Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 10. (3/9/1876)

Review and Herald

Mar 9, 1876

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1876

OUR COUNTRY'S PROGRESS.

(Concluded.)

The Arts, Sciences, and Invention have made great progress in our country during the last hundred years. These, at the close of the Revolution, were of little account in estimating the advance of the race. The practitioners of the Arts of Design, at that period, were chiefly Europeans. Of native artists, C. W. Peale and J. S. Copley stood at the head of painters. There were no sculptors, and no engravers of any eminence. Architects, in the proper sense, there were none. After the Revolution a few good painters appeared, and these have gradually increased in numbers and excellence, without much encouragement, except in portraiture, until within the last twenty-five years. We have now good sculptors, architects, engravers, and lithographers; and in all of these departments, as well as in photography, very great progress has been made within the last thirty or forty years. In wood engraving, especially, the improvement has been wonderful. Forty years ago there were not more than a dozen practitioners of the art in this country; now there are between four and five hundred. At the head of that class of artists stands the name of Dr. Alexander Anderson, who was the first man who engraved on wood in the United States. He died in 1870 at the age of ninety-five years. In bank-note engraving we have attained to greater excellence than any other people. It is considered the most perfect branch of the art in design and execution.

Associations have been formed for improvements in the Arts of Design. The first was organized in Philadelphia in 1791, by C. W. Peale, in connection with Ceracchi, the Italian sculptor. It failed. In 1802 the American Academy of Fine Arts was organized in the city of New York, and in 1807 the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, yet in existence, was established in Philadelphia. In 1826 the American Academy of Fine Arts was superseded by the National Academy of Design, in the city of New York, which is now a flourishing institution.

In education and literature our progress has kept pace with other things. At the very beginning of settlements, the common school was made the special care of the State in New England. Not so much attention was given to this matter elsewhere in the Colonies. The need of higher institutions of learning was early felt; and eighteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims from the May Flower, Harvard College was founded. When the war for independence began there were nine colleges in the Colonies, namely, Harvard, at Cambridge, Mass.; William and Mary, at Williamsburg, Va.; Yale, at New Haven, Conn.; College of New Jersey, at Princeton; University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia; King's (now Columbia) in the city of New York; Brown University, at Providence, R. I.; Dartmouth, at Hanover, N. H.; and Rutgers at New Brunswick, N. J. There are now about 300 colleges in the United States.

At the period of the Revolution, teaching in the common schools was very meagre, and remained so for full thirty years. Only reading, spelling, and arithmetic, were regularly taught. The Psalter, the New Testament, and the Bible, constituted the reading-books. No history was read; no geography or grammar were taught; and until the putting forth of Webster's Spelling Book in 1783, pronunciation was left to the judgment of teachers. That book produced a revolution.

As the nation advanced in wealth and intelligence, the necessity for correct popular education became more and more manifest, and associated efforts were made for the improvement of the schools by providing for the training of teachers, under the respective phases of Teachers' Associations, Educational Periodicals, Normal Schools, and Teachers' Institutes. The first of these societies in this country was the “Middlesex County Association for the Improvement of Common Schools,” established at Middletown, Connecticut, in 1799. But little of importance was done in that direction until within the last forty-five years. Now provision is made in all sections of the Union, not only for the support of common schools, but for training-schools for teachers. Since the civil war, great efforts have been made to establish common-school systems in the late slave-labor States, that should include among the beneficiaries the colored population. Much has been done in that regard.

Very great improvements have been made in the organization and discipline of the public schools in cities within the last thirty years. Free schools are rapidly spreading their beneficent influence over the whole Union, and in some States laws have been made that compel all children of a certain age to go to school. Institutions for the special culture of young women in all that pertains to college education, have been established within a few years. The pioneer in this work is Vassar College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., which was first opened in the year 1865.

