Earlier text: Sabbath-School LessonsA Serious Situation
By L. A. S.
As everybody knows, the whole northern section of the country is wrought up over the situation produced by the strike in the anthracite coal mines. Tremendous forces are arrayed against each other in this conflict, and tremendous influences are being brought to bear in favor of some action that will end the strike. On the one side is the coal trust, backed by its ownership of railways and its millions in gold. On the other side is the miners’ union, backed by the powerful influence of organized labor, and by the sympathy of the large majority of the people. Added to these is the great American public itself which is compelled to face a coal famine on the verge of winter, and is calling loudly for relief. Politicians and statesmen are afraid to grapple with the situation, and in their fear of offending and arraying against themselves some one or more of these powerful political forces, it is not impossible that they may be willing to sacrifice some principle of republican government if it should appear expedient to do so. They may excuse themselves under the plea of the necessity of the situation. Already republican principles of government have been sacrificed in this country under such circumstances, and it is not improbable that a further departure from republican government may be the outcome of the present crisis in the industrial history of this country. This is a fact which adds greatly to the significance and the seriousness of the situation. “A surprisingly large number of newspapers and public men,” says the Literary Digest, “have been brought to the advocacy of remedies sometimes considered socialistic, by the long duration of the coal strike. State or federal ownership of the anthracite mines has been suggested by a number of conservative journals. Now a drift of opinion is seen in favor of compulsory arbitration.” Among the newspapers mentioned as advocating such a remedy is the Chicago Evening Post, which says: “Evidently the representatives of ‘the third party,’ the great public, are losing faith in the ‘economic harmonies’ of free contract, and in the ‘let alone’ policy embodied in the American system of government. A few more bitter and violent conflicts of the kind we have witnessed—and endured—within the last year, and public opinion will be ready for radical legislation in relation to capital and labor.” After quoting from persons who favor legislation in the matter, the Post continues:— What can this mean if not compulsory arbitration? There is no half-way house between the right to strike and to lock out—concomitants of free industry—and state regulation of wages, hours, and conditions of employment. . . . Let the coal operators and other employers seriously ask themselves whether they prefer complete loss of freedom to voluntary arbitration. . . . Blind, heedless, and futile opposition to “recognition” and to conciliation and impartial mediation, will lead, not to the destruction of the unions (that is neither possible nor desirable), but to the rough intervention of the state, and to the abolition of that freedom which has made the United States the first industrial power of the world. Thus in these battles between capital and labor, the thing that will be destroyed will be, not the trust, nor the labor union, but some principle of republican government—some measure of individual freedom. And as this process goes on, the power which under a free government resides in the individual, will be more and more transferred to the state, and the state will more and more intervene between employer and employed to regulate “wages, hours, and conditions of employment,” until the will of the individual will count for nothing, and the government will become a monarchy in fact and a republic in name only. The New York Times, speaking on the same subject, mentions that a compulsory arbitration law has lately become operative in New South Wales, Australia, and that one decision of the arbitration court having gone against one of the most powerful and domineering of the labor unions, the court, to save the system, “has sustained the claim of the union for a recognition of its right to use its funds for the publication of a newspaper to advocate socialism, and to require every member to subscribe to it, whether he approves it or not.” (Italics ours.) This shows how far the judicial branch of the government is willing to go, in that country, in showing deference to a powerful labor union at the expense of civil liberty. When matters shall have progressed to the point where the State shall be vested with authority to step in and regulate “wages, hours, and conditions of employment,” then, when these are affected by religious belief, as in the case of Sunday labor, it will be deemed proper for the state to prescribe the day of rest for all, and there will be a revival of Sunday legislation and the enforcement of Sunday laws, which will bring the speedy fulfillment of all that is written in prophecy concerning the oppression to be suffered in this land by observers of the Bible Sabbath. This may be plainly read to-day in the signs of the times. L. A. S. Factors Shaping the Choice of Pope Leo's Successor
