Earlier text: THE NEW BIRTH"I don't know what to do about it," said Lettie Lindsay, looking at her open pocket-book with a very disconsolate face. "About what?" asked her little sister Janie, looking up from her seat on the rug before a glowing coal fire. "About going to Thomas's concert to-night with the Masons. Bertha has written to me that she and John are going, and if I want to go with them I must get my ticket at once. You know Bertha and I agreed to save all our money to go to hear Thomas, and now he has come, and I can't go." "Why not? You have ever so much money in there," said Janie, stretching her little neck to peep over the edge of the pocket-book. Lettie sat down on the rug and emptied the contents of the book in her lap. Then she carefully counted the money, and laid it in two separate piles. "No, it won't do," she said, shaking her head sorrowfully. "Why, Lettie! there's a lot of money there!" cried Janie, looking at her sister with wide-opened eyes. "This is my housekeeping money. To last till papa comes back," Lettie answered, putting her hand on the large pile of notes. "But the other is yours, and there's a dollar-note, and one, two, three fifty-cent notes, and three ten-cent notes. Are the tickets three dollars, Let? Oh, I have a quarter, you know! I'll run and get it for you, and you can go, after all." "No, no! Sit still, Janie," cried Lettie, holding her little sister down, and laughing, though her eyes were full of tears. "The tickets are only a dollar; but I have promised. I must do something else with two dollars and a half of this. Thank you, dear, but your precious little quarter will not help me. No, no, I can't go." "O Lettie! I'm sorry, because I know you do want to go very much. But then, if there's something you like better still, and you mean to spend your money in that—it's just as good, isn't it?" "Ye-yes," said Lettie, absently. Then—"I wonder if she could wait. Maybe to-morrow papa will come, and I know he will give me a dollar to make it up. I think I'll do it." She got up, walked slowly to the door, opened it, and stood hesitating in the doorway. "O Let," remonstrated Janie, turning round from the book into which she had again plunged, "don't keep the door open, please. The front door is open too, and it's so cold. Ugh! It's going to snow, I believe. Cold shivers are running all over me." "Yes, it's bitter cold," said Lettie, suddenly stepping into the hall, shutting the door first, then closing her pocket-book with a snap and dropping it in her pocket. "Johnnie," she said in a quick, decided tone, advancing toward a boy of about fourteen, who was dancing about on the front porch with his hands in his pockets, keeping himself warm by the exercise, "please tell Bertha I'm ever so much obliged to her for sending, but I can't go to-night. I hope she and you will have a good time." "I s'pose Bertha will. I'd rather go to the circus," said Johnnie, carelessly. "I wish you were going, Miss Lettie, there'd be some fun then." Lettie tried to laugh, but it wasn't much of a success. "I'm very sorry I can't go," she said. "Listen to the 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' for me Johnnie. You can hear the fairies laughing and talking in those sweet little violins, they say. I'm sorry you won't come in and warm you." "Haven't time. Bert said I must hurry and get good seats. Good-bye." And he dashed off down the steps, leaving Lettie to close the door and walk sorrowfully back toward the sitting-room. But as she put her hand on the door knob, a great tear came splashing down her cheek, and she turned and ran up stairs to her own room. Poor little Lettie! She was only sixteen—a child still, though she had been her father's housekeeper and Janie's "sister-mother" now for three years. And this was a great disappointment to her, for music was her passion,—the greatest charm and happiness of her quiet busy life,—and she had long looked forward to hearing "Thomas's Orchestra," as the greatest pleasure that could be afforded her. If she had only known sooner that he was coming, she could have had the money; but she had heard nothing of it till Johnnie arrived with his message, and so she could not go. For a little while Lettie sat down in her rocking-chair and cried heartily. Then suddenly there flashed into her mind some words she had been reading a day or two before, "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." She started up, wiped away her tears, and flew to the basin to bath her face, saying energetically, "I won't cry any more. I won't be such a baby. 'A cheerful giver!' Was there ever such a doleful giver as I am? It's wicked to grudge charity as I am doing. I'll try to give cheerfully, and then I shall be blessed as well as poor Mrs. Johnson." Lettie's father was not a rich man, but his brother John had, as little Janie said, "more money than he knew what to with," and no children to spend or save for. He was a very busy man though, and rarely paused in his work long enough to enjoy the pleasures his money might buy. On this cold wintry afternoon, when light flakes of snow began to drift slowly down out of the gray sky, Uncle John, wrapped in his furred coat and carrying his gold-headed cane, came walking rapidly down a narrow business street in the city. A cart going into a coal-yard blocked his way for a moment, and just then he caught a glimpse of a familiar little figure darting out