Besides the ordinary means for education, others have been established for special purposes. There are Law, Scientific, Medical, Theological, Military, Commercial, and Agricultural Schools, and seminaries for the deaf, dumb, and blind. In many States school district libraries have been established. There are continually enlarging means provided for the education of the whole people. Edmund Burke said, “Education is the cheap defense of nations.”

Our literature is as varied as the tastes of the people. No subject escapes the attention of our native scholars and authors. At the period of the Revolution, books were few in variety and numbers. A larger portion of them were devoted to theological subjects. Booksellers were few, and were only found in the larger cities. Various subjects were discussed in pamphlets—not generally in newspapers as now. The editions of books were small, and, as stereotyping was unknown, they became rare in a few years, because there was only a costly way of reproduction.

In the year 1801, a new impetus was given to the book trade by the formation of the “American Company of Booksellers”—a kind of “union.” Twenty years later competition broke up the association. Before the war of 1812 the book trade in the United States was small. School books only had very large sales. Webster's Spelling Book was an example of the increasing demand for such helps to education. During the twenty years he was engaged on his Dictionary, the income from his Spelling Book supported him and his family. It was published in 1783, and its sales have continually increased to the present time, when they amount to over 1,000,000 copies a year. Other school books of every kind now have an immense annual circulation. The general book trade in this country is now immense in the number of volumes issued and the capital and labor employed. Readers are rapidly increasing. An ardent thirst for knowledge or entertainment to be found in books, magazines, and newspapers, makes a very large demand for these vehicles, while, at the same time, they produce widespread intelligence. The magazine literature, now generally healthful, is a powerful adjunct of books in this popular culture; and the newspaper, not always so healthful, supplies the daily and weekly demand for ephemerals in literature and general knowledge. To supply that demand required great improvements in printing machinery, and these have been supplied.

The printing-press, at the time of the Revolution, is shown in that used by Franklin, in which the pressure force was obtained by means of a screw. The ink was applied by huge balls; and an expert workman could furnish about fifty impressions an hour. This was improved by Earl Stanhope in 1815, by substituting for the screw a jointed lever. Then came inking machines, and one man could work off 250 copies an hour. Years passed on, and the cylinder press was invented; and in 1847 it was perfected by Richard M. Hoe, of New York. This has been further improved lately, and a printing-press is now used which will strike off 15,000 newspapers printed on both sides, every hour.

The newspapers printed in the United States at the beginning of the Revolution were few in number, small in size, and very meagre in information of any kind. They were issued weekly, semi-weekly, and tri-weekly. The first daily newspaper issued in this country was the American Daily Advertiser, established in Philadelphia in 1784. In 1775 there were 37 newspapers and periodicals in the United States, with an aggregate issue that year of 1,200,000 copies. In 1870 the number of daily newspapers in the United States was 542; and of weeklies, 4,425. Of the dailies, 800,000,000 were issued that year; of the weeklies, 600,000,000, and of other serial publications 100,000,000, making an aggregate of full 1,500,000,000 copies. To these figures should be made a large addition at the close of 1875. There are now about forty newspapers in the United States which have existed over fifty years.

In the providing of means for moral and religious culture and benevolent enterprises, there has been great progress in this country during the century now closing. The various religious denominations have increased in membership fully in proportion to the increase of population. Asylums of every kind for the unfortunate and friendless have been multiplied in an equal ratio, and provision is made for all.

One of the most conspicuous examples of the growth of our republic is represented by the postal service. Dr. Franklin had been Colonial Postmaster-General, and he was appointed to the same office for one year by the Continental Congress in the Summer of 1775. He held the position a little more than a year, and at the end of his official term there were about 50 post-offices in the United States. All the accounts of the General Post-Office Department during that period were contained in a small book consisting of about two quires of foolscap paper, which is preserved in the Department at Washington City. Through all the gloomy years of the weak Confederacy the business of the Department was comparatively light; and when the national government began its career in 1789 there were only about seventy-five post-offices, with an aggregate length of post-roads of about 1,900 miles. The annual income was $28,000, and the annual expenditures were $32,000. The mails were carried by postmen on horseback, and sometimes on foot. Now the number of post-offices is over 33,000; the aggregate length of post-routes 256,000 miles; the annual revenue $23,000,000, and the annual expenditures $29,000,000.