SOME interesting facts concerning the conditions which will influence the choice of Pope Leo’s successor, and the manner in which the choice will be made, are given by the Rome correspondent of the London Pall Mall Gazette. He says:— A prominent prelate has just said to me: “The next conclave, before thinking of individuals, will decide first whether the successor of Leo XIII shall be a cardinal of curia,—that is, one who has moved among the intrigues of the Vatican,—or one who has lived out of the Eternal City. Afterward will have to be decided whether the series of political popes shall be continued, or one entirely devoted to religion chosen. In the former case, the discussion will be over having a pope favorable to the Latin elements, who, taking things as they are to-day, would be Cardinal Rampolla, or one standing for the Anglo-Saxon Teutonic countries, who would be personified in Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli. If, on the other hand, the decision is for a purely and entirely religious pope, the candidates might be two: Gotti, supported by the conservative and more intransigent elements, and Capecelatro, the learned archbishop of Capua.” There is probably no event which is more largely determined by intrigue than the selection of a pope. Work While It Is Called To-day
By Ellen G. White
My brethren and sisters, you have been bought with a price, and all that you have and are is to be used to the glory of God, and for the good of your fellow men. With earnest, unwearying effort you are to seek to save the lost. Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary has made it possible for you to live a new, transformed life. You are to hold every new-found power as a precious trust, for use in God’s service. Remember that it was your sins that made the cross necessary. When you accepted Christ as your Saviour, you pledged yourselves to unite with him in bearing the cross. For life and for death you are bound up with him, a part of the great plan of redemption. Before the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds and before fallen human beings you are to live the life of Christ, that unbelievers may be constrained to acknowledge, “They have been with Christ, and have learned of him.” As you seek to draw others within the circle of his love, the purity of your language and the unselfishness of your actions will bear witness to the power of his grace. “We are laborers together with God.” Lay hold of his work with clean hands, a pure heart, and holy, consecrated endeavor. Press forward to win the triumphs of the cross. Are you not striving for a crown of immortality, for a life that measures with the life of God? O put your whole heart into the work! Let nothing cause your zeal to flag. Do not depend on human aid. Look beyond human beings to the One appointed by God to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows and supply our necessities. Taking God at his word, move forward unitedly, with steadfast, unfaltering faith. Christ’s presence and his word, “Lo, I am with you alway,”—these are our wisdom and righteousness. It is the living Presence that makes the living Word. The kingdom comes to us, not in word only, but in power. It is unwavering faith in Christ’s presence that gives power. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” At an immense cost, probation has been granted to human beings. At the day of judgment there will come to the lost a full realization of the meaning of the sacrifice made on Calvary. They will see what they have lost by refusing to be loyal. They will think of the high, pure association it was their privilege to gain. But it is too late! The last call has been made. The wail is heard, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” The world is to see God in his followers. Life and immortality are brought to light through those who are one with Christ. It is our privilege to have the Spirit that is the wisdom of heaven. Those who have the Spirit, in whatever position they may be, the highest or the lowest place of service, will reveal in their lives the power of Christ’s grace. Truth alone is to be our watchword. Self is to be hidden. Christ alone is to appear, full of grace and truth. We have only a little longer time in which to prepare for eternity. May the Lord open the closed eyes of his people, and quicken their dulled senses, that they may realize that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe. I desire if possible to impress our people with the importance of giving so pure and righteous a representation of God that the world shall see him in his beauty. I desire them to be so filled with the Spirit that dwells in him that the world shall have no power to divert them from the work of presenting to men the wonderful possibilities before every soul who receives Christ. My heart is so full of this matter that sleep departs from my eyes and slumber from my eyelids. The Reward of Earnest Endeavor