of the yard, and springing hurriedly past the great trampling horse and the heavy wheels. There was the little gray hat with its black velvet trimming, the jaunty but plain gray jacket, and the black alpaca dress that walked up the aisle of the church and sat in his brother's pew every Sabbath. Yes, and under the hat he caught a glimpse of a pleasant, rosy little face, with very blue eyes and short, light waving hair. It was his niece Lettie. She did not see him, however. Great snow flakes were drifting over her hat and her cloak, and into her eyelashes, and she ran past in breathless haste, brushing them off and laughing a little as they fell faster and faster, and her cheeks turned a fresher bright red under their cool kisses. Uncle John turned and watched her, and frowned angrily as he muttered, "A pretty place for that child. I suppose Henry hadn't foresight enough to buy his winter's fuel in the summer, and she's obliged to run about after it in this weather." If "foresight" meant ready money, it's very probable poor Mr. Henry Lindsay hadn't it; but Lettie was not here on her father's business now. "I'll just go and see what she was about," said Uncle John. He stepped into the small office in the coal yard; and the merchant with whom he dealt himself, rose up and bowed with great respect. "What was my niece doing here just now, Mr. Cook?" asked Uncle John. "Your niece? I did not know that she had been here, sir," said Mr. Cook, looking puzzled. "That little girl with light hair who just went out." "Oh! the young lady came to leave an order. Here it is, sir. 'One-half ton of coal for Mrs. Mary Johnson, No. 745 Blank Street, $2.50.' I'm just going to send it off." "Humph. 'Mrs. Johnson.' What does that mean?" mused Uncle John. "Did she pay for it?" "Yes, sir. And now I come to think of it, I suppose she paid for it with her own money. Mrs. Johnson, I happen to know, is wretchedly poor. She comes with a basket sometimes to buy half a bushel of coal. You may depend that it is your sweet little niece's charity." Little Janie running merrily over the snow to school the next morning, was stopped by Uncle John. He was always kind to the children, though a little rough sometimes. "Here, puss! Who is Mrs. Mary Johnson, 745 Blank Street?" he asked, shaking her little hand heartily. "Oh, she's a poor woman. She sews and does things. She's awful poor," said earnest little Janie. "Humph! And Lettie has been paying $2.50 for coal for her, has she?" "Oh, has she?" cried Janie with great eyes. "There! That's what she did with her money, and she couldn't go to hear Thomas! Well, I never!" "Neither did I," said Uncle John, drily; and he walked on slower than usual, musing a little and shaking his head occasionally. "No, I never did!" he said to himself. "I never denied myself to give to others as this child has done. I call myself a Christian, and subscribe to a dozen charities 'out of my abundance,' but she hath cast all she had. The child has taught me a lesson." "Papa won't come to-day," said Lettie turning away from the window with a little sigh, as the sun set and the night began to close in. "So I won't hear Thomas to-night either. Well, Janie, we'll have a little 'sing' now and roast some apples and go to bed early. Or no—let's go into the kitchen and stew some molasses for your cold. Kate has a good fire there." They went dancing through the cold hall, and there was Kate at the door admitting Uncle John. "Hallo! young people. I've come for you both. There's your Aunt Lucy in the carriage waiting for you. Go put on your hats and come home to supper with us, and then we are going to hear Thomas, and the little fiddles. Hurry!" he cried. "Oh, you dear Uncle John! Am I going too? Isn't it nice! Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed Janie joyfully. But Lettie could only clasp her hands and catch her breath in a speechless ecstasy. She could not thank her uncle, and all that wonderful evening as she sat listening to lovlier music than she had ever dreamed of, her face glowed with the happiness that could not find words, and her uncle understood that bright sweet look now. "I've given Cook an order to supply Mrs. Johnson with coal all winter, Lettie," he said abruptly, as they stood round the parlor fire at Uncle John's after the concert. Lettie looked up in surprise. Uncle John nodded and smiled. "Your friend Mrs. Johnson, 745 Blank Street. Ah, do you know now?" as Lettie's cheeks flamed and her eyes opened wide. "Oh, thank you, uncle! How good you are!" she said catching his hand in both hers. "Nonsense, it is 'out of my abundance,' child. And you sha'n't miss any more of Thomas's concerts," he stooped to whisper now, "but I'll keep your secret, if Janie will." "Oh, thank you, uncle," whispered Lettie again, and as she pressed his hand to her soft cheek he felt the happy tears that were falling from her eyes. "It is more than I deserve," thought Lettie humbly, as she lay awake that night thinking over her happy evening, "for I was not quite 'a cheerful giver.' And I wonder if I could have borne it patiently if I had not heard Thomas at all? I hope so. And hope I shall not be spoiled by this happiness, for I must not expect a reward for all the little trifling good things I do. No, no! I didn't deserve it. It is only God's goodness to me. But oh, I'm so glad, for me and for poor Mrs. Johnson."—Christian Weekly. I DO NOT LIKE TO HEAR HIM PRAY.