We may safely claim for our people and country a progress in all that constitutes a vigorous and prosperous nation during the century just passed, equal, if not superior to that of any other on the globe. And to the inventive genius and skill of the Americans may be fairly awarded a large share of the honor acquired by the construction of machinery which has so largely taken the place of manual labor. In that progress the American citizen beholds a tangible prophecy of a brilliant future for his country.

DO BEASTS HAVE IMMORTAL SOULS?

(Continued.)

DECEPTION IN ANIMALS.

That animals can cheat and deceive is plainly shown by the following:—

“One of my friends had a couple of little toy terrier dogs. As is usually the case in such instances, though very fond of each other, they were horribly jealous with regard to their master, and neither could endure to see the other caressed. It so happened that one of them broke its leg, and was in consequence much petted. Its companion, seeing the attention that was paid to the injured animal, pretended to be lame itself, and came limping to its master, holding up the corresponding leg, and trying to look as if it were in great pain.

“The following anecdote is sent me by a friend: “‘A Skye terrier of our acquaintance named “Mont” had at one time a very sore leg, and during his illness he got a great deal of sympathy and petting. Ever since, when he has been in any mischief, he comes running on three legs, holding up the one which was once sore, but is now quite well. In his own way he is quite as arrant an impostor as the well-known begging “sailor” with one leg tied up to look as if he had lost it.’”

“A curious and rather ludicrous instance of cheatery on the part of the dog was observed by one of my friends.

“He has three little black-and-tan terriers, father, mother, and daughter, which are great pets, and consider the house as their own property. Like most pet dogs, they have their favorite spots by way of couches; and as they all three generally take a fancy to the same spot, there is occasionally a difference of opinion and a slight loss of temper. The one pet spot of all is a soft cushion at the head of a sofa. Now the cushion had accommodated easily the father and the mother; but when the daughter came, and in course of time wanted her share of the couch, it was found that the quarters were rather too

limited for comfort, especially as the daughter persisted in growing until she reached the size of her parents.

“One day the father and daughter had got into the room first, and, according to custom, made straightway for the cushion, on which they established themselves comfortably, occupying the whole of its surface. Presently the mother came in, and also went to the cushion. She tried to take her place on it, but her husband was too selfish and her daughter too undutiful to move, and in consequence she had to retire.

“Presently she went to the farthest corner of the room, and suddenly began to scratch violently, barking, growling, and sniffing as if she were digging out a rat. Up jumped the others, all blazing with excitement, and anxious to have their share of the sport. As soon as they had got their noses well down in the corner, the mother ran to the sofa at full speed, jumped on the cushion, curled herself round, and was happy. However, she was generous in victory, and made room for her husband and daughter as they came back to the sofa crest-fallen and humiliated.”

“One of the most amusing anecdotes of attempted cheatery is narrated of an elephant by Lady Barker:—

“‘When we paid them a visit upon the afternoon of the storm, the huge beasts were taking a bath, or rather giving it to themselves by filling their trunks with water and dashing it over their heads, trumpeting and enjoying themselves immensely. At a little distance the cooks were busy baking the chupatties—a muffin as large as a soup-plate, and nearly as thick—in mud ovens; and the grass-cutters had been down to a “jhed,” or pond, near, to wash the dust off the large bundles of grass for the elephants’ suppers. We talked a little to the mahouts, and one very picturesque old man seemed exceedingly proud of his elephant’s superior slyness and cunning, and begged us to stay and see him “cheat.” So we waited till “Burra Sahib,” or “Mr. Large,” had finished his bath and came slowly up to the mahout for his supper.

