreet regard for the old governor's feelings, and it was seldom that his presence of mind so far deserted him as to admit of his suffering the old governor's wishes to be disregarded. He bolted the door and sat himself down at his modest desk, and simulated intense enthusiasm in his work.
His simulation was more intense than usual, for never before had the secretary seen the old governor in such harsh mood.
"Has the mail come? Where are the papers and the letters?" demanded the old governor, in a gruff voice.
"Here they are, sir," said the secretary, as he put the bundle on the old governor's table. "These are addressed to you privately; the business letters are on my desk. Would you like to see them now?"
"No, not now," growled the old governor; "I will read the papers and my private correspondence first."
But the old governor found cause for uneasiness. The papers discussed the imprisoned man, and these private letters came from certain of the old governor's friends, who, strangely enough, exhibited an interest in the self-same prisoner. The old governor was disgusted.
"They should mind their own business," muttered the old governor. "The papers are officious, and these other people are impertinent. My mind is made up—nothing shall change it."
Then the old governor turned to his private secretary, and bade him bring the business letters, and presently the private secretary could hear the old governor growling and fumbling over the pile of correspondence. He knew why the old governor was excited; many of these letters were petitions touching the imprisoned man.
"Humph!" said the governor at last. "I'm glad I'm done with them. There are no more, I suppose."
When the secretary made no reply, the old governor was surprised. He wheeled in his chair and searchingly regarded the secretary over his spectacles. He saw that the secretary was strangely embarrassed.
"You have not shown all," said the governor, sternly. "What is it that you have kept back?"
Then the secretary said: "It is nothing but a little child's letter—I thought I would not bother you with it."
The governor was interested. A child's letter—what could it be about? Such a thing had never happened before.
"A child's letter! Let me see it," said the governor, and, although his voice was harsh, somewhat of a tender light came into his eyes.
'Tis nothing but a scrawl," explained the secretary, "and it comes from the prisoner's child—Monckton's little girl—Monckton, the forger, you know. Of course there's nothing in it—a mere scrawl; for the child is only five years old. But the gentleman who sends it says that the child brought it to him and asked him to send it to the governor."
The governor took the letter, and he scanned it curiously. What a wonderful letter it was, and who but a child could have written it! Such strange hieroglyphics and crooked lines—it was a wonderful letter, as you can imagine.
But the old governor saw something more than the hieroglyphics and crooked lines and rude pencilings. He could see in and between the lines of the little child's letter a sweetness and a pathos he had never seen before, and on the crumpled sheet he found a love like the love his bereaved heart had vainly yearned for, O! so many years.
As the old governor looked upon the crumpled page, and saw and heard the pleadings of the child's letter, he thought of his own little one—God rest her innocent soul! And it seemed to him as if he could hear her dear baby voice joining with this other's in truthful pleading.
The secretary was amazed when the old governor said, "Give me a pardon blank." But what most amazed him was the tremulous tenderness in the old governor's voice and the mistiness behind the old governor's spectacles, as he folded the crumpled page and put it carefully in the breast pocket of his greatcoat.
"Humph," thought the secretary, "the old governor has a kinder heart than any of us suspected."
When the prisoner was pardoned and came from his cell, people grasped him by the hand and said, "We saved you."
But the secretary knew, and the old governor, too,—God bless him for his human heart!—they knew that a dimpled baby hand opened those prison doors.
The Habit of Unhappiness
Most unhappy people have become so by gradually forming a habit of unhappiness, complaining about the weather, finding fault with their food, with crowded cars, and with disagreeable companions, or work. A habit of complaining, of criticizing, of fault-finding, or grumbling over trifles, a habit of looking for shadows, is a most unfortunate habit to contract, especially in early life, for, after awhile, the victim becomes a slave. All of the impulses become perverted, until the tendency to pessimism, to cynicism, is chronic—Success.
A CHEERFUL HERO.
He is only an ordinary ashman, and yet to me he seems a hero, more especially as his life lacks the incentive which comes from public appreciation and applause. The mark trait of the man is his cheerfulness, which is apparent no matter what the condition of affairs may be.
He first came to our house on winter days when heater fires caused many ashes, and, as mother was unable to lift the boxes to the pavement for emptying, he crawled into the cellar window and lifted them out with hearty, cheerful good-will. Coming as he did week by week, mother came to look for him, and depended on his willing aid with the ashes. It was through this simple “lend-a-hand” spirit that we found out his history.
He is the father of three boys, one of whom is blind, and his wife died four years ago; he has been both mother and father to his children. He often starts out early in the morning and attends to heater fires for people in the neighborhood, and then returning home, gets breakfast for the boys and sees them off to school. After hauling ashes some entire days, and doing all kinds of odd jobs as occasion offers by which he can make a living, he goes home at night to his boys and does the housework, looks after their food and clothing, and finds time to amuse the blind boy.
As spring comes and the labor of hauling ashes becomes less, a cheerful voice is heard calling through the alley: “Watercress! Watercress! Nice fresh watercress! Here’s your catnip for the little kitty-cat!”
It is the same man; when work becomes slack in one direction he takes it up in another. All is done with a steady good humor and cheerfulness, keeping himself meanwhile from the many temptations to drink and forget the monotony of such a life. The blind boy has now been placed in an asylum, and the others are growing up, we hope into an appreciation of the self-sacrifice and devotion of the man who is known as only the ashman.—Chautauquan.
Lamp Chimney Index
Our "Index" describes all lamps and their proper chimneys. With it you can always order the right size and shape of chimney for any lamp. FREE. Macbeth, Pittsburg, Pa.
AN AID TO HEALTHFUL LIVING
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THREE TRAINS DAILY via the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Chicago and Northwestern Railways.
OVERLAND LIMITED, Vestibuled. Leaves San Francisco at 10.00 a. m. The most luxurious train in the world. Electric lighted throughout. Buffet smoking cars with barber and bath, Booklovers' Library, dining cars, standard and compartment sleeping cars and observation cars. Less than three days to Chicago without change.
EASTERN EXPRESS, Vestibuled. Leaves San Francisco at 6.00 p. m. Through Standard and Tourist sleeping cars to Chicago. Dining cars, free reclining chair cars.
ATLANTIC EXPRESS, Vestibuled. Leaves San Francisco at 9.00 a. m. Standard and Tourist sleepers.
Personally Conducted Excursions
WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS and FRIDAYS
The best of everything
R. R. RITCHIE, G. A. P. C.
CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RY.
617 MARKET ST. (PALACE HOTEL) SAN FRANCISCO
OR S. P. COMPANY'S AGENT