I do not like to hear him pray
Who loans at twenty-five per cent.
For then, I think, the borrower may
Be pressed to pay for food and rent;
And in the book we all should read,
Which says the lender should be blessed;
As sure as I have eyes to read,
It does not say take interest. I do not like to hear him pray
On bended knee, about an hour,
For grace to spend aright the day,
Who knows his neighbor has no flour.
I'd rather see him go to mill
And buy the luckless brother bread,
And see the children eat their fill,
And laugh beneath their humble shed. I do not like to hear him pray:
Let blessings on the widow be,
Who never seeks her home to say,
"If want o'ertakes you come to me."
I hate the prayer, so loud and long,
That's offered for the orphan's weal,
By him who sees him crushed by wrong,
And does not for his sufferings feel. I do not like to hear her pray,
With jeweled ear and silken dress,
Whose washerwoman toils all day,
And then is asked to work for less.
Such pious shearers I despise;
With folded hands and face demure,
They lift to heaven their angel eyes,
And steal the earnings of the poor. We increase our wealth when we lessen our desires. - Telegraphy costs in England one-tenth of what it does in the United States.
- Twelve baronies in County Cork, Ireland, have been proclaimed in a state of disturbance.
- March 30, 4000 emigrants left Bremen for the United States, making 20,000 since Jan. 1.
- On the 30th ult., a man, his wife, and two children were killed by a cyclone in Randolph county, Georgia.
- Mark Firth, who recently died in England, left $1,000,000 to various evangelical denominations to be used in Christian work.
- The validity of the constitutional amendment prohibiting the sale of liquor in Kansas has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of that State.
- Lord Beaconsfield is very low in health, and is not expected to recover. Considerable anxiety is manifested about his successor as a party leader.
- The Iowa farmers, in Convention, April 2, adopted long and strong resolutions against the barbed-wire fence monopoly, showing an intention of fighting it to the bitter end.
- At Sydney, Neb., they are clearing the town of dangerous characters. A noted cut-throat was hanged by the "vigilantes," April 3, and the chances on others are reported favorable.
- A ukase has been promulgated in St. Petersburg creating a temporal council from among the people, one member from each of the 228 city districts, to assist the commandant of the city council.
- Daniel W. Gantley, who served in the war of 1812, died in Athens, N. Y., recently, aged 94. He is supposed to have been the last survivor of the famous New York Hussars, a famous corps in their day.
- In Manchester, England, a seven-story warehouse filled with valuable cotton goods, was burned the 29th ult. The loss is estimated at £80,000. One fireman was killed and two others dangerously injured.
- The round-house of the Utah and Northern Railroad, at Logan, was burned down on the night of April 1. There were five locomotives in it at the time, which were also destroyed. The loss is about $60,000.
- The Crown Princess Victoria has received an anonymous letter, declaring that Prince Frederick William will be murdered during the ceremonies at St. Petersburg. The letter bears the Berlin postmark.
- The Australian steamer City of New York, about which much anxiety has been felt, arrived in San Francisco Sunday evening, April 3. She was detained twelve days on the open sea by an accident to her machinery.
- Four natives belonging to Colonel Flatters' mission of exploration for the Trans-Sahara Railway, arrived at Onargla on Monday, March 28, bringing details of the most complete annihilation of the expedition by the natives.