“‘The mahout called out to the cook to bring the chupatties, and made us retire behind a tree and watch what Burra Sahib did. As soon as the cook went away, the elephant put up his trunk and broke off a large bough of the tree above him. This they generally do to serve as a brush to keep off flies, so he knew that was nothing remarkable. He then looked slyly around him with his bright, little, cunning eyes; and as he could not see his mahout, he thought the coast was clear, and hastily snatched up a chupattie, which he put under the branch on the top of his head. I noticed how carefully he felt with his flexible trunk if any edge was uncovered, and arranged the leaves so as to hide his spoil completely.

“‘Burra Sahib then raised his voice and bellowed for his supper in loud and discordant tones. The mahout then ran up as if he had been a long distance off, stood in front of him, and commenced handing him the chupatties, counting as he did so, one, two, three, and so on. The elephant received each in his trunk, and put it gently into his huge mouth, bolting it as though it had been a small pill. Twelve chupatties was the allowance, and he required this sort of food to keep him in good condition. When the mahout came to number eleven muffin he looked about for the twelfth in great dismay, pretending that he could not think what had become of it, and calling for the cook to scold him, searching on the ground, and wondering, in good Hindostanee, where that other chupattie could be. The elephant joined in the search, turning over an empty box which was near, and trumpeting loudly.

“‘The mahout was delighted to see how much this farce amused me, and at last he turned suddenly to the elephant, who was still hunting eagerly for the missing chupattie, and reviled him as a thief and a “big owl,” adding all sorts of epithets, and desiring him to kneel down, which Burra Sahib did very reluctantly. The mahout then scrambled up on his head, snatched off the branch, and flung down the chupattie, belaboring the elephant well with the bough which had served to conceal it. It seems that the trick had been played successfully many times before Burra Sahib was found out, and the poor cook used to get into trouble, and be accused of keeping the missing chupattie for his own private consumption.’”

HUMOR OF ANIMALS.

That this trait of human character is also possessed by the beasts must be very evident to any one who has observed their habits. The following anecdotes will illustrate this point:—

“All those who have watched the habits of animals must have remarked how widely spread among them is this species of humor—namely, annoying and insulting a stronger being than themselves whenever they think that they can do so with impunity. And so strong is the impulse to gratify their sense of humor that they do not hesitate to do so at the risk of their lives. M. Mouhot, in his work on ‘Indo-China and Cambodia,’ mentions that he has often witnessed very amusing scenes between the monkey and the crocodile.

“The latter animal is lying half asleep on the bank, and is espied by the monkeys. They seem to consult together, approach, draw back, and at last proceed to overt acts of annoyance. If a monkey can find a convenient branch, he goes along it, swings himself down, hangs by a hand or foot, slaps the crocodile on the nose, and instantly scrambles up the branch out of the reptile’s reach. Sometimes, when no branch is sufficiently near, several monkeys will hang to each other so as to make a chain, and, swinging backward and forward over the crocodile’s head, the lowermost monkey will torment the reptile to his heart’s content. The cream of the joke is when the crocodile is at last so irritated that it opens its enormous jaws, makes a vicious snap at the monkey, and just misses him. Whenever this happy event occurs, there are screams and chatterings of exultation from the monkeys, and a vast number of joyful gambols executed among the branches.”

“In Mr. T. C. Jerdon’s ‘Birds of India’ there is an amusing notice of the habits of the Chukor partridge (Caccabis Chukor) when domesticated. It is very tame and familiar, and sometimes becomes rather a nuisance on account of its habit of playing tricks on people. It has a special facility in discovering the most vulnerable spot, and inflicts sly pecks at the bare feet of the native servants as they move through the house. Its great amusement, however, is to find the man who pulls the punkah half asleep, as is customary with these men as they rock backward and forward at their monotonous task. The little bird pecks his legs so fiercely and actively that he is quite unable to drive it away and go on with his work, and he is at last obliged to call for some one to rid him of his tormentor.”