Each worker, while preserving his individuality, should seek to labor in harmony with every other worker. Each is to be united with his fellow workers in bonds of Christian fellowship, and all are to be united with the Lord. The aim of every one is to be the advancement of the cause of truth. Each is to seek earnestly for the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Each is to look to Jesus, believing that he will receive the blessings he must have in order to be a strength to the work. Each may receive light from the Source of light. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” All are to do their best. All are to keep looking to their Leader, studying the lessons he has given in his guidance of his people from the beginning. The experiences of Abraham, of Moses, of Daniel, contain lessons of great value to us at this time. Those whom God chooses as his workers are not always talented, in the estimation of the world. Sometimes he selects unlearned men. These have a special work. They reach a class to whom others could not obtain access. Opening the heart to the truth, they are made wise in and through Christ. Their lives inhale and exhale the fragrance of godliness. Their words are thoughtfully considered before they are spoken. They strive to promote the well-being of their fellow men. They take relief and happiness to the needy and distressed. They realize the necessity of ever remaining under Christ’s training, that they may work in harmony with God’s will. They study how best to follow the Saviour’s example of cross-bearing and self-denial. They are God’s witnesses, revealing his compassion and love, and ascribing all the glory to him whom they love and serve. Constantly they are learning of the great Teacher, and constantly they reach higher degrees of excellence, yet all the time feeling a sense of their weakness and inefficiency. They are drawn upward by their strong, loving admiration for Christ. They practice his virtues; for their life is assimilated to his. Ever they move onward and upward, a blessing to the world and an honor to their Redeemer. Christ says of them, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Such workers are to be encouraged. Their work is done, not to be seen of men, but to glorify God. And it will bear his inspection. The Lord brings these workers into connection with those of more marked ability, to fill up the gaps they leave. He is well pleased when they are appreciated; for they are links in his chain of service. And it is his desire that every human instrumentality engaged in work for him shall be recognized, however small may be the work he does. Men who are self-important, who are filled with the thought of their own superior abilities, overlook these humble, contrite workers; but not for one moment does God lose sight of them. He marks all that they do to help those in need of help. In the heavenly courts, when the redeemed are gathered home, they will stand nearest the Son of God. They will shine brightly in the courts of the Lord, honored by him because they have felt it an honor to minister to those for whom he gave his life. The Jubilee
By L. D. Santee
“A JUBILEE shall that fiftieth year be unto you:” “and ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.” Lev. 25: 11, 10. In that typical dispensation the year of jubilee was doubtless a type of the great ingathering and reunion of the people of God when their probation is past, and their crowns are given. In the type it was a year of gladness. Fancy cannot picture the glories of the antitype.9 A few years ago the British nation held a jubilee to celebrate the fiftieth year of Victoria’s reign. Still later a papal jubilee was held in honor of the fiftieth year of the priesthood of Leo XIII. But the jubilee of which we speak is brought in by the coming of the Lord. Students of prophecy know full well that the time is drawing near for the celebration of this glorious event. Our jubilee trumpet by and by will sound long and loud, accompanied by a shout from heaven and the voice of the Archangel, and at that signal the sleeping saints and the holy living will immediately respond to the bugle call. The air will reverberate with the joyful acclamations of myriads of the redeemed, whose shout will be, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Angels and archangels will take up their part of the hallelujah chorus, saying, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Again they shout, “Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Our jubilee will be celebrated with the rapture of joy, and with no minor chord of sadness. Sorrow and sighing will then “flee away,” and in their place will be fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore. Those who have passed through heartache, and sorrow, and affliction, will then know these things no more forever. The new song will be sung by them with immortal tongues. No earthly lips could ever sing it. The body that they then have, will never grow old, will know neither weakness nor weariness, and with its robe of righteousness it will shine forever and ever. To live and reign with Christ will be our honor and our glory. I read in the type, in Leviticus, “And ye shall return every man unto his family.” This brings in the reunions in the antitype, when we are caught up “together with them.” How this gilds with the sunshine of hope the pillow of the dying! How it softens the separations at the edge of the dark valley! How that promised reunion in the jubilee softens the “good-bys” of earth! “O, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land,