- Rev. Dr. U. Gregory, who has been President of the college at Vacaville, has accepted an appointment from the Baptist Home Mission Society for Arizona. And the Vacaville college is reported to be on the "r. i. p." list.
- The Viceroy of India has a telegram from Candahar confirming the report that a rebellion had broken out at Herat, and that the place is besieged. The report is current at Candahar that Ayoob Kahn had been taken prisoner.
- Several shocks of earthquake were felt in Calistoga, Cal., March 31. The first, which was quite heavy, lasting six seconds, occurred at six in the morning. The last shock was similar to the first, and occurred at ten in the evening.
- From the mountain districts of Bohemia the immigration of the German portion of the population to America has begun to assume large proportions. The principal cause of the exodus is an intolerable political tyranny of the Czechs, who form a majority of the population.
- A reporter of the Pacific Coast, just returned from a trip through the southern part of San Benito county, states that crops in that section do not present a promising appearance, and unless more rain falls soon the grain produce will be light. That which was sown late is not doing well.
- The great Corliss engine, which was on exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876, has just been placed in the mammoth works of the Pullman Palace Car Company, near Chicago. It is the largest engine in the world, and weighs 350 tons. It was taken from Philadelphia in thirty-five cars.
- Secretary Blaine called the attention of the commissioners of emigration in New York to the expected arrival in the steamer Suevia, from Havre, of two undesirable women from Switzerland. This is a commendable step toward preventing this country being a refuge for the worst classes of Europe.
- The details of a riot at Ballyghadeyn, Ireland, April 2, are as follows: The people attacked the police, who were obliged to fire in self-defence. Two rioters were killed and thirty-two wounded, four of whom are not expected to live. One policeman was killed. Several were severely injured by stones.
- It is stated by the embassy of the German embassy as a fact positively known in diplomatic circles that "the present Czar is determined on war with Germany, and preparations to that end are being pushed to the extent of ordering the stoppage of all operations in other parts of the Empire, and the movements of troops to points of concentration."
- The Court of Appeals has sustained the decision of the Queen's Bench in Bradlaugh's case, to the effect that the affirmation in Commons cannot be taken instead of an oath as in Courts of Law. Bradlaugh will appeal to the House of Lords. Rev. Henry Varley will contest Northampton against him. He says in his address to the electors: "The man who denies the existence of a divine Law-giver is unfit to legislate."
- Dispatches from Athens, Greece, dated March 31, state that "The Porte's offer is regarded as a mere juggle, and accordingly the battalions in every part of the kingdom have been ordered to prepare to march to the frontier." War between Greece and Turkey is considered inevitable, as "The Powers jointly agree to declare to the Greek Ministry their firm resolution not to intervene if the compromise is rejected."
- One of the five Nihilists to be tried for the assassination of the Czar of Russia is a woman of aristocratic connections and superior education. She and Jelahoff, chief director in the matter, "vow that the object of their operations was to terrorize the country, disarrange the machinery of the Government, and bring about, if possible, a Socialistic Republic, after the pattern of the Paris Commune." According to their confession they alone knew of the attempt to be made on the Czar's life, and the time and place. Roussakoff, the one who threw the bomb, was only informed of what was required of him on the day of the murder. "He asserts that the Nihilists latterly had no money; that there was considerable disagreement among them, and they would probably have dispersed had their last attempt failed."
THE late storms are so unusual for the season that we give more than usual space to the reports, that the reader who has not read the daily papers, may have a correct idea of the severity of the closing snow-storm of the season. The floods on the Missouri River are increasing at the time of our going to press. - March, unusually cold nearly everywhere, was particularly severe in the highlands of Scotland. "Drifts thirty feet deep," and "walls of snow forty feet high" are spoken of. The storms were general throughout Britain, but were most severe in the extreme north.
- During a late storm at San Jose, a strange thing happened. The trees in that vicinity were covered with lizards, and some were also found lodged in the branches and stuck on the ends of lately cut limbs of trees. The lizards varied from two to four inches in length.
- Omaha, March 29.—It is impossible as yet to procure more than meager facts about the condition of towns in the Platte Valley, owing to the fact that the telegraph lines are only partially rebuilt. Three lives are known to have been lost, but it is believed a large number have perished. Loss of stock and property counts up in the hundreds of thousands.