“The following anecdote was related by the Rev. Philip Skelton, as having come under his own observation:—

“‘I have entertained a great affection and some degree of esteem for swallows, ever since I saw a remarkable instance of their sense and humor played off upon a cat which had, upon a very fine day, rested herself upon the top of a gate-post, as if in contemplation, when ten or a dozen swallows, knowing her to be an enemy, took it into their heads to tantalize her in a manner which showed a high degree not only of good sense but of humor. One of these birds, coming from behind her, flew close by her ear, and she made a snap at it with her paw, but too late. Another swallow, in five or six seconds, did the same, and she made the same unsuccessful attempt to catch it; this was followed by a third, and so on to the number just mentioned; and every one as it passed seemed to set up a laugh at the disappointed enemy very like the laugh of a young child when tickled. The whole number, following one another at the distance of about three yards, formed a regular circle in the air, and played it off like a wheel at her ears for nearly an hour, not seeming at all alarmed at me, who stood within six or seven yards of the post. I enjoyed this sport as well as the pretty birds, till the cat, tired out with disappointment, quitted the gate-post, as much huffed, I believe, as I had been diverted.’”

“‘I know a case where a parrot is allowed to go about the house at its likes. In that house there is also a cat, with which Polly is pleased to amuse herself. One day when the cat was lying asleep on the rug, the parrot began to mew and scream just like young kittens when they are hurt. Up jumped the cat, and rushed in frantic haste to her beloved offspring, and was very much astonished to find them all safe and comfortably asleep. She then returned to the rug; but as soon as she had curled herself up and settled herself comfortably, the parrot recommenced her mewings and cries, and in this way contrived to dupe the cat three times.’”

“Many of the lower animals not only show their playfulness in such tricks as those which have been mentioned, but are able to appreciate and take part in the games played by children. When I was a boy I knew a little dog, a King Charles spaniel, which was an accomplished player at the well-known game called tag, or touch. The little animal displayed quite as much enthusiasm as any of the human players, and would dart away from the boy who happened to be ‘touch’ with an anxiety that almost appeared to be terror. Of course to touch the dog was an impossibility; but he was a generous little creature, with a strong sense of justice, and so, when he thought that his turn ought to come, he stood still and waited quietly to be touched. His mode of touching his playfellows was always by grasping the end of their trousers in his teeth; and as it was impossible for the boy to stop when so seized in full course, the dog often got jerked along the ground for some little distance.”

(Concluded next week.)

THE GUEST.

By Mary Townley

The hearth was cold, the lamp burned dim, Round my low cot the storm beat wild; And through the long hours of the night My heart cried like a hungry child.

I cried, and would not be appeased; My tired head drooped upon my breast, Whose cruel wound and cheerless void Mocked weary nature's hopeless guest.

And all the while One stood without Who bore the rude and bitter blast, And knocked, and waited at my door; My dull ear caught the sound at last.

Who seeks me at this lonely hour? “Is it a wanderer unhoused— My neighbor, worn, and faint, and cold?” Pity and shame my spirit roused.

I opened; ere my lips could frame The words of welcome to my Guest, “My child,” he said; “my King!” I cried, And quivering sobs told all the rest.

My Lord came in and shut the door; A blessed silence filled the place, While, through my blinding tears, I felt The tender chiding of his face.

He needed not that I should speak; I knew not if he spoke at all; But ere the morn came fair and still My soul grew strong to break her thrall.

He soothed me, cheered me, drew me near To rest on his own patient heart; The sacred fellowship of pain Has taught me how to bear my part. —Mary Townley.

NOVEL-READING

By Levi Turney

There is a lamentable practice prevailing among a certain class of Sabbath-keepers, which, it seems to me, is sure destruction to spirituality (if there is any in such to destroy) and a very poor way of preparing for the solemn and decisive scenes of the Judgment. It is true some of these persons do not belong to the church, yet they pass among the world’s people as samples of the denomination. I mean the practice of spending the sacred hours of the Sabbath in reading irreligious literature, such as magazines and novels, some of which bear no better title than “Roughing It, by Mark Twain.”

