L. A. S by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1902

L. A. S

By L. A. S.

PROBABLY the most highly civilized city on the earth to-day is Paris, if we may judge from the fact that all other civilized lands take their fashions from that place. But when we inspect the life of this most highly polished city, we are led to the conclusion that civilization is not the source of all that which exalts and adds value to human character; and that some people — the Parisians, for example — might even be better off if their civilization had not proceeded quite so far.

Here is an item reported from the French capital, which in our view points in this direction:—

The American visitors here cannot understand the seeming indifference of the Parisians in regard to the Martinique disaster. Beyond the half-masted flags over the government offices there are no signs of public mourning. The people flock to their usual resorts, attend the races, fill the theaters, none of which have been closed, no “extras” are issued, and there is no demand for them. But the evening papers, containing bulletins of the automobile race, are eagerly purchased.

We may well beware of too much civilization. Salvation — that which alone makes life worth living to any people — comes not from Paris, or London, or New York, but from the gospel of God, which teaches men to love their neighbors as themselves.