- This morning there were about 1500 west-bound travelers on the east side of the river. Some arrived Thursday, and others Friday and Saturday, and all were growling at delay and expense.
- About 200 men, claiming to be destitute, formed a procession and marched to the commodious waiting-room of the depot, and demanded that the Union Pacific, whose tickets they held, should either forward them or furnish food during their detention. The company conceded them a free dinner and promised to feed them until they began running the trains west.
- Trains on the Union Pacific direct were resumed April 2.
- Cincinnati, March 29.—The snow-storm throughout Indiana has been generally accompanied, in many places, by strong winds. Here, the wind began last night, and the rain came this morning, changing to sleet, and then to snow, which, at 11 o'clock this evening, is still falling. In the city, it melts a good deal, forming a disagreeable slush; but on the hill-tops, it lies to a depth of two inches. At Mentor, Ohio, it twenty inches, and at Wilmington and Millersburg, six inches.
- Dayton, March 29.—The heaviest snow-storm of the winter set in this morning, at about 4 o'clock, and has continued all day, with but little cessation, and is still falling this evening. The snow is wet and heavy and has caused great impediment to business. About ten inches have fallen.
- At Youngstown, Ohio, on the 30th of March, sixteen and one-half inches of snow fell between the hours of 5 A. M. and 3 P. M.
- St. Paul, March 30.—A Bismarck special to the Pioneer Press says: The Missouri broke here to-day. The lower part of the city is overflowed, and a great sea of ice and water extends for five miles. Three government warehouses on the landing are wrecked. The river rose ten feet in a few hours. It is now thirty feet above low water mark. Wood-choppers and settlers in the low lands are all washed out, and many are probably drowned. Mandarr, on the west side of the river, is under three feet of water. The greatest loss, aside from life, will be in cord-wood, thousands of loads being swept away.
- Thirty feet of water are in the channel at Yankton. The whole of the lower part is entirely overflowed, driving the inhabitants to the hills. This is the greatest flood ever known. The damage will be immense. The City of Vermillion, Dakota, is also under water up to the second story of the houses. The occupants have taken to the bluffs in boats, and will probably be landed in places of safety before morning.
- Bloomington, Ill., March 31.—It is snowing lustily to-night and has snowed all day in Central Illinois. The wind is cold and raw from the north. Many complaints are received that the winter wheat has been alternately frozen and thawed until it is destroyed. A large amount will be ploughed and resown in this, and in adjacent counties. Some fields, which were too well along to be much affected, will get through without putting in another crop. Corn in some points of Central Illinois is very scarce.
- Chicago, March 31.—The Inter-Ocean's special from Iowa City says: One of the severest snow-storms of the winter has been raging since nine o'clock this morning. The wind is blowing furiously and the snow is damp. Ice in the Iowa river is breaking up. The water is high, and serious damage is feared to the railroad bridge on the C. R. I. and P. Road. Some railroad timbers have been carried off.
- Erie, Pa., March 31.—Ten inches of snow have fallen. It is still storming.
- Louisville, March 31.—There was another snow-storm to-night.
- Chicago, March 31.—A general snow-storm is reported in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Northern Michigan. The fall in the Lake Superior region is very heavy. In Chicago it is light, and only began about 2 o'clock.
- Bismarck, April 1.—The river has fallen three or four feet. About 250 people went over on the steamer Eclipse to-day, but could not get within three miles of the town, because of the ice. Several from the ill-fated city came on the boat. The ice is about six feet deep all over the town.
- New Orleans, April 2.—Specials to the Democrat report heavy frost and ice throughout this entire section last night. Early vegetables in Northern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are considerably damaged, and it is feared that the peach crop is entirely cut off.
- Galveston, April 2.—Specials to the News report a heavy frost in the northern part of the State. The fruit crop is considerably injured.
- Madrid, April 3.—For several days a series of gales and heavy rains have swept from the ocean coasts, causing many shipwrecks and much loss of life. So severe has been the weather that for four days the mail steamers in Cadiz, Tangier, Algezares, and Gibraltar were detained.
- In Madrid the rains caused a very unusual rise in the waters of the Manzares river, which covers the valley under the Palace. The flood reached the houses and gardens of Campo Moro, in the provinces south of the capital. The authorities report an immense destruction of property in cattle and crops. Trains were stopped, telegraph posts were leveled, and several important towns in Adalusia are flooded.