When such persons are conversed with upon the subject, they will argue that there is a great deal of good reading in such books, and that few novels are written from which some moral cannot be drawn. This is a poor excuse. They do not read for the good they may get, but for the gratification of the carnal mind, which “is enmity against God.” Rom. 8 : 7.

It is also urged that there is no harm in reading stories if the Bible is not neglected; but how can they be read without neglecting it? The Bible cannot be read too much. In such cases the stories generally take the preference. The fact is, the blessed Book is loved the least. It is not said of Christ that he went about doing no harm, but that “he went about doing good.”

I wonder how such persons expect to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” 2 Pet. 3 : 18; or when they expect to be able to give an answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is within them with meekness and fear, 1 Pet. 3 : 15; or how they think they will ever attain “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4 : 13.

Oh, that all such may see their danger, and flee from it, before it is too late.

LEVI TURNEY.

Lovest Thou Me?

By Chas. Reynolds

Those we love, we long to be with. We count the hours that separate us. Who that has expected the return of a dear, loved, absent one has not rejoiced at the flight of time? Another day past! One day nearer! Oh! how we long for the coming of the loved! No place so happy, so desirable, as that in which we enjoy their society.

Lovest thou me? Real love to Jesus produces earnest desire for his coming. We long for his appearing, just in proportion as we love him.

Suppose that our dearest, best-beloved one, having gone on a long journey, some one should ask, When will your loved one return; and we should answer, Oh, I don't know; may be not for many years; I have no idea when; but be the time long or short, it is all the same; it does not make any difference when he comes, if we are only ready to receive him! Would any one believe we had any genuine love or regard for the absent one? Would not such an answer betray our indifference, and prove our professions of love, and all the endearing titles we bestowed on the absent one, sheer hypocrisy?

What! love a person dearer than our own life, and yet be utterly indifferent as to when the loved one shall return? Such a state of affairs were impossible if we really loved. No! no! we could not be indifferent; we should be making all diligent inquiry, be anxious to learn of the coming of our beloved one, and oh! how earnestly desire it might be speedy; for however happily situated our joy can never be complete while separated from our beloved.

Lovest thou me? We cannot tell the day and hour of our Lord's coming; but if he is our best beloved, shall we not be anxiously watching the fulfillment of the signs he has given to indicate his return? Shall we not be looking for, and hasting toward, that glad day?

Again, if we expect the return of our beloved, how diligent we become—how careful to make sure all is in readiness. How much pains we take to arrange everything according to the known preferences, and to gratify the taste and wishes of our beloved. How anxious to have removed anything in the least liable to prove offensive. We may be very busy, be very short of means; yet time and means are expended, oh, how cheerfully! to make ready for the return of the dear loved one.

Lovest thou me? How much effort, how much time and pains are we employing in cleansing our hearts, in overcoming our besetments, in putting away our sins? What preparation are we making for the return of the best beloved?

Lovest thou me? We long for His appearing just in proportion as we love him, and we can tell just how much we love him, by the amount of preparation we are making for his reception. Our business is secondary; we do not allow it, for a moment, to stand in the way of our preparation to welcome the returning loved one.

Lovest thou me? Are we, with real self-sacrifice, laboring to promote the joy of our beloved Lord? Do we regard the work of the Lord as first, our worldly affairs secondary? Do we pray, “Thy kingdom come?” Are we proving, by our acts, our desire for his will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven? When we really look, according to his promise, for the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, it will sever us from the love of the world, give power to come out of self, and induce us to gladly make any and every sacrifice for the cause of our beloved and the salvation of our fellow-creatures.

Lovest thou me? If Christ were in the streets, before our very door, what would we do for him? Do? we would do what we are doing now; neither more nor less.

Lovest thou me? Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest how we have sinned against thy love, how we have lived for self, and cared only for the world, spurned thee and thy love. We may deceive all others, but we cannot deceive our Lord. Yet in wondrous tenderness he still with open arms invites us. He knows all our cruel doubts, all our base ingratitude; yet in pitying compassion, with tenderest undying love, he says, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest.” Praise God! the way is still open. Still does the Lord reserve mercy for the sinner; still he waits to be gracious; still he invites all to come.

Lovest thou me? May the Lord help us to prove the sincerity of our love by acts, by our willingness to make any and every sacrifice to win others to a knowledge of the truth and obedience to it, thus filling our Beloved's injunction, “Feed my sheep,” that souls may be saved and his name glorified. CHAS. REYNOLDS.

NO BLUNDERER WANTED.

A FIRST-RATE story is told of a prominent man who lived in Detroit forty years ago, and who at that time owned more steamboat stock than any other man in the western country, besides owning wealth to a larger amount.

Like many of the pioneers who acquired great riches, he was very ignorant in regard to what books taught, but his learning was more like wisdom, and in common with many who have lived and passed away, he has left his mark behind him. He knew what tree would make shingles by looking at it.

He had, at the time of our story, completed a splendid warehouse at Detroit, and wanted a suitable clerk to take charge of it. He advertised for one in the papers. The next morning, early, a candidate for the position presented himself, a rather flashy young man in appearance, but the following conversation occurred:—

“Young man, when you make a mistake in any of your books how do you correct it?”

The young man explained, in a very diffuse manner, how he should proceed to make it all right.

“A good way no doubt to do it,” replied the old man, “but I shan’t want you.”

Very soon another aspirant put in an appearance. A similar question was asked of him, and in a long and eloquent manner he pointed out the remedy in all such cases.

All the reply was: “Young man, I shan’t want you.”

Some two or three others dropped in during the day, and to each one the same question was put, and they all had some smart way of covering up their errors in their books.

The old gentleman was entirely ignorant himself of the art of book-keeping, but he had wisdom in all things, which is more than a match for learning.

Just at the close of day, a plainly dressed man with a black eye and a quick wit, called for the situation.

“Take a seat, sir,” said the old gentleman. “I want to ask you just one question. When you make a false entry on the books, how do you go to work to correct it?”

Turning upon his questioner a cold, steady look, the young man replied: “I don't make that kind of mistakes, sir.”

“Ah! my dear sir, you are just the man I have been looking for all day,” and a few moments after, the man who corrected his blunders by not making them was installed in the office.—Sel.

“He that Uttereth Slander Is a Fool”

The serpent was once asked, “Pray, what profit hast thou in depriving other beings of their life? The lion kills what he eats; the wolf strangles and devours; other savage beasts destroy to satisfy their ravenous appetites. But thou alone strikest at the innocent victim, and infusest thy deadly venom, without any other gratification than the fiend-like pleasure of destroying.” “And why do you ask me?” replied the serpent. “Rather ask the slanderer what pleasure he has in scattering his poison, and finally wounding those who never injured him. Besides, I kill only those who are near me; he destroys at a distance. He scatters deadly venom here and a hundred miles hence.”—Christian Weekly.

THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR.

We often hear the children of the Lord express themselves in this wise: “I want to arise and gird on the armor, and be prepared to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord;” but do we always consider what the Christian armor is, why we need it, and how it is to be obtained? The word of the Lord points out the way.

Paul exhorts the Christian as follows: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Eph. 6: 11–18.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom. 12: 11, 12.

“Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thess. 5: 8.

“Giving all diligence, 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; for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 1:5–8. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” Gal. 5: 22, 23. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col. 3: 12–17.

“Put all the armor on, Like valiant soldiers stand; Let all your loins be girt with truth, Waiting the Lord’s command. “The battle’s almost o’er, The race is nearly run, Then with our glorious conquering King We’ll sit down on his throne.” E. L. GRAVES.

Battle Creek, Mich.

Continue reading: A SECT IN POLITICS