So free from all sorrow and pain;
With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands,
To meet one another again!” Our jubilee is to be followed by the jubilee of the world. In the crucible of fire, every offending element is to be burned away, and again the earth will be a diadem of beauty in the hand of an approving God. The glory of God will cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. The kingdoms of the world will then become “the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” The earth “under the whole heaven” will then be loyal to her King. Her jubilee song has already been written: “O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. . . . Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” And again, “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad.” How little the type showed of the wondrous antitype, and yet it was an object lesson that opened a prophetic vision to the eye of faith. The Exaltation of the Humble
By John Bunyan
He that is down need fear no fall; He that is low no pride; He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide. I am content with what I have, Little be it or much; And, Lord, contentment still I crave, Because thou savest such. Fullness to such a burden is That go on pilgrimage; Here little, and hereafter bliss, Is best from age to age. —John Bunyan, author of "Pilgrim's Progress." Our Source of Power
By A. J. Howard
“Power belongeth unto God,” but just for the asking we may share all that belongs to our Father. He comes to us with the gracious promise: “Ask, and it shall be given you. . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” The powerlessness and poverty of those having the last warning for the world is expressed quite forcibly in James: “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” Neglect of prayer is the only feasible reason why we as Christians have so little power to move the people to-day. Fruit comes from sowing. Good seed sown, without the rain—the latter rain—from heaven will not germinate, even in seemingly good soil. It must be watered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes in answer to earnest prayer. Has God not placed his own infinite power at our “demand and reception”? “Ask, and ye shall receive.” Many in the past have believed and received power; for we read of the power of God with the early Christians. See the fruit of Peter and John’s work: “The Lord added to the church daily.” “Many of them which heard the word believed,” “multitudes both of men and women.” Did these men not have most determined, bitter, and relentless opposition, compared with which ours is as child’s play? The apostle explains their source of power with the people: “We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” This power was not confined to the leaders alone, but to the rank and file, as pictured in Acts 2:44-47; 8:4. The secret of this fullness of life and power is expressed in the words, “They continued steadfastly in prayers.” This course pleases God. “Call upon me . . . I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Our strength is in him. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; . . . they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” We who are too busy in the Lord’s work to pray often, are too busy to have much power to accomplish his purposes toward us, and for the people. We have not, because we ask not. The record of the real doers in church work shows them to be real pray-ers also. Faith begets prayer, prayer begets works. James 2:18. Effectual, fervent prayer is only limited by what God can do. This source of power brings to us the true knowledge of ourselves and our needs. We must know our weakness and selfishness. Rom. 7:18. It caused Isaiah to cry, “I am a man of unclean lips.” Moses saw it when he met the Lord at the burning bush. It was after Job met God, and saw himself (Job 42:5, 6, 10, 12) that he had power to intercede for his friends, and bear abundant fruit. This power comes only in prayer. Sins, secret or known, have marred many a soul’s life for years, release being found only by going to God in earnest prayer. Sins seemingly uncontrollable are rooted out by the prayer of faith, which brings in the Holy Spirit to set us free from sin’s power. Prayer establishes our goings in his paths. Ps. 17:5. Prayer controls the tongue. Man cannot tame it (James 3:8), but God can and will if we ask in faith. Prayer brings wisdom. James 1:5. The wisdom of God awaits us. His own infinite wisdom is at our disposal. Shall we stumble on in our foolishness, lacking wisdom simply because we do not ask? O, the joy of knowing and walking in God’s way! The blessed Holy Spirit teaches the way. Prayer opens blind eyes. Ps. 119:18. It is wonderfully precious to see the Word of God open up to one who looks to him in earnest, believing prayer. The Holy Spirit is the only infallible interpreter of the Word. Do we not need the Holy Spirit in these days of “isms” and theories of worldly wise men. None but those whose minds are enlightened by the Holy Spirit and prayer can understand the Bible. It is said that John Welch spent one third of his life in prayer, often whole nights. Prayer is a mirror by which God’s life and glory are reflected into the soul, transformed from glory to glory. 