The Sunshine Series. Stories for little ones, in ten small books, adapted to children from the ages of four to ten years. In glazed paper covers, 320 pp. 50 cts. Golden Grain Series. A choice collection of instructive stories suited to the wants of children from eight to sixteen years and older, illustrated and beautifully bound in three volumes.
THE HARD WAY, 160 pp. 40 cts.
THE SCHOOL-BOY'S DINNER, 160 pp. 40 cts.
GRUMBLING TOMMY, 160 pp. 40 cts. Golden Grains in Ten Pamphlets. The same reading as the first two volumes, without pictures, in ten pamphlets of 32 pages each, 320 pp. 50 cts. Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle. In three volumes, containing moral and religious reading for the household; carefully selected, and compiled for the use of Sabbath-school and family libraries. Each 60 cts. The Child's Poems. Containing Little Will and other stories, teaching beautiful lessons of temperance and virtue. Bound in cloth and richly embossed in gold and black. 128 pp. 30 cts. The Game of Life. Three lithographic illustrations with explanations. These scenes represent Satan playing a game with man for his soul. Neatly bound in board. 50 cts. The Advent Keepsake. A collection of Bible texts for each day in the year, on the subjects of the Second Advent, the Resurrection, etc. Muslin, 136 pp. 25 cts. TRACTS.—32 pages, 4 cents each. Redemption—The Second Advent—The Sufferings of Christ—The Present Truth—Origin and Progress of S. D. Adventists—The Celestial Railroad—The Seventh Part of Time—Ten Commandments not Abolished—The Two Covenants—Address to the Baptists—The Two Thrones—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Third Message of Rev. 14. TRACTS.—16 pages, 2 cents each. Christ in the Old Testament—The Sabbath in the New Testament—The Spirit of Prophecy—The Old Moral Code not Revised—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Judgment—Much in Little—The Millennium—The Two Laws—Seven Reasons—The Definite Seventh Day—Departing and Being with Christ—The Rich Man and Lazarus—Elihu on the Sabbath—First Message of Rev. 14—The Law and the Gospel. Lotteries in Church Fairs
A BILL is now before the Legislature of New York to legalize lotteries in church fairs. The passage of this bill would be a great relief to the Roman Catholic church in New York City and other places, where fairs in which the lottery is freely used are a main reliance for raising funds. We trust the law makers of the Empire State will refuse to sanction a resort to gambling for any alleged sacred purpose. Happy will it be when Christians of every name will contribute liberally of their means from a sincere desire to glorify God and do good to men, without having to be coaxed to give by an appeal to their social enjoyments, or their covetousness.—Exchange. THE SABBATH CHRONICLE.
By Editor
WE have received the first number of a monthly of this name published in Chicago, (1511 State St.) It is small, but full of excellent matter, and very neat in appearance; Price, 50 cents a year. SCHOOL IN OAKLAND.
By Editor
Prof. Aldrich commences another term of school in the basement of the Adventist church, corner of 13th and Clay streets, April 6. There are some favorable indications of the prosperity of this school. Several scholars are expected from abroad the coming term. We shall be much pleased if the Professor is successful in his laudable enterprise. THE SABBATH MEMORIAL
By Editor
WE have received several copies of the Sabbath Memorial for July, 1880, with Supplement, containing the “Table of Days,” of which we had before heard but not seen. Also, Notes on the Table of Days in the paper. This number and Supplement are not only very interesting—they are very valuable. They must be seen to be properly appreciated. Published by W. M. Jones, London; price seven pence. The table shows that the nations of the earth retain the correct reckoning of the week, and still call the seventh day the Sabbath. We invite those interested in Sabbath literature to procure this publication. It will with pleasure be shown to all who call at the SIGNS office to see it. GOOD NEWS FROM ALASKA.
By Editor
COMMANDER GLASS, of the Jamestown, gives a good report of affairs in Sitka. Schools are opened and the Indians are compelled to send their children to them; the villages have been cleaned up, and the houses whitewashed; the Indians are becoming industrious. Drunkenness has disappeared, as the manufacture and sale of "hoochenis," an intoxicating drink, is prohibited. This has rendered all the other reforms possible. And thus, alas! "the poor Indian" has been brought under the baneful influence of "prohibition." Here is occasion for another "calm" lachrymose essay from Dr. Crosby. RELIGIOUS CONDITION IN LONDON.
THE following we copy from the Christian Statesman:— “The religious condition of the masses must be deplorable when Earl Shaftsbury finds occasion to say, as he recently did, that there are 500,000 persons in London who never hear the gospel from year's end to year's end, and the only way to reach them with it is by special services in theatres and mission halls. He expresses his depressing conviction that the masses are spiritually ten times worse than they were twenty years ago.” ON DISCOUNTENANCING THE PLAYS.
THE following item from the Christian Index, of Atlanta, might be studied with profit by all the executives of all our large cities:— "A few days ago, a troupe of traveling players or singers gave an entertainment in our opera house. In the course of the performance it was discovered to be grossly immodest; whereupon the police promptly ordered the curtain to fall, and the exhibition suddenly brought to a close in medias res, and the audience was dismissed. The performers were arrested on the spot, and marched to the guard-house, where they spent the night, and the next morning they were brought before His Honor, Recorder Milledge, who fined the proprietress of the exhibition one hundred dollars. The troupe will not be likely to visit us again, yet these same performers make their living elsewhere in the United States by the very exhibition which was so promptly arrested in Atlanta." STATE QUARTERLY MEETING.
By S. N. Haskell
THE California State quarterly meeting of the Tract and Missionary society will be held at Oakland, April 23 and 24. This will be an unusually important meeting, and a general attendance is expected. Matters of interest to the cause in this State will be considered, such as the distribution of labor in the Conference, and advance steps in the missionary work. All directors, and as many others as is consistent, are especially invited. Come in season for this meeting and then attend the annual meeting of the Publishing Association, to be held April 25. S. N. HASKELL, Pres. It has been decided to hold the spring camp-meeting at Fresno, Cal. The spot selected is in the rear of the court-house, upon an elevation commanding a view of the town. It will commence April 28 and continue over two Sabbaths and first-days. The cause in all that section of the country should be well represented. Every family of our brethren should be present as far as consistent. Come prepared to remain until its close. Bring your friends and neighbors, and especially the unconverted members of your families. Also come praying for God's blessing to rest upon this meeting. PURSUANT to article 6, section 2 of the By-Laws of\n the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association, the sixth\n annual meeting of stockholders of said Association, will\n be held at the Pacific Press Office, corner of Castro and\n 12th streets, Oakland, Cal., Monday, April 25, at 9:30\n A. M., for the purpose of electing a board of five di-\n rectors, and transacting such other business as may\n come before the meeting.
S. N. HASKELL, President. UPON suggestion, W. R. Smith of Fairview, M. J. Church of Fresno, and G. W. Cody of Lemoore are requested to act as camp-meeting committee for the southern camp-meeting. Those wishing tents should immediately apply to G. W. Cody or M. J. Church so that all the arrangements may be made in season and the meetings commence on time. The usual accommodations will be furnished, and ample provision made for horses. THE days of the inquisition are hardly yet over in Spain, and it is found difficult to enforce the laws of toleration even after they are enacted. Not long since the Protestants opened a booth for the sale of Bibles, hymn-books and other evangelical treatises, during the progress of a fair held in honor of the Virgin in one of the villages near Saragossa. A leaded, displayed, and highly sensational column appeared in the next day's paper warning the people against this new device of the evil one, and the Archbishop, through some of the petty officials, ordered the shop to be closed. The chief of police, however, interferred, and the sale continued, carefully watched by those who considered it an open mouth to perdition. The third day a boy of about seventeen took up a book and began to read it with great eagerness. Seeing his wearied condition, those in charge invited him to come inside of the booth out of the cold and storm, and drew forth his story, which was that having been discovered reading a Bible, he had been expelled from the college where he was studying for the priesthood, and in consequence disowned by his parents. He had walked in the rain for three days, almost without food, and slept at the roadside, his one desire being to get to those who could tell him more about the gospel. As he desired to enter the evangelical school, he was placed under the care of a Bible woman, and might have had a happy home, but the police, instigated by the Archbishop, demanded his letter of authorization from his father for leaving home, without which the law forbade his residence in the city. At this juncture some distant relatives turned up and offered to take and provide for the boy, on condition of his never speaking to the Protestants, and the law at once gave him into their custody.—Christian Union, Feb. 23, 1881.