2 Cor. 3:18. Prayer brings the fullness of power into our work. Acts 4:24, 31-33. Constant holding on brings success. Luke 18:1. Many of us would be lifted out of ourselves by earnest prayer. Through prayer comes power to help others, though they themselves may not sense their condition. 1 John 5:16. It brings conversion and salvation to our friends. Shall we not call upon God till he visits us as a people by the mighty outpouring of his Holy Spirit? SOME one has compiled the following rules for Christian arithmetic from God’s Word:— Notation: “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” Numeration: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Addition: “Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” Subtraction: “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”10 Multiplication: “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.” Division: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The Tabernacle of Witness
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
IN his talk before the Jewish council, when he was on trial for his life, Stephen said, “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.” Acts 7:44. It is in the twenty-fifth chapter of Exodus that we find this given; and nearly the whole of the remainder of that book is devoted to the description of the tabernacle, its furniture, and the service pertaining to it. The principal article in the tabernacle was the ark containing the tables of the law, the ten commandments. It was called “the ark of the testimony,” for the commandments are frequently called the testimonies of God. Testimony is witness, and the law is called the testimony because it is the witness of God’s presence. “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” and “God is love;” therefore the law is God’s life. So the tabernacle that contained the witness, or the testimony, was called “the tabernacle of witness.” It was from above the ark of the testimony, between the cherubim that were upon it, that God said he would meet with Moses, and commune with him of all things that he would give him in commandment unto the children of Israel. Ex. 25:22. And it was there that the glory of God was specially manifested. In Ps. 80:1, we read: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth.” And when Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, threatened to destroy Jerusalem, Hezekiah the king, in his extremity, went up into the house of the Lord, and spread Sennacherib’s defiant and blasphemous letter before the Lord; “and Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord, the God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear.” 2 Kings 19:14–16. It is in Ex. 25:8 that we find the reason why the tabernacle was built. God told Moses to have the people bring offerings of gold, silver, and brass, fine linen, etc., and said, “Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” In one sense this was a great honor; for, as Moses said, “What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” Deut. 4:7. Yet when we consider the matter further, the command to build the sanctuary, together with the statement of the reason why it was to be built, is one of the most sorrowful things to be found in the Scriptures. “Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” What a sad thing that God’s people, whom he had delivered from bondage for the express purpose of dwelling not simply among them, but in them, had to have a house made with hands in order that his glory might be seen among them. Thus the tabernacle was at once a witness of God’s presence and of the unfaithfulness of the children of Israel. “The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” “Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? for all those things hath my hand made.” It is evident that the tabernacle built by Moses could not be the real dwelling place of God, and every Jew ought to have been impressed by that truth every time he looked at it. Solomon knew it well, for at the dedication of the temple that he built, which was far larger and grander than the first tabernacle, he said, “Will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” 1 Kings 8:27. What, then, is God’s dwelling place? He himself indicated it when, after asking, “Where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” he said, “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. The human body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 6:19. This is the true dwelling place of God. When Jesus was asked for proof of his divine mission, he said, “Destroy this temple; and in three days I will raise it up.” At that very time he was standing in the Jewish temple, and although he made no explanation, he expected the people to understand that “he spake of the temple of his body.” So evident is it that the human body, and no man-made building, is the temple of the Lord, that the Jews ought to have understood his meaning without any explanation. He was the temple indeed, because the law of God was within his heart (Ps. 40:8), not in dead characters, but as the Spirit of life, in the Living Stone. Therefore it is that he is “the faithful and true witness.” To us the Lord says, “Ye are my witnesses, . . . and my servant whom I have chosen. . . . I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.” Isa. 43:10–12. When the Lord is given full possession of his temple, his people, then they also, as well as Christ, are his witnesses to the world. When Moses erected the tabernacle, “then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Ex. 40:34, 35. Even so it was at the dedication of Solomon’s temple: when Solomon had made an end of praying, “the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.” 2 Chron. 7:1, 2. That was a representation of how it should be with God’s people, his real temple. Thus it was with Christ; for “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” The people saw the glory of the Lord upon the house (2 Chron. 7:3), at the dedication of the temple. The Lord says to his people, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” And even as the Lord said, “My house shall be called an house of prayer for all nations,” so will it be with his true temple, his people, when their bodies are dedicated to him. For he says, “The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” “And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.” There are marvelous opportunities and privileges for men who will take them. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” “It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth;” and when the Spirit fills men, they have power to be tabernacles of witness. There was no man in the tabernacle when the glory of God filled it; even so when Christ, the quickening Spirit, dwells in the heart by faith, and we are, according to the riches of his glory, “filled with all the fullness of God,” self will disappear, and he that sitteth between the cherubim will shine forth. Truth Independent of Its Speaker: On Law and Freedom
“A TRUTH never derives force by being uttered by any man, however great he may be; nor is it any less weighty when declared by the weakest. Truth, like God, always is, and it always is just what it is, and must be accepted for just what it is, wherever we find it. On this basis we may take the following statement of truth from Augustine: ‘It is one thing to be in the law, another, under the law. Whoso is in the law, acteth according to the law; whoso is under the law, is acted upon according to the law; the one therefore is free, the other a slave.’” The Wise Woman and the Foolish Woman
By Ina Wright Hanson
THE wise woman springs out of bed in her well-ventilated room, and takes a cold plunge and a few exercises. As she dresses, she reviews the duties of the day before her. “So many pleasant things to be done,” she says, while her eyes sparkle, and her cheeks glow with perfect health. The foolish woman, hollow eyed and sallow skinned, crawls out of bed. Her windows have been closed all night, for “night air is poisonous, you know.” She bathes her face and hands in warm water,— she never takes a cold bath, for her system couldn’t stand the shock,— and as she dresses, she sighs, “O, the weary round of household cares!” The wise woman, if she happens not to be hungry, eats no breakfast, even though she prepares it for her family. The foolish woman is not hungry, and a disagreeable taste in her mouth ought to warn her that her stomach is not ready for food; but she “must eat to keep up her strength,” and what she half masticates, is washed down with strong, hot coffee. The wise woman goes about her work with a song in her heart, and the household machinery moves smoothly. She laughs as she sits down to the noon meal. “ ‘Hunger is the best sauce.’ I don’t have to tempt my appetite with delicacies.” Then she proceeds to eat slowly, and drink—nothing. The foolish woman was hungry when she began dinner, but “the smell of the cooking took away her appetite.” She wishes she could have a change of air, maybe it would make her feel better. Baby has been so cross, and “she is that nervous that she is ready to fly away with herself,” and all the time she is eating, eating, drinking, drinking. When the wise woman’s husband comes home at night, he is greeted by a cheerful wife. She has no tales to tell of annoyances, although she may have experienced some. Her mind dwells upon pleasant things, that she may attract to herself good and not evil. The children bubble over with good nature and fun. They are encouraged to talk of the day’s happiness, while their attention is deftly drawn away from unpleasant occurrences. The foolish woman’s husband comes home to racked nerves, scowls, complainings, perhaps tears. The children have caught the mother’s spirit, and they relate the partiality of the teacher, the impossibility of their tasks, and the misbehavior of their schoolmates. The heart of the wise woman’s husband “doth safely trust in her . . . Strength and honor are her clothing;” and she shall not only “rejoice in time to come,” but her joy is ever present. The foolish woman is small comfort to herself, or to those around her. But there is light ahead. The former class are receiving daily re-enforcements. Women all over this broad land are learning how to live; are choosing between beauty and ugliness, health and sickness, and are choosing wisely. Dumb-bells and cold baths are replacing drugs and potions. Shall we not all be wise, and not foolish?—